Sermon Central
-
Frankl And The Meaning Of Life PRO
Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012 (message contributor)
FRANKL AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
When Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis in World War II and put in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, he was stripped of everything: property, family, possessions, and a manuscript he had spent years researching and writing on finding meaning in life. The manuscript had been sewn into the lining of his coat.
"Now it seemed as if nothing and no one would survive me; neither a physical nor a spiritual child of my own," Frankl wrote. "I found myself confronted with the question of whether under such circumstances my life was ultimately void of any meaning."
A few days later, the Nazis forced the prisoners to give up what little clothing they still wore. "I had to surrender my clothes and in turn inherited the worn-out rags of an inmate who had been sent to the gas chamber," said Frankl. "Instead of the many pages of my manuscript, I found in the pocket of the newly acquired coat a single page torn out of a Hebrew prayer book, which contained the Jewish prayer 'Shema Yisrael' (Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.)
"How should I have interpreted such a 'coincidence' other than as a challenge to 'live' my thoughts instead of merely putting them on paper?"
Frankl later reflected on...
Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)Related Sermon Illustrations
-
An Umpire Named Babe Pinelli ... PRO
Contributed by David Hill on Jul 8, 2004
Illustration: An umpire named Babe Pinelli once called Babe Ruth out on strikes. When the crowd booed with sharp disapproval at the call, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire with disdain and said, "There’s 40,000 people here who know that the last pitch was ball, tomato head." Suspecting ...read more
-
Every Time You Make A Choice PRO
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 10, 2005
C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are ...read more
-
I'm 14, Depressed And See No Reason To Live
Contributed by Bo Lane on Dec 8, 2004
I’m 14, depressed and see no reason to live. Hi. Look I am 14 almost 15 and well I am depressed. Majorly depressed. I have no life. I mean come on, I have no friends, I am picked because my appearance is different, soccer practices are really crappy (I get made fun of, tripped, soccer balls are ...read more
-
William Booth Tied Faith And Works Together ... PRO
Contributed by Noah Kaye on Apr 21, 2005
• William Booth tied faith and works together perfectly when He said this in an article in Christianity Today “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then ...read more
-
John Wesley And A Preacher-Friend Of Plain Habits ... PRO
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005
John Wesley and a preacher-friend of plain habits were once invited to dinner where the host’s daughter, noted for her beauty, had been profoundly impressed by Wesley’s preaching. During a pause in the meal, Wesley’s friend took the young woman’s hand and called attention to the sparkling rings she ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Come Down From Your Sycamore Tree Series
Contributed by Spencer Miller on May 22, 2013
Zacchaeus' whole life changed; he completely turned around from a sinful life and thus became a child of God. God noticed the unnoticed.
-
God's Love Makes Us Victorious - Romans 8:37-39
Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jul 29, 2011
Rom 8:37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! Rom 8:38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present
-
Appreciating God
Contributed by John Perry on Aug 14, 2011
Do you ever really take time to do nothing more than appreciate God?
-
"Breaking Out - Unconventionally"
Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010
The sermon seeks to challenge believers to break out of their shells by becoming more Christ-centred and focus on the Kingdom. It is an attempt to try to correct the imbalance in seeking God's kingdom benefits only without wanting to do the right things.
-
Who Wants To Be A Winner Series
Contributed by Dr. Jerry N. Watts on May 4, 2007
Being a winner does not have to be a worldly issue. God expects His children to conquer, win, triumph in this world. What are the attributes needed to accomplish this.
