Sermon Illustrations

Dr. Bill Bright, past president of Campus Crusade for Christ, tells about a man living in Western Texas. During the depression the man owned a ranch and raised sheep. Mr. Yates was struggling to keep al his bills paid and was in danger of losing his ranch. Then one day a drilling crew asked for permission to drill for oil on his land and Mr. Yates signed a lease contract.

At eleven hundred and fifteen feet they struck oil which produced 85,000 barrels per day. Another well thirty years later was still producing 125,000 barrels a day. When Mr. Yates purchased the land, he purchased the oil and mineral rights and yet he was living in poverty. He did not know the oil was there. He owned it but did not possess the land. He was a potential multi-millionaire, yet living in poverty.

From Ray Ellis’ Sermon: Life’s Greatest Influences