Gospel Tidbit Collection
(page 1)
Shared With You By
Kraig J. Rice
Bread On The Waters (BOW)
www.breadonthewaters.com
What are gospel tidbits? They are short little stories that make a Christian point. I have gathered quite a nice collection of them to share with you thanks to the Gospel Tract Society.
"A man who claimed to be an atheist began to attend a very famous house of worship. One day he approached the pastor and asked to become a member of the church. The minister was very pleased, and asked him which sermon it was that touched him, and brought him to his belief in Jesus.
The former atheist said it wasn't a sermon, or a song, or any other part of a church service that had brought him to his decision.
He continued, "Several weeks ago the pavements were very icy, and I stopped to help one of your older ladies down to her car. When we reached it, she said, "God bless you, my boy!" Reverend, it was what I saw in her eyes that made me decide to become a Christian!"
"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus"
(Acts 4:13).
"I have one preacher that I love better than any other on earth. It is my little tame robin which preaches to me daily. I put his crumbs on the window sill. He hops on the sill and takes as much as he needs. From there he always flies to a little tree close by, lifts up his voice to God, sings his song of praise and gratitude, tucks his head under his wing and goes to sleep leaving tomorrow to look after itself. He is the best preacher I have on earth."
These are quoted from The Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, November 2000, page 9.
"It is said that when one of the most noted English physicians was succumbing to a fatal disease, he went from one authority to another until he had reached the highest on the continent. Telling this man his trouble, he received the reply, "The only man who can save you is an English physician, Dr. Darwin of Derby." Sad was the reply, "I am Dr. Darwin of Derby." He was the best, but he could not save himself. Even the best of us cannot save ourselves."
"During the coming year, I will go nowhere I cannot take Jesus; I will say nothing I would not want Him to hear; I will do nothing I would not want Him to know."
"Diogenes is supposed to have said: "We have two ears and only one tongue that we may hear more and speak less." In spite of this some keep the tongue in high gear when they have already closed their ears. Someone said "talk may be cheap, but we often pay dearly for it"
(James 3:5).
"Ten rules for getting rid of the blues: Go out and do something for someone else� and repeat nine times."
"If people grew physically at the rate they grow spiritually, many of them would spend their lives in a playpen!"
"The vice president of a large corporation died suddenly, and a brash junior executive asked the president: "Do you suppose I could take his place?" "It is fine with me," he answered, "if you can arrange it with the undertaker."
"I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: "My name is I Am." He paused. I waited. He continued. "When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I Was. When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not I Will Be. When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here. My name is "I Am."
"A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, "What do you put on your face to make it shine so?" With surprise, the man of God answered, "I don't put anything on it!" But the Hindu insisted and indicated he saw it on the faces of Christians in other towns. The Christian then concluded, "Now I know what you mean, and I will tell you the secret. It is not something we put on from the outside, but something that comes from within. It is the reflection of the light of Jesus in our hearts." The Hindu trader wanted to know more about Jesus. The missionary was then able to share the Gospel and lead him to Christ. Christianity is not just Christ in you, but Christ living His life through you!"
These are quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, January 1992, page 11
"Ancient Greek poetry tells of a great warrior, the hero of Troy dressed in full battle array stretching out his arms to embrace his little son before going into battle. His child was frightened as he looked at the helmet and armor, and instead of falling into his father's arms he screamed in terror. However, under all of the military splendor was hidden a heart of fatherly love. The warrior threw off his armor, gathered his little boy in his arms, and held him tightly where the child could hear the throbbing of his father's heart, as if saying, "I love you, I love you."
That's how God revealed Himself at Bethlehem. Not in His might and splendor and awesome power, but as a Babe in a lowly manger, there He does not instill fear but draws us close with His love."
"One year when Christmas day came on a Sunday, a farmer decided to go to church. The sermon was preached on the text,
"The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider"
After church the farmer returned home and was standing among his cows when one of them began to lick his hand - she knew her owner! Strong man though he was, he began to weep as he thought, "God has done so much for me and yet I never thanked Him. My cow is far more grateful to me than I am to God. What do I ever give her other than grass and water?"
(Isaiah 1:3). Is Isaiah saying that man is dumber than the animals?
"A wealthy man watched a missionary nurse attending to lepers in China. He said to her, "I wouldn't do that for a million dollars." And the nurse quietly replied," "Neither would I. But I do it gladly for the love of Christ."
