Sermon Illustrations

THE DEBBIE HATERS' CLUB

Bill White, of Paramount, California, talks about his friend, Greg, who recently put together a mini high school reunion when he went back home to Indiana to visit his parents. He hadn't seen many of his classmates in over 17 years; but when they got together, they had a riot reliving their glory days and finding out what was currently going on in everyone's life.

As the night was winding down, Greg noticed that his friend Debbie was getting teary-eyed, and he couldn't help but ask what was going on. Through tears she said, "It's sad that there are some things you just can't forget."

Certain that something spiritual was going on, Greg pressed Debbie about what she meant. Finally she told him. In the second grade -- 27 years previously! -- a girl named Karen had started the "Debbie Haters' Club." Debbie had never gotten over the pain of that, and she had never forgiven Karen.

Knowing that Karen was at the reunion that night, Greg told Debbie she should talk to her. Debbie refused, but Greg insisted. In fact, Greg ended up orchestrating the effort toward reconciliation! When Karen was collecting her coat to leave the party, Greg pulled her aside into a separate room, and asked her to wait for him to return. Then Greg went to get Debbie. When both women were together in the room, Greg stepped out of the room and stood guard outside the door. Greg couldn't hear a word that passed between them, but he didn't need to. As they both left, he could see the freedom on their faces -- a freedom that only comes with reconciliation.

(Bill White, Paramount, California. From a sermon by C. Philip Green, The Face of God, 3/9/2011)

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