Sentence Sermons (Christian Inspiration) #101 --- Example

An ounce of Christian example is worth a pound of preaching.

---William Henry Bucklew, The Starkville News, Starkville, Miss., Sept. 17, 1948.

The greatest men are moral regulators by the power of example.

---Arthur Growden, The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus, Miss., Nov. 28, 1927.

Remember that righteous precepts are only powerful when seasoned by example.

---Orson Pratt, Millennial Star, Liverpool, England, Feb. 14, 1850.

A good example is a sermon that never comes to an end.

---Roy L. Smith, Tampa Morning Tribune, Tampa, Fla., April 25, 1942.

A righteous life bears witness in its attitude rather than its altitude; in its direction rather than its distance; in its contribution rather than its accumulation; in its character rather than its environment.

---J. Earl Mead, The Baptist Training Union Magazine, Nashville, Tenn., April 1941.

The best version or translation of the written word of truth is that of a consistent religious example. The Christian whose light shines for God's glory not only correctly renders the sacred text; it also beautifies the text. Remember that people still prefer to see a sermon than to hear one. What kind of sermon is your life preaching?

---R.S. Crawford, The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La., Jan. 10, 1965.

Your example works while you sleep. What you do, what you say, what you think all have an influence on others. And while you are alone in your room at night, your example, good or bad, continues to have its effects on those with whom you have been associated. It spreads from them in a never-ending chain. There is nothing so contagious as example and nothing quite so powerful as influence. Be sure you set the kind of example you want to be immortal, because once it is let loose in the world, it cannot be stopped.

---Phil Conley, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., March 25, 1948.

The sinner is never a good teacher of repentance. ... Before you can light a fire in another breast, it must be burning in your own, and it never burns in your own until you have prepared yourselves by doing the things which you are teaching. You must be an example of all which you profess and teach.

---Harold B. Lee, New England Mission, Cambridge, Mass., May 21, 1962.

A good man or a good woman, which their goodness consists only of the fact that they think holy thoughts, read sacred literature and meditate and pray, and do nothing that helps, is of very little value to the moral world. Goodness is a virtue that should be distributed by example to others.

---A.J. Gearheard, The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La., Aug. 1, 1920.

The responsibility rests upon all to make their lives consistent with their professions. ... If they make this merely a profession of their lips, while their example is evil, they become preachers of unrighteousness. If in their life they fail to show forth brotherly kindness, and love, and faith, they reject the principles that lead men to God; if they are not diligent, and patient, and humble, they close the door against the inspiration that should attend their holy office; if they do not seek temperance, virtue, knowledge and truth, they deny the power of godliness to save and exalt. In this situation they would bring forth fruit to their own shame and condemnation, and to the injury of others. By observing the laws of the gospel which they teach, the fruit they bear is to the glory of God, and the blessing of themselves and all who heed their message.

---James H. Anderson, Millennial Star, Liverpool, England, Aug. 10, 1891.

No man loses any of his light by kindling it in others.

---Henry F. Cope, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., Oct. 7, 1906.

Letting your light shine does not mean turning a spotlight on your neighbor's weak spots.

---Henry F. Cope, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., Nov. 18, 1906.

He who does not preach with what he is will never persuade with what he says.

---Henry F. Cope, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., June 20, 1909.

When a man's life does not preach his preaching cannot live.

---Henry F. Cope, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill , July 25, 1909.

Too many want to be sirens where lighthouses are needed.

---Henry F. Cope, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., Feb. 6, 1910.

The best preaching is preaching by example, and the lowliest Christian can preach in that way every day.

---J.B. Cranfill, Baptist Standard, Waco, Texas, March 7, 1895.

Whatever our work may be, underlying all our efforts should be the deep desire so to walk in the Christ way that we may inspire others to know God more fully and to experience the blessings of obedience to His law. There is no influence so powerful as a right example. The poise, confidence, and freedom which one naturally expresses when he is living in accord with his highest sense of right is an irresistible attraction. It makes those who come in contact with him eager to know the "reason of the hope" that is in him. (1 Peter 3:15.)

---D.R. Dean, The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La., Sept. 15, 1963.

Boys aren t born delinquent. Somebody has to show them how.

---Cal Farley, Amarillo Daily News, Amarillo, Texas, Dec. 20, 1951.

