In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Samuel 8:4-20; 11:14-15"

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., Is The Chief Judge Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., is the Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals. When his daughter Zoe graduated from the Univ. of South Carolina in 1992, he told this story that happened what she was just three years old. Sanders came home from work one day to find his home – and especially ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Children, Commandments Murder

Denomination: Baptist

Distractions  PRO

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jul 14, 2004

Illustration: Distractions We can become distracted and look away from the goal of becoming like Christ. If you saw the movie Chariots of Fire, then maybe you remember the great runner Abraham. He had won so many races. His coach held up such discipline. But he finally lost one of the races ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

One Little Problem  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2004

ONE LITTLE PROBLEM In 1174 the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: A separately standing eight-story bell tower for the Cathedral of the city of Pisa. The tower was to be eight-stories and 185-foot tall. There was just one "little" problem: ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Matthew 7:24-29

Satan's Worldwide Convention  PRO

Contributed by James Harrington on Sep 20, 2004

Satan’s worldwide convention: Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his devils, he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24, 1 Corinthians 7:35

Tags: Feelings, Emotions, Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Number Of Years Ago, Dr. Waltke, A Seminary ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Sep 23, 2004

A number of years ago, Dr. Waltke, a seminary professor, & three pastors, one of which was Charles Swindol toured the mother church of the First Church of Christ Scientist in downtown Boston. The four were unknown to the elderly lady who was going to give them a tour. They didn’t tell her who they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:1-16, Proverbs 3:27

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Billy Graham Tells The Story About A Little Child ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Nov 11, 2004

Billy Graham tells the story about a little child the was playing with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now my son, make one more try. ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-13, 1 Corinthians 3:1-22

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith, Freedom, Materialism, Surrender, Worldly  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

Where Your Heart Is  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

St Augustine wrote Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Where you heart is, there is your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Gifts Giving

Denomination: Baptist

A Well-Known Christian Businessman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

A well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church was asked to give his testimony. He said, "I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Mark 4:35-38

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Church Influence On Teens Nominal: New Barna ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Church Influence On Teens Nominal: New Barna research finds that 56% of teens say they attended church-related activities an average of two or more times per month prior to turning 13. Most likely attendees were those living in the South or Midwest. 26% received general information about God, such ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1, 1 Timothy 4:12-13

Tags: Children, Obedience

A Wealthy Man Before Leaving On An Extended ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kilson on May 6, 2006

A wealthy man before leaving on an extended vacation said to a contractor, "While I am away, I want you to build me a fine new home according to these plans. Be sure you work with extreme care, and use the best of everything. Tell me the cost as soon as you have it and I’ll send you a check." ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Heaven, Eternity, Foundation, Dishonesty, Building  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

March Of 1981, President Reagan Was Shot By John ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

March of 1981, President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. , and was hospitalized for several weeks. Although Reagan was the nation’s chief executive, his hospitalization had little impact on the nation’s activity. Government continued. On the other hand, suppose the garbage collectors in this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, Acts 20:7-12

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Burdened To Pray One Day. So When I Got ...

Contributed by Harold Wanton on Apr 30, 2005

I was burdened to pray one day. So when I got home from work my wife who usually would be home, was not home. So I to my room to pray and God led me to pray for a baby in our family. As I prayed ferverently in the spirit, I did not know why, but I prayed for about an hour. When I finished praying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 8:26-27

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Apostolic

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 13, 2005

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie That Binds--1 John 4:16) “What more can I do? I’ve given you the best that I have, everything that is mine to give is yours. I simply don’t know what more I can do?” If you’ve never uttered these words yet in your life, it is likely that someday you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:16, Isaiah 40:28-29

Tags: God's Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

Others Have Prejudices, But We Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 5, 2005

Others have prejudices, but we have convictions. Others are conceited, but in me it’s self-respect. Others are social-climbing snobs, but with me it’s just trying to get ahead. If you are unyielding about your views of Scripture, that’s just plain stubbornness; but in me, it’s contending for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:2, Luke 15:25-32

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Worry

Denomination: Baptist

Order Of The Wooden Cross! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 10, 2005

Order of the Wooden Cross! (10.11.05--Sacrifice!--1 Chronicles 21:22-24) Recently I was asked this question: “What have you sacrificed lately in light of all the sorrow, desolation and bloodshed that have gripped the world?” It was a challenge from a friend of mine who regularly gives to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:17-19, 1 Chronicles 21:22-24

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Lutheran

God Has Said That Every Christian Has At Least ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"God has said that every Christian has at least one spiritual gift for the benefit of the whole body of Christ. No one has all the gifts, all have at least one gift, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Character

Ucla Sociologist, James Wilson, Has Observed An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

UCLA sociologist, James Wilson, has observed an interesting fact about city life: The crime rate escalates on those streets where broken windows are not repaired. His study showed that the failure to replace windows makes an announcement to the public by saying the standards have been lowered and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:21, 1 Corinthians 8:13

Tags: Sin Bondage To

I Can Remember My Cousin Jenny As A Joyful, ...  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Jul 29, 2007

I can remember my cousin Jenny as a joyful, delighted-with-life little girl who wasn’t like the rest of us, but could make the grumpiest of grumps smile because her love of life and underlying happiness was so infectious. The message here is that all of us have opportunity to give sacrificially to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1, 1 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Love, Worship, Give, Life, Thanks, Life Situations, Always, Giving Yourself, Ups And Downs, End Of The World, End Times, Eschatology, Last Days, Guidance, Hypocrite, Impossible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Years Ago, On June 28 (2005), Four Navy Seal ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jul 31, 2007

Two years ago, on June 28 (2005), four Navy SEAL commandos were on a mission in Afghanistan, searching for a notorious al-Qaeda terrorist leader hiding in a Taliban stronghold. As the battle ensued, three of the SEALs were killed, and the fourth, Marcus Luttrell was blasted unconscious by a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:9, Luke 15:1-32

Tags: Hospitality, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

On Courage  PRO

Contributed by Chris Jordan on Feb 2, 2008

CLOSING STORY: “On Courage” Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16, Luke 13:9-13

Tags: Communion, Courage, Biblical Love

Denomination: *other