In Sermon Illustrations: showing 841-860 of 52,557

We Are His Hands And Feet.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

After World War II, a group of German students volunteered to help rebuild an English cathedral that had been severely damaged by German bombs. As work progressed, they became concerned about a large statue of Jesus, whose arms were out-stretched and beneath which was the inscription: “Come unto ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Witnessing, Outreach, Ministry, Lost, Service, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Devil Paid For Her Groceries!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

An older lady came out on her porch every morning, and would raise her arms to the sky and shout, “Praise the Lord.” One day an atheist moved next door and over time he became very irritated with this worshipping woman. So every morning after he heard her exclamation of praise, he would shout out, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-10

Tags: Demons, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Provisions, Praise, Needs, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

3 Temptations Satan Uses Against Us

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Eve’s descent into depravity is an illustration of James 1:14-15: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This is the Bible’s description of sin’s slippery ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Temptation, Sin, Satan, Eve, Garden Of Eden, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Ways That Eve Distorted The Word Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s go back to Genesis 2:16-17 to review exactly what God said and then we’ll compare it to the distortion Eve came up with: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in ...read more

Tags: Eve, Evil, Satan, Sin, Temptation, Truth, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Going To The Movies With Penguins!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

A truck driver was hauling a load of 500 penguins to the zoo. Unfortunately, his truck broke down, so he waved down another truck and offered the driver $500 to take the penguins to the zoo. The next day, the first truck driver picked up his repaired truck. When he drove into town, he couldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Mission, Missions, Purpose, Great Commission, Evangelism, Communication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Self Control - The Conductor Of Your Orchestra!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s face it. We’ve been created with a multitude of moods, passions, and desires. They all need managing. They must be under control or they will end up controlling us. Lewis Smedes says that self-control is like the “conductor of a symphony orchestra.” Under the conductor’s baton the multitude ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Desires, Fruit Of The Spirit, Holy Spirit, Spirit Filled Life, Spiritual Victory, Spiritual Warfare, Self Control, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

7 Ways To Build Self-Control

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

To be self-controlled is to restrain ourselves by not giving in to our depraved desires. We can say “no” when everything in us is saying “yes” for all the wrong reasons. We deny worldly lusts when we withhold our consent from them and when we refuse the delight they suggest. God will give us the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Self Control, Spirit Filled Life, Temptation, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline, Character, Works Of The Flesh  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Self-Control Inventory

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Are you struggling with self-control in any of these areas that are addressed in the Book of Proverbs? • Uncontrolled lust. Proverbs 6:26: “For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.” • Uncontrolled spending. Proverbs 21:20: “In the house ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Alcohol, Anger, Discipline, Fruit Of The Spirit, Lust, Money, Proverbs, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have This Much Self Control?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

I heard a funny story about a stunt pilot who was selling rides in his single engine airplane. One day he got into an argument with a pastor who insisted on taking his wife along at no extra charge. Not wanting to miss out on a chance to make some cash, the pilot said, “I’ll take you both up for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Denial, Self Control, Marriage, Fruit Of The Spirit, Character Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Conquer Yourself?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

GREAT QUOTES ON SELF-CONTROL Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Crucified With Christ, Discipline, Holy Spirit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control, Self Denial, Self, Works Of The Flesh  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fun Facts About The Month Of March

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Undoubtedly, March is the best month of the year for many people. It is the month that can have a new climate as well as events that make March unique from other months. Every individual has something to appreciate this time of year. Did you know that March was considered the start of the New Year ...read more

Tags: Seasons, Time, Feasts, Holidays, History, Aging, Birth, Change  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fathers Who Talk To Themselves!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

There is a story about a man who stopped in the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up a couple of items for his wife. He wandered around aimlessly for a while searching out the needed groceries. As is often the case in the grocery store, he kept passing this same shopper in almost ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Dads, Children, Anger, Father's Day, Fruit Of The Spirit, Men, Parents, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Little Known Characters Of The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

It’s interesting to look at the people Paul publicly affirmed in his letters. When referring to them, the thing he commended was NOT their oratorical skills, or their personality, or their effectiveness, or their wealth, or any of the other things we often value so much in people and leadership. So ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Servant Leadership, Reliablity, Fruit Of The Spirit, Faithfulness, Commitment, Dependability, Works Of The Flesh  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Idolatry, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Time, Self Control, Lust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank You, God, For Rattlesnakes!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll, but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was very ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Revival, Repentance, Spiritual Fruit, Unfaithfulness, Brokenness, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cheapest Way To Park A Rolls Royce!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

In Mattew 25, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples. The parable shows the value of investing wisely by those who took their talent and multiplied it through wise negotiation. The one who buried his talent and did not invest was scolded by the Lord. Here is a funny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Investing, Business, Talents, Saving Money, Money Management, Kingdom Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You're Not Home Yet!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 25, 2023

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Missionaries, Rewards, Spiritual Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Faithfulness, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes-The Lad Who Helped Samson

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 24, 2023

Introduction: The story of Samson is one of the saddest in the Bible. He started off well but ended his days as a captive of the Philistines, Israel’s greatest enemy at the time. Even then, there was an unsung hero who helped him when Samson couldn’t help himself. Text: Judges 16:23-26, KJV: 23 ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:23-26

Tags: Unsung Heroes, Samson, Philistines

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Is Resting My Whole Weight On God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2023

When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the concept of believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Revival, Spiritual Fruit, Faith, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revivals In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 20, 2023

A revival is a return to spiritual health after a long period of sin, darkness and apathy. It is a restoration of the soul of an individual, family, church or nation back to right relationship with the Lord. Some of these recorded revivals listed by the author are more evangelism than revival, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6

Tags: Awakenings, Holy Spirit, Revival, Return, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational