In Sermon Illustrations: "Acts 21-23:1" showing 341-360 of 1,893

Unsung Heroes: Paul’s Nephew

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 19, 2024

Introduction: It’s interesting that we know very little about Paul except that he was a Jew, born in Tarsus, receiving an education in Jerusalem, and some of his days as Saul the persecutor of the new Church. We’re never told the names of his parents, siblings—or if he had any other siblings ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:16-22

Tags: Paul, Unsung Heroes, Paul's Nephew

Denomination: Baptist

Paul And Silas Prison - Chains Of Praise

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Aug 26, 2024

Paul and Silas in Prison I wonder what it was like in the prison cell. Chained up hands and feet. Behind bars. Waiting on God. Maybe for a moment there was silence. Processing. Maybe wondering whether or not they were going to be the next martyrs. Then Silas shuffles and the chains rattle. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-24

Tags: Praise, Chains

Denomination: Church Of God

Helpless On My Own  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2003

HELPLESS ON MY OWN Philip Keller was a sheep rancher. In his book, "A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty-third Psalm," he says that sheep they require more attention than any other livestock. They just can’t take care of themselves. Unless their shepherd makes them move on, sheep will actually ruin ...read more

Tags: People In Acts, Lost, Leadership, Sheep, Jesus Teachings, Good Shepherd, Christ, Call Of The Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

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

Unsung Heroes: The Servants Of Cornelius

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2021

Introduction: The Gospel was still being proclaimed but almost exclusively to Jews when this incident occurred. A number of Samaritans (a mixed race of Jews and other peoples from several different locales, 2 Kings 17) had believed and even a high official of Ethiopia had believed in Jesus (Acts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:1-6, Acts 10:21-23, Luke 7:1-10

Tags: Peter, Cornelius, Centurions, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

The Hummingbird And The Vulture  PRO

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 23, 2013

THE HUMMINGBIRD AND THE VULTURE Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over the desert. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colourful blossoms of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:15, Philippians 4:8, Acts 11:23-24, Acts 12:1-25

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Brethren

Ancient Christian Fable - There Is No Other Plan

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 13, 2023

There is an ancient Christian fable ... that tells of Jesus encounter ...as he reentered ...Heaven. As the angels spoke with him, ...Gabriel, noticed ...that Jesus bore the marks of the cross, ...and being inquisitive, ...said to Jesus: Master, ...you must have suffered terribly for those people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:19, Romans 10:14, Acts 8:4-7, Acts 1:8

Tags: Salvation, Plan, Fisher Of Men, You

Denomination: Anglican

Parable Of Christ’s Sacrifice, Citation: ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 11, 2001

[Parable of Christ’s Sacrifice, Citation: Brad Walden, senior minister with the Tates Creek Christian Church, Lexington, KY; true story told by Mark’s grandfather at Westwood Cheviot Church of Christ, Cincinnati, OH] The mother of a nine-year-old boy named Mark received a phone call in the middle ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16, Acts 28:23-31

Tags: Hope, Forgiveness In Jesus, Christian Disciplines, Crucifixion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was A Family With One Little Daughter. ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

There was a family with one little daughter. Mother and daughter were very faithful in church and Sunday School attendance…The father wasn’t interested and he made it plain it was okay for his wife and daughter, but not for him. He worked in a steel mill, a huge hulk of a man who had been a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:36-39, James 1:12

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Measuring Up  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2002

MEASURING UP In Washington D.C. there is a building called the "National Institute of Standards & Technology." This facility is responsible for storing perfect samples of weights and measurements. They have what are called “prototypes” of pound weights and kilograms. Measuring rods for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-4, John 5:1-10

Tags: Faith, Holiness, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This Is Good!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2002

THIS IS GOOD! The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-3, Romans 8:28

Tags: God In The Hardships, Goodness, All Things Work For Good, Hope, Positive, Struggles, Trial  (view more)  (view less)

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

I Remember Well When The Holy Spirit Helped Me ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Nov 29, 2006

I remember well when the Holy Spirit helped me come to a conviction that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. I was a young adult of 20, married, and the father of one child at the time. I had been running with the boys and come to the place of desiring a divorce from my wife. Also, I was doing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Open Our Eyes...?  PRO

Contributed by Paul Green on Feb 5, 2010

Open Our Eyes...? I have a book called 'Tall Tales of a Big God' written by a man called Maurice Smith. Maurice is (or at least was) an international Christian Speaker travelling all over the UK, and Europe and particularly the USA. And his book is a compilation of some of the most embarrassing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1, Acts 4:1-21

Tags: Grace, Service, Humility, Pride, Embarrassment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Coming To Grips With The Sovereign Will Of God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2011

COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD I want to tell you a story about my friend, Jim Pence. Jim is an author who has written several books. But his first novel was titled "Blind Sight" and was published by Tyndale a number of years ago. Jim wrote this book, but he really didn't think it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:18-31, Job 1:21

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Treat Each Other Like The Answer To A Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Dave Clark on Dec 11, 2012

TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER I can still see one of the great provokers in my life. I met her on a work trip to Kentucky. Our youth group was working on a woman’s house, but it wasn’t very much fun. We hated where we were. Porches and front yards littered with old cars, sofas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48, Acts 10:30-33

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Napoleon On Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 18, 2013

NAPOLEON ON JESUS The emperor and conqueror of nations, Napoleon Bonaparte, rightly recognized the absolute uniqueness of Jesus, & expressed it in these words: "I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the World there is no possible term of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:34, Acts 1:8

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Raise The Cross In The Marketplace

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 1, 2013

RAISE THE CROSS IN THE MARKETPLACE George MacLeod wrote: "I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the market place as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-6, Luke 23:38

Tags: Ordinary People, Business And Marketplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Must We Do To Get Married?

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 12, 2019

A couple once asked me: "What must we do to get married?" I answered: "All you have to do is say, I do." But, I ask you, was this all? What about the ring, the marriage license, the blood test and the wedding ceremony? Are these also parts of getting married? In marriage, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30-31, Hebrews 11:1

Tags: I Do, Faith In 3d, Commitment, Salvation, Obedience, Confession, Purpose, Foundation, Faith, Love, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