Sermon Illustrations

Kind Deed of POWs Saves Lives

There is a World War II story that shows how the smallest deed can make all the difference. During the last months of the War, the British conducted daily bombing raids over Berlin. One night the bombers were attacked by a large group of German fighter planes. During the dogfight one of the Bomber Planes got separated from the protection of British Fighter Planes. They watched helplessly as a German Fighter Plane came within range. Bullets whizzed by over and over until five bullets slammed into the fuselage of the bomber near the gas tank. The crew braced for the explosion, but it never came. Fuel poured from the bullet holes, but there was no explosion. After landing, a mechanic handed the pilot 5 bullets he had pulled from the plane. The pilot carefully opened the shells. They were empty --- except for a tiny wad of paper with a note that read: "We are Polish POWS forced to make bullets. When guards do not look, we do not fill with powder. Is not much, but is best we can do." Five tiny bullets, made by a few weak and lowly prisoners ... but for the Crew of that British Bomber it made all the difference. God often chooses insignificant people and events to bring about His great purposes. I Corinthians 12:27-28 says, "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are..."

From a sermon by Terry Blankenship, The Insignificant Church, 10/14/2009

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