In Sermon Illustrations: "Acts 16:16-24:1"

Again, There’s A Great Deal Of Internet ...  PRO

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Jan 2, 2001

Again, there’s a great deal of Internet research and revisionist thinking going on about these characters in the Christmas story. Some of have suggested that things would have been considerably different if these wise men had actually instead been wise women. And things sure would have been ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:40, Acts 16:40, Acts 16:29-31, Philippians 2:5-11, Acts 16:9-27, Acts 16:16-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Wall, Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Mirror, Mary Jesus Mother  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Of Us Love To Take The Simple And Make It ...  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Jan 25, 2001

Some of us love to take the simple and make it complex. Some of us thrive on taking perfectly obvious matters and making them as obscure as possible. My neighbor’s car has on it a bumper sticker that says, “Eschew obfuscation”. After about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Baptist

Hell Freezes Over  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Mar 2, 2001

HELL FREEZES OVER A rough and gruff man from Massachusetts who didn’t live a very good life died and went to hell. The devil really wanted to punish him, so he put him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse he cranked up the temperature and the humidity. After a couple ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-26

Tags: Hell, Lively, Sports, Second Coming

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Inner City Church Had An Annual Student ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2001

An inner city church had an annual student recognition day. Normally, students would share about their educational experiences and then the pastor would get up and offer a few closing words. One year, the pastor’s words were a bit alarming. He stood up in front of all the young graduates and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:1-15, Mark 15:1-15, Daniel 1:6-12

Tags: Witnessing, Life

Do You Remember Bubba Smith? He Retired ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 13, 2001

ILL. Do you remember Bubba Smith? He retired from professional football a few years ago. Then, after he retired from playing football, Bubba Smith started making beer commercials. He was the guy who tore the top off of beer cans, & engaged in the argument about whether it is less filling or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-37

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Imagine A Group Of People Coming To Your Home And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2002

Imagine a group of people coming to your home and interrupting your Twinkie-eating, TV-watching routine with an urgent message: “Good News! We’re from the United States Olympic Committee. We have been looking for someone to run the marathon in the next Olympics. We have statistics on every person ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Race, Discipleship, Disciplines

His One Mistake  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 26, 2002

“His One Mistake” He brushed his teeth twice a day. The doctor examined him twice a year. He wore rubbers when it rained. He slept with the windows opened. He stuck to a diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. He golfed—but never more than 18 holes at a time. He got at least 8 hours ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7-12, Matthew 8:11-13, Acts 20:7-12

Tags: Death, God's Judgment, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Evangelist, Lieghton Ford Was Speaking At An ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 11, 2002

The evangelist, Lieghton Ford was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Evangelism How To, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Wesleyan

Praying For Deliverance  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 6, 2002

PRAYING FOR DELIVERANCE John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34, Acts 16:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

After Attending Church One Sunday Morning, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 24, 2002

After attending church one Sunday morning, a little boy knelt at his bedside that night and prayed, "Dear God, we had a good time at church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:27-28

Tags: Church Practices, Worship Definition

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If I Can't Be Good Enough...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 3, 2003

IF I CAN'T BE GOOD ENOUGH... Little Billy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother, "How do you expect to get into heaven?" He thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I’ll just run in and out and keep slamming the door until ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 32:16-17, Isaiah 32:16-17, Acts 17:29-31, Ephesians 3:8-13, Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 6:10-11, 1 John 3:18-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Works In Three's (Foundations Of Grace) ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Yandris on Mar 8, 2003

GOD WORKS IN THREE’S (foundations of grace) death, burial, resurrection; (the kingdom of God) righteousness, peace, Holy Ghost ;( the greatness of God) was, is, is to come ;( three manifestations of God) Father, Son, Holy Ghost ;( in him we) live, move, have our being ;( now abideth these) ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:13, Mark 9:31, Revelation 4:8, Acts 17:28, Genesis 18:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

Some Time Ago A Man Was Staying In A Chalet In ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Oct 28, 2003

Some time ago a man was staying in a chalet in the Swiss Alps. Early one morning he heard what sounded like an earthquake. Hurriedly he got out of bed and ran to the front desk and asked if there was something wrong, if the mountains were breaking up? He was scared. The man at the front desk ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

During The American Revolution A Man In Civilian ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 6, 2006

During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal!” The stranger ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:21

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

President Abraham Lincoln, In A National ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

President Abraham Lincoln, in a National Proclamation of Prayer and Repentance in 1863 wrote, “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:23

One Of The Greatest Stories Ever Written Was When ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 17, 2004

One of the greatest stories ever written was when Paul and Silas were in Philippi, with swollen ankles, bleeding backs, beaten with rods, in a rat infested inner prison. Apparently that is a good platform for revival. Apparently that is a good time to write history. Do you hear them ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:20-31

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith General

Denomination: Pentecostal

A One Way Street With No Turns!" Luke 9: 49-50 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 8, 2004

“A One Way Street With No Turns!” Luke 9: 49-50 Key verse(s): 49: “‘Master,’ said John, ‘we say a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because his is not one of us.’” “For many years Sir Walter Scott was the leading literary figure in the British Empire. No one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:49-50, Acts 16:12-19

Tags: Envy, Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

How Did I Spend My 75 Years?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

HOW DID I SPEND MY 75 YEARS? Statisticians tells us that the average life span is now around 75 years. If you’re under 30 then you think that is a long time. If you’re around my age, you’re beginning to realize that’s not really very long at all. A few years ago, someone went to the trouble to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14, Acts 20:7-12

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, New Year's Day, Giving Yourself

How Would Your Church Respond If Your Young ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

How would your church respond if your young people were approached by an organized cult? One night at a church skating party, a group of teenagers were "befriended" by several men who asked about their spiritual lives. The teenagers were given an invitation to join them for a series of special ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:29-30

Tags: Paul