True morality consists in setting an example without seeking to make an example of those who do not agree with you.

---Frank Irving Fletcher, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas, May 29, 1928.

Footprints on the sands of time are less important to leave behind them than imprints in human hearts.

---B.C. Forbes, Forbes Magazine, New York, N.Y., July 15, 1928.

A lifetime of good example is much better than a library of good advice.

---Roy E. Gibson, Nephi Times-News, Nephi, Utah, Jan. 8, 1953.

What we do or leave undone may carry with it results of enormous magnitude to our fellow creatures.

By your precept and example, it may be sure that you are influencing others to live soberly, righteously and godly, or it may be that you are educating another soul in a life of sin. Every man's sphere of action is wider than he imagines. When he is right or wrong, he is more right or more wrong than he is. If wrong, he may be kindling a fire which will render him liable for the whole value of his neighbor's standing crops and homestead. It is hard to get men to see in their own case the wide spreading results of their acts and conduct and the consequent vast extent of their liability. But they are prompt enough to see it in the case of others. ...

This law of liability for the consequences of conduct is a call to stricter watchfulness over ourselves. It helps to mitigate the apparent harshness of Bible teaching as to the doom of the finally impenitent. To the habitual transgressor, punishment always seems disproportionate to the offense. Ah! will it not seem so when "the books are opened" and God sets in order the facts in the case, all the results of a lifeŠ that has been steadily selfish, sensual, ungodly? (See Revelation 20:12.) This law should give us a new sense of the wonder and gratitude of God's forgiveness of sin. That forgiveness conveys a larger extent and reaches to a darker depth than we commonly suppose.

---S.M. Hamilton, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 1898.

Because of the light of Christ within the personality of the Christian, the Christian becomes the container of the light of the world. He is Christ's candleholder, Christ's lamp, Christ's bulb; he carries around with him that light, and the light does the shining. ... You [may] remark, "I know some Christians who do not throw out much light; in fact, I am afraid one would get lost if he were following my light." Exactly. But the fault is with the container and not the light; we do not give the light a chance to shine. Some of you wear glasses; I use reading glasses and take pretty good care of them. Frequently, however, as I hold them to the light I observe a smear on them which I must remove before I can see through them. That is a simple but perfect illustration. The light within us is all right, but it can't get out for the smear on our lives. Not deliberately do most of us permit our lives to obstruct the light; almost unconsciously the smear of selfishness, jealousies, envyings, littleness, and other sins makes its deposits gradually, and the light grows slowly dimmer until its brilliance all but disappears. The only cleaner adequate for a situation like this is the presence and power of Jesus; the live lived close to Him cannot but reflect His light within.

---John L. Lee, The Baptist Training Union Magazine, Nashville, Tenn., June 1941.

"Show forth your good works, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men."

St. Paul knew well the effects of good example when he addressed to the Romans words intended to spur the negligent, to arouse the slothful and to awaken the true spirit of God in their hearts. Each one should ask himself in all seriousness how far he has shown forth his good works in the sight of men to edify them to higher things. No one holds the gift of life without having power to scatter the seeds of vice or virtue along life's way. The furrows are there to receive the seed which will tend to make them better or worse. Where is the man who would not be horrified at the spectacle of one going through the world spreading pestilential disease, and yet many think nothing of spreading the foul pestilence of sin along their path.

---John McCreary, The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, La., May 3, 1909.

What is the doctrine you are setting forth to those you meet?

Whether you know it or not, the words you speak to those whom you meet if put together side by side, day in and day out, day out, would surely amount to a doctrine if you could see them as a whole.

Is your conversation full of faith in mankind generally, or are you always picking out the dishonest streaks in your associates?

Do you try to drop a constructive thought somewhere?

Or are your moments and your days spent in prying out others' secrets and sowing seeds of discord and ill feeling among those around you?

Is it possible for you to see good in those you dislike?

If not, why not?

Because your personal feelings are stronger than your sense of justice.

Don't let your personal, sensitive feelings become warped by envy or jealousy.

It is always a realization of something lacking in one's own life which prompts criticism in a way of another man.

People can read a lot of things without opening a book.

Don't rattle the bones of your own skeleton in the closet.

---J.J. Mundy, Kansas City Post, Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 2, 1919.