In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 1:1-28:5" showing 221-240 of 1,172

Planting A Donut  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

PLANTING A DONUT When Watching the Krispy Kreme Donut machine, or as I like to call it the “Dream Machine,” I noticed something that made me very upset. At the end of the conveyer they were throwing away a bunch of the donuts. Let me describe the machine. First there is the dough plopper that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23, Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Kathy Bates Was In The Movie "Fried Green ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Sep 27, 2004

Kathy Bates was in the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes”, but is probably best remembered for her role as an obsessed fan in Misery that won her an Oscar. In Misery Bates plays a nurse who encounters her favorite author at an accident scene in a remote location in Colorado during a fierce snowstorm. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Most Of Us Have Experienced What Happens To ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

Most of us have experienced what happens to motorists when one of those huge graders goes to work on a highway repair job. when the machine is operating on a busy road, traffic is halted and the cars lined up in opposite directions are allowed to proceed alternately. A veteran operator of one of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-10

Tags: Frankincense, Epiphany, Human Body, Gold, Wise Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cnidius, A Skillful Architect, Building A ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

Cnidius, a skillful architect, building a watchtower for the King of Egypt, caused his own name to be engraved upon a stone in the wall in great letters, and afterwards covered it, with lime and mortar, and upon the outside of that wrