The Magnet and the Nail Family
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Objects:
1. A Magnet.
2. Young Children of the Nail Family—small, bright, shiny Nails.
3. Mr. Nail (father), large nail, a bit rusty—invisible string attached, concealing
large bottle under the table.
4. Mrs. Nail (mother) middle-size nail; invisible string attached concealing
deck of cards.
5. Big Brother Nail, tall, bright nail; invisible string attached, concealing
a filthy rag.
6. Bent, rusty Nail (Grandpa Nail).
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We have the NAIL family before us this morning, boys and girls.
See them here on the table!
They picture a good many families living all about us today.
And what is this? (Exhibit magnet.)
Someone says, “a MAGNET.”
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Yes, this is a magnet. It has drawing power. In John 12:32 the Lord Jesus said,
“And I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto Me.” He was speaking of His death
on the cross, which would enable Him to draw men and women from sin unto
Himself as Saviour.
We will let the MAGNET picture the Lord Jesus/Yeshua.
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Lord & Savior Jesus/Yeshua_little children drawn to Him
Let us put the magnet in among the Nail family. See the bright, shiny nails fly
to it? These are the small children in the Nail family. Like many other small
children, they are eager to accept the Lord Jesus in their youth. (Eccl. 12:1.)
They gladly accept His loving invitation to the children, “Suffer the little children
to come unto Me and forbid them not.” — Luke 18:16.
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But what about the other members of the Nail family? Some seem unmoved,
while others make an attempt to come, but something seems to hold them back.
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father_an alcoholic
Let us look at each one separately. This tall, strong looking nail, is Mr. Nail,
the father of the household. Surely, Mr. Nail, as the head of the house, should
accept the Lord Jesus as His Saviour. But no, he refuses to come, though he
does seem moved as the story of God’s love is presented to him. Something
seems to hold him back. Let us see what it is. (Beer Bottle in hand)
Ah—this tells the story.
Mr. Nail is bound down by a habit which seems to have the better of him.
This bottle tells not only of a habit, but of worldly friends and pleasures,
which are keeping him away from the church and the Lord.
Is there no hope for Mr. Nail?
Oh, yes, the Lord Jesus is able to break every fetter. He says, “Him that
cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” — John 6:37.
Now, see Mr. Nail cling to the magnet! Hear him sing:
“Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”
♣
mother_addictive gambling vice
With Mr. Nail a Christian, he is anxious for Mrs. Nail and the other members
of the family to accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour. Mrs. Nail has surely seen
a change in Mr. Nail since he became a Christian, she would like to come to
the Lord Jesus, but something seems to be exerting an influence over her.
Let us see what it is … Why, attached to Mrs. Nail is a deck of cards.
So this is the reason Mrs. Nail will not put her trust in the Lord as her
Saviour — she loves the world and the pleasures of the world.
Finally she too, accepts the invitation of the Lord Jesus. She hears him say,
“Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
— Matt. 11:28.
What rest and peace she found in Christ—a peace that the world never knew
or offered.
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grandpa_grumpy and bitter in sin
Another member of the Nail family is Grandpa.
This bent, rusty nail is Grandpa Nail. He is getting old, all of his life has been
lived for self, with practically no thought of God. He hears of the Lord Jesus
from his son and daughter-in-law, but it doesn’t seem to be for him.
He feels he has lived in sin too long. Again and again they tell him of Jesus’
love. His heart seems changing—he listens with more interest. Finally one
day as Mr. Nail repeated Romans 5:8, “For God commended His love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” — a joy filled his heart
and life as he exclaimed, “He died for me! He died for me!”
Ω
With Grandpa Nail in the fold, there was only one other member of the family
left untouched by the Gospel. This was Big Brother Nail. Big Brother was a
Senior in college. He couldn’t understand what was happening to the family.
His mother and father tried to tell him, but he was always too busy, besides,
he said such things were “old fashioned.” How they all yearned over Big
Brother and longed to see him come to the Lord Jesus and accept Him as
Saviour.
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big brother_insufferable conceited self-righteousness
This tall, bright looking nail is Big Brother. Let us see if we can find out why
he refuses to come to the Lord Jesus. Something seems to be preventing him
from even listening to the “Good News.”
Ah, see what is attached to Big Brother — a filthy rag!
What can this mean?
God’s Word says that self-righteousness is in His sight as “filthy rags,”
(Isa. 64:6). Big Brother feels that he has a righteousness of his own, and so
does not need a Saviour. But the prayers of the Nail family are not to go
unanswered. At last Big Brother is brought to realize that, “All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God.”— Romans 3:23.
