Category: Acceptance
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His stigma has become his glory | John Ortberg Sermon Illustrations
Sociologist Erving Goffman wrote in his classic study Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity that the term stigma originated with the ancient Greeks, roughly during Jesus’ time. Initially a “stigma” was a mark branded on the body of a disgraced individual—a criminal or a slave. The term came to refer to any characteristic…
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Not So Far to Fall | John Ortberg Sermon Illustrations
In grad school, although I was studying to become a clinical psychologist, I started working at a Baptist church. I discovered then that I loved to preach . . . until one weekend when the sermon wasn’t going well and I started to feel anxious and dizzy, and the next thing I knew, I was…
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Santa Claus and the naughty-or-nice list | Tim Keller Sermon Illustrations
Biblical exposition Isaiah 56:1 says:“Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand.” At first glance, this sounds as though people must behave well to earn salvation. Keller explains that this would contradict the Bible’s teaching about salvation by grace. Illustration – Better watch out, better not cry Keller refers…
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The solar system with too many centres | Tim Keller Sermon Illustrations
Biblical exposition Keller explains that humanity was created to live with God at the centre, to love one another and to care for creation. When humanity rejected God’s authority, relationships became damaged: between nations, social classes, races, families and friends. Illustration – A solar system with everyone at its centre Keller compares human relationships to…
