Preach "The King Has Come" 3-Part Series this week!
Preach Christmas week

Sermon Illustrations

The Zeal of Communists.

In the late 1940s Whittaker Chambers was called to witness before a New York Grand Jury against Alger Hiss, one of our high government officials. Chambers, a one-time Communist, accused Hiss of trying to transmit confidential government documents to the Soviet Union through him.

When asked by one of the jurors what it meant to be a Communist, Chambers struggled to provide a clear answer. Finally he told them that when he was a Communist, he had three heroes.

His first hero was a Pole, a political prisoner in Warsaw. While there, he insisted on cleaning the latrines of the other prisoners because he felt that the most devoted member of any community should take upon himself the lowliest tasks as an example to those who were less devoted. "That," said Chambers, "is one thing it means to be a Communist."

His second hero was a German Jew who was captured and

courtmartialed during a revolution in Bavaria. When told he now was under the sentence of death he replied, "We Communists are always under sentence of death." "That," said Chambers, "is another thing it means to be a Communist."

His third hero was a Russian exiled to a Siberian prison camp where political prisoners were flogged. He sought some means of protesting that inhumane persecution. Finally in desperation he drenched himself with kerosene, set himself on fire, and burned

himself to death as a protest against what he considered a great indignity. "That," repeated Chambers, "is also what it means to be a Communist."

How many of us Christians reveal that kind of commitment to our Lord? Such commitment is costly.

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • The Church Is Like Noah's Ark: The Stench Inside ...  PRO

    Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Jul 29, 2003
    based on 6 ratings
     | 22,204 views

    “The church is like Noah’s ark: The stench inside would be unbearable if it weren’t for the storm outside. It’s true—sometimes we stink and the world is stormy. But as imperfect as we are on this side of heaven, the miracle is that God in fact chooses to ...read more

  • In 1829 A Man Named George Wilson Was Arrested ...

    Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006
    based on 3 ratings
     | 18,682 views

    In 1829 a man named George Wilson was arrested for robbery and murder in a US mail heist. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Some friends intervened on his behalf and were able to obtain his pardon from President Andrew Jackson. But when told of this, Wilson refused it ...read more

  • Like Bill Hybels, I Believe That There Is Nothing ...  PRO

    Contributed by Jim Kane on May 25, 2004
    based on 8 ratings
     | 6,478 views

    Like Bill Hybels, I believe that there is nothing like the local church when it is working right. In addition, I agree with what he says after that sentence: “Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the ...read more

  • Finding Nemo

    Contributed by Darrin Hunt on Feb 5, 2007
    based on 1 rating
     | 4,680 views

    Many of you have seen the movie, “Finding Nemo”. •It’s a powerful story of the love and determination of a caring father. •It’s the story of being lost, and then found. •It’s a story that can help us understand our Heavenly Father and His love for us. In the movie, Nemo’s father Marlin loved ...read more

  • A.w. Tozer Writes, "Whoever Will Listen Will Hear ...  PRO

    Contributed by Richard Wafford on Nov 24, 2004
    based on 2 ratings
     | 4,152 views

    A.W. Tozer writes, "whoever will listen will hear the speaking heaven. This is definitely not the hour when men take kindly to an exhortation to listen, for listening is not today a part of popular religion. We are at the opposite end of the pole from there. Religion has accepted the monstrous ...read more

Related Sermons