Sermon Central
-
The Late Rev. Dr. John Rowan Claypool Iv Served ...
Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Feb 3, 2008 (message contributor)
The late Rev. Dr. John Rowan Claypool IV served as a pastor for 47 years, first in Southern Baptist Congregations in the South and then from 1986 to 2000 as the Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama. In his sermon entitled “The Future and Forgetting,” he shares this story:
“Two Buddhist monks were walking in a drenching thunderstorm. They came to a stream, and it was swollen out of its banks. A beautiful young Japanese woman in a kimono stood there wanting to get to the other side but was afraid of the currents. In characteristic Buddhist compassion, one of the monks said, ‘Can I help you?’
“The woman said, ‘I need to cross this stream.’”
“The monk picked her up, put her on his shoulder, carried her through the water, and put her down on the other side. He and his companion went on to the monastery.
“That night his companion said to him, ‘I have a bone to pick with you. As Buddhist monks, we have taken vows not to look on a woman, much less touch her body. Back there by the river you did both.’
“The first monk said, ‘My brother, I put that woman down on the other side of the river. You’re still carrying her in your mind.’” [SOURCE: --John Rowan Claypool, “The Future and Forgetting,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 109.]
Dr. Claypool’s story is an appropriate analogy of the sin our Judeo-Christian faith acknowledges as lust. Jewish rabbis through the centuries have condemned all sin not only as evil actions but also as evil desires that begin as a bad attitude in the heart. Jesus distinctly teaches in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Lust is an inner attitude or desire in one’s heart.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Blaise Pascal Was A French Mathematician And ... PRO
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 15, 2005
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher. In his writings, which were entitled Pensees, he traces the logical progression of his thought on many subjects. But something happened to Pascal which was beyond logic and rational thought. After his death, his servant found a piece of ...read more
-
A Faith Without Works Is Dead. It Is As W.t. ...
Contributed by Steven Dow on Apr 1, 2004
A faith without works is dead. It is as W.T. Purkiser said, “A religion of externals is a ghost, spirit without body. But a subjective faith without ...read more
-
The Story Was Told Some Years Ago Of A Pastor ... PRO
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Sep 8, 2004
The story was told some years ago of a pastor who found the roads blocked one Sunday morning and was forced to skate on the river to get to church, which he did. When he arrived the elders of the church were horrified that their preacher had skated on the Lord’s Day. After the service they held a ...read more
-
A Young Salesman Walked Up To The Receptionist ...
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004
A young salesman walked up to the receptionist and asked to see the company’s sales manager. Ushered into the office, he said, "I don’t suppose you want to buy any life insurance, do you?" "No," replied the sales manager curtly. "I didn’t think so," said the salesman dejectedly, getting up to ...read more
-
Bill Hybels, In His Book Courageous Leadership, ...
Contributed by Wes Richard on Jan 7, 2004
Bill Hybels, in his book Courageous Leadership, (p. 249) uses this illustration. He has a sailboat and every summer his sailing crew and he have to deliver his sailboat by water to various harbors around the great lakes for regattas. Some of them are a long ways away. Sometimes he runs into storms ...read more
Related Sermons
-
God Knows My Name Series
Contributed by Rodney Johnson Sr., on Jul 5, 2019
It's an amazing thing! God knows my Name.
-
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series
Contributed by Dennis Lee on Apr 18, 2016
This sermon is on the second beatitude, "Blessed are those who mourn." It looks at the process of mourning and how we can experience God's comfort during these times, such as realizing God's with us, our need to release the hurt, and more.
-
Deliberate Unity
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 20, 2016
Unity in His church is important to God... but do you know why? (Preached at a Unity Service with English, Spanish and Burmese speaking worshipers)
-
Sermon For Graduates
Contributed by Bobby Stults on May 28, 2013
The nation of Israel was facing the unknown in exile in a foreign land, they needed to know God was there. Jeremiah gave them a message that brought comfort...
-
Waiting For Christmas
Contributed by Dennis Lee on Dec 27, 2017
A Christmas sermon looking at Simeon and Anna and how they waited for the promise of God with great anticipation and expectation.
