Sermon Central
-
"living Life With Purpose"
Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 2, 2021 (message contributor)
Jewish novelist Chaim Potok (his novel "The Chosen" sold over 3 million copies) gave a lecture at Johns Hopkins University. He had wanted to be a writer from an early age. But when he was ready to go off to college his mother took him aside and said; “I know you want to be a writer but I have a better idea. Why don’t you be a brain surgeon? You’ll keep a lot of people from dying. You’ll make a lot of money."
He replied, “No mama, I want to be a writer.”
He returned home for vacation and his mother got him off alone. “I know you want to be a writer, but listen to your mama, be a brain surgeon you’ll keep a lot of people from dying and you’ll make a lot of money.
Again he replied, “No mama, I want to be a writer.”
This conversation was repeated every vacation break, every summer, every meeting. The exchanges accumulated. The pressure intensified.
Finally there was an explosion; Son, you’re wasting your time, be a brain surgeon; you will keep a lot of people from dying. You’ll make a lot of money.
He replied, Mama I don’t want to keep people from dying! I want to show them how to live!
(Under the Unpredictable Plant, page 47 by E. Peterson)
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
Where's The Faith? PRO
Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
Blow the trump and ring the bell; Dress it up and make it sell; Fill it with the rich and well; And count the heads. We’re doing well! But where’s the faith? Read the creed and get it right; Hold it fast with all your might; Close the door and bolt it tight; We’ve no need for ...read more
-
Martin Luther Once Had A Dream Where He Was In ... PRO
Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 29, 2005
Martin Luther once had a dream where he was in his house and saw Jesus coming up the walk toward his door. Luther examined his surrounding and realized that everything was an absolute mess. Clothes were thrown over the furniture, old food was sitting out, trash was everywhere. And he thought, "How ...read more
-
Experts Say That 3 People Die Every Second. If ... PRO
Contributed by Joseph Marshall on Aug 25, 2002
Experts say that 3 people die every second. If this fact is true, then 180 people die every minute, 10,800 people die every hour, 259,200 people die every day, and 94,608,000 people die every year. Of the six billion people on earth today, experts also sayt that 2/3 of them have never heard the ...read more
-
The Little Boy And The Circus PRO
Contributed by Ely Lambert on Aug 26, 2002
The Little Boy and the Circus A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve and had never in all his life seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus ...read more
-
During Telemachus' Life The Gladiatorial Games ... PRO
Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
During Telemachus’ life the gladiatorial games were very popular. People were fascinated by the sight of blood and gore upon the arena floor. And that alone was enough to bring the criticism of bishops and priests from within the church. But worse than all of this was the fact that most of the ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Doors: Open Or Closed
Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Aug 24, 2017
The majority of the body of Christ believes that God opens doors (a "yes" answer to prayer) and closes doors (a "no" answer to prayer) in their lives. Does scripture support such a belief?
-
Funeral For A Tragic Death
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 14, 2016
A Memorial Service I spoke at for a young man who died tragically at the age of 21
-
Enfrentando La Muerte
Contributed by John Cuentas on Aug 13, 2011
Un mensaje que afirma nustra seguridad de que El que muere en Cristo pasa a estar con Cristo
-
Youth Series
Contributed by Paul Basehore on Aug 13, 2014
You are not the future of the church. You are the present! Don’t wait until you’re adults to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. Do it now!
-
The Death Of Fear Series
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 5, 2015
When I was 5 my grandfather died. As I stood by the graveside at the cemetery, my mother said I looked down into the grave and then turned to her and asked "How's Grandpa ever going to get out of there?"
