NULL
Illustration
Object:
Illustrations
Jeremiah 1:4-10
There is an old, Dutch story about a little boy named Peter who saved all of Holland. Holland floods easily, and is protected by flooding by a system of walls known as dikes. According to legend, one day little Peter was walking along one of these walls and noticed a leak. Water was flowing in through a small crack, about the size of his finger. Peter wanted to go and find help, but he knew that, if left unchecked, the water leaking through the dike could weaken the wall until it collapsed. Having nothing with him to stop the leak, Peter put his finger into the hole. He sat there all night, keeping the water inside the dike. In the morning, the townspeople found him. Little Peter, thanks to his quick thinking, saved the whole town. He was just a boy, but his action saved many.
Leah T.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
As a youngster my parents did not attend church and were not Christians. A godly aunt asked them if they would allow me to attend Sunday school if a friend of hers would pick me up. They consented and off I went to my first Sunday school class the following Sunday after her visit. Later we moved to another state I started attending a church not far from my home. I listened attentively to what the pastor would say about Jesus and at the age of eight I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come into my heart.
Neither of my parents attended that church either. One night as I was climbing into bed and laid there thinking about my parents I started crying. My mother came into the room ... interesting how mom's have that instinct ... and leaned over and asked me why I was crying. I told her that the preacher said that if you didn't know Jesus that you wouldn't go to heaven. In my quivering voice I said, "Mom, you don't know Jesus do you?" That impacted her tremendously. Soon afterward mother started attending church and asked Christ to come into her heart and forgive her of her sins.
My mother died a few years ago at age 91. She knew Jesus intimately. I don't have to guess where my mother is now!
Derl K.
Hebrews 12:18-29
One of the constants throughout history is that empires and dominions have risen and fallen. The British Empire once had influence in every corner of the globe in areas like Canada, the original Thirteen Colonies (which became the United States), India, Egypt, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, and parts of the Caribbean. The patriotic song, "Rule, Britannia!" penned in 1740, spoke to the confidence the British had in their empire:
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
While England and the British Commonwealth still exist today, the British Empire that ruled the seas has since faded into history.
Contrast this with the kingdom described in this passage: "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" (v. 28).
Craig K.
Hebrews 12:18-29
Labor Day 2000 marked the fortieth anniversary of Betty Haughin's column, "Chit Chat." The column is published in the local newspaper that is delivered to the homes in eight small communities northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Betty has only two rules for her column. The news, except for deaths, must always be good and the names must be spelled in all capitals on their first reference. Betty realizes that, "Happiness is born a twin and so is sorrow. We're not meant to go through either alone." To ease the burden of the latter, she writes a column to remind us of the former.
The column originated when the editor read some personal letters that Betty had written. He approached her with a simple request, asking if she would write a newspaper column as if it were "a letter to a friend." She gracefully accepted and readers have since been blessed with "Chit Chat." Betty can only attribute the column's longevity to God's desire "to get his message through to everyone." Why was Betty called forth for this mission of love? Perhaps, because in her own words, she believes, "People are important. I want to make them feel good."
The author of Hebrews announces that for those who believe and trust in Jesus, "You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven." Those of us who know Jesus are members of a joyful assembly. We are not foreigners to suffering, but we are equally partakers of its twin which is happiness. It is not a happiness born through suffering, but a joy that comes with knowing the deliverance that is ours as we are participants in the angelic assembly in heaven. It is a peace that comes, as the author of Hebrews shares, by "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful." This is why Betty can continue to write an upbeat dialogue on what she calls "the joys and sorrows we all share."
Ron L.
Hebrews 12:18-29
Helena was excited about her vacation near historic Savannah, Georgia. She was eager to see the beautiful old homes and magnificent gardens. Before leaving she read all she could find about the city. She was anxious to attend worship at Christ Church. This was the church that John Wesley pastored when he first came to America, and also the church where President Woodrow Wilson was married.
The outside of the church was quite impressive, but once Helena entered the sanctuary she was awestruck by the beautiful masterpiece stained-glass windows depicting biblical characters. Her family sat about halfway to the front of the church. Her teenage children were surprised how quickly the church filled up, unlike their home church.
