A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then, he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.

Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

The pastor reached the door to leave. With a tear running down his cheek, the host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen.

Sometimes the best “sermons” are the ones left unspoken.

22 Responses to The Quiet Sermon

  1. Grace Ngoasheng says:

    I just read your message now and I’ve learnt a lot about christian fellowship.When two or more gathered in His Name,Jesus is with them

  2. Armando Zea says:

    Que precioso mensaje. Como bien dijo PABLO, no dejando de congregarnos….

  3. Cynthia Sasi-Opusunju says:

    What a beautiful message. I am blessed. God Bless.

  4. Roshan says:

    Great story. Good reminder that when we isolate ourselves we may lose the fire within us that can not only light up our lives but the lives of others. Everything is not always about us alone.

  5. John Martin says:

    And let us consider one anotherto provoke unto love and good works:
    Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner
    of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we
    see the day approaching. Hebrews. 10: 24,25

  6. Willahar Mahecha B says:

    Great Word some times de holy spirit speaks in loudy sermons but no always,just we maust be ready to listen God voice.amen

  7. chandra says:

    Awesome message.

  8. Margaret Komunt says:

    Yep …AMEN!. No man is an island.

  9. Temilade says:

    Great Message, Thanks

  10. Aubet says:

    What an inspiring message, may the Almighty God be blessed for ever and ever, AMEN

  11. Sandra says:

    Praise God! How awesome is HE, that this was such a simple and powerful gesture and message to that person that sometimes strays away and thinks it is way too late to come back to Jesus. Well it is never too late or too long away from the people who love and care for you like your church family.!!

    KEEP THE FAITH!!

  12. Cristina says:

    That is so true! Sometimes silence can say more than a thousand words!

  13. GeeMa says:

    Just beautiful. Not many preachers realize when someone leaves their church. There are
    wonderful programs going on within the walls of worship. But when Who they are preaching for and about gets lost in the shuffle,some people leave. This wasn’t the case with this story,but it is always important to find out where and why a sheep has left a flock.

  14. Joan Bond says:

    What a sweet story.

  15. Cathy says:

    No wonder the bible tells us to be quick to hear and slow to speak . The message is inspiring. Please keep it up and the Lord will say to you on that day, “well done good and faithful servant”, because of the many lives that have been blessed by your inspirations.

  16. jackie says:

    Thank you for this beautiful devotional that shows us the importance of congregating & worshiping God together.

  17. Charles Ogbodu says:

    Powerful message to all Christians

  18. Rowena says:

    Very nice.

  19. sam Olaleye says:

    what a powerfull sermon

  20. Pattyt Clark says:

    AMEN!!!!

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