C cares, of the world

CHRIST, ONLY SAVIOR

A Great Man

Date: 5/2007.101

Jan 27^th 2013 Fort Lauderdale Chinese Church – Isa 65:17-25 A festival of rejoicing

Hot Illustrations

Like most boys his age, he attended school. He also worked in the family business and did his best to grow up strong and healthy. Deep inside, however, he knew he had a special purpose, a destiny to fulfill.

As he grew older people began to notice that there was something special about this young man. He had talent and charisma. He was gifted like no other. It wasn’t long before he started attracting crowds. Thousands came to see and listen to him.

He chose a small band of loyal companions who traveled with him everywhere he went. Many of them had given up their jobs just to be with their idol and take care of his needs.

As his fame spread, some grew jealous of him. Others thought he was leading people astray, and they plotted against him. But his popularity only increased. He touched the lives of young and old alike and brought joy and laughter to the weak and downhearted. Many hailed him as king.

Toward the end of his short life, he suffered quite a bit. Some who had followed him fell away and turned to worshiping others.

He died alone. Those closest to him were left discouraged and confused. They never expected his life to end that way.

Soon after his death, there were rumors that he didn’t really die. His followers spread the news all around. He lives! They said. He is not dead! Some claimed they actually saw him. Even today, many believe he is still alive.

By now, you’ve probably figured out who this great man was.

His name was Elvis Presley.

Where to Take It from Here...

If you word things generally enough, you can find a lot of similarities between Jesus and Elvis. In fact, you can find a lot of similarities between Jesus and you. That’s because Jesus was a human being, just like you. He was fully God, but he was also fully human.

That’s where the similarities end, however. Elvis came to sing; Jesus came to save.

There is only one Jesus Christ, Son of God, who was born of a virgin, died on a cross for the sins of the world, rose again on the third day, and today sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for everyone who calls on his name.

While others have been hailed as king, there is only one King of King and Lord of Lords. His name is Jesus.
曾经有一个人，历史记载他是一个伟人。他生长在一个小村子，环境贫穷。从小他跟其他的孩子一样，乖乖的上课，在父亲的店里帮忙，只是一个普通的孩子。但是，他知道他的生命有一个特别的使命。这孩子渐渐成长，别人开始注意到他非常特别，有特别的恩赐，也特别吸引别人。不久后，有许多人寻找他，为了来听他。他也特地选了一小群人跟着他－他到哪里，他们也跟他到那里。有好几个人为了跟随他，也放弃了他们的事业。他声名远播，有一些人就妒忌他，说他误导别人，甚至计谋要害他。但是，男女老少都被他吸引。甚至，还称他为王。随着名声的增长，他也面对许多的苦。特别在他临死之前。最后，他一个人孤零零的死了。跟随他的人也离开他。他们没有想到自己的偶像就这样死了。但是，他死以后，一些跟随他的人就开始传闻说，“他活了！他并没有死！”甚至有一些跟随者还说看到他复活了！到今天还是有人相信他仍然活着。那你应该知道我讲的是谁－猫王ELVIS PRESLEY.　弟兄姐妹，其实我们这样看，似乎耶稣和猫王有很多相似的地方。但是，猫王来是为了唱歌，耶稣来是为了拯救。
CHRIST, ONLY SAVIOR

The Art Auction

Date: 4/2007.101

The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as Mark, his only child, became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed their nation, and Mark left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram: his beloved son had died saving the life of a fellow soldier. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son always looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning a knock on the door awakened the old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. At the door was a soldier with a large package.

I was a friend of Mark, the soldier said. I was the one he rescued. If I may I come in for a few moments, I have something to show you.

The two were soon deep in conversation. From the soldier the old man learned that Mark had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. The unfolding image of his son's gallantry awakened a fatherly pride that eased his grief. The soldier then recounted how often Mark had spoken of his father's love of fine art. Placing the package on the old man's lap, the soldier told him, I'm an artist. I want you to have this.

The old man unwrapped the package, pulling the paper away to reveal a portrait of his son. The canvas featured the young man’s face in striking detail, though the world would never consider the painting the work of a genius. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier.

Once the soldier had departed, the old man set about hanging the portrait above the fireplace, pushing aside paintings by masters that had cost thousands of dollars. Then seating himself in his chair, he spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. In the weeks that followed, the man grew peaceful realizing that Mark lived on because of those he had touched. The soldier's gift soon became his most prized painting, it’s worth to him far eclipsing the value of the pieces in his collection for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world stirred in anticipation of the public auction of the old man's estate. He had stipulated that his collection be sold on Christmas Day the day he had received his greatest gift. On the appointed day art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on the spectacular paintings. Many who coveted the reputation of owning the greatest art collection waited eagerly for the auctioneer to open the bidding.

The auction began with a painting not on any museum's must-have list the soldier's painting of the old man's son. May I have an opening bid, the auctioneer requested. The room was silent. Who will open the bidding with $100? he prompted. Minutes passed and still no one spoke.

Who cares about that painting? shouted a bidder from the back of the room.

