In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 1:1-23:31" showing 281-300 of 1,025

Christmas: A Season Of Stress?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2004

Christmas: A Season of Stress? The picture the Bible gives us of the first Christmas is one of peace and serenity. You can see it with your mind’s eye: There are the shepherds, gathered around a campfire under a clear, starlit sky, quietly talking among themselves about their flocks, their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Tags: Christmas

Our Chains--His Slavery!" Matthew 20: 20-28 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 2, 2004

“Our Chains--His Slavery!” Matthew 20: 20-28 Key verse(s): 28: “. . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” “Just sign here on the dotted line here Mr. Brunner and we will be done.” As I lifted my hand, grip on pen, ready to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Lutheran

Tom Recently Told Me A Story About A Man Who Went ...  PRO

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Dec 7, 2004

Tom recently told me a story about a man who went to a priest and confessed that the Lord had recently convicted him of gossip. He wanted to know what he could do to make it right. The priest told him to go to the top of a mountain, rip open a feather pillow, turn the feathers loose in the wind, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:36-37

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

Love's Challenges  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2004

LOVE’S CHALLENGES (Based on John 13:35) What joy to love the saints above When I get home to glory. To love below, the saints I know, Well, that’s another story! To love mankind I always find To be a simple task. To have love for the man next door Is more than one should ask! Love’s full and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:27-30

Tags: Christian Love

Many Years Ago, A Man Was Hired An Experienced ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Santos on Dec 26, 2004

Many years ago, a man was hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After many hours, they came to a high and remote mountain pass. To the man’s dismayed, he saw the path had almost been washed out. What could he do? To the left was a sheer rock cliff, to his right, a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 6:33-38

Tags: New Year's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Did Not Ride Into Jerusalem On A White ...  PRO

Contributed by John Stevenson on Dec 26, 2004

Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem on a white stallion, leading His forces against the Roman Empire. And He doesn’t work that way today, either. He comes in a spirit of gentleness. And then He was arrested and dragged before the Sanhedrin and later before Pilate. He was falsely accused, mocked, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:5

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Gold Mine Of Opportunity!" Genesis 41: 1-14 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 30, 2004

“A Gold Mine of Opportunity!” Genesis 41: 1-14 Key verse(s): 14: “So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.” There once was an old Dutch farmer who owned a farm in a semi-arid part of South Africa ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-14, Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Leadership General, Trust

Denomination: Lutheran

A Woman Went To Her Doctor With A Whole Catalog ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jan 3, 2005

A woman went to her doctor with a whole catalog of complaints about her health. He examined her thoroughly and came to the conclusion that there was absolutely nothing wrong with her physically. He was convinced that her problem was due to her negative attitude toward life. She had become filled ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:7-13

Tags: Faith, Peace

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Woman Decided To Have Her Portrait Painted. She ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Black on Jan 28, 2005

A woman decided to have her portrait painted. She told the artist, "Paint me with diamond rings, a diamond necklace, emerald bracelets, a ruby broach, and gold Rolex." "But you are not wearing any of those things," he replied. "I know," she said. "It’s in case I should die before my husband. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Money

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

A Supernatural Event!" Matthew 5:43-48 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 31, 2005

“A Supernatural Event!” Matthew 5:43-48 Key verse(s): 44:“‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Pray for them who hate you! We know that this is what Jesus taught. And there are examples from Scripture of those who have dealt with their enemies in this manner. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

Running Home To Mama!" Matthew 5:25-26 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 1, 2005

“Running Home to Mama!” Matthew 5:25-26 Key verse(s): 25:“‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking your to court.’” There is a point of departure where disagreement becomes conflict. It’s that point of departure that is most critical in the process of making friends or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:25-26

Tags: Character

Denomination: Lutheran

Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?" Matthew 4:1-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 3, 2005

“Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?” Matthew 4:1-11 Key verse(s): 9-10:“Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.” “Thank you sir! May I do another?” Crouching on the ground, the recruit seemed barely touched by the sergeant’s rough treatment. He was doing push-ups; and a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Tiger Breath!" Matthew 6:9-13 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2005

“Tiger Breath!” Matthew 6:9-13 Key verse(s): 13:“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It has been foreordained that life is a temptation! Now that is a depressing thought if I ever heard one. Foreordained? That means that no matter what I do or how I do it, ultimately I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Sin Exposed, Risk Of Sin, Release, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Lutheran

The Point: The Best Way To Work On A Marriage Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2007

[The Point: The best way to work on a marriage is to work on yourself.] On their first visit to a marriage counselor, a couple kept blaming the other person for the troubled relationship. So, to help them focus on their own flaws, the counselor asked each of them, "What have you personally done ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 6:41-42

Tags: Divorce, Marriage Struggle

There's A Wonderful Little Legend About A Man Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007

There’s a wonderful little legend about a man who was lost and wandering in the desert, dying of thirst. As he wandered in that terribly hot desert, he stumbled upon a ramshackle, dilapidated shack. There wasn’t much to it, but, at least, it would provide a little bit of shade and respite for him. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Denomination: Baptist

I Heard About A Young Lawyer Who Was Called In ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Peake on Sep 26, 2007

I heard about a young lawyer who was called in from the big city to represent a large railroad company that was being sued by a farmer. It seems that the farmer’s prize cow was missing from a field through which the railroad passed, and the farmer was suing for the value of the cow. Before the case ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Worry, Envy, Confession Of Sin, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It's Like The Guy You May Have Seen, That Acts ...  PRO

Contributed by Rev. Saeed Richardson on Oct 7, 2007

It’s like the guy you may have seen, that acts like a gentleman, sweet and loving, taking a lady out to a nice dinner, and a romantic evening, only so he can get “something” out of the deal. Instead of doing all these things out of the sincerity of his heart, he’s really just putting out some money ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:3-5

Tags: Giving

Denomination: Baptist

Soren Kierkagaard Said, "I Went Into Church And ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Oct 22, 2007

Soren Kierkagaard said, “I went into church and sat on the velvet pew. I watched as the sun came shining through the stained glass windows. The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, ‘If any man will be my disciple, said Jesus, let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

His Name Is Mark. He Is A 50 Year Old Man ...

Contributed by Sam Wrisley on Oct 24, 2007

His name is Mark. He is a 50 year old man divorced and addicted to alcohol. I met him across some glass and was only able to talk to him through this heavy black phone. Mark was in Jail. With tears in his eyes he spoke of his fear. He has one chance to do right and doesn’t want to mess up. In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