Jesus began his ministry by announcing good news to the poor, and he told his followers that whatever they did for "the least of these" they did for him ( Matthew 25:40 ). Care for the poor is not an optional extra in the Christian life. These five stories about poverty and caring for the poor, retold in our own words, span seventeen centuries, from a deacon in ancient Rome to a church on New York's Fifth Avenue. Each ends with a takeaway for sermons or reflection. Stories in this collection: "These Are the Treasures of the Church": St Lawrence of Rome Blaise Pascal: The Genius Who Gave Everything Away The Homeless on the Steps of Fifth Avenue "Then You Will Know How Poor You Are": Kipling's Warning Pastries for Refugees: "But I Do" ──────── ✝ ──────── "These Are the Treasures of the Church": St Lawrence of Rome Lawrence was a deacon of the church in Rome in the third century. When a fierce wave of persecution broke out...
Sermon stories for preaching and faithful living