Sermon Illustrations

Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, a noted New Testament scholar, tells of his visit in Britain, where he observed that British people love dogs as their pets. During his stay he noticed three kinds of dogs which he relates to people in reference to freedom.

The first are those dogs who have law but no freedom. They are those who are in chain. Though they jog and roam with their masters yet they cannot go where they want.

The second are those dogs who have freedom but no law. These kind of dogs are not in chain and are free to do whatever they want and to go wherever they want to go. Yet they are living in a dangerous existence.

The third are those dogs that have the law of freedom. They are the kind of dogs who jog, roam, and play with their masters without any chain. They are free to go wherever they want to go but they still return to their masters. This they do because of the chain of affection that connects them to their masters.

The first are like those legalists who painstakingly live in obedience to man-made rules to the suppression of their freedom.

The second are like those people who make use of their freedom as license to sin.

The third one are those like genuine believers who make use of their freedom in Christ to stay close with the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • The Flying Arrows

    Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Jan 19, 2012
    based on 4 ratings
     | 43,206 views

    The devil is shooting arrows against the people of God in order to afflict them in one area or the other, but their is total liberty through the power of the Holy Ghost.

  • I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb

    Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011
    based on 4 ratings
     | 9,283 views

    Our present hope can only be found by again pledging our allegiance to the Lamb of God.

  • Saving Face Or Saving Faith Series

    Contributed by Patrick Mead on Nov 24, 2007
    based on 4 ratings
     | 9,137 views

    What approach are you taking to be justified before God? Are you trying to justify yourself by what you do, or are you trusting yourself to what Christ has done on the cross of Calvary. Are you saving face with God or do you have a saving faith in God?

  • Faith & Fear

    Contributed by Edward Hardee on Oct 16, 2011
    based on 2 ratings
     | 7,915 views

    Message about how God works in the storms of our life. We must learn to have faith and not fear.

  • A Greater Freedom

    Contributed by Charles Mallory on Jul 2, 2007
    based on 5 ratings
     | 7,892 views

    Some feel that they have "crossed the point of no return" in regards to habitual sin, mistakes, and blunders in life. Be set free by finding out how merciful and forgiving God really is toward your faults.