Sermon Central
-
We Carve What We Already See
Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008 (message contributor)
WE CARVE WHAT WE ALREADY SEE
I heard the story once of a great Cherokee wood carver. He took logs and sat them on a stump outside his back door and sat in front of that log sometimes for hours just staring at it. Finally, he would pick up his carving tools and start carving the most beautiful of things out of the wood.
He was known for his intricate details in feathers of eagles, or the look of sadness in the eyes of the faces he carved. A tourist once asked him how he decided what to carve, and the young man said that he looks for the picture that is already in the wood, then just takes the excess wood away, leaving the beautiful finished image. He said people would continually ask him how he came up with the ideas as to what he was going to carve.
People are curious about everything. For hundreds of centuries, people wanted to know what God looked like, too. Many thought He might have the face of a demanding judge or strict disciplinarian. It seems we always put the face on God that we fear the most.
(From Diana Ball's Sermon "The Christmas Story")
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
This Week I Was Reading The Story Of An ... PRO
Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002
This week I was reading the story of an Australian couple who went to Bangladesh as missionaries. When Stuart and Margaret arrived in the country they were informed, by the Baptist missionaries already there that the Muslim people were impossible to reach with the Gospel message. For the six years ...read more
-
At A Nursing Home In Florida, A Resident Group ... PRO
Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002
At a nursing home in Florida, a resident group was discussing ailments: "My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one. "Yes, I know, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee," replied another. "I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third, ...read more
-
Here Are Some Actual Maintenance Complaints ... PRO
Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002
Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance crews. Problem: "Left inside main tire almost needs replacement." Solution: "Almost replaced left inside main tire." Problem: "Test flight OK, except autoland very rough." ...read more
-
Sometimes, We Are Tempted To Think We Are The ... PRO
Contributed by Rex S. Wignall on Oct 25, 2002
Sometimes, we are tempted to think we are the only ones who struggle with this burden. Ellsworth Kalas tells the discovery that Thomas Wolfe the fine American writer made about loneliness: Wolfe was a lonely man. He once thought that loneliness was something suffered especially, perhaps even ...read more
-
Ann Landers Columnist Receives An Average Of ... PRO
Contributed by Tony Dicostanzo on Oct 21, 2002
Ann Landers Columnist receives an average of 10,000 letter each month, nearly all of them with problems. She was asked if there was one predominant theme in the letters she received, She said, “the one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Hearing The Heartbeat Of God
Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 13, 2008
What moves the heart of God. If we like John could place our heads on His chest what would God’s heartbeat sound like?
-
Whose Hands Are You In Part 1 Series
Contributed by Rodney V Johnson on Aug 25, 2007
Our relationship and security in God.
-
What Happens At The Altar?
Contributed by Mike Rickman on May 5, 2012
The altar is a place where God meets with those who seek Him.
-
Acknowledge God Series
Contributed by Daniel Austin on Sep 9, 2010
To seek after God, to follow His ways, means we must believe that His is – ever present, all knowing, all powerful.
-
All In The Family Series
Contributed by David Dykes on Oct 30, 2014
Have you ever stopped and thought, “Why me? Why did God choose me to be his child?" It just pleased God to do so. It gave God pleasure to choose you to be his child. And when God does something he does it so he derives personal pleasure from it.
