In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 1:1-5:28"

Hans Christian Andersen's Tale Of "The Ugly ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling” illustrates the truth that what you know and believe to be truth determines your behavior. Although hatched in the same nest as the other eggs, this “duckling” looked different. He was big and ugly, not soft and yellow like the other ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-3, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Mark 7:1-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Storm, Trial, Trust

Denomination: Baptist

The Movie "Saving Private Ryan" Ends With Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Mcguire on Feb 7, 2007

The movie "Saving Private Ryan" ends with Captain Miller(Tom Hanks’ character)sitting near a bridge after an attack by German forces. His life is ebbing away as he pulls Ryan (Matt Damon)down toward him. Struggling for breath he whispers, "Earn this, earn this." As Ryan stands his face morphs back ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Denomination: Baptist

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

Not For Words Alone!" Ephesians 2: 8-10 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 24, 2004

“Not for Words Alone!” Ephesians 2: 8-10 Key verse(s): 8a: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . . ” Did you ever receive a gift, a gift so unexpected and so exciting that you just couldn’t contain the level of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10

Tags: Joy, Giving General

Denomination: Lutheran

Grace Means That God Is On Our Side And Thus We ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2004

“Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

A Gentleman From My Church Told A Story About ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Adams on Dec 19, 2004

A gentleman from my church told a story about his family. Each day as he came home from work, he stopped on his way into his house to pet his dog, and give it some affection. One day as he came in the house, his wife said with a little frustration, "Why is it that every day you always pet the dog ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Few Resolutions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

A FEW RESOLUTIONS Here are a few less-serious resolutions: “I have resolved not to do drugs anymore, because I get the same effect just standing up really fast.” “I have resolved to live in my own little world, because at least they know me here.” “I have resolved to stay married, because ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:10-16

Tags: New Year's Day, Fool

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

Sanctification Is A Fancy Church Word That Simply ...  PRO

Contributed by David Wilson on Jan 20, 2005

Sanctification is a fancy church word that simply means cleaned up and ready to use. Your laundry that has been washed, dried, and ironed is sanctified because it has been cleaned and prepared for use. My son is a tennis shoe freak. It started out with a pair of Jordan sneakers. He has lots and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

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

Addicted To Unkind ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Addicted to Unkind Words Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, lectures throughout our country on the powerful and often negative impact of words. He often asks those in his audience if they can go 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to another person. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words

Words Of Discouragement From Lucy To Charley ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Words of Discouragement from Lucy to Charley Brown Charley Brown says to Lucy, still dispensing sage wisdom for the pre-inflationary price of five cents, "Nobody likes me, Lucy. Everybody hates my guts. Do you see that plane up there, Lucy? It’s a plane full of people going somewhere else. That’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words

Family—the Bottom Line Of Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

Family--The Bottom Line of Life Chuck Swindoll said of the family, "Whatever else may be said about the home, it is the bottom line of life, the anvil upon which attitudes and convictions are hammered out. It is the place where life’s bills come due, the single most influential force in our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-33, Ephesians 3:1-8

Tags: Family

Dale Carnegie In Yellowstone  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

DALE CARNEGIE IN YELLOWSTONE Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. This command is again repeated by Paul to the Colossians in 3:13, 13Bear with each other and forgive... The alternative to forgiveness is bitterness and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Spurgeon Shown Grace By Fellow Minister

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 30, 2009

Spurgeon Shown Grace by Fellow Minister Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Grace

Different Views Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Different Views of Time You may not realize it, but your appreciation of time this morning goes well beyond the challenges of adjusting to daylight-savings time. There was a time when time was a relatively simple thing. People were born, grew up, grew old and died. Days, seasons and years past. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Time

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue Symbolism Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.” It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor. The brevity of life is a strong argument for making the best use of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Opportunity

Wisdom, Skill, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Wisdom, Skill, and Virtue Someone once said: Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skill is knowing how to do it, and virtue is doing it. (Everywoman’s Family Circle as found in Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Wisdom

Flight Simulator And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

Flight Simulator and Grace Grace. A word used in a variety of ways. It is a word that has been used as an alternative term for prayer. It has been used to describe the way a person moves. It has also been used by many parents to name their daughters. Still, none of these uses seem to catch the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace

Man Learns To Forgive His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Man Learns to Forgive His Enemy The apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). We don’t serve in order to merit God’s forgiveness. We serve because we have already received God’s forgiveness. And our service is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others