Category: Sermon Illustrations

A Friend Named "Failure"

R. Mangold

II Cor. 12:9 – And he said unto me [Paul], My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

  • If Failure exposes our weakness…
  • If Failure removes the veneer of pride and selfishness…
  • If Failure causes God’s strength to be perfected in us…
  • If Failure draws us closer to God…

Then Failure is our friend!

These famous people defined their failure as…

  • “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.”– Henry Ford

  • “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”– Thomas Edison

  • “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.”– Mary Pickford

  • “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

God's Heartbeat

R. Mangold

Tonight, as we sat at supper with Jesus, tensions ran high. I had this compelling urge to stay as close to Him as I could. Perhaps to the envy of the other 11, I laid my head on Jesus’ chest. Within our Messiah, God robed in flesh, I felt the beat a human heart! Yet, it beat with much more authority than mine; there was a pure resolve as if He were on a mission to save the whole world. Bold and resolute, His heart beat with compassionate overtures of mercy and love. My heart’s desire is for HIS heartbeat to become mine, HIS passion, my passion, and HIS mission, my mission. John – The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

NOTE: Of course I paraphrased here, but I’m fascinated by the notion that John actually laid his head against Jesus’ chest. What a powerful portrait, to be that close to feel Christ’s heartbeat. Is it any wonder John’s called the “Disciple Whom Jesus Loved?”

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Is Light Really Faster Than Sound?

R. Mangold

Light does indeed travel faster than sound, but when it comes to God, the SOUND of His Word preceded the existence of LIGHT. God spoke, and then the light came forth! So His Word will always outpace the light. That’s why even during the dark times, I have to walk by faith not by sight and trust the sound of the Shepherd’s voice…”Let there be light!”

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Royal by Birth or Royal by Death

R. Mangold

April 29, 2011 marked the epic marriage of Prince William to former flight attendant and commoner Catherine Middleton. Every young girl’s dream, she married a prince and became the “Duchess of Cambridge.” William is royal by birth, Catherine by marriage, but we’ve been made royal by death – the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yes, the true Royal Blood of the Lamb has redeemed us all. Now we’re “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” or God’s own possession! Welcome to your very own coronation from the true King of Kings! See I Peter 2:9

Serminutes – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold

Putting the Brakes On

R. Mangold

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart (Ps. 26:2). Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not a mechanic. I have on occasion changed brakes on cars. When finished, the daunting task of “trying” them out can be frightening. But any work performed must be tried out. God is working on each of us, and at times we need our “reins” tried to “prove” the work is done well. Remember, it’s great to be on the move in God, but there will be times we need the brakes put on to prove the work God’s doing in our life!

“Serminutes” – Sermon in a Minute. A one minute spiritual pick-me-up for busy Christians!  Visit this POST for details on what exactly that is. Thank you for visiting today! May the Lord richly bless you. Rodger Mangold