It's just a picture of his son, commented another. More voices echoed agreement. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff.

No, we have to sell this one first, replied the auctioneer. Now, who will take the son?

Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. I'd like to have the painting. I knew the boy. Will you take ten dollars for it? That's all I have.

I have ten dollars," called the auctioneer. Will anyone go higher? More silence. Going once. The auctioneer raised the gavel. "Going twice," he said looking around for any takers. Gone, he said at last, letting the gavel fall.

Cheers filled the room. Now we can get on with bidding on these treasures! remarked the man from the back of the room.

Over the microphone the auctioneer said. Thank you for coming. The auction is now over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room.

What do you mean it's over? growled an irate bidder.

We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son! said another.

What about all of these other paintings? shouted the irate bidder coming to his feet. There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going on!

It's very simple," replied the auctioneer. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all.

Where to Take It from Here...

And that is the will of the Father today. Whoever takes the Son...gets it all. When you take Christ as Savior, you will have the riches of life to its fullest. (John 10:10, Matthew 6:33) Jesus is God's greatest treasure, his pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46).

The Face On The Puzzle

Date: 6/2006.101

More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks P66
A father just settled into his recliner on Sunday afternoon, looking forward to wading through his six-inch thick newspaper, when his five-year old son Bobby came scampering into the room. "Daddy! Daddy!" said the boy, "Can you play with me?"

The father tried to be gentle in his response when he told his son, "Bobby, Daddy wants to read his paper for a little while. But if you come back in twenty minutes we can play together."

Though mildly annoyed at being put off, Bobby rumbled out of the room, leaving his father alone to read his paper.

But five-year olds have a poor sense of time, so it was only a few short minutes when Bobby was back. "Daddy, can we play now?"

"Not now, Bobby," said thee father. "Don't bother me until I'm finished with my paper."

Bobby stomped his way out of the room to wait, but before his father could even get to the sports pages, Bobby returned. He shoved his head up under the paper and said, "Please Daddy, can we play now?"

The father now convinced that he would never get a moment's peace without giving in, looked on the floor and noticed that there was a full page map of the world included in his newspaper. He reached for his wife's sewing scissors and proceeded to cut the map into about twenty pieces. Leading his son to the kitchen table, he told Bobby to put together this puzzle of the world as the first of their afternoon games. "When you finish the puzzle, then I'll play with you," the father promised. He knew it would give him plenty of time to read his paper.

Not five minutes had passed when Bobby burst back into the room. "Daddy, I'm through with the puzzle! What can we play next?"

"What? You finished already?" asked the father. He got up from his chair and went into the kitchen to look. Sure enough, the puzzle was complete, with every piece in its proper place. "Bobby... how did you ever do this so fast? Where did you learn how to do this?" asked the father in amazement.

"It was easy, Daddy." said Bobby. "You see, on the back of the map of the world was a picture of a person. I decided to put the person together first. When I did that, the whole world seemed to fit right into place."

Application:

We live in a broken world in desperate need of being put back together. But it can't be done with social programs, more laws, better schools, the right politicians, or systems of government. The only way to put a broken world together is by putting broken people back together. Changed lives will result in a changed world.

The best thing you can do is to impact your world is to lead someone to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one who can put broken people back together again. And when a person has been put back together, the whole world seems to fit right into place.

CHRIST, ONLY SALVATION

The final bid

Robert Strand

The very wealthy English Baron Fitzgerald had only one child, a son, who understandably was the apple of his eye, the center of his affections, an only child, the focus of this little family's attention.

The son grew up, but in his early teens his mother died, leaving him and his father. Fitzgerald grieved over the loss of his wife but devoted himself to fathering their son. In the pass­ing of time, the son became very ill and died in his late teens. In the meantime, the Fitzgerald financial holdings greatly increased. The father had used much of his wealth to acquire artworks of the "masters."

And with the passing of more time, Fitzgerald himself became ill and died. Previous to his death he had carefully pre­pared his will with explicit instructions as to how his estate would be settled. He had directed that there would be an auc­tion in which his entire collection of art would be sold. Because of the quantity and quality of the art works in his collection which was valued in the millions of English pounds, a huge crowd of prospective buyers gathered, expectantly. Among them were many museum curators and private collectors eager to bid. The art works were displayed for viewing before the auction began. Among them was one painting which received little attention. It was of poor quality and done by an unknown local artist. It happened to be a portrait of Fitzgerald's only son.

When the time came for the auction to begin, the auction­eer gaveled the crowd to attention and before the bidding began, the attorney read first from the will of Fitzgerald which instructed that the first painting to be auctioned was the paint­ing of "my beloved son."

The poor quality painting didn't receive any bidders. ..except one! The only bidder was the old servant who had known the son and loved him and served him and for senti­mental reasons offered the only bid. For less than an English pound he bought the painting.

The auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked the attorney to read again from the will. The crowd was hushed, it was quite unusual, and the attorney read from the Fitzgerald will: "Whoever buys the painting of my son gets all my art collec­tion. The auction is over!"

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