20 Sermon Illustrations on Christian Life

Warren W. Wiersbe relates that one day he was scanning the shelves in a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he discovered a volume out of place. It was in the "Religion" section, but the title of the book was The Art of Interior Decorating. He started to remove the book, but then it dawned on him that the volume was just where it belonged. For, after all, isn't that what the Christian faith is all about-interior decorating? "I can't think of a better description of the Christian life than 'interior decorating.'" he commented. "You see, the Bible emphasizes the fact that each of us has an 'inner man'-the real person down inside. The body may change and decay and even die, but the 'real you'down inside will live forever."

In his early remarks during what we call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes His disciples as "the salt of the earth." Notice this verse carefully: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matthew 5:13). Jesus takes it for granted that all understood the uselessness of salt that is incapable of preserving and flavoring. "Throw it away!" is His advice for useless salt. The application to Christians is clearly seen. God put us here to preserve and flavor His world. If we are not doing that, what good are we to Him or others? In A.D. 252, a killing plague swept through the North African city of Carthage. The heathens threw the dead in the streets and fled the city in fear for their lives. Cyprian, leader of the church in Carthage, marshaled the saints and they began burying the dead and nursing the sick. Their action saved the city and thrust the church into prominence in the minds of its citizens. Good people are salting the earth and preserving the creation of God. They are lighting the world and glorifying the God who made it. I have a question: If we are not salting this earth and lighting this world, then why are we here?

The Bishop of Cambridge once taught a class. He said, "We have all learned to say in school: 'First Person-I; Second Person-You; Third Person-He.' But that is wrong in Christian grammar, so wrong that, to put it right, one has to turn it upside down. The Christian grammar is: 'First Person-He; Second Person-You; Third Person-I,' and 'He' means God, the First Person in the first place. Then 'You' means one's fellowman, and 'I' myself comes last."

Benjamin Franklin wanted to interest the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his house. He kept the glass polished and carefully trimmed and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. The lamp helped the people see the pavement ahead; made them feel more secure at night. Others began placing lights in front of their houses. Soon Philadelphia recognized the need for street lights. Be the one today to light up your neighborhood with the light of life. Let it shine. Let your light shine TODAY!

A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where lights are placed?" "What has that to do with it?" the young Christian asked him rather bluntly. "Never mind," the minister replied. "Answer my question: 'Where are lights placed?'" "I suppose in dark places," she replied. "Yes, and that is why you have been put in that factory where there is such spiritual darkness and where there is no other Christian to shine for the Lord." The young Christian realized for the first time the opportunity that was hers. She felt she could not fail God by allowing her light to go out. She went back to the factory with renewed determination to let her light shine in that dark corner. Before long, she was the means of leading nine other girls to the Light. The Chameleon Some of you have seen a lizard called the chameleon. Certain chameleons can quickly change color, and even develop spots and streaks that seem to be part of their background. They can turn green, gray or brown if they are standing on a green, gray or brown background. Those of us who love the Lord Jesus should "show our colors"-let others know you belong to the Lord. Do not be like the chameleon who changes color with his surroundings. If you have to be with unsaved girls and boys at school and in other places, do not act as they do and do naughty things. Let others know you are different because you have a new life! The Christian's Gauge If you visit any large foundry where the boilers are kept going at full force, you would never be able to look into a boiler to tell how much water there is in it, but you would be able to tell how much water the boiler contains by an instrument which is attached to the side of the boiler. Alongside is a small glass tube which has some fluid in it. If this glass tube is half full of liquid, then there is an indication that the boiler is half full of water; if the glass gauge indicated that there is no water in the glass, then we can depend that there is no water in the boiler. The little glass gauge is the indicator for the large boiler. How can people tell whether we love God, our fellowman, or even ourselves? They can never look within our hearts and get the answer; it is only by our outward actions, the works that we do as Christians that people are able to tell how much or how little our religion amounts to. Our love for God is indicated by the works of love in which we engage. There are people who are constantly looking at the Christian's gauge. A Youth's One-Time Visit "I refused a date to the movies, choosing rather to go to the Wednesday night prayer meeting. "When I arrived, I looked for several people who were important to me. "I looked for my Sunday school teacher-but he was not there. I looked for the familiar faces of a couple of deacons whom I knew-but they were not there. I looked for several of the members who seemed to be spiritually real and who had greeted me warmly at the Sunday morning services-but they were not there. "Perhaps, these Christian friends do not think the Wednesday night services are so very important. I guess next Wednesday night I will go to the movies." Was this young man from your church? The Way Your Child Should Go Abraham Lincoln's comment, made when talking to a father who was chagrined and embarrassed because his 17-year-old son had begun to indulge in liquor, is most convincing: "Well, there is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go, and that is to travel the way yourself." A Christian's Reputation The story is told of Gordon Maxwell, missionary to India, that when he asked a Hindu scholar to teach him the language, the Hindu replied: "No, Sahib, I will not teach you my language. You would make me a Christian." Gordon Maxwell replied, "You misunderstand me. I am simply asking you to teach me your language." Again the Hindu responded, "No, Sahib, I will not teach you. No man can live with you and not become a Christian." Gordon Maxwell's reputation as a Christian preceded him. His very lifestyle attracted people to Christ. And so it was with the Apostle Paul and his two missionary companions, Silas and Timothy. Saint Francis of Assisi captured their philosophy of evangelism when he said, "It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless we preach as we walk!" A Drunkard Speaks to a Drinking Christian A young lady went to a rescue mission to help out with the inquirers who would respond to the Gospel. As she approached one derelict in order to help him make a decision for Christ, he said to her, "Do you play cards, or dance, or go to the theater, or drink socially?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk to me; but I will not listen to one word from you fine Christian folks who are doing on a small scale the very things that brought me a poor wretch to where I am." This young Christian woman later confessed that she had greater joy in leading that young man to Christ than the exercise of all the pleasures that many Christians hold on to simply because they have not yet been ruined by them.

When Lord Peterborough lodged for a season with Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambray, he was so delighted with his piety and virtue, that he exclaimed at parting, "If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself!"

I have no faith in that woman who talks of grace and glory abroad, and uses no soap at home. Let the buttons be on the shirts, let the children's socks be mended, let the roast mutton be done to a turn, let the house be as neat as a new pin, and the home be as happy as home can be; and then, when the cannon-balls, and the marbles, and the shots, and even the grains of sand, are all in the box, even then, there will be room for those little deeds of love and faith, which, in my Master's name, I seek of you who love his appearing. Serve God by doing common actions in a heavenly spirit, and then, if your daily calling only leaves you cracks and crevices of time, fill them up with holy service. Spurgeon.

It is related of Bishop Usher and Dr. Preston, that before they parted, one said to the other, "Come, good doctor, let us talk now a little of Jesus Christ." Or the doctor said, "Come, my lord bishop, let me hear your grace talk of the goodness of God with your wonted eloquence; let us warn each other's hearts with heaven, that we may the better hear this cold world."

"Among whom yo shine as lights in the world" (Phil. ii. 15). The image here is, not improbably, taken from lighthouses on a seacoast. As those lighthouses are placed on a dangerous coast to apprise vessels of their peril, and to save them from shipwreck, so the light of Christian piety shines on a dark world, and on the dangers of the voyage which we are making. Barnes.

As a burning candle in a man’s hand gives light to him, and to all that are in and around the house; or as he that is perfumed cannot keep the odor to himself: so such as have the knowledge of God have not only comfort themselves, but they are a comfort and a light to the Church and a light also to pagans and infidels. Cuedray.