In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 1:1-28:20" showing 681-700 of 1,240

A Relationship With A Muslim

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MUSLIM Bill Hybels was at a luncheon, sitting across from a black man, built like a football player, with a distinctively Muslim name. He told Pastor Hybels that he enjoyed reading one of his books. Bill Hybels looked a little puzzled so the Muslim explained to him how he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

Victor Or Victim—the Case Of Robert Reed  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2011

VICTOR OR VICTIM--THE CASE OF ROBERT REED If ever there was a person who could have offered Jesus an excuse, Robert Reed would be that person. His hands are twisted and His feet are useless. He can’t bathe himself. He can’t feed himself. He can’t brush his teeth, comb his hair or put on his ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6, Matthew 5:44-48

Tags: Preaching, Christian Witness

A Servant, Not A Celebrity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2011

A SERVANT, NOT A CELEBRITY Colonel James Irving is a former astronaut who is part of the crew that made a successful moonwalk. He experienced the thrill connected with leaving this planet and seeing it shrink in size. He watched earth rise one day and thought how privileged he was to be a member ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:24-28

Tags: Servanthood

I Tithe—he'll Find Me.  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 1, 2011

"I TITHE--HE'LL FIND ME." Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there. So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5-21, Matthew 23:23

Tags: Offering, Tithe, Tithes

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Risk Of Fishing For Souls  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

THE RISK OF FISHING FOR SOULS A little more than 10 years ago (2000), a movie called The Perfect Storm was released, which graphically portrayed the dangers of the fishing industry even in modern times. The movie is about the crew of the Andrea Gail, a fishing boat out of Gloucester, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:14-39

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

The Unknown Treasure

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

THE UNKNOWN TREASURE A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he's no expert. He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44

Tags: Parable Treasure

$3.00 Worth Of God, Please  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2011

$3.00 WORTH OF GOD, PLEASE Tim Hansel in his book "When I Relax I feel Guilty," writes some insights of what most people want from God. "I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 6:9-13, 1 John 4:7-21, Mark 10:17-22, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Deuteronomy 8:28, Romans 8:28, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 5:38-48  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Plan, New, God, Truth, Prayer, Life, Grow, Patience, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

James And John Talking

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on May 9, 2011

JAMES AND JOHN TALKING This is how I imagine it was before Salome approached Jesus about one of the boys being at either side of him in his kingdom. Remember these two disciples were the "sons of thunder." James: What do you reckon I’m sure that he'll be King soon and I want to sit on my throne ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-27

Tags: Servant, Discipleship

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Love Me Not

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2011

THE LOVE ME NOT Dostoevsky tells the story of a woman who found herself in hell and felt she did not belong there. She could not bear the suffering and cried out in agony for the mercy of God. God listened and was moved with pity and so He said to her: "If you can remember one good deed that you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Mercy

Communion Meditation: Compassion In A Deli

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2011

COMMUNION MEDITATION: COMPASSION IN A DELI Dr. Fred Craddic tells of the time he was asked to speak in Winnipeg, Canada. While he was there he stopped into a deli get something to eat. He said the place was packed but people moved over and made room for him. Many people in there where just in to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Compassion

Beholden To Money

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2011

BEHOLDEN TO MONEY In his book How Much Is Enough? Hungering For God In An Affluent Culture author and Founder of Bread for the World: Arthur Simon writes about Bryce and Ellen, "a couple in their mid-thirties. They have two sons and a daughter, and on Sundays the family attends church more often ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Tags: Money

The Debbie Haters' Club

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2011

THE DEBBIE HATERS' CLUB Bill White, of Paramount, California, talks about his friend, Greg, who recently put together a mini high school reunion when he went back home to Indiana to visit his parents. He hadn't seen many of his classmates in over 17 years; but when they got together, they had a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Faith Healing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2011

FAITH HEALING I’ve know people who questioned God’s love for them because God didn’t heal them. I’ve known others who questioned their own faith...they felt like if they’d just had more faith God would have healed them. In fact, I’ve known people who were TOLD by a faith-healer that the reason ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:20-22, Matthew 10:40-42

Tags: Miracles General

Be Like Mike...?  PRO

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 2, 2011

BE LIKE MIKE...? Gary Thomas, in his book Authentic Faith, describes a friend of his named Mike. He met Mike when he went to college. Mike was a leader among students. He had everything: a contagious personality, athletic ability, good looks, and natural appeal. And everybody wanted to be around ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:10-14

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unusual People, Unexpected Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2011

UNUSUAL PEOPLE, UNEXPECTED PLACES Akiane Kramarik is only 12 years old, but she has abilities far beyond her years. Her mother chose to give birth to her underwater at the family home on July 9, 1994 in Mount Morris, Illinois. The family now lives in Idaho. Akiane speaks four languages, writes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Vacant Homes, Vacant Lives  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

VACANT HOMES, VACANT LIVES TIFTON, GA — The most interesting thing about Tifton is an abandoned Victorian house filled with thousands of bats. Tift County declared the once-elegant house in the town’s historic district off limits after a bat specialist said that maybe 20,000 bats had moved in, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11-16, Luke 11:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 84:1-12, John 2:13-23, Luke 7:36-50, John 1:46-56, James 2:14-26, Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45, Matthew 12:44-45  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Influence

What's A Burden?

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

WHAT'S A BURDEN? What a "burden" is according to Scribal Law (re: Sabbath observance): * Food equal in weight to a dried fig * Enough wine for mixing in a goblet * Milk enough for one swallow * Honey enough to put upon a wound * Oil enough to anoint a small member * Water enough to moisten an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Tags: Sabbath

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Want To Be Right, Or Do You Want To Be ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2011

DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT, OR DO YOU WANT TO BE WELL? Dr. David Seamands tells the story about a young woman he counseled in college several years ago. She had suffered every kind of abuse in her own home--psychological, sexual and physical. The very place that was supposed to be nurturing was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Getting Your Hands Dirty: Grandma's Apron

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 12, 2011

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY: GRANDMA'S APRON There are all sorts of "questionably clean" things that spread love and give meaning to our lives. Does anyone this morning remember a grandma or great-grandma swathed in a big all-enveloping apron? Not some perky little decorative thing worn on Christmas. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28

Tags: Love, Servanthood

No Other Plan

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 17, 2011

NO OTHER PLAN An old legend imagines Jesus arriving in heaven right after the Ascension, welcomed by all the angels. Then the angel Gabriel asks Jesus, "You suffered much, dying for the sins of mankind. Does everyone down on earth know it?" "Oh, no," replied the Savior, "just a handful of folks ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed