Sunday Toolkit: To Illustrate
October 1, 2003
Leaving Jesus Out of Christmas
It was nearing Christmas, and I received a phone call from a man who needed to talk to a counselor. I met him at my church office, where he told me his tale of woe. A decade earlier, he killed his wife in a fit of anger, and spent several years in prison for manslaughter. He and his wife had a daughter who was in the custody of his in-laws. He had not seen her since, and now, as Christmas neared, his heart ached. With tears streaming, he lamented, "I could pass her on the street and not even know who she was." What I remember most about our counseling session, however, was what he said when he first walked into my office. Dramatically raising his arms, he said, "Now, preacher, let's just leave Jesus out of this, okay?" As he sadly went his way that day, I thought to myself, That's the whole problem. You've left Jesus out.
Jeremiah 17:5-8; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:15-16;
Burdens, Abiding in Christ, Dependence on God
My Cows Know My Voice
Cattle-rustling is a major problem in Uganda. The Ugandan army daily attempts to reunite cattle with their owners. The biggest difficulty lies in proving ownership. One elderly lady settled the issue in a remarkable way. She stood before the herd and called her cows by name. As each cow heard that voice calling her name, she lifted her head and then followed the old woman. As far as the army was concerned, it was as strong a proof of ownership as one could find.
Call, Conversion, Discipleship, Obedience.
Psalm 23:1-4; Luke 15:3-6; John 10:1-16
Debt-Ridden Couple Learns to Give First to God
In a sermon on giving, the pastor of Community Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois, read this letter from Jeff and Julie, who attend the church: "We moved here for a business opportunity ...
Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-12; 2 Corinthians 8:2-7, 9:6-7.
Faith, Stewardship, Tithing, Trust
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