Sermon Central
-
No Good Reason, Just An Excuse PRO
Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009 (message contributor)
NO GOOD REASON, JUST AN EXCUSE
Some time ago I spoke to a man in the Air Force. He admitted to me that he did not know if he was going to heaven. So I pulled a 3x5 card from my pocket and said, "I would like you to list on that card whatever is keeping you from trusting Christ right now."
He mentioned two things: "My friends, I don’t know what they’ll say. And secondly, certain things I’m going to have to give up." I knew what he meant because when I walked into the room there was a Playboy magazine laying on the night stand.
I said, "Okay, now let’s talk about those two for a minute. First of all, you said your friends. Do you mean that you are going to go through life letting them make all your big decisions for you and you make your small ones?"
That really irritated him. He said, "I will not do that!"
I said, "If you say, ’I will not trust Christ because of my friends,’ that is exactly what you are saying. They can make all my big decisions, like where I will spend eternity, and I will make all my small ones."
He said, "I will not do that. If I do not go to heaven, I want it to be my choosing, not theirs."
So I said, "That’s not a good reason, is it?" he said, "No."
I continued, "Secondly, you said ’Certain things I will have to give up.’ Now we’ve already talked about the fact that God is not asking you to give up anything. God is asking you to receive something. Once you’ve received eternal life God will help you to put into your life what should be there and take out what should not be there." But he knew that if he trusted Christ and grew as a Christian certain things would have to go. So, although they were not an issue they became the issue.
So I took a 3x5 card and drew two circles on it. Inside one circle I wrote "heaven" and inside the other circle I wrote "women, parties, alcohol, magazines"...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
American Tourists Mistreated, Pastors Tortured & ...
Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 27, 2005
American Tourists Mistreated, Pastors Tortured & Church Ordered to Close · August 8, 2005 CHINA: House Church Pastors Tortured in Prison & Shanghai House Church Faces Forced Closure China Aid learned that more than 210 Chinese house church pastors and believers have been arrested in Hubei, ...read more
-
At A Meeting Of The American Psychological ... PRO
Contributed by Dana Visneskie on Apr 23, 2004
At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The ...read more
-
James C. Dobson >>>> When I Think Of Parents ... PRO
Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Oct 27, 2004
James C. Dobson >>>> When I think of parents today, I’m reminded of a photograph of an elegantly dressed woman who is holding a cup of coffee. Her little finger is cocked ever so daintily to the side, and her face reveals utter self-confidence. Unfortunately, this woman does not yet know that her ...read more
-
I Wonder What Would Happen If We Applied The Same ... PRO
Contributed by W F on Sep 20, 2004
I wonder what would happen if we applied the same standards of loyalty to our Christian activities that we expect from other areas of our lives? If your car starts once every three tries, is it reliable? If the postman skipped delivery every Monday and Thursday, is he trustworthy? If you don’t ...read more
-
The Story Was Passed On Over Internet About ... PRO
Contributed by John Gerald on Jun 2, 2005
The story was passed on over internet about Little Billy, a Jewish boy, who was failing his math lessons. His parents tried everything they could to get him to do better in this subject, but he continued to fail. At last, they took him down to the Catholic School, and enrolled him. After the first ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Behold, I Come Quickly! Series
Contributed by Michael Blitz on Jul 19, 2013
Based on Rev 22:12-end and John 17:20-26. The invitation at the end of Revelation is made to the Great Feast, and we as a church should set aside pride and in unity reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ.
-
Change, Change, Change! Series
Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Aug 20, 2010
If we are going to help change peoples destiny we need to change some things also.
-
Top Priority Series
Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 3, 2010
The top priority of the church is prayer. More than anything else, we must pray for people’s salvation. Pray that they come to the Father through Jesus, the Son, and pray that they find freedom through Jesus, the Savior.
-
Knowing And Experiencing God Series
Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Apr 10, 2008
Part 1. God invites us into a personal relationship where we know him and experience his presence.
-
Impact Of Christ Birth Upon The Family
Contributed by Gary Welling on Dec 23, 2009
Christ birth impacted family present and future.
