7 Sermon Illustrations on Christian Identity

"Oh," said a woman to a minister, "do you belong to us?" "Well," said the minister, "who are 'us'? I belong to Christ." Then, seeing that this explanation still did not satisfy her, he continued, "I like the Augustinian creed: 'A whole Christ for my salvation, the whole Bible for my study, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my parish, that I may be a true Christian and not a sectarian.' " A Generous Concession A man bought a field next to a farmer who had been engaged in a long-standing dispute with the former owner about the exact boundary line between this field and his own property. When the new owner saw the farmer near the fence one day, he greeted him with the words, "I'm your new neighbor; and I would like to talk to you about the boundary line between our properties." The farmer assumed a belligerent attitude and said, "What about it?" "How much of this field do you claim as belonging to you?" asked the new owner who was a Christian. "I claim that your fence is a good two feet over on my property," replied the farmer. "Well, then, I want you to reset the fence four feet back on my side," said the Christian. This completely took the fight out of the farmer and was the beginning of a new spirit of concession on his part also.

When Henry the Fourth, king of France, was told of the King of Spain's ample dominions; as, first, he is king of Castile, and I (quoth Henry) am king of France; he is king of Navarre, and I am king of France; he is king of Naples, and I am king of France; he is king of the Sicilies, Nova Hispania, of the Western Indies, and I am king of France, — he thought the kingdom of France equivalent to all those. So let the soul of every good Christian solace itself against all the wants of this mortal pilgrimage in this, that it is a member of the Church. One hath more learning or wit, yet I am a Christian; another hath more honor or preferment in the world, yet I am a Christian; another hath more silver and gold and riches, yet I am a Christian; another hath larger possessions, yet I have an inheritance in heaven, I am a Christian. Were but this consideration of the true Christian's worth laid in the balance of the sanctuary, it would weigh down all temporary conceits whatsoever.

— Spencer

Through a semi-transparent mineral, objects may be seen; but there is no distinctness of outline, as in gypsum, selenite, and quartz. The semi-transparent character is no uncommon one, even among professed Christians. Every thing about them is indistinct and cloudy. They have no clear and definite ideas of the Christian system, and there is a correspondent looseness in respect to Christian duties. They conform very much to worldly maxims and practices (so much as to raise doubts of their piety in the minds of many), and yet they will cordially unite in every good work.

— Hitchcock

Each office and class has its peculiar sign. The crown is the sign of the king; and the sword, of the soldier. The followers of the several Jewish teachers were known by some peculiarity of creed or life. Christ made love the badge of his disciples.