He turns his back on his own righteousness, takes his place as a sinner in
need of a Saviour. What rejoicing there was in the Nail household the day
that Big Brother came to the Lord. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,”
they all sang that night as they gathered around the family altar.
♣
What happened in the Nail family can happen in your family too, boys and girls.
The Lord Jesus longs to DRAW unto Himself those who know Him not.
“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10),
and “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”—John 6:37.
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excerpted from “www.moreillustrations.com”
Sermon Illustrations
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do His commandments:
His praise endureth for ever.
Psalms 111:10
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Proverbs 11 to 20 = Counsel for All Men
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“False Economy” – a gift is never lost; only what is selfishly kept impoverishes.
*There exists the one that is scattering and yet is being increased;
also the one that is keeping back from what is right, but it results only in want.*
Proverbs : 11:24
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“Fools” – you cannot convince a fool of his folly; only a wise man will accept rebuke
for his foolhardiness.
*The way of the foolish one is right in his own eyes, but the one listening to counsel is wise.*
Proverbs : 12:15
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“Lying” – righteousness and lying are enemies; to a wicked man they are synonymous.
*A false word is what the righteous hates, but the wicked ones act shamefully and
cause disgrace for themselves.*
Proverbs : 13:5
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“False Witness” – one lying tongue can cause one death or a massacre.
*A faithful witness is one that will not lie, but a false witness launches forth mere lies.*
Proverbs : 14:5
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“A gentle answer turns away wrath” – two people ought not to get angry at the same time.
*An answer, when mild, turns away rage,
but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.*
Proverbs : 15:1
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“Clean Sin” – a man deep in wickedness will invent “pretty names for sin”
*All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but Jehovah is making an estimate of spirits.*
Proverbs : 16:2
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“Ungratefulness” – a man who had received kindness and spurned the gift with
evilness will heap coals of fire upon his own bosom and family.
*As for anyone repaying bad for good, bad will not move away from his house.*
Proverbs : 17:13
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“To Win Friends” – a friendly man will have friends; being a relative does not
ensure being a friend.
*There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces,
but there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.*
Proverbs : 18:24
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“Slothfulness” – a lazy man will endanger his family and have no food for winter.
*Laziness causes a deep sleep to fall, and a slack soul goes hungry.*
Proverbs : 19:15
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“Drink Up” – When you decide for strong drink, don;t be surprised when it
decides against you.
*Wine is a ridiculer, intoxicating liquor is boisterous,
and everyone going astray by it is not wise.*
Proverbs : 20:1
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do His commandments:
His praise endureth for ever.
Psalms 111:10
♣ ♥ ♣
Proverbs 1 to 10 = Counsel for Young Men
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“Wise Up!” … Worship is the first step to wisdom.
*The fear of Jehovah/Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.
Wisdom and discipline are what mere fools have despised.*
– Proverbs 1:7
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“Walk Straight!” … The straight and narrow has the lowest accident rate.
*The purpose is that you may walk in the way of good people
and that the paths of the righteous ones you may keep.*
– Proverbs 2:20
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“Directions” … Ask Almighty God Jehovah/Yahweh about everything;
He knows every road.
*In all your ways take notice of Him, and He Himself will make your paths straight.*
– Proverbs 3:6
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“Watch Your Step!” … Every step molds your character; Step Well.
*Smooth out the course of your foot, and may all your own ways be firmly established.*
– Proverbs 4:26
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“Listen” … to the voices of the sages and walk on straight paths set
by Lord God Almighty Jehovah/Yahweh from heavens above.
*For the ways of man are in front of the eyes of Jehovah, and He is contemplating all his tracks.*
Proverbs : 5:21
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“Jehovah/Yahweh God’s Black List”
… pride, lies, murder, deceit, mischief, betrayal, discord.
There are six things that Jehovah does hate;
yes, seven are things detestable to his soul:
Lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood,
a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness,
a false witness that launches forth lies,
and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers.*
– Proverbs 6: 16-19
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“A Bad Woman” – read carefully and heed the warnings about
conniving loose immoral women.
*That is why I have come out to meet you, to look for your face, that I may find you.
With coverlets I have bedecked my divan, with many-colored things, linen of Egypt.
I have besprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
Do come, let us drink our fill of love until the morning;
do let us enjoy each other with love expressions.
For the husband is not in his house; he has gone traveling on a way of some distance.
A bag of money he has taken in his hand.
On the day of the full moon he will come to his house.”
She has misled him by the abundance of her persuasiveness.
By the smoothness of her lips she seduces him.
