Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

Illustration texts

Bible Protects from Sin

Robertson McQuilkin, former president of Columbia International University, said that his mother wrote in his Bible, ?Either sin will keep you out of the Bible, or the Bible will keep you out of sin.?

Passing Grade: 100%

According to God's Word, all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and the penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23). So there's no way we can escape eternal death by being good enough. I'll put it this way: Imagine that you're in Math class and your teacher gives you a test. The teacher explains, "Since you should all know this material my now, I'm making the passing grade 100%." Now, imagine that as you take the test, you realize that you've already missed a couple of problems that you don't understand. Now, no matter how many problems you get right from here on out, will you ever pass the test? (Let them respond.) No way. If the passing grade is 100%, then you've already flunked, no matter how well you do on the rest of the test. In the same way, the passing grade for heaven is 100%, and we have already flunked. Resolving to do better won't solve the problem. We need a Savior. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Your Way Is Paid

Imagine that your school treated you so rotten this last year that you resolve to get even. So, late one night you torch the school, I mean you burn it to the ground. Somehow, they trace the crime back to you, and before long your case comes to trial. The jury finds you guilty and the judge sentences you to your choice of five years in prison, or $1,000,000 to rebuild the school. Not having the million, the judge sentences you, and you get a sinking feeling as you contemplate life behind bars. But unexpectedly, an extraordinary thing happens. The judge takes off his robe, steps from behind the bench, and writes a check for $1,000,000, then stamps it, "PAID IN FULL." The judge explains, "It would not be just for me as a judge to release you unless your penalty was paid. But as a wealthy man, and as your father, I can pay your way out." You see, that's what God did for us. The penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23), so God's justice demands death for your sin. But God, because of His love for you, sent His only Son to pay the price you deserved to pay. But it's not enough for someone to offer to pay the price. Going back to your courtroom scene, you weren't off the hook yet when the judge offered you the million dollar check. At that point, you could have either accepted or rejected his free gift. In the same way, it is only those who receive Christ (Jn. 1:12) who become children of God and obtain eternal life.? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Deal With The First Desire

"'Tis easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it." (Benjamin Franklin, from Autobiography, p. 222)

Hard to Leave Our Fellowship

"Anybody who leaves our ministry has to jump over two loving Christians." (Peter Lord)

Graham's Approach to Other Women

Billy Graham and his team came up with a series of resolutions to keep them from falling into the traps that they'd seen others fall into. In the item on sexual immorality, "we pledged ourselves to avoid any situation that would have even the appearance of compromise or suspicion. From that day on, I did not travel, meet, or eat alone with a woman other than my wife." (Just As I Am, pp. 127,128)

When Satan Knocks At The Door

One little girl said that when Satan knocks at the door, she simply asks Jesus to answer it.

You Can Keep It From Building a Nest

You can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest there. (So don't dwell on those evil thoughts!)

Proportion of Scientists Working For Military

"One fifth of the world's scientific manpower is still employed for military purposes." (Beyond Science, by Danis Alexander, p. 10)

Pebble in Your Shoe

A tiny pebble in your shoe will eventually halt a march as effectively as a greater injury. So root out the ?small? sins that are easy to justify and hang on to.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |

>   >>