Sermon Central
-
Surprise Reward At The End Of Bill Broadhurst's ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2010 (message contributor)
Surprise Reward at the End of Bill Broadhurst’s Marathon
In July 1981, Bill Broadhurst entered the Omaha, Nebraska, Pepsi 10k. Broadhurst is slowed by a brain aneurysm he suffered 10 years earlier, which left him partially paralyzed on the left side. He made it his goal to finish the 10k despite this obstacle. He was determined to run because Bill Rogers, his hero and a world-famous distance runner, was in the race that day. Rogers, great runner that he is, placed first in a time of 29 minutes and 37 seconds. One hour in, for Bill Broadhurst, his partially paralyzed left side started to feel like dead weight. After two hours, the cars were back in the streets, and getting through intersections became difficult. At two hours and twenty minutes the pain was so intense and throbbing, he didn’t think he could go on. Then he saw the end. But as soon as he saw it, his heart sank: the banner was gone and everybody had left. Still, having come this far, he decided to push through to the end. As he approached the finish line, he perceived a small gathering of people off to the side. Then they moved out to greet him, and he saw Bill Rogers at the front crowd. They had been waiting for him. As Broadhurst crossed the finish line, Rogers opened his arms, and hugged him. Rogers took the gold medal from around his own neck, and put it around the neck of the last runner to cross the line. "You’re the winner, man," he said. "You take the gold." What a beautiful picture of our life with Christ. Jesus, the first runner of this race, has not forgotten us, struggling runners that we are. No, he has taken hold of us, he is making us fit for the race, and he is cheering us on toward the goal, and he’s waiting for us to give us the prize that he earned. And so, let us not forget Him Let us fix our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith, as we live our lives in an unhindered pursuit of his love and grace.
From a sermon by Matthew Kratz, Fresh Start, 1/3/2010
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Mother — Whose Life Was Not Wasted PRO
Contributed by John Gerald on May 5, 2005
A MOTHER - WHOSE LIFE WAS NOT WASTED Ian McClaren tells about visiting an old Scotch lady who was standing in her kitchen weeping. She wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron, and when the minister asked her what was the matter, she confessed; "I am so miserable and ...read more
-
Six Hundred Students At A University Were Asked ...
Contributed by John Gerald on May 5, 2005
"Six hundred students at a university were asked to write on a piece of paper the most beautiful word in the English language. 422 wrote the ...read more
-
In A Peanuts Cartoon Lucy Demanded That Linus ...
Contributed by Steven Dow on Sep 18, 2002
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” asks Linus. “These five fingers,” says Lucy. “Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into ...read more
-
As Disciples Of Jesus, We Are To Become By The ... PRO
Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Nov 27, 2004
As disciples of Jesus, we are to become by the Holy Spirit like our Master as He Himself tells us in Matthew 10:25, “It is enough for the student to be like His Teacher, and the servant like His master.” By the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, may we this Advent become more like Jesus who ...read more
-
All In Tune PRO
Contributed by Steven Dow on Sep 18, 2002
ALL IN TUNE “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all turned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Wrestling Sermon
Contributed by Kelly Benton on Jan 23, 2013
To share with the listener how the sport of wrestling is much like our Christian life.
-
Super Bowl Zero
Contributed by James May on Feb 4, 2007
This message was preached on Super Bowl Sunday and emphasizes the fact that there is a much greater contest going on in the realm of the Spirit.
-
The Gift Of His Peace Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2012
Jesus said He offered a different peace than the world did. But what kind of peace does the world offer us and how is what Jesus gives better than that?
-
A Teacher's Heart Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 21, 2015
How does the gift of teaching help the church? And does that mean that if we don't have this gift that we don't have to teach?
-
The Devil Exposed Series
Contributed by Chris Appleby on May 12, 2012
The Devil is real and we can expect to encounter him if we're followers of Jesus.
