In Sermon Illustrations: "Mark 11%3A1-11" showing 1,101-1,120 of 2,329

Not By Might! (10.08.05--Beginning Again!--2 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 6, 2005

Not By Might! (10.08.05--Beginning Again!--2 Kings 5:12) “That’s simple--too simple!” I thought. I had been looking for a simple solution to overcoming a seemingly complex problem for a long time now. How could I get better mileage and performance on an engine that was nearly 40 years old? I had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:12

Tags: Sin General, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Lutheran

Order Of The Wooden Cross! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 10, 2005

Order of the Wooden Cross! (10.11.05--Sacrifice!--1 Chronicles 21:22-24) Recently I was asked this question: “What have you sacrificed lately in light of all the sorrow, desolation and bloodshed that have gripped the world?” It was a challenge from a friend of mine who regularly gives to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:17-19, 1 Chronicles 21:22-24

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Lutheran

Making God-Hugs Possible! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 10, 2005

Making God-Hugs Possible! (10.12.05--Sacrifice!--Matthew 19:21) Does God place limits on how far He wants us to go when it comes to committing to His will? If His will is our sacrifice, can there be any limits? Is our God reasonable when it comes to our ability to forbear or to bear? God, of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:21

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Terry Bowland In His Book Make Disciples – ...

Contributed by Mark Engler on Oct 12, 2005

Terry Bowland in his book Make Disciples – Reaching The Postmodern World for Christ writes this: “Many today balk at the teaching of the church. ‘Do you mean to say,” they ask, ‘that all those outside the church have no hope whatsoever? What about all the sincere folks who never come to Christ? ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If You Tell Your Child To Go To Your Room And ...

Contributed by Mark Engler on Oct 12, 2005

If you tell your child to go to your room and clean it, and you say I want you to pick up all the clothes, make your bed, through away the trash, and vacuum the floor. What have you done? You’ve told your child that involved in cleaning the room is going, picking up clothes, making the bed, ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seeing Only You! (10.14.05--Sacrifice!--Leviticus ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 12, 2005

Seeing Only You! (10.14.05--Sacrifice!--Leviticus 1:2) Think about it; a world free from the chains of pain and suffering--a place where accomplishment reigned and failure rarely reared its ugly head. Since sacrifice requires so much effort and consumes so much valuable time, wouldn’t we be far ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 1:2

Tags: Cross Agony

Denomination: Lutheran

He Chooses Whom He Will! (10.18.05--That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 16, 2005

He Chooses Whom He Will! (10.18.05--That Person!--Judges 4:4ff) My first job out of college was a long time in coming. It was with a small publishing company that published inspirational magazines, greeting booklets and high quality cookbooks. I met my immediate supervisor at the receptionist ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:4

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Judging Books! (10.20.05--That Person!--Esther ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2005

Judging Books! (10.20.05--That Person!--Esther 3:5-6) The other day, a jehovah’s witness came to my door. I’ve seen them many times in the past as they slowly travel down my driveway and descend upon my doorbell. I know what differentiates my faith from theirs and have learned stock answers to ...read more

Scripture: Esther 5:5-6

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

Leveling The Ground! (10.21.05--That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2005

Leveling the Ground! (10.21.05--That Person!--Genesis 5:3-5) As I paid for my fuel purchase in he came. Everyone in town knew him as just plain Frank. He was dirty, loud and smelly. Most people avoided him because he was just different from most other folks. He didn’t bath or shower but once in a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:3-5

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

It's The Fruit And Not The Tree! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 20, 2005

It’s The Fruit and Not The Tree! (10.24.05--Making It!--Psalm 1:3) Each year as the seasons change, so does the selection of fruit that is available at my local Piggly Wiggly. In early summer there are the tangy apricots and sweet plums along with nutty peaches and nectarines. As summer passes, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

God Knows I Tried! (10.25.05--Making It!--Genesis ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 21, 2005

God Knows I Tried! (10.25.05--Making It!--Genesis 31:1-2) Success is a measure of looking down and not looking up. It all about winning and losing. For me that winning and losing began when I left college over thirty years ago. I had spent four years and a lot of money along with thousands of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-2

Tags: Peace, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

When Things Are Just Working Out! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 24, 2005

When Things Are Just Working Out! (10.26.05--Making It!--Judges 18:27) IF life is going well and I am in all things successful, does that me that God is pleased with me? That’s a good question! If I am successful in the things that I do, does that necessarily mean that God is behind that success? ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:27

Tags: Joy, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Ask The Coach! (10.27.05--Making It!--Joshua ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 25, 2005

Ask the Coach! (10.27.05--Making It!--Joshua 9:14-15) I grew up in a time and place of heroes. Mostly my heroes were TV cowboys like Roy Rogers or the Cisco Kid. In those days there was something common to nearly every TV show--the hero had someone else standing beside him. Roy had Dale, his wife; ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 9:14-15

Tags: Character, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 26, 2005

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah 52:34) He had a job most people despised. In fact, his job most often elicited laughs than it did applause. He lived alone since his wife died. There were times that he would go on long fasts, sitting in front of his humble home, drawing stares from his ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 52:34

Tags: Faith, Believe, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Pointed Sticks! (10.31.05--Faith That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 27, 2005

Pointed Sticks! (10.31.05--Faith That Flies!--Judges 6:25-30) “If you walk around with a pointed stick you are liable to hurt yourself.” There was something about a pointed stick that just put mothers on edge. Pointed sticks weren’t risky from our perspective at all. As boys we were willing to ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:25-30

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

Where Moods Must Get Off! (11.02.05--Faith That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 1, 2005

Where Moods Must Get Off! (11.02.05--Faith That Flies!--Jeremiah 21:1-2) I’m by no means an exercise nut! Despite the fact that I have had a daily routine for many years which includes ten minutes on the weight bench and ten on the elliptical trainer, the fact that most mornings you will find me ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 21:1-3

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Knowing When We Don't! (11.03.05--Faith That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 1, 2005

Knowing When We Don’t! (11.03.05--Faith That Flies!--Job 1:1) I do much better when I know all the little details! When I can see the whole picture it is far easier to sit down and think through even the toughest of problems. Unfortunately there are those things in life that simply don’t lend ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:1, Job 1:20-25

Tags: Faith General, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 2, 2005

On Little Yellow Flower! (11.04.05--Faith That Flies!--John 6:18-19) Now is the time of year when most of the flowers in my wife’s flower beds have wilted and sagged. The frost has struck more than once, making even the hardier mums droop a bit. The time of blossoming has passed for most of the ...read more

Scripture: John 6:18-19

Tags: Doubt, Devoted, Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

Coil And Spring! (11.07.05--Christian ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 3, 2005

Coil And Spring! (11.07.05--Christian Soldiers!--Ephesians 6:10-17) As I walked with her this morning in the dim morning light, she trotted obediently at my side. There was no pulling on her part. She simply walked obediently at heel anticipating each new smell that wafted through the nearby ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-17

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Insurgency! (11.08.05--Christian ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 6, 2005

Insurgency! (11.08.05--Christian Soldiers!--Revelations 12:7) What war? That was the response that I got from a friend recently when I referred to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a war. I looked at him and asked: “How would you define a war?” His response? “A war is when freedom is at stake and our ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7, Revelation 12:7-9

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Lutheran