A Couple Sermon Illustrations for IllustratingIssues with Faith

My two year old son has a toy called "Hokey Pokey Elmo" that declares about the Hokey Pokey, "That's what it's all about". Though my son is only 2 years of age, he already understands that Elmo is wrong, for Caden rarely plays with Elmo. Just as it is foolish to live life for the Hokey Pokey, because it is not God, it does not produce the love of the Father in us, it is temporary, and it cannot provide eternal life; it is equally foolish to live for the world and its desires because they too cannot provide what only God can.

Imagine a man who lives his entire life for the Hokey Pokey. Every time you talk to him, he is talking about the Hokey Pokey, and he tries to get you to do it with him. We would think a man like this is crazy; but, based on the Scriptures, a man who lives his life for the world and its desires is just as foolish as the man who lives for the Hokey Pokey. Both of these men are living for things that cannot provide them with what they desperately need. Eternal life is found in accomplishing the will of God through the finished work of Christ alone. Do you believe this today? How will you respond as a result of this truth? Will you choose to live for a world that has as much power to provide you with eternal love, joy, truth, etc. as the Hokey Pokey, or will you accept the free gift of salvation found in Christ alone?

Source: Myself

Topic: idolatry, foolishness, abundant life, etc.

Text(s): Galatians 2:15-21

Faith is only as good as its object.

A pastor of a Baptist Church in Tennessee told me about when his church was discussing building a new building. When the discussion shifted to how big the building should be, one lady argued that they should build a 1,200 seat sanctuary instead of a 700 seat sanctuary because they should have "faith" that God will fill it. Now, I ask you, based on the definition and examples in Hebrews 11, was this lady arguing for Biblical faith? If God has not said it or promised it, then we have no obligation to place our trust in it. "Faith", Biblical faith is always founded on fact, in other words, what God has said, commanded, or revealed. Faith is never a "blind leap". God has never asked us to believe anything that is not true. This includes His saving grace that is found in the finished work of Christ alone, credited to our accounts through the avenue of faith.

Source: Local pastor and myself

Topic: faith, salvation, justification by faith alone, belief, accusations against Christianity, etc.

Text(s): Hebrews 11:1