Sermon Central
-
The Tassels And The Braids!" Hebrews 10:5-10 ...
Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 1, 2005 (message contributor)
“The Tassels and the Braids!” Hebrews 10:5-10 Key verse(s): 14:“Since than time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”
When I was a junior in high school I was inducted into the National Honor Society. To become part of NHS you had to do certain things well. There was a certain grade point average to attain and maintain. You also needed to be involved in an enhanced level of activities and extracurriculars. It had not been my goal in particular to make NHS my first two years in high school. Although I had good grades, they could have been better. But then, at the end of my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to watch my sister’s graduation ceremonies and I remembered seeing the students with gold tassels on their caps and gold braids hanging down the front of their gowns. They had asterisks in front of their names in the program with names emboldened. These were the honor students, the ones who were in the top 20% of their class and were members of NHS. It was at that moment, as I matriculated from sophomore to junior, that I decided I wanted to be in that elite percentage. I wanted the tassel and the braids. I wanted my name to have the bold type and the asterisk. The following year as many of my friends, distracted by the war raging in Vietnam, involved themselves in debates and protests, I buried myself in my studies. I joined the newspaper and literary journal staff and became editor of both. By the end of the year my plan had worked. I had just barely made it into NHS. I knew if I really buckled down in my Senior year I might even slip into the top 20% of my class.
I can still remember the NHS induction ceremony at the end of my junior year. Meeting in the library, the group of students and teacher advisor gathered around the assembled tables as the three of us, the new inductees, stood before them. The student president of the group read our names and then repeated the NHS code of ethics. Finally, that done, the teacher advisor got up and made a few brief remarks before handing each of us our NHS pin. I will always remember his words. He talked about effort and diligence. But the one thing that stood out above all else was this statement: “You have now reached a level of perfection that will be difficult to maintain.” I’ve never forgotten that brief comment stated almost casually as he moved on to the balance of his talk. I don’t think I heard much more of what he had to say as that challenging remark stubbornly refused to let go of me. I felt uneasy in the presence of that word--”perfection!” Maybe I didn’t belong in this group after all.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
At A Pastor's Conference In Spokane, Chuck ...
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000
At a pastor’s conference in Spokane, Chuck Swindoll told of being at a California Christian camp. The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to hearing Dr. Swindoll speak and his delight at now finally being able to realize that desire. That evening Swindoll ...read more
-
Singer Pavarotti PRO
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 24, 2005
SINGER PAVAROTTI There was a time in Pavarotti’s life when he wasn’t sure whether to be singer or a music teacher. So he asked his father, "Shall I be a teacher or a singer?" His father replied, "Son, if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one ...read more
-
Christian History Issue 20 Stated, "Charles ... PRO
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 8, 2005
Christian History Issue 20 stated, “Charles Grandison Finney is considered America’s greatest past revivalist. Church roles swelled in the wake of Finney’s revivals. Though it is hard to gather accurate statistics, he is often directly, or indirectly credited with conversions of around 500,000.” ...read more
-
A Mother Invited Some People To Dinner. At The ... PRO
Contributed by Thomas Black on Feb 2, 2005
A mother invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn’t know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the mother answered. The little girl bowed her head and ...read more
-
Defining Moments Of Faith PRO
Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 23, 2002
DEFINING MOMENTS OF FAITH Several years ago Jeff Strueker was a US Army Ranger posted in Mogadishu, Somalia. Today he is a master of divinity student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. For him Oct 3-4, 1993 were the defining moments of his life. He was one of ...read more
Related Sermons
-
How To Approach Jesus Mark 5: 21-43
Contributed by James Lee on Nov 21, 2013
In this passage we have two stories in one. Actually one comes in the middle of the other. Two people who need Jesus, in a special way.
-
A New Beginning Series
Contributed by Pastor Dr. Tim Awotide on Nov 11, 2014
Everything that has a beginning must have an end.
-
Transformed By The Master's Touch
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Nov 2, 2013
Leprosy is a horrific physical disease,but it is a great illustration of sin. Leprosy paints a vivid picture of sin! In this message we see that Jesus can heal the leper and save the lost soul.
-
The Crowd Changer
Contributed by Bruce Lee on Oct 28, 2014
Every crowd has its own personality. We can divide the crowd into two basic groups. Bringers and Watchers. Which one are you? Jesus is the crowd changer.
-
Healing The Hurting Series
Contributed by Brian Bill on Oct 9, 2015
When you bring Jesus to your home, your home will become headquarters for ministry.
