Sermon Central
-
Sacrifice
Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013 (message contributor)
I will never forget being at church one Sunday playing "king of the hill" with my buddies, before church started. But our play stopped when a car pulled up to the sidewalk and, with help, out came a soldier, who had returned from Vietnam a few weeks earlier. But he came on crutches and he returned to back to the church he grew up in on that Sunday with only one leg.
I have never forgotten that image. It has always served as a striking reminder to me of the cost of war. Battles require you to give your all and often sacrifice your all. The cost for any military campaign is great.
Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” John 15:13 and 18.
The cost is great when we go up against the devil every day. He wants to destroy us. He wants to rob us of every ounce of faith. He wants to remove every bit of hope. He wants to deceive us into thinking that love for Christ is a waste of time.
Many have fallen away from their commitment to Christ. Their wounds were too great. Many have been attacked by the evil one and have suffered the consequences. Some have suffered innocently when someone nearby has decided to spend time with the enemy.
A military unit is caught in a fire-fight and they find themselves trapped. What do they do? They call for help and they know that there are soldiers who are willing to come to the battle to help out. They have signed up for the fight and when the fight comes, they are there to take on the enemy.
We have a responsibility to each other as soldier of the cross. There are wounded Christians all around us. Have we abandoned them? There are Christian soldiers fighting some tough battles every day. Do we just sit back and watch?
Jesus said: "Great love has no one than this....that he lay down his life for his friends." That's our command. Yes, serving as a soldier of the cross is costly - but it's worth every price!
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
John Sutherland Bonnell, The Great Preacher Of A ... PRO
Contributed by Aaron Householder on Sep 30, 2004
John Sutherland Bonnell, the great preacher of a generation ago, has suggested five questions which are useful in evaluating Christian effectiveness and commitment. Look Closely at them to judge your strengths and weaknesses as a disciple of Christ. 1. Does my life witness each day to the power ...read more
-
The Simple Fool Tends To Go With The Flow. He ...
Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jun 14, 2004
The Simple Fool tends to go with the flow. He believes whatever he hears. It reminds me of the way Garrison Keilor described members of the Unitarian Church: They believe whatever book they just finished reading. Too many people live that way. · They’ll go to church on Sunday, · try to ...read more
-
In His Book The Spiritual Life Of Children, The ...
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 4, 2007
In his book The Spiritual Life of Children, the famous Harvard psychiatrist Robert Coles, tells the story of Alice, a ten-year-old girl who came from a family that did not believe in God. She expressed her doubts to him with these words: “I remember... I saw the people next door coming home from ...read more
-
I Remember Reading About An Obituary That Is ... PRO
Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 15, 2004
I remember reading about an Obituary that is meant to make you stop and think: · He brushed his teeth twice a day · The doctors examined him twice a year · He ate low-carb, low-fat every day · He gave up his tonsils, his adenoids, his gall bladder … and traded in a few worn-out glands · He ...read more
-
When A Train Goes Through The Tunnel And It ... PRO
Contributed by Aaron Householder on Sep 30, 2004
"When a train goes through the tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still ...read more
Related Sermons
-
The Gates Of Hell Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 22, 2016
This is the 5th in my travelogues telling of my visit to Israel. In this lesson we visit 4 "gates" in Northern Israel including the "gates of Hell".
-
The Scapegoat
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on May 14, 2012
A message using the scapegoat as a type of Jesus Christ.
-
Giving God Your Very Best
Contributed by Derek Geldart on Aug 15, 2018
Does not the King of King deserve our very best? This sermon is going to review Malachi's indictment of the priests of Israel for offering lame and sick animals and conclude we are to give God our best and be blessed or worst and be cursed.
-
Jesus The Path To Peace Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 17, 2017
Peace on earth? With wars and rumors of wars what possible peace could the angels be announcing? And how does the baby Jesus fit into all this?
-
Tcb (Taking Care Of Business) - Pt. 4 - Sacrifice
Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008
Elvis put it on everything . . . rings, necklaces, even his jet. It was more than the name of his band, it was his slogan. TCB is more than a slogan for us. It is our misson. This examination of our daily duties as priests will help you TCB!