The sound of the pipe organ filled the massive church. When the congregation began singing the first hymn, "Joy, Joyful We Adore Thee," Helena could barely sing; she was so full of emotion. Her children looked at her as if something was wrong. In that beautiful church, Helena experienced the presence of God in a way she never had before. "I wanted to share in a time of worship and sense God."
Scholars believe that the book of Hebrews is actually a sermon. The author of the book of Hebrews reminded the congregation of God's past action in the exodus and also in Jesus Christ. In response of all the wonderful things God has done, the author states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe."
Tim S.
Luke 13:10-17
H.G.B. Hallock wrote about a woman who was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York City during the 1930s. Evidently a fight erupted between her and her husband. As the fight escalated and became more intense, the husband grabbed a knife and plunged it into her heart. The attending physician observed that the knife had probably punctured the heart and proceeded to enlarge the wound in order to attempt to repair the damage by closing the cut. It was a delicate operation and took hours of intense work on the part of the operating staff. It appeared to be a complete success for the first few days. As time progressed something began to turn sour. Though physically repaired the heart was broken by an irreparable wound that was deeper than the knife's blade. She determined not to get well and began to slump into a coma. The coma became her death sleep as she died within a couple of days.
Hallock wrote, "Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and his healing power is great enough to accomplish this wonderful spiritual operation. He is in truth 'the Great Physician.' "
(G.B.F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modern Illustrations [New York: George H. Doran Company, 1927], 352)
Derl K.
Luke 13:10-17
Freedom. The sabbath day is traditionally regarded as a day of rest; after all, after six days of creation, God rested. But what does "rest" mean? Does a day of rest mean a day of lethargy: a day spent snoozing on the couch? Does a day of rest really mean a day of reflection: time spent thinking about God? Or, perhaps, is it Jesus' interpretation: a day of rest as a day of freedom, a day free from the labor and worry of all the other days, a day free to be spent with the people and the God whom you love.
Leah T.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
There is an old, Dutch story about a little boy named Peter who saved all of Holland. Holland floods easily, and is protected by flooding by a system of walls known as dikes. According to legend, one day little Peter was walking along one of these walls and noticed a leak. Water was flowing in through a small crack, about the size of his finger. Peter wanted to go and find help, but he knew that, if left unchecked, the water leaking through the dike could weaken the wall until it collapsed. Having nothing with him to stop the leak, Peter put his finger into the hole. He sat there all night, keeping the water inside the dike. In the morning, the townspeople found him. Little Peter, thanks to his quick thinking, saved the whole town. He was just a boy, but his action saved many.
Leah T.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
As a youngster my parents did not attend church and were not Christians. A godly aunt asked them if they would allow me to attend Sunday school if a friend of hers would pick me up. They consented and off I went to my first Sunday school class the following Sunday after her visit. Later we moved to another state I started attending a church not far from my home. I listened attentively to what the pastor would say about Jesus and at the age of eight I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come into my heart.
Neither of my parents attended that church either. One night as I was climbing into bed and laid there thinking about my parents I started crying. My mother came into the room ... interesting how mom's have that instinct ... and leaned over and asked me why I was crying. I told her that the preacher said that if you didn't know Jesus that you wouldn't go to heaven. In my quivering voice I said, "Mom, you don't know Jesus do you?" That impacted her tremendously. Soon afterward mother started attending church and asked Christ to come into her heart and forgive her of her sins.
My mother died a few years ago at age 91. She knew Jesus intimately. I don't have to guess where my mother is now!
Derl K.
Hebrews 12:18-29
One of the constants throughout history is that empires and dominions have risen and fallen. The British Empire once had influence in every corner of the globe in areas like Canada, the original Thirteen Colonies (which became the United States), India, Egypt, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, and parts of the Caribbean. The patriotic song, "Rule, Britannia!" penned in 1740, spoke to the confidence the British had in their empire:
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
While England and the British Commonwealth still exist today, the British Empire that ruled the seas has since faded into history.
