In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 1:1-2:1"

Malcolm, A Man With A Terrible Temper, Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2002

Malcolm, a man with a terrible temper, was playing a round of golf with his pastor. After leaving three straight putts on the edge of the cup, Malcolm exploded. "I missed!" he screamed. "How could I miss?" With that he heaved his putter into a nearby lake, kicked a wheel on the golf cart and drove ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:26-27, Ephesians 4:26-27, Ephesians 3:19

Tags: Adoption, God's Omniscience, God's Judgment

A Present  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2002

Jeff Calendar’s three year old daugh- ter along with the rest of her family was observed opening Christmas packages. As is often the case, Jeff’s wife had recycled some bows from previous times, and their daughter grabbed one and then placed it on top of her head. The old tape left on it caused it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5, Ephesians 1:3-5, John 17:6

Tags: Christmas Advent

When I Went To A Crossways Conference The ...  PRO

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Apr 19, 2003

When I went to a Crossways conference the presenter spoke about his tour of the Holy Lands in 1998. The tour gude got on the bus, introduced himself as Amnon. He said that he was named after one of King David’s sons. The presenter said, "You mean the one that assaulted his half-sister Tamar?" ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

The Story Is Told About President James A. ...  PRO

Contributed by Emil Boniog on Dec 10, 2003

• The story is told about President James A. Garfield’s first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration. A member of the cabinet insisted that a cabinet meeting be called at 10 a.m. the following day, which was Sunday, to handle a matter of grave importance. President Garfield said that he had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5, 2 Samuel 1:1-15, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Worship Definition, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Fred Craddock Was A Seminary Professor. Once, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Dec 10, 2003

Fred Craddock was a seminary professor. Once, while he was lecturing at Yale University, he told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, TN, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal—just the two of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

At First I Saw God As My Observer, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 2, 2004

Illustration: At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like the president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him. But later on when I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:45-51, Ephesians 1:19-20, Luke 7:1-10

Tags: Great, Benefactor, Servant

John Wesley Provides The Most Convicting Analysis ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 20, 2004

John Wesley provides the most convicting analysis on what it means to be a true servant: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.” Rick ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-13

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

If Our Greatest Need Had Been Information, God ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Kim on Dec 28, 2004

“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist. But, our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Adventist

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You See Many People Want The Benefits Of Being ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

You see many people want the benefits of being in the Son without actually “being in the Son.” They want ‘heaven without the hassle’. So it is pretty common for people to believe in Christ and yet still walk in darkness. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, “And no wonder For Satan himself masquerades as an ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13-14

Tags: Satan

One Word  PRO

Contributed by Michael Brown on Mar 11, 2008

One Word I sat down one day and began to think about what word I would choose if I could only choose one word to describe myself; one word which would describe me better than any other word. Many words immediately began to pour into my mind. I could think of so many aspects of my life that I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 27:42-54, Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

Godlessness Whether You Call It By Its Right ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Godlessness Whether you call it by its right name or another, it is at the root of the disintegration of any people or nation. Godlessness is not atheism ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5, Philippians 2:13

Tags: Cults

Although We Cannot Conceive Either By Argument Or ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jun 2, 2009

Although we cannot conceive either by argument or reason how God has elected us before the foundation of the world, yet we know it by His declaring it to us; and experience itself vouches for it sufficiently, when we are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4

Tags: Election

Denomination: Baptist

A Forever Family

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

A FOREVER FAMILY Author Keith Miller tells of an outgoing 40-year-old woman who was part of a sharing group he led. Here is her story: "When I was a tiny little girl, my parents died and I was put in an orphanage. I was not pretty at all and no one seemed to want me. But I longed to be adopted ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Adoption

Look At Yourself As What You'll Be

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 19, 2009

LOOK AT YOURSELF AS WHAT YOU'LL BE The Puritan Richard Sibbes offers encouragement along those lines in his book The Bruised Reed. He said, "Let us not therefore be discouraged at the small beginnings of grace, but look on ourselves as elected to be 'holy and without blame' ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 1:4, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Gospel, Truth, Encouragement, Integrity

Denomination: *other

What Is The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2009

What is the Church? They tell me the story that long ago there was a small church, in a small town, in a small county, where a small congregation had tried for years to get the biggest “sinner” in town, Sam, to come to church. Sam the sinner would have nothing to do with the church. He wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Church's Identity And Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

THE CHURCH'S IDENTITY AND PURPOSE In his book, The Family of God, Batsell Barrett Baxter says the following: "There are some who think of the church as an organization like other organizations. It is true that the church is an organization, but it is not primarily an organization. Rather, it is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 1:21-23

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Charles Wesley Would Not Be Adopted  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

CHARLES WESLEY WOULD NOT BE ADOPTED In 1721, a wealthy Irishman offered to adopt Charles Wesley and make him his legal heir. The 13-year-old boy refused the offer, choosing to continue his way through school under very difficult circumstances. This turned out to be one of the most momentous ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-6, Ephesians 1:5-6

Tags: Adoption

It Is Safe To Die In Jesus

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2010

IT IS SAFE TO DIE IN JESUS Max Lucado in his book Fearless, says, "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you." We Westerners might miss the wedding images, but you can bet your sweet chuppah that Jesus' listener's didn't. This was a groom-to-bride ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5-6

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Adoption In Christ Frees Us From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2010

Adoption In Christ Frees Us From Satan An illustration from history past can help us realize the significance of being children of Almighty God - an amazing concept! The image of emaciated babies and young children sitting in cribs, in a stark, ill-equipped Romanian orphanage blazed across the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:5

Tags: Adoption