In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 1:1-6:23"

Unexpected Grace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

UNEXPECTED GRACE I left work early so I could have some uninterrupted study time right before the final in my Youth Issues class. When I got to class, everybody was doing their last minute studying. The teacher came in and said he would review with us for just a little bit before the test. We went ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10

Tags: God's Provision, Grace

Fools And Kisses  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 2, 2002

"Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1

Tags: Marriage General, Weddings, Romantic Love

A Study Once Disclosed That If Both Mom And Dad ...  PRO

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Jul 11, 2002

A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. If only Dad, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom, 15%. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful. The statistics speak for themselves - the example ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Tags: Evangelism How To, Parenting

Denomination: Assembly Of God

It Shocks Us When We Realize That Great Men And ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 22, 2002

It shocks us when we realize that great men and women go through periods of deep, dark depression. For instance, Winston Churchill said, "Depression followed me around like a black dog all of my life." A young lawyer in the 1800’s suffered such a deep depression that his friends did everything they ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:20

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man Decided To Join A Monastery And One Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Aug 25, 2002

A man decided to join a monastery and one of the rules of the group was that you were only allowed to speak two words every ten years. At the end of ten years he said, "Bad food!" Ten more years went by and he said, "Hard bed!" Finally, on his 30th anniversary with the brothers, he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Communication General, Disappointment, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Church Of God

An Old Sin, A New Word  PRO

Contributed by James Botts on Aug 29, 2002

AN OLD SIN, A NEW WORD Have you noticed that people are more and more angry then ever before? Consider the following… One anger management firm stated that “one out of every five Americans has an anger management problem.” According to FBI statistics, there were 23,305 homicides in 1994 and the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:8, Proverbs 22:24, Proverbs 29:11, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Anger, Violence, Rage, Sin, Murder  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

John Maxwell Tells A Story About 2 Boys On Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Harris on Sep 24, 2002

John Maxwell tells a story about 2 boys on their way to school…and –talking about their families.. One boy said—“I’ve figured out a SYSTEM for getting along with my MOM…. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Tags: Faith, Children, Commandments Parents

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Haddon Robinson Says It Best, "With Him The Calf ...  PRO

Contributed by Lisa Degrenia on Oct 7, 2002

Haddon Robinson says it best, "With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is always unspeakable; and the peace passes understanding. There is no grudging in God’s goodness. He does not measure His goodness by drops like a druggist filling a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7, Psalm 31:19, Luke 11:13

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Filling Up With The Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 11, 2002

FILLING UP WITH THE SPIRIT Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Faith, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Wrote This About Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2002

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote this about our spiritual battle: A man who does not understand the nature of the problem he is confronting is a man who is already doomed to failure. Christian people are like first-year college students—they think at first that every subject is quite simple, there is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18, James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:10

Tags: Supernatural, Holy Spirit In Believers, Christian Values

Sodium Is An Extremely Active Element Found ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Platt on Nov 1, 2002

Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride - common table salt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Apologetics General, Christian Values, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Judge Was Interviewing A Woman Regarding Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Semon on Nov 1, 2002

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by." "No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33, Mark 10:2-12, Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:18-24

Tags: Marriage General, Communication General, Communication

Denomination: Baptist

May Your Saturday Mornings Be Special  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 11, 2002

May your Saturday mornings be special. The author is unknown. The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:10-12, Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 4:5

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Giving Yourself, Priorities

Denomination: Lutheran

Gratitude—a Necessary Attitude  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

GRATITUDE- A NECESSARY ATTITUDE A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project" Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:8

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

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

Unity  PRO

Contributed by Tony Dicostanzo on Dec 4, 2002

Unity Illustration: There can be union without unity: tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline. There you will have union, but certainly ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fellowship Of The Church  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH Calvin, who saw that the Devil’s chief device was disunity and division and who preached that there should be friendly fellowship for all ministers of Christ, made a similar point in a letter to a trusted colleague: "Among Christians there ought to be so great a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3-6, James 3:1-12

Tags: Leadership General, Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting Past Your Past  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 23, 2002

GETTING PAST YOUR PAST Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As as a result of his experience as a convicted felon, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16, Jeremiah 29:11

Tags: New Year's Day, God's Sovereign Will

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