-
When My Wife And I Lived In Florida I Had A ...
Contributed by Chris Surber on Aug 26, 2009 (message contributor)
When my wife and I lived in Florida I had a little bitty lime tree which never produced good fruit. It was amazing. No matter what I did the tree never produced any fruit which I could use. The limes were always covered in black kind of mold or fungus or something. I would wash them off but it would remain. One afternoon I took to inspecting the lime tree closely and discovered that this blight which covered the fruit was also covering the branches and the trunk of the small tree. I brushed aside some of the sandy soil around the base of the tree only to discover that the black coloration when right into the roots. I broke off one of the branches of the tree and further discovered that the black substance stained even the inside of the tree. The tree was sick from within. From a distance the tree looked finding, up close the tree looked like something had merely settled upon its fruit and branches, upon closer inspection it became clear that the disease emanated from within.
So it is, the text says, with the man who thinks that he is religious but is deceived. “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (James 1:26 ESV) If anyone thinks himself to be religious must not examine outward standards of appearance but must examine his heart. This is the difference between knowing something is true and residing in truth of something. This is the great difference between knowing that God is merciful and loving and dwelling, abiding, in the radical, unmistakable, overwhelming, soul-crushing-immensity of God’s grace!
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Man Wanted To See Buckingham Palace. His Guide ... PRO
Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 25, 2005
A man wanted to see Buckingham Palace. His guide took him to the gate. “Oh, I don’t mean here. I want inside.” “I’m sorry sir,” replied the guide, “I don’t have ...read more
-
A Woman Decided To Have Her Portrait Painted. She ... PRO
Contributed by Thomas Black on Jan 28, 2005
A woman decided to have her portrait painted. She told the artist, "Paint me with diamond rings, a diamond necklace, emerald bracelets, a ruby broach, and gold Rolex." "But you are not wearing any of those things," he replied. "I know," she said. "It’s in case I should die before my husband. ...read more
-
Road Rage
Contributed by Tom Burkholder on Sep 2, 2005
Illustration: “Road Rage” By Dan Betzer It happened just a couple of blocks from my study yesterday afternoon; it was about 4 o’clock with rush hour traffic. Iti our burgeoning county, it sometimes seems like every car on earth is in my lane. A young fellow kept weaving in and out of traffic, ...read more
-
Terry Bowland In His Book Make Disciples – ...
Contributed by Mark Engler on Oct 12, 2005
Terry Bowland in his book Make Disciples – Reaching The Postmodern World for Christ writes this: “Many today balk at the teaching of the church. ‘Do you mean to say,” they ask, ‘that all those outside the church have no hope whatsoever? What about all the sincere folks who never come to Christ? ...read more
-
A.fools Are Defined By Holman's Bible Dictionary ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 8, 2005
a.Fools are defined by Holman’s Bible Dictionary as: FOOL, FOOLISHNESS, AND FOLLY Translations of several uncomplimentary words which appear approximately 360 times throughout the Old and New Testaments to describe unwise and ungodly people. The words are especially predominant in the Wisdom ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Power Of Obedience
Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 25, 2017
Obedience is inherit in the relationship of man (as a created being) with God, the Creator. The New Covenant does not do away with the need for obedience to God. In fact, it supply the strength to live that way. Heaven will be a place of obedience to God.
-
The Power Of Forgiveness
Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Oct 30, 2021
God forgives us our sins, and He commands us to always forgive those that offend us in any way of the other. When we do, we have a lot of blessings to enjoy.
-
Hope In A Covenant Of Faith Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 18, 2018
A Covenant of Faith and a man named Abraham. Romans 4:3, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
-
A Better Tomorrow
Contributed by Tesh Njokanma on May 24, 2015
When you sit, eat, fellowship and walk closely with the King of Glory, increase is guaranteed; the kind of testimony you can’t even ask or imagine will be given you and your tomorrow will certainly be better than your today..
-
The Grace Of God
Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Aug 14, 2017
God's grace as the avenue of salvation is sometimes seen as being in conflict with obedience of the believer as a requirement, without which salvation cannot be obtained. Which is it, or is it a combination? Can this dichotomy be satisfactorily resolved?