Contrast this with the kingdom described in this passage: "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken" (v. 28).
Craig K.
Hebrews 12:18-29
Labor Day 2000 marked the fortieth anniversary of Betty Haughin's column, "Chit Chat." The column is published in the local newspaper that is delivered to the homes in eight small communities northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Betty has only two rules for her column. The news, except for deaths, must always be good and the names must be spelled in all capitals on their first reference. Betty realizes that, "Happiness is born a twin and so is sorrow. We're not meant to go through either alone." To ease the burden of the latter, she writes a column to remind us of the former.
The column originated when the editor read some personal letters that Betty had written. He approached her with a simple request, asking if she would write a newspaper column as if it were "a letter to a friend." She gracefully accepted and readers have since been blessed with "Chit Chat." Betty can only attribute the column's longevity to God's desire "to get his message through to everyone." Why was Betty called forth for this mission of love? Perhaps, because in her own words, she believes, "People are important. I want to make them feel good."
The author of Hebrews announces that for those who believe and trust in Jesus, "You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven." Those of us who know Jesus are members of a joyful assembly. We are not foreigners to suffering, but we are equally partakers of its twin which is happiness. It is not a happiness born through suffering, but a joy that comes with knowing the deliverance that is ours as we are participants in the angelic assembly in heaven. It is a peace that comes, as the author of Hebrews shares, by "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful." This is why Betty can continue to write an upbeat dialogue on what she calls "the joys and sorrows we all share."
Ron L.
Hebrews 12:18-29
Helena was excited about her vacation near historic Savannah, Georgia. She was eager to see the beautiful old homes and magnificent gardens. Before leaving she read all she could find about the city. She was anxious to attend worship at Christ Church. This was the church that John Wesley pastored when he first came to America, and also the church where President Woodrow Wilson was married.
The outside of the church was quite impressive, but once Helena entered the sanctuary she was awestruck by the beautiful masterpiece stained-glass windows depicting biblical characters. Her family sat about halfway to the front of the church. Her teenage children were surprised how quickly the church filled up, unlike their home church.
The sound of the pipe organ filled the massive church. When the congregation began singing the first hymn, "Joy, Joyful We Adore Thee," Helena could barely sing; she was so full of emotion. Her children looked at her as if something was wrong. In that beautiful church, Helena experienced the presence of God in a way she never had before. "I wanted to share in a time of worship and sense God."
Scholars believe that the book of Hebrews is actually a sermon. The author of the book of Hebrews reminded the congregation of God's past action in the exodus and also in Jesus Christ. In response of all the wonderful things God has done, the author states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe."
Tim S.
Luke 13:10-17
H.G.B. Hallock wrote about a woman who was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York City during the 1930s. Evidently a fight erupted between her and her husband. As the fight escalated and became more intense, the husband grabbed a knife and plunged it into her heart. The attending physician observed that the knife had probably punctured the heart and proceeded to enlarge the wound in order to attempt to repair the damage by closing the cut. It was a delicate operation and took hours of intense work on the part of the operating staff. It appeared to be a complete success for the first few days. As time progressed something began to turn sour. Though physically repaired the heart was broken by an irreparable wound that was deeper than the knife's blade. She determined not to get well and began to slump into a coma. The coma became her death sleep as she died within a couple of days.
Hallock wrote, "Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and his healing power is great enough to accomplish this wonderful spiritual operation. He is in truth 'the Great Physician.' "
(G.B.F. Hallock, Five Thousand Best Modern Illustrations [New York: George H. Doran Company, 1927], 352)
Derl K.
Luke 13:10-17
Freedom. The sabbath day is traditionally regarded as a day of rest; after all, after six days of creation, God rested. But what does "rest" mean? Does a day of rest mean a day of lethargy: a day spent snoozing on the couch? Does a day of rest really mean a day of reflection: time spent thinking about God? Or, perhaps, is it Jesus' interpretation: a day of rest as a day of freedom, a day free from the labor and worry of all the other days, a day free to be spent with the people and the God whom you love.
Leah T.
