[Propertalk] Fw: Sermon Resources for April 17 - Part 2

[Joe Parrish]

If I Can Be the Donkey.

Corrie Ten Boom was a famous Christian whose testimony of suffering in Nazi concentration camps and God's grace through it all touched millions of lives. A few years ago, in a press conference following a ceremony in which Corrie Ten Boom was given an honorary degree, one of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so much acclaim. She replied immediately, "Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?" She continued, "If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor."

 
Mike Hamby, The Triumphal Entry
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Lending Talent

One of my pastor-friends in the Memphis Conference is a wonderful preacher. Some years ago she was serving on a church staff in Cincinnati, as a layperson in charge of singles ministry. One day a layman and his wife took her out to dinner. The layman said to her, "I don't know how to lead people to Jesus, but I know how to make money. You know how to lead people to Jesus, so I want to send you to seminary."

After Susan recovered a bit from shock, she asked, "Are you really serious?" He said, "I certainly am. And I want you to pick out the best seminary in the country. I don't believe in doing things half-way and neither does Jesus."

Today she is joyously at work leading people to Jesus. And he is still busy making money to underwrite the work of Christ. Both she and he lent their donkeys to Jesus.

Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com 
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The Triumph and the Tragedy

Go with me now to the year 1942. The first American troops are marching into London. We are entering the conflict known as World War II. The people of London are cheering the American soldiers. The friendly reception exhilarates the young soldiers. They sing as they march. Suddenly the troops turn into a main street and a strange hush falls over the scene. The happy songs die on their lips. They are looking for the first time upon an area in London that has been blown to bits. They see the great wounds on the city inflicted by falling bombs. They suddenly realize the city has suffered terribly. In these young soldiers' hearts, one moment celebration; the next, great sadness.

The triumph and the tragedy. Palm Sunday. Good Friday. Life happens.

King Duncan, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com
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On My Account

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus are standing next to each other, staring at a star-filled sky. "Would you like to see a falling star?" Charlie Brown asks Linus. 

"Sure..." Linus responds. "Then again, I don't know," he adds, after some thought. "I'd hate to have it fall just on my account." 

In the book Parables of Peanuts, Robert Short uses this cartoon to make the point that a star did fall on our account. God came down to us as Jesus: like a lamb led to slaughter, He died on our account. What humility. What love and, oh, what he accomplished there.

Charles Schultz, Peanuts, quoted by Robert Short

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How a King Enters a City

The Greek author Plutarch describes how kings are supposed to enter a city. He tells about one Roman general, Aemilius Paulus, who won a decisive victory over the Macedonians. When Aemilius returned to Rome, his triumphant procession lasted three days. The first day was dedicated to displaying all the artwork that Aemilius and his army had plundered. The second day was devoted to all the weapons of the Macedonians they had captured. The third day began with the rest of the plunder borne by 250
oxen, whose horns were covered in gold. This included more than 17,000 pounds of gold coins. Then came the captured and humiliated king of Macedonia and his extended family. Finally, Aemilius himself entered Rome, mounted on a magnificent chariot. Aemilius wore a purple robe, interwoven with gold. He carried his laurels in his right hand. He was accompanied by a large choir singing hymns, praising the military accomplishments of the great Aemilius. That, my friends, is how a king enters a city.

But the King of Kings? He entered riding on a lowly donkey. If he had consulted his political advisors, they would have been aghast. What was he up to? Leaders are supposed to project strength and power.

King Duncan, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com

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What Is God Like?

Legend has it that during Marco Polo's celebrated trip to Asia, he was taken before the great and fearsome ruler, Genghis Khan. Now what was Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant and adventurer, supposed to do before this mighty pagan conqueror? One false move could cost him his life. He decided to tell the story of Jesus as it is recorded in the gospels. It is said that when Marco Polo related the events of Holy Week, and described Jesus' betrayal, his trial, his scourging and crucifixion, Genghis Khan became more and more agitated, more engrossed in the story, and more tense. When Marco Polo pronounced the words, "Then Jesus bowed his head and yielded up his spirit," Genghis Khan could no longer contain himself. He interrupted, bellowing, "What did the Christian's God do then?...


The conclusion to this illustration and for many additional illustrations and sermons for Palm and Passion Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter can be accessed at www.Sermons.com.
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