In Sermon Illustrations: "John 1:43-2:51"

In September, 1938, A Man Who Lived On Long ...

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Dec 12, 2004

In September, 1938, a man who lived on Long Island ordered a very fine barometer. When it arrived he was extremely disappointed to find that the dial was stuck, pointing to “Hurricane.” After shaking the barometer very vigorously several times, its new owner sat down and wrote a scorching letter to ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, John 20:1-31

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Baptist

We Need To Cultivate The Habit Of Bearing Each ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

We need to cultivate the habit of bearing each other’s burdens. Lend a hand by lifting a heavy load. Burdens are the over loads which we can lighten by building meaningful relationships with others in the church. I read a story a few years ago about a family who found out that their un-born child ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-6, John 9:1-38

Tags: Friendship New Friends

Every Branch That Bears Fruit Must Be Pruned To ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jun 14, 2008

Every branch that bears fruit must be pruned to bear much more fruit. I have a tomato plant that has been living for over two years now. Every winter the cold weather and heavy breeze kill more than half of the vines and leafs. If I don't prune the dead, it will spread and kill the whole plant. ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13, John 17:13-21

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

No True Freedom Without God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

NO TRUE FREEDOM WITHOUT GOD According to Mark Parsec, Independence Day "celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of England under King George." The Declaration of Independence of 1776, he says, was not intended to declare war with England, nor did it actually establish our ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36, John 8:32

Tags: Independence Day

Better One Safe And Sure Way  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 30, 2011

BETTER ONE SAFE AND SURE WAY There is a story about a Fox boasting to a Cat about his clever tactics for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred different ways of escaping from my enemies." "I have only one," said the Cat; "but I can generally ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, John 14:6-14

Tags: Salvation, Humor

Memory And Truth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 27, 2011

MEMORY AND TRUTH Two middle-aged couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques, such as visualization, association and ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32, John 8:51-59

Tags: Truth

Most Of Us Don't Mind Jesus Making Some Minor ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Feb 18, 2013

Most of us don’t mind Jesus making some minor change in our lives but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down. Fans don’t mind him doing a little touch up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation. Fans come to Jesus thinking tune up, but Jesus is thinking overhaul. Fans think a little makeup ...read more

Scripture: John 3:11-18, John 3:1-18

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Staying On The Path  PRO

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Jun 20, 2013

TWO MILES OF DITCH I was headed home late from a wedding reception and had about a two hour drive when a friend said to me, "Remember that for every mile you drive there are two miles of ditch". I was in the car before that really sunk in, and then it hit me, for every path we walk, there are ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-14, John 21:15-17

Tags: Disciples, Journey, Backslide, Faith Journey

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Is The Gospel.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 19, 2016

JESUS IS THE GOSPEL. "Fundamentally, our Lord’s message was Himself. He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He himself is that Gospel. He did not come merely to give bread; He said, "I am the bread." He did not come merely to shed light; He said, "I am the light." He did not come merely to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12, John 1:1-2

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is God Still Relevant?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2019

“Is the Christ of the gospels, loved within the dimensions of the Mediterranean world, still capable of forming the center of our prodigiously expanded universe? Is not the world in the process of becoming more vast, more dazzling than (even) God? Will it not burst our faith asunder and eclipse ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, John 8:58

Tags: Doubt, Gospel, Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Why Did Jesus Really Weep?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

When Jesus went to call Lazarus back from the grave......HE WEPT. Some have wondered why he wept. The Jews must have thought it was from sorrow, because they said, "Behold how He loved him" (John 11:36). Yet we wonder why he wept, if he was going to call him back to life? Maybe ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, John 14:1-6

Tags: Weeping, Funerals, Heaven, Lazarus, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Who He Says You Are

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

Because you are in Christ, EVERY ONE of these statements is true of you. • I am loved. 1 John 3:3 • I am accepted. Ephesians 1:6 • I am a child of God. John 1:12 • I am Jesus' friend. John 15:14 • I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him. Romans 8:17 • I am united with ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, John 15:14

Tags: Identity, In Christ, New Creation, Spiritual Warfare, Position In Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

Albert Schweitzer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

Dr. Albert Schweitzer was a famous musician, writer and teacher. He gave up all of this to become a medical doctor. When on October 13,1906, he sent letters to his parents and closest acquaintances announcing that he would enter Strasbourg University as a medical student to prepare for his ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24, John 12:27-28

Tags: Die, Live, Glory

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shepherd Or Butcher?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 23, 2022

Two people were watching a man drive a herd of sheep through the main street of a small town. “I thought shepherds led sheep. I didn’t know they drove them with a whip.” “They do,” the other fellow remarked. “That’s not a ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-17, John 10:27-31

Tags: Sheep, Shepherd, Leadership, Pastor, Pastoral, Bad Shepherd, Care, Compassion, Good Shepherd  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Cookies Vs Brownies - Truth Is Subjective

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2024

Cookies versus brownies Alisa’s Childers gave the following example in her book, “Live Your Truth and Other Lies”. What is the best dessert? Pie? Ice cream? Brownies? Cookies? Cake? If you choose cake with ice cream, you would be correct. Well, actually, it just means that you’re probably a really ...read more

Scripture: John 18:38, John 14:6

Tags: Tolerance, Truth, Objective Truth, Subjective Truth

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Victorious As We Follow God's Redemption Plan.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 20, 2025

I may have mentioned this previously to some of you that as a teen I was not able to even read a passage from a book in class, I could read, but to read out loud was something else, I was very insecure having been told at a young age, around 9 or 10 that I was hopeless and would never amount to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-17, John 3:1

Tags: Advocate, God's Love, Struggling, Victorious Living, The Spirit Of Truth, Self Estime  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

De La Oscuridad A La Luz: Un Rescate Que Refleja El Plan De Dios

Contributed by Carlos Vazquez on Feb 18, 2025

En 2010, el mundo fue testigo de uno de los rescates más impresionantes de la historia. 33 mineros chilenos quedaron atrapados a más de 700 metros de profundidad en la mina San José. Sin agua potable, con escasas provisiones y sin saber si alguien los estaba buscando, su única ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, John 8:36

Tags: Libertad, Rescate, Salvación

Denomination: Pentecostal

Without One Plea  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WITHOUT ONE PLEA Charlotte Elliott was a sickly English woman who had developed a long history of refusing to do things she was asked to do because of her illness. Her brother, who was a pastor, had been particularly persistent in trying to get her out of herself, trying to get her involved in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:3-11, John 4:1-26

Tags: Healing, Brokenness, Trials And Difficulties, Used