Endorsements
Dr. Jim L. Wilson |
FreshMinistry's
online editor Jim L. Wilson (see bio)
provides Sermon Illustrations
at an
affordable price to assist
Preachers in their sermon
preparation tasks. We
average adding about one new
illustration per day based
upon current events, movies
and literature.
Jim's
Fresh Sermon Illustrations
are available for purchase
in Bible Software programs
like WordSearch,
Accordance
and Logos
and have appeared on
other illustration
services managed by Group
Publishing and
Christianity Today.
|
Dr. Jim Henry |
"Dr. Wilson gives the
preacher a huge jump in
sermon preparation by
joining the scripture and
illustration together. It is
great material and a time
saver. I wish I had it when
I began preaching fifty
years ago."
Pastor Emeritus of First
Baptist Church, Orlando,
Florida
Past President of the
Southern Baptist Convention
(1994-1996)
|
Dr. David Johnson |
“If Spurgeon was correct
that illustrations allow the
light to shine on the truth
of God's word, Jim Wilson's
work opens the window to let
the light shine in a fresh
and relevant way. I highly
recommend it!”
Executive Director
Arizona Southern Baptist
Convention
|
Dr. Eric Herrstrom |
“Jim
is a powerful communicator
with a unique ability to
draw people into his
messages. His timely
illustrations are always
relevant and insightful.
This resource is an
excellent addition to every
teacher's library.”
Lead Pastor, Lake Arlington
Baptist Church, Lake
Arlington Texas
|
|
Samples
THE INABILITY TO FORGIVE MAY HAUNT US
THE REST OF OUR LIVES.
Simon Wiesenthal, an Austrian Jew
spent four-and-a-half years in
various Nazi concentration camps
during WWII. Wiesenthal, one of the
few to survive the atrocities of the
Holocaust, recounts a harrowing
story in his memoir, The Sunflower.
While working to clear rubbish from
a make-shift hospital, a nurse
summoned Wiesenthal to a secret
room, where a severely wounded Nazi
soldier lay on his deathbed. The
soldier told Wiesenthal how he
volunteered for the SS
(Schutzstaffel), and how his
superiors ordered him to gun down
innocent Jews. Wiesenthanl listened
to the soldier as he expressed deep
sorrow and regret for what he had
done. He said that he wanted to
confess his sin to a Jew before he
died. Wiesenthal, unable to offer
any comforting words of forgiveness,
left the room in silence—
Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and
Loren C. Pirtle
Wiesenthal, Simon. The Sunflower:
On the Possibilities and Limits of
Forgiveness. New York:
Schocken Books. 1998 p. 176-8.
Unfortunately, the solder confessed
his sin to the wrong Jew. There is a
Jew who would not walk out of the
room unable to offer forgiveness.
Jesus Christ is willing and able to
forgive the sins of all who come to
him with a sincere heart and a
desire to change.
Mark 2:9-12 Which is easier: to say
to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick
up your mat, and walk’? (10) But so
you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins,”
He told the paralytic, (11) “I tell
you: get up, pick up your mat, and
go home.” (12) Immediately he got
up, picked up the mat, and went out
in front of everyone. As a result,
they were all astounded and gave
glory to God, saying, “We have never
seen anything like this!”
FORGIVENESS IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!
Researchers have discovered new
truth behind the old adage, "To err
is human and to forgive, divine."
Studies suggest that people who
forgive experience physical and
mental health benefits. Research
also indicates the beneficial health
benefits vary by age, and are
affected by a person's willingness
to forgive others, their willingness
to forgive themselves, and feelings
of being forgiven by God.
The study conducted by the
University of Michigan and partly
funded by the National Institute of
Mental Health, found young adults;
aged 18-44 were less likely to
forgive others than middle aged
adults (45-64) and older adults (65
and up). Younger adults were also
less likely to believe they had been
forgiven by God.
People who forgive reported
decreased psychological distress,
including fewer feelings of
restlessness, hopelessness, and
nervousness. Young adults who
reported high levels of
self-forgiveness were more likely to
be satisfied with their lives. Older
adults who reported high levels of
forgiveness for others were more
likely to report increased life
satisfaction. 11Illustration by Jim
L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.
—http://dailynews.yahoo.com,
Journal of Adult Development 2001,
December 31, 2001.
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind and
compassionate to one another,
forgiving one another, just as God
also forgave you in Christ.
FORGIVENESS REQUIRES HUMILITY WHEN
THE COST IS GREAT.
To get a Perfect Game, a pitcher
must retire every batter he faces
over nine innings with no hits, no
walks, and no errors; 27 batters up
and 27 outs. Detroit Tigers pitcher
Armando Galarraga had a perfect game
in his hands June 2, 2010 until a
bad call by an umpire took it away
from him. On what should have been
the very last out of the game,
Umpire Jim Joyce called a runner
safe, the team was incredulous, and
replay confirmed the runner was out.
Though he had every reason to be
angry, Galarraga offered grace
instead of harsh words about the
mistake.
In an interview Galarraga told CNN
Sports, “We’re human, we make
mistakes.” He said he did not get
angry, and was happy about playing
such a good game. Joyce publically
apologized for his mistake, and the
men had a chance to move on. The
Tiger’s pitcher said, “He apologized
to me, I gave him a hug. I’m sure
the guy feels 100 times worse than
me.” Though Galarraga said he
planned to tell his children that he
had a perfect game that night, he
added, “The next day, we turned the
page. He’s a professional. I’m a
professional.” --Illustration by Jim
L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.
--‘Perfect game’ pitcher handles
call with grace,
http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/06/05/baseball.perfect.game/?hpt=C2;
, June 5, 2010,
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves also forgive
everyone in debt to us. And do not
bring us into temptation.”
|