Sermon Central
-
Cliff Barrows' Honeymoon ...
Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010 (message contributor)
Cliff Barrows’ Honeymoon Service
Dr. James Dobson wrote a book entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and in his book he shared an illustration that is very applicable to the point being drawn from this particular verse. Take a moment and reflect upon the following story:
In 1945, a young associate pastor named Cliff married his fiancée, Billie. They had very little money but scraped up enough to take a honeymoon. When they arrived at the hotel, they were told it was now a rehabilitation center and not available to overnight guests.
They hitchhiked to a grocery store several miles down the road. The owner was sympathetic to their situation and let them stay in a room over the store. The owner quickly caught on that they were Christians and he referred them to a friend with a nicer place to spend the rest of their honeymoon.
During the week their host invited them to attend a youth rally at a nearby Christian conference center. The regular song leader was ill that night, so Cliff was asked if he might take charge of the music service. He consented and led the music, before a young evangelist named Billy stepped up to preach.
Cliff Barrows met Billy Graham that night and formed a ministry team that has preached the gospel throughout the world for fifty years. When your plans don’t seem to work out, maybe God has something better in mind. He sure did for Cliff and Billie Barrows!
In this illustration Cliff Barrows and his wife did not become discouraged, depressed and keep to themselves during an unplanned and seemingly messed up situation. They kept focused on God and attended a youth rally, and Cliff even served God by song leading.
He served God where he was and with what he had. He did not wait until he was home from his honeymoon, and he did not wait until he was serving on staff at a church, or settled in life and in a career. He did not have to know why and how. He served right then and there!
From a sermon by Damian Phillips, Right Now is the Time to Serve, 2/4/2010
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Max Lucado Says, "The Bible Has Been Banned, ... PRO
Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 5, 2004
Max Lucado says, “The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over, the grave has been dug and the dirge has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has ...read more
-
Bill Hybels In, The Christian In The Marketplace, ...
Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 3, 2005
Bill Hybels in, The Christian in the Marketplace, says, "Dignity is available to every person in every legitimate profession. The farmer who plows the straight furrow, the accountant whose books balance, the trucker who backs a 40’ rig into a narrow loading dock, the teacher who delivers a ...read more
-
An Ingenious Teenager, Tired Of Reading Bedtime ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 28, 2004
An ingenious teenager, tired of reading bedtime stories to his little sister, decided to record several of her favorite stories on tape. He told her, "Now you can hear your stories anytime you want. Isn’t that great?" She looked at the machine for a moment and then replied, "No. It hasn’t got a ...read more
-
A Young Man Was Apprenticed To A Master Artist ... PRO
Contributed by Dan Steadman on Jun 11, 2004
"A young man was apprenticed to a master artist who produced the most beautiful stained glass windows anywhere. The apprentice could not approach the master’s genius, so he borrowed his master’s tools, thinking that was the answer. After several weeks, the young man said to his teacher, ’I’m not ...read more
-
It Is Easy To Become A Slave To Hatred In Our ... PRO
Contributed by Shawn Rose on Nov 28, 2004
It is easy to become a slave to hatred in our hearts. A good friend of mine, "Roy", became angry with another friend of mine, "Lee", several years ago. "Roy" has never forgiven "Lee" for the trespass, and "Lee" has never known that "Roy" is angry with him. Recently, I bumped into "Roy" and asked ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Making The Best Of A Bad Situation
Contributed by Kraig Pullam on Feb 17, 2014
God takes the disadvantages of our dead ends and uses them as an opportunity to propel His plan into the spectrum of His greater glory and our greater good, as seen in the discourse between the disciples and Christ prior to His ascension.
-
Fools For Christ
Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 8, 2010
Genuine Christian servanthood is expressed in sacrificial and exemplary living.
-
Do The Small Thing To Show The Main Thing
Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Apr 13, 2016
What is servant evangelism: It is demonstrating the kindness of God The Love God by offering to do some act of humble service with no strings attached. Do the small thing to show the main thing -- God's Love.
-
Will You Work Until Jesus Comes?
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Dec 14, 2014
A sermon about the importance of service and stewardship.
-
Knowing And Doing God's Will
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Jan 27, 2010
A sermon examining how to know God's will for our lives and how to respond once His will is revealed.
