In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 4%3A14" showing 401-420 of 651

Churches In Competition Against Each Other

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 5, 2023

Three churches, located on different corners of the same intersection, didn't get along together. One Sunday each of them opened their meeting with a rousing song service. It was a warm day and all the doors and windows were wide open. One congregation began singing the old hymn, "Will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-7, Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Rivalry, Hymns, Critical Spirit, Church, Competition, Division, Enemies, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abraham Lincoln's Bodyguard Was In The Bar Drinking

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 21, 2023

John Parker was seated outside the president’s box, in the passageway beside the door. From where he sat, Parker couldn’t see the stage, so after Lincoln and his guests settled in, he moved to the first gallery to enjoy the play. Later, Parker committed an even greater folly: At intermission, he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:1, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Alcholism, Alcohol, American History, Drinking, Drunk, Murder, Wine  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Does Your Ministry Rely Upon God's Power?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

David Platt in his book Radical has a chapter entitled "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit”) Platt went on to say, "This is where I am most convicted as a pastor. I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Holy Spirit, Church, Power, Pastors, Pentecost, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Took The Holy Spirit Out Of This World...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

"If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on and nobody would ever know the difference!" "I do not believe in a repetition of Pentecost......but I do believe in a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Revival, Pentecost, Church, Holy Spirit, Feast Of Pentecost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

High Goats

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

Ben Hooper or UPI writes, “A flock of sheep found their way into a greenhouse in Greece and ate more than 600 pounds of marijuana plants being cultivated for medical use. “Yiannis Bourounis, owner of the greenhouse in Magnesia …estimated the sheep munched their way through more than 600 pounds of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8, Galatians 5:19-21

Tags: Marijuana, Medicine, Mistakes, Surprise, Drugs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Church Matters

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 1, 2024

Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? The tourists are having coffee and doughnuts on Deck C. Presumably someone is minding the ship, correcting the course, avoiding icebergs and shoals, fueling the engines, watching the radar screen, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 4:11-13

Tags: Eternity, Church, Mission

Denomination: Pentecostal

My Past, Present And Furture

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

Harry A Ironside the great Bible teacher was riding on a train in Southern California one Saturday when a gypsy got on and sat beside him. "How do you do, gentleman," she said. "You like to have your fortune told? Cross my palm with a silver quarter, and I will give you your past, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Present, Future, Past, Fortunes

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Wide And Long And High And Deep Is The Love Of Christ?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 14, 2024

In the last century, Napoleon's armies opened a prison that the Spanish Inquisition had used. They found the remains of a prisoner who had been incarcerated for his faith. The dungeon was underground. The body had long since decayed. Only a chain fastened around an ankle bone cried out his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19, Romans 8:38-39

Tags: Hope, Suffering, Unconditional Love, Christ's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Alexander Solzhenitsyn  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Dec 22, 2000

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a prisoner in Russia. he was on a program of hard labour and slow salvation. One day he felt like giving up. He felt his life could not make a difference. He sat down on a bench knowing that when he was spotted by a guard he would be ordered back to work when he failed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, Ephesians 5:4-7, Job 2:9, 1 Kings 19:4

Tags: God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

If A Man Is Filled With Anger, Than Anger ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

If a man is filled with anger, than anger controls his life. If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life. If a man is filled with lust, then lust governs his life. If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does. And if a man is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Greed, Holy Spirit In Believers, Dominate, Emotions, Anger, Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

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

[008] Message From A Poem - A Tale Of The Fish’s Tails

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 1, 2024

[008] MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TALE OF THE FISH’S TAILS “Take the line of least resistance; go with the flow; jellyfish that drift; leave me out of it; I see both sides; don’t involve me; I don’t want to know!” The world is full of compromise and it gets worse. We can expect no less from this ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Compromise, Resist, Fish, Stand Firm, Fish Tails, Opposing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Campolo Says That His Wife Is A Brilliant ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 21, 2001

Tony Campolo says that his wife is a brilliant woman. She has a PHD & is capable of pursuing a very profitable career. But she elected to stay home with her children when they were young. Her decision didn’t bother her at all except when other women would ask, “What do you do?” She would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-16, Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Conviction, Children, Mothers, Mother's Day, Motherhood, Parenting, Temptation, Sacrifice, Tithes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry, You ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

"You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town. He’s making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14, Titus 2:3-5, Ephesians 2:8-10

Tags: Cross Agony, Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

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

The Love Of My Life  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 2, 2004

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE Rick Warren’s wife Kay has cancer. [He wrote "The Purpose Driven Life] Rick sends out a letter every week through his web site, and this is what a recent one said: “So many of you have asked about Kay’s progress in her treatment for cancer, so we wanted to give you an update. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Proverbs 18:22, Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Perseverance, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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