In Sermon Illustrations: showing 5,901-5,920 of 52,463

The Lottery  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

THE LOTTERY Did you know that the first modern-day lottery was started in 1963 in the state of New Hampshire? Did you know that the state of Massachusetts, started their lottery in 1972 with 50 cent tickets and a drawing once a week. It now has 33 different games to choose from their sales have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Psalm 37:35

Tags: Money, Contentment

The City And Its Crosses

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

THE CITY AND ITS CROSSES Two water towers have always served as landmarks for travelers heading for their homes near Wauconda, Illinois. But especially at the holidays. More than 40 years ago, John Kuester, then village police chief, suggested mounting large twin crosses on the towers to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

The Stolen Baby Jesus Syndrome  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

THE STOLEN BABY JESUS SYNDROME A few years back, Wellington, FL had their baby Jesus stolen two years running. This was a wealthy community and their Jesus was worth around $1800. The third time around they put a GPS inside and traced the thief to her home. But the baby Jesus doesn’t have to be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-25

Tags: Commandments Steal

Quotations On Humility

Contributed by Billy Nale on Apr 20, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON HUMILITY "I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3, James 4:10

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Vance Havner On Worry  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

VANCE HAVNER ON WORRY Vance Havner: Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere! (From a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Tags: Worry

What A 95-Year-Old Woman Worries About  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WHAT A 95-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WORRIES ABOUT A ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home received a visit from one of her fellow church members. "How are you feeling?" the visitor asked. "Oh," said the lady, "I'm just worried sick!" "What are you worried about, dear?" her friend asked. "You look ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8, Philippians 4:5-7

Tags: Worry

Who Lives Here?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

"WHO LIVES HERE?" Martin Luther was often very graphic in his description of the activities of the Devil. Asked one time how he overcame the Devil, he replied, "Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks, 'Who lives here?' the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7

Tags: Temptation Resisting

Why Don't They Let Him In?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WHY DON'T THEY LET HIM IN? A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door of a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen, and when the small boy came in from ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Commitment To Christ

We Require Loving

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WE REQUIRE LOVING A little girl was making but poor progress toward recovery, though the ailment had been checked and there seemed to be no reason why she should not rapidly improve. But it didn’t happen, and the doctor in charge was keenly interested to know why. She was a very sensitive child, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Christian Love

Don't Waste Your Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper recounts a story his father often told of his days as a fiery Baptist evangelist. It is the story of a man who came to saving faith in Jesus Christ near the end of his earthly existence. Piper writes: "The church had prayed for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Conscience

Luther On Sweeping Streets Like Michelangelo

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

LUTHER ON SWEEPING STREETS LIKE MICHELANGELO Martin Luther was approached by a working man who wanted to know how he could serve God. Luther asked him, "What is your work now?" The man said, "I’m a shoemaker." Much to the cobbler’s surprise, Luther replied, "Then make good shoes and sell them at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Tags: Servanthood

Potato Provision

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Apr 20, 2011

POTATO PROVISION I remember just a few years ago when we lived in Poland as missionaries. We were struggling so much financially. The dollar had plunged in value and we lost about 1/3 of the value of our money and were wondering if we would have to return back to the States. So we were praying for ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Something To Be Saved From

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 19, 2011

SOMETHING TO BE SAVED FROM To be saved, like the thief on the cross, you must see yourself as destitute of any goodness worthy of heaven and, like this thief, by faith receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Vance Havner tells of a lady who came forward during the invitation in one of his ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

The Case Of Margaret Ault

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

THE CASE OF MARGARET AULT In his book, The Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight shares the moving story of Margaret Ault. When Margaret was just about to complete her Ph.D. at Duke, something unexpected -- but quite welcomed -- happened: she fell in love. She went on a date with a man named Hyung Goo Kim, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23

Tags: God Brings Hope

De-Sanctified Churches

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

DE-SANCTIFIED CHURCHES Not too long ago, a real estate listing in Dallas had the simple headline: "Converted Church." In other words, what had once been a church facility is now somebody's house. The listing under the heading had this description: "The altar has been adapted for use as a granite ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Intending To Grow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

INTENDING TO GROW In the 1920s there was a young African American child who was growing up in Cleveland. One day a famous athlete named Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to the students. At the time Paddock was considered "the fastest human being alive." He told the children, "Listen! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Tags: Growth In Christ

Wesley Responds To Criticism  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

WESLEY RESPONDS TO CRITICISM John Wesley was a great English preacher of the 1700s. He was considered a rather spiffy dresser. One Sunday morning he wore a bow tie that had long ribbons that hung downward. After the sermon was over a lady walked up to him and said, "Brother Wesley, are you open to ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

I Can't Remember

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

I CAN'T REMEMBER An elderly man moved into a retirement community. It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him, also. They spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Tags: Aging

Thankful People Are Happy People  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

THANKFUL PEOPLE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE I read a news story once of a woman who was getting ready to jump off a 44 story building in New York City. Witnesses said that she did not look like the type of person who would do such a thing. She was very distinguished and well dressed. All the attempts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Family, Gratitude, Share

The No-Mores

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 19, 2011

THE NO-MORES "When you soldiers were downrange, it was the 'no-mores' that kept you going. You knew that eventually there would be no more sand; no more patrols; no more 130 degree temperatures; no more IEDs; no more constantly looking over your shoulder for danger in every Iraqi you saw. "When ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist