Sermon Illustrations

ISOLATION, LONELINESS MORE DIFFICULT THAN PAIN

William H. Willimon, in his commentary on our text, shared the following story from his childhood. "A little girl in my second grade class got the dreaded disease of polio. Our teacher described to us the possible complications of her disease. She told us in some detail about the bad things that could happen to her body.

"But our teacher also told us that, because of the polio, we could have no contact with her. We could write her a get-well card, but we could not visit her. And I remember thinking at that moment that the polio itself wouldn’t be all that terrible. I, as an eight-year-old, could put up with the physical pain and inconvenience, but the isolation, the shunning, the loneliness would be the worst."

(From a sermon by Ronald Harbaugh, "Jesus Shows Anger?" 2/12/2009)

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons

  • Alone With God Series

    Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jul 6, 2013
    based on 16 ratings
     | 44,474 views

    C.S Lewis, in his book “Miracles” writes, “The presence of God is the most real thing we ever encounter.” Moses prayed, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here”.Exodus 33:15

  • Palace Or The Pasture

    Contributed by Thomas Custer on Mar 17, 2014
    based on 8 ratings
     | 19,960 views

    what made David who he was, was not developed in the fanfare of the palace, but in the isolation of a pasture... long before he played for Saul, he played for God. Before defeating the giant, he practiced on trees, targets, bears and lions.

  • How To Overcome Loneliness Series

    Contributed by Tom Shepard on Jan 19, 2016
    based on 5 ratings
     | 17,819 views

    Sermon looks at loneliness. Reasons: 1. TRANSITION 2. SEPARATION 3. OPPOSITION 4. REJECTION - Five steps: A. RECOGNIZE God Is There B. MAXIMIZE God’s Strength C. UTILIZE Your Time D. SYMPATHIZE For Those In Need E. GOLRIFY God’s Deliverance

  • Roll Away The Stone

    Contributed by Mark Aarssen on Apr 7, 2017
    based on 1 rating
     | 14,798 views

    Do you find yourself living like a half dead Christian. Is your faith something that is buried instead of alive in you? You may need Jesus to Roll away the stone keeping you from a Resurrection kind of faith.

  • Lessons From The Well Series

    Contributed by John Oscar on Mar 28, 2018
    based on 1 rating
     | 14,214 views

    Teaching about how Jesus reaches the unreachable person

Browse All Media

Related Media