Sermon Central
-
Looks Can Be ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009 (message contributor)
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
Girolamo Savonarola was one of the great preachers of the fifteenth century. He preached in the great cathedral of Florence, Italy, which contained a magnificent marble statue of Mary. One day he noticed an elderly woman praying before this statue and then realized it was her habit to come every day and bow before it. One day the preacher remarked to an elderly priest who had been serving in the cathedral for many years, "Look how devoted and earnest this woman is. Every day she comes and offers prayers to this statue. What a marvelous act of faith!"
To which the priest replied, "Do not be deceived by what you see. Many years ago, when the sculptor needed a model to pose for this statue, he hired a beautiful young woman to sit for him. This devout worshiper you see here everyday is that young woman. She is worshiping who she used to be."
(From a sermon by Brian Bill, "A Prayer God Will Answer" 6/28/2009)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Tom Recently Told Me A Story About A Man Who Went ... PRO
Contributed by Gene Gregory on Dec 7, 2004
Tom recently told me a story about a man who went to a priest and confessed that the Lord had recently convicted him of gossip. He wanted to know what he could do to make it right. The priest told him to go to the top of a mountain, rip open a feather pillow, turn the feathers loose in the wind, ...read more
-
I Love Phillip Keller's Details About A ... PRO
Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 26, 2004
I love Phillip Keller’s details about a “cast-down” sheep and what the shepherd does to get him back on his feet. “When sheep lay on their back, gas begins to collect in their stomach. It hardens the stomach, cuts off the air passage and they suffocate. Not only that, their legs go numb in that ...read more
-
Caspar Ten Boon PRO
Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 7, 2004
Caspar ten Boon In her famous book and film, “The Hiding Place” Corrie ten Boom tells the story of a Dutch Christian family, her family, who had a heart for the Jewish people Her grandfather Wilhelm started a weekly prayer group in 1844 in the city of Haarlem, near Amsterdam for the ...read more
-
Samuel Chadwick -- There Is No Power Like That ... PRO
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 15, 2007
Samuel Chadwick -- There is no power like that of prevailing prayer—of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in the sweat of blood. Add to this list ...read more
-
In A Recent Column In Leadership Weekly, Gordon ... PRO
Contributed by Jim Kane on Aug 7, 2004
In a recent column in Leadership Weekly, Gordon MacDonald, a retired pastor and editor at large for Leadership, a journal for pastors, reflected on a comment from Louis Berkhof who said, "God does not want us as objects but as covenant partners, partners who can converse. He desires our ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Falling Out Of Church
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Mar 23, 2014
Examining the importance of church attendance.
-
God Will Fix It For You
Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 7, 2017
Using Psalm 107, this sermon explores how God's love is expressed to us in the context of our troubles in life; then, how worship is birthed in our hearts out of these experiences.
-
True Worship, A Call To Worship
Contributed by Horace Wimpey on Apr 25, 2013
In Nehemiah 8, we see true worship by the people. We see a longing for God's word; Listening to God's word and we see that we must let God speak to us through His word.
-
I Am Created To Praise Series
Contributed by David Lange on Sep 20, 2013
God created us to praise Him! There is power in praise!
-
A "Come To Jesus" Moment Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2017
A grieving father comes to Jesus to ask him to heal his dying son, and yet Jesus rebukes him. Why? What possible reason could Jesus have to be so harsh with this man?
