Sermon Illustrations

Paul describes this situation as “death-dealing sin.” He calls it “the dead-end abyss of separation from God.” The way they put in medieval times was to describe humanity -- listen to this: humanity was portrayed as a wingless bird, stuck in its alluring conditions, too heavy to fly. Does any of this make sense to you?

The question is: Is there any escape?

The medievalists -- the ones with the picture of the bird -- said there is. Along with their wingless bird, they also portrayed a soaring, winged bird, one which flies to its grounded, stranded counterpart, grasps the disempowered bird, and lifts it to the sky and to freedom.