Sermon Illustrations

WHY SHOULD I SURRENDER?

The story is told of the military legend Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia (336-323) and conqueror of Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia, almost all of the known world.

One day on the warpath, Alexander and small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city and Alexander raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander ordered him to surrender the city and everyone inside.

The king laughed, "Why should I surrender to you? You can't do us any harm!"

But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a cliff. The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, his soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths!

After 10 soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to die at the command of this leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." From a sermon by Christian Cheong, True Seekers -- Conviction, 6/28/2010)

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons