Sermon Central
-
This Past Week I Heard A Man Named Paul Peck ...
Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 14, 2008 (message contributor)
This past week I heard a man named Paul Peck speak. He talked about watching the riots in Los Angeles in April of 1992 following the acquittal of the four white officers who beat Rodney King. Paul watched in horror as African Americans burned down their own communities and businesses, but instead of judging them harshly, Paul thought, “The only way you would destroy your home is if you have no hope.”
Then Paul went to the next step: How do you find hope? He concluded that education was the best first step to hope. With education there was hope for a better future. That year, Paul Peck began the “STAR” Scholarship Foundation. (STAR stands for Stand Tall and Reach.) It is an all-volunteer, non-profit initiative that provides a roadmap to a better life through teaching that studying pays and life is merit-based. It gives scholarships to African-American and Black students starting in the 6th grade. The scholarships are based on grades and essays. For middle school students, the awards are between $25 and $150. When the students reach high school, they can begin earning scholarship money of up to $3000 for college or trade school. Paul says you can change a life for as little as $25 because that money brings positive recognition and encouragement. Ninety-eight percent of all the funds generated by the STAR Foundation goes to scholarships. (I have put materials about STAR in the narthex in case you would like to know more.)
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Paul Peck is how normal he is. He is just like you and me, but he is changing lives. He is in the same business as our Lord and Savior. He is helping young people turn from despair to hope, from crime to responsibility, from fear to understanding. Not only did Paul stop and turn when he saw what was happening in Los Angeles in 1992, he found a way to turn around the lives of young people. He is an amazing man who is making an incredible difference because he turned, he repented.
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
-
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?"
-
We Would See Jesus Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 22, 2014
Having heard & observed, these Gentiles were attracted or drawn to Jesus & they wanted to believe in Him, they wanted to "know" Him. Jesus therefore challenges them & us - to die that we might live
