Sermon Illustrations

How to turn a disagreement into a feud:

1. Be sure to develop and maintain a healthy fear of conflict, letting your own feelings build up so you are in an explosive frame of mind.

2. If you must state your concerns, be as vague and general as possible. Then the other person cannot do anything practical to change the situation.

3. Assume you know all the facts and you are totally right. The use of a clinching Bible verse is helpful. Speak prophetically for truth and justice; do most of the talking.

4. With a touch of defiance, announce your willingness to talk with anyone who wishes to discuss the problem with you. But do not take steps to initiate such conversation.

5. Latch tenaciously onto whatever evidence you can find that shows the other person is merely jealous of you.

6. Judge the motivation of the other party on any previous experience that showed failure or unkindness. Keep track of any angry words.

7. If the discussion should, alas, become serious, view the issue as a win/lose struggle. Avoid possible solutions and go for total victory and unconditional surrender. Don’t get too many options on the table.

8. Pass the buck! If you are about to get cornered into a solution, indicate you are without power to settle; you need your partner, spouse, bank, whatever.

Ron Kraybill, Tell it to the Church, Lynn Buzzard, David C. Cook, 1982, p. 23.

Related Sermon Illustrations

  • I Read About A Man Dreaming About The ...

    Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 17, 2004
    based on 1 rating
     | 40,758 views

    I read about a man dreaming about the crucifixion of Jesus. He was telling in detail how that Jesus was beaten, and the people shouting crucify him. He saw the back of the soldier as he was driving ...read more

  • Where's The Faith?  PRO

    Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
    based on 7 ratings
     | 25,157 views

    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

  • During Telemachus' Life The Gladiatorial Games ...  PRO

    Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
    based on 4 ratings
     | 8,153 views

    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

  • What Is Sin?  PRO

    Contributed by David Schaal on Sep 4, 2003
    based on 5 ratings
     | 7,935 views

    What is Sin? · Man calls it an accident; God calls it an abomination. · Man calls it a blunder; God calls it blindness. · Man calls it a defect; God calls it a disease. · Man calls it a chance; God calls it a choice. · Man calls it an error; God calls it an enmity. · Man calls it a ...read more

  • Alta Vail Of Emporia, Kansas, Tells In Sunshine ...

    Contributed by Evie Megginson on Mar 14, 2005
    based on 1 rating
     | 6,880 views

    Alta Vail of Emporia, Kansas, tells in Sunshine magazine how she found a new way to pray while ironing. One day she was thinking about the different kinds of lines—bus lines, clothes lines, fishing lines, telephone lines. Why not a prayer line? she asked herself. So she strung a short rope across ...read more

Related Sermons