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, December 2001
"One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the Visitor stood, and His appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on His hands and on His sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed Him and called out, "What happened to You?"
The Visitor replied, "I took your place."
"An elderly widow, although restricted in her activities, was still eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could be a blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent -- the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them."
"A Muslim living in Africa became a Christian. Some of his friends asked him, "Why have you become a Christian?"
He answered, "Well, it's like this. Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions, and you didn't know which way to go, and there at the fork in the road were two men, one dead and one alive -- which one would you ask which way to go?"
"There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just on an impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch that day Grandma said, "Sally let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." But Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right, because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"
So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed behind to help Grandma. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally could stand it no longer. He went to Grandma and confessed with great sorrow that he had killed her duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgive you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
Thought for the day: whatever is in your past, whatever you have done that the enemy keeps throwing up in your face, (lying, cheating, hurting a loved one, whatever!), no matter what it is, you need to know that Jesus Christ was standing at the window, and He saw the whole thing. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave of you. The wonderful thing about God is that He not only forgives you, but He forgets."
"I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of the world. Yet, when Christ calls me Home, I shall go with the gladness of a schoolboy bounding away from school!"
"John Milton (1608-1674) became totally blind at the age of 43, but he didn't give up. During his childhood and early years he absorbed a vast knowledge and remembrance of the Scriptures. To this he added mastery of the Latin and Greek classics which he studied in their original languages. At the age of 47, while immersed in total darkness, he began writing his monumental classic, Paradise Lost, which he completed in ten years, and which to this day is generally regarded as the most sublime and greatest non-dramatic poem in the English language."
"One Sunday in a Midwest city, a young boy was "acting up" during the morning worship hour. His parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew, but were losing the battle. Finally the father picked the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to the congregation, "Pray for me! Pray for me!"
"A certain ungodly tavern-keeper that liked music decided to attend one of John Wesley's meetings, but only to hear the singing. He was determined not to listen to the sermon, so he sat with his head down and his fingers in his ears. But when God wants to speak to a man's soul, He has His ways.
A fly flew on the man's nose and when he attempted to drive it away he heard nine words that changed his life. He heard Mr. Wesley say, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." From that moment on, he had no rest in his soul. He returned the next night, listened intently, and was saved.
"A Native American and his white friend were deeply moved by the same sermon. That very night the Native American received Jesus as his Savior, but for days the white man refused to accept Christ. At last he, too, repented and enjoyed the sweet peace of having his sins forgiven. Later he asked his Native American friend, "Why did it take me so long, while you responded right away?"
"My brother," he replied, "I can best explain it by this little story: A rich Prince wished to give each of us a new coat. You shook your head and replied, "I don't think so; mine looks good enough." When He made the same offer to me, I looked at my old coat and said, "This is good for nothing," and gratefully accepted the beautiful garment. You wouldn't give up your own righteousness. But knowing I had no goodness of my own, I immediately received the Lord Jesus Christ and His robe of righteousness."
"John Newton was a rough, dirty sailor with a foul mouth and an appetite for rotten living. He hated life and life hated him. He was captain of a slave ship. Then someone placed in his hands a copy of Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ. He also had the gift of a good praying mother who told him about the Savior when he was young. And then he was saved. He went all over England sharing his faith, and is famous for writing the song "Amazing Grace."
Well past his "retirement" age, he had to have an assistant stand in the pulpit with him on Sundays. He was nearly blind and spoke in whispers, but nothing could keep him from preaching while he still had breath.
One Sunday, while delivering his message, he repeated the sentence: "Jesus Christ is precious." His helper whispered to him: "But you have already said that twice." Newton turned to his helper and said loudly, "Yes, I've said it twice, and I'm going to say it again."
The stones in the ancient sanctuary fairly shook as the grand old preacher said again: "Jesus Christ is precious!"
"Henry came out of his house on his way to church one Sunday morning, just as his neighbor came out of his with his golf clubs. The golfer said, "Henry, come play golf with me today." Henry, with an expression of horror on his face, replied, "This is the Lord's day, and I always go to church. Certainly I would not play golf with you."
After a moment's silence, the golfer quietly said, "You know, Henry I have often wondered about your church, and I have admired your faithfulness. You know also that this is the seventh time I have invited you to play golf with me, and you have never invited me to go to church with you."
"When you are in the process of humbling yourself, the Lord will load you with blessings. God wants you to be like the stalk of wheat that is full of beautiful grains. The more it is loaded, the lower it stoops down. Thus your real riches will be manifested by your humility."