All of a sudden he is going after her, like a bull that comes even to the slaughter,
and just as if fettered for the discipline of a foolish man,
until an arrow cleaves open his liver, just as a bird hastens into the trap,
and he has not known that it involves his very soul.
And now, O sons, listen to me and pay attention to the sayings of my mouth.
May your heart not turn aside to her ways.
Do not wander into her roadways.
For many are the ones she has caused to fall down slain,
and all those being killed by her are numerous.
The ways to She´ol her house is; they are descending to the interior rooms of death.*
Proverbs : 7:15-27
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“Riches” … Rubies of wisdom commands the highest price on the market of character values.
*For wisdom is better than corals, and all other delights themselves
cannot be made equal to it.*
– Proverbs 8:11
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“More Fun” … Nothing you ought NOT to do is ever more fun. Wait till you see what results.
*“Stolen waters themselves are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secrecy—it is pleasant.”
But he has not come to know that those impotent in death are there,
that those called in by her are in the low places of She´ol.*
– Proverbs 9:17-18
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“Wanted! Silence” … wordy men seldom are wise men.
*In the abundance of words there does not fail to be transgression,
but the one keeping his lips in check is acting discreetly.*
– Proverbs 10:19
♣ ♣ ♣
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If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
*** Rudyard Kipling ***
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TWO TRAVELERS, worn out by the heat of the summer’s sun,
laid themselves down at noon under the wide spreading
branches of a Plane-Tree. As they rested under its shade,
one of the Travelers said to the other, “What a singularly
useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not
of the least service to man.”
The Plane-Tree, interrupting him, said, “You ungrateful
fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me and
resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless,
and unprofitable?”
SOME MEN UNDERRATE THEIR BEST BLESSINGS!
MORAL :
DO NOT TAKE YOUR PARENTS FOR GRANTED
BLESSINGS FROM GOD WILL NOT BE ADDED
A FOOL ALWAYS COMPLAIN AND LAMENT
A WISE MAN IS MOSTLY THANKFUL AND CONTENT
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Ω♣♥ PRIORITIES ♥♣Ω
α Ω α
William Gladstone (1809-1898) was England’s Prime Minister four times, and one
of the most important political figures of his era. He was also famous for being an
active Christian.
Every day as Gladstone went up the steps of the Parliament building, he bought
a newspaper from the same newsboy and said an encouraging word about how
Jesus loved him.
One day, as Gladstone and his secretary were going into Parliament, another
newsboy stopped them. “Hey, Mr. Gladstone, you know the bloke you usually
get’cher paper from?
Well, yesterday he was run over by a carriage and he’s going to die.
He wants you to come get him in.”
“What do you mean, ‘get him in’?” Gladstone asked.
“You know–get him in to Heaven.”
Gladstone’s secretary protested. “No, no, no, you don’t have time to go see
a newsboy! You know how important your speech today is. It could change
the course of history!”
Gladstone thought a moment, then said, “One immortal soul is worth more
than my speech in Parliament.”
So he went to the little garret where the newsboy lay dying.
Gladstone prayed with him to receive Jesus.
He “got him in”–and then the boy died.
By the time Gladstone made it back to Parliament, a heated discussion was
already under way. He gave his speech, and his side went on to win the vote.
Afterwards his secretary asked, “Sir, how could you have gone off like that
and almost miss making such an important speech?”
“The speech was a very important and good thing,” Gladstone replied, “
but getting that boy saved and into Heaven was a better, more important
thing!”
♦♦ * * * ♦♦
*David Brandt Berg*
♦♦ * * * ♦♦
To comprehend a man’s life, it is necessary to know not merely
what he does, but also what he purposely leaves undone.
There is a limit to the work that can be got out of a human body
or a human brain, and he is a wise man who wastes no energy
on pursuits for which he is not fitted; and he still wiser who,
from among the things that he can do well, chooses and
resolutely follows the best.
** ♦ ♦ ♦ **
There is but one question of the hour:
How to bring the truth of God’s Word into vital contact with the
minds and hearts of all classes of people.
** ♦ ♦ ♦ **
♣ William E. Gladstone ♣
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Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell not : for it was founded upon a rock.
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And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and if fell: and great was the fall of it.
THE BIBLE
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Moral of the Story/Parable by Jesus Christ :
House built on a solid rock foundation will withstand and survive from
the snares of the world ; whereas …
House built on slippery sand will not be able to counter the storms of
the world and will ultimately fall.
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We must build ourselves upon the rock of Jesus Christ, the way to eternal
life and not on the tempting and snaring death, sandy path of the Devil.
