Sermon Illustrations

LIFE OF PI

The movie "Life of Pi" is a deeply religious film. The story opens with a discussion between a writer and a man from India who shares a fascinating story. The man has come to Pi because a friend told him that "Pi has a story that will make you believe in God." Pi tells the story of his life, and a terrible tragedy that happens to him.

His parents are zoo-keepers. They board a freighter with all the animals to transporting them to Canada. While at sea, the cargo ship sinks and Pi escapes alone on a raft with four of the animals, including an adult Bengal tiger. He vividly tells the story of surviving on the raft, and that the Tiger was ultimately responsible for keeping him alive.

The story ends with Pi describing how officials from the shipping came to his hospital room to find out what happened and how the ship sunk. The officials didn't believe his story of the tiger and animals stranded with him on the raft. Pi then offers them a different version of what happened.

The second version that he tells them is much more believable. In this version, four people made it off the sinking ship and onto the raft. One of them died horribly from his injuries and his flesh used for fishing bait. Another was killed by a mean cook. Pi's mother was also killed by the cook and then Pi killed the cook and remained on the raft until he was rescued.

Pi then tells the writer the meaning of the story. Pi states, "I've told you two stories. Neither explains the reason for our horrible suffering. No one can proove either story. In both stories the results are the same. So which STORY do you believe?

"Life of PI" is not a movie made to tell you the story of a boy stranded on a boat with a tiger. It is not a movie made to tell you the story of how a boy coped with the horrible experience of being shipwrecked. It is a story to tell you why people believe in God.

To the world, people believe in God because believing makes their lives better. But do not come to Jesus because believing makes you feel better or makes you a better person! Believe in Jesus because you are a sinner and Jesus came here to die for you. He wanted you to know for sure that he died for you by being buried for three days!

So, who is Jesus to you?

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • Don't Stop Believing Series

    Contributed by Erik Estep on May 16, 2012
    based on 4 ratings
     | 22,666 views

    Today in our passage of Scripture we’re going to see a group of people who were on the verge of not believing. They had lost hope b/c of the circumstances they were in. But Jesus came along and gave them a message that we can still use today. And that

  • Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

    Contributed by Michael Otterstatter on Jul 5, 2010
    based on 5 ratings
     | 11,188 views

    "But what about you...who do you say I am?" Peter gave the correct answer to that question from Jesus to his disiciples. Our life and our eternal destiny are dependent on our answer to that same question.

  • Grace Points

    Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Aug 26, 2012
    based on 5 ratings
     | 8,359 views

    Sermon h-ilighting the Grace of God.

  • Did He Really Say That? Series

    Contributed by Denn Guptill on Jun 24, 2012
    based on 4 ratings
     | 7,389 views

    This is the introduction to a series on the I Ams from the book of John. Here we look at why we should believe Jesus' accounts of himself

  • Who Do You Say That I Am? Series

    Contributed by Donald Rapp on Oct 19, 2010
    based on 4 ratings
     | 7,388 views

    One of the most profound questions ever asked is the one Jesus asked His disciples.

Browse All Media

Related Media


Big Questions
SermonCentral
Preaching Slide
Son Of God
SermonCentral
Preaching Slide
Pierced
SermonCentral
Preaching Slide