"A Bible college hosted an annual picnic, to which they always invited a famous speaker to lecture in the theological education center. One year, the guest lecturer was a professor who spoke for more than two hours "proving" that the resurrection of Jesus was false.
The professor quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense.
He then asked if there were any questions.
After about thirty seconds, an old preacher with a head of woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium.
"Docta Professor, I got one question," he said, as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. CRUNCH...MUNCH. "My question is a simple question," CRUNCH...MUNCH. "Now, I ain't never read them books you read," CRUNCH...MUNCH. "And I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek." CRUNCH...MUNCH. "I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger." CRUNCH...MUNCH. He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is- this apple I just ate- was it bitter or sweet?"
The professor paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple."
The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at the professor and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."
The audience could not contain themselves as the auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. The professor promptly left the platform."
"0 taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him"
"A mechanic was called to repair the mechanism of a giant telescope. During the noon hour the chief astronomer came upon the man reading his Bible. "What good do you expect from that?" he asked. "The Bible is out of date. Why, you don't even know who wrote it." The mechanic puzzled a minute, and then he looked up. "You make considerable use of the multiplication table in your calculations?" "Yes, of course," replied the astronomer.
The mechanic asked, "Do you know who wrote it?" "Why no, I suppose not." Then said the mechanic, "How can you trust the multiplication table when you don't know who wrote it?" "We trust it because, well...because it works!" the astronomer finished testily.
The mechanic then replied, "Well, I trust the Bible for the same reason- it just works."
"A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat. "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" he announced. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. "Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" he tossed the ball into the air. When it came down, he swung again and missed. "Strike Two!" he yelled.
The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three! Wow!" the boy exclaimed "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"
Your attitude determines how circumstances impact your life. The little boy's circumstances hadn't changed, but his optimistic attitude prompted him to give an encouraging meaning to what had happened.
What difficult time are you going through right now? Can you do something to change it? If you can, don't wait another day- make the needed changes. If you can't change the circumstances, however, change your attitude! You'll discover that circumstances won't have the last word."
"Years ago, the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the Gospel. As the author was doing his research, he was increasingly impressed by Taylor's saintly character and godly life, and found it extremely difficult to carry out his assigned task with a clear conscience. Eventually, at the risk of losing his life, he laid aside his pen, renounced his atheism, and received Jesus as his personal Savior. Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others."
"The hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" has been a source of great comfort and blessing to many of God's people since William Cowper wrote it in the 18th century. Yet few people know of the unusual circumstances that led to its composition.
William Cowper was a Christian but had sunk to the depths of despair. One foggy night he called for a horse-drawn carriage and asked to be taken to the London Bridge on the Thames River. He was so overcome by depression that he intended to commit suicide. But after two hours of driving through the mist, Cowper's coachman reluctantly confessed that he was lost. Disgusted by the delay Cowper left the carriage and decided to find the London Bridge on foot. After walking only a short distance, though, he discovered he was back at his own doorstep! The carriage had been going in circles.
Immediately, he recognized the restraining hand of God in it all. Convicted by the Holy Spirit, he realized that the way out of his troubles was to look to God, not to jump into the river. As he cast his burden on the Savior, his heart was comforted. With gratitude, he sat down and penned these reassuring words, "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. 0 fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds you so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head."
"A teenage boy was dressing to go out for the evening. He called to his mother who was in the adjoining room. "Mom, is this shirt dirty?" Without so much as looking, she replied, "Yes, it's dirty. Get a clean one." When he had dressed, he entered his mother s room and asked how she knew the shirt was dirty when she had not even looked at it.
"If it had been clean," she replied, "you would have known it and would not have asked me. Remember, son, if its doubtful, it's dirty."
In this little incident there is a sermon. It applies to all of us who flirt with temptation and seek approval of others for the things we desire to do. In many cases in our Christian living, if it looks doubtful, you better leave it alone."
"A man met a little fellow on the road carrying a basket of blackberries, and said to him, "Sammy, where did you get such nice berries?" "Over there, sir, in the briars!" "Wont your mother be glad to see you come home with a basket of such nice, ripe fruit?" "Yes sir," said Sammy, "she always seems glad when I hold up the berries, and I don't tell her anything about the briars in my feet."
The man rode on. Sammy's remark had given him a lesson, and he resolved that from now on he would try and hold up the berries and say nothing about the briars."
