Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

Illustration texts

The Safest Road to Hell

"Indeed, the safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Geoffrey Oles, LTD, 1942, pp. 64,65)

Difficult and Not Tried

"Christianity hasn't been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." (G.K. Chesterton)

Overcoming Hypocrisy

Many people, after seeing the hypocrisy of many Christians, have decided to reject Christ and be consistently non-Christian. But that's not the only way to flee hypocrisy. When young Billy Graham discovered that two of his Christian acquaintances were hypocrites, he too reacted in disgust...and committed himself to be a consistent Christian. (A Biog. of Billy Graham, p. 17)

Simpson: I'm lonely and bored

O.J. Simpson, long before the time of his accusation and trial, was known as a football super-star and millionaire. He seemed to have it all. But in a 1978 interview with People Magazine, he said, "I sit in my house in Buffalo and sometimes I get so lonely it's unbelievable. Life has been so good to me. I've got a great wife, good kids, money, my own health - and I'm lonely and bored...I often wondered why so man rich peole commit suicide. Money sure isn't a cure-all." (People Magazine, June 12, 1978)

High Mortality Rate

The mortality rate around this place is astounding. Do you know what it is? The last I checked the Census Bureau stats, one out of every one person will die. Do you understand? This city has a 100% mortality rate! Our task is to prepare people for this certain event. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

What Are Your Greatest Fears?

A football superstar for the had beat O.J. Simpson's single season rushing record of 2105 yards. In the interview, he was asked "What are your greatest fears?" "Fears?" some people might ask? "What would this 6 ft. 3" 218 lb. running back fear? He is the one that his opponents fear." But his candid response was, "Dying and going to hell. That is one of my greatest fears. I think I live a good life, though, so hopefully that fear will never come true." (Sept. 1996 interview in sports magazine. Lost name of mag.) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Restless Hearts Find Rest

?Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.? (Augustine)

Pickpocket Changes

Billy Graham described an unusual conversion during a crusade in Britain. "One night a friend of ours noted two men who came in and sat near the back. They apparently did not know each other but within minutes had loudly agreed on two things: they did not like Americans, and they especially did not like American evangelists. They had come to see the show, they agreed, just so they could make fun of it. But the Holy Spirit spoke to them both. When the invitation was given, one of them turned to the other and said, "I'm going forward." The other one said, "I am too. And here's your wallet back--I'm a pickpocket." (Billy Graham, Just As I Am, p. 230) ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Movie Clip: The Matrix and Decision Making

In the movie "The Matrix," a computer whiz named Neal (also called Neo), played by Keenu Reeves, found that there was more to this world than met the eye. (The world as he knew it was actually an illusion created by robots with artificial intelligence that had taken over the world.) Neal was brought before a man named Morpheous, who offered him two pills. Morpheous held out has hand and offered him two pills, a red pill or the blue pill. Taking the red pill would open up his eyes to the truth about the world. If he took the blue pill he would wake up in his old life and continue to live in the illusion as if it were real life. (You could use this clip.) Tonight I offer you two pills. (IDEA: To make the choice more dramatic, hold a red and blue pill in your hand. Additionally, you could find enough candies in red and blue colored wrappers (or wrap them yourself if you have a small group) so that each student has a red and blue "pill.") "You can take the blue pill, walk away and forget everything I've said. Go on through life as if all you see here on earth is all there is. Keep hoping that the next girlfriend or boyfriend, the next outfit you purchase, or the next toy you buy will fill that emptiness inside. Or, you can take the red pill and allow God to open your eyes to what ultimate reality is like and begin to live your life in the light of the truth. Put them in your pocket for now. But later tonight when you empty your pockets by your bed, decide which pill you want to take. ? Copyright 2002 Steve Miller - All Rights Reserved

Blonde Finger

Some people don't understand the source of their pain. They think, "I'll just do a few more good deeds and then I'll feel better about myself." Or, "If I can just clean up my act, then surely God will like me and I won't feel this emptiness anymore." But it never works. They are kind of like the young woman who said to her doctor, 'You have to help me, I hurt all over.' 'What do you mean?' asked the doctor. The woman touched her right knee with her index finger and yelled,'Ow, that hurts.' Then she touched her left cheek and again yelled, 'Ouch! That hurts, too.' Then she touched her right earlobe. 'Ow, even THAT hurts.' The doctor asked the woman, 'Are you a natural blonde?' 'Why yes,' she said. 'I thought so,' said the doctor. 'You have a sprained finger.' Like the poor blonde, many people don't understand that the source of their deep feeling of separation from God is that their heart is so black that they can't paint it white. They need a new heart. That's what Jesus offers us through His grace.

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