"Many years ago Charles G. Finney was preaching in Rochester, New York. Far up in the balcony was a brilliant and able lawyer. He was Chief Justice of the court of New York. As he listened to the minister, he became convicted of his need to follow Christ. "That man is speaking the truth," he said to himself. "I ought to act on it. Here and now I ought to make a public confession of Jesus Christ." But there was another voice that spoke, reminding him of the prominent position he held, also how humiliating it would be for him to go forward and make his confession just as any ordinary sinner would. "But why not?" came the more manly voice! Then, lest his cowardice might get the better of him, while Finney was still speaking he arose and went down the stairway and the long aisle. He stepped up to the pulpit, plucked Finney by the sleeve, and said, "If you will call for decisions for Christ now, I am ready to come." By that courageous decision he not only found Christ
for himself, but was the means of helping to bring a new spiritual springtime to his entire city."
A little boy opened the big, old family Bible and looked at the old pages with fascination as he turned them. Then something fell out of the Bible and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages.
When I was a boy, we had an elderly lady that lived near us named Julie Mae Brown. She was up in years and had become almost deaf and could hardly see. Despite this, Julie Mae wanted to be in church on Sunday morning, but she couldn't get there on her own. It became the responsibility of the head deacon to drive by Julie Mae's house and bring her to church.
One Sunday Julie Mae overslept and was running late. She wasn't ready when our head deacon came by to get her and she made him late to church. We were sitting in our Sunday school class when we heard his car slide into the parking lot, scattering gravel all over. As he was helping her out of the car, he became very exasperated.
He blurted out loudly "Julie Mae, why do you even bother coming to church? You can't see, you can hardly hear, you can't be getting much out of coming. Why do you bother?"
All of us heard the deacon's question, but we couldn't hear Julie Mae's reply. When the deacon came through the door with Julie Mae on his arm, we could see he had been crying. We all wondered what could drive a big, gruff man like him to tears.
After church we sought out the deacon and questioned him. He told us that when he had asked Julie Mae why she bothered coming to church when she couldn't see or hear, she replied with empty eyes full of compassion that she wanted people to know Who she belonged to!
Today, who do you belong to? Is it obvious to your neighbors? Is it obvious to your coworkers? Is it obvious to your friends? Is it obvious to your family? Make your decision OBVIOUS to all who see you from now on!
A group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi came across Chapter 3, verse 3, which says, "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." This verse puzzled the women, and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the ladies offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week she made an appointment with a silversmith to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits "as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that, yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy. It's finished when I can see my image in it."
Hemon Loi came to know Christ as his personal Savior on his native island of Malaita, which is in the British Solomon Islands group. After some Bible training, Hemon felt God was calling him to minister to the needs of the mountain people of Makira. He thought he had plenty of valid reasons for not going. For one thing, he didn't particularly like the mountain country. But he knew God was calling him, and he volunteered to go to a work which he knew would be difficult.
When Hemon got to his new home, he found that no one was interested in even listening to the Gospel. But he was determined that he would plant a church there. After he had a small building ready, he started holding meetings. Each one saw him preaching to the empty benches - until one day a large tabby cat strolled in and sat on the front bench. Hemon just continued preaching. After the cat had visited a number of times, the rumor began circulating throughout the village that Hemon was preaching to a cat!
Some of the young men became very curious and came to look in the windows. They stayed and listened to him preach. Eventually they found their way inside the church. Slowly, one by one, these young men believed on Jesus until finally, Hemon was preaching to a congregation of believers.
Hemon was faithful in preaching - even though at first it was to a cat. In what difficult circumstance is the Lord asking you to persevere?"
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, April/May 2003, page 9
-Adoniram Judson
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, February 2002, page 9.
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, March 2003, page 9.
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, June 2003, page 9.
by Jan Spencer
(Psalm 34:8).
by James M. Boice (from his book: Gospel of John, Vol. 1)
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, November 2002, page 9
by Wayne Rice
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, August 2002, page 9
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, August 2006, Page 9
Quoted from the Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, September 2002, page 9
"Mama, look what I found," the boy called out.
"What have you got there?" his mother asked.
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "It's a piece of Adam's suit!"
Dr. Edward Williamson
Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, October 2002, page 9
Originally in the Prairie Overcomer
The Gospel Tract Harvester Newsletter, October 2001, page 9
Tidbit Collection (page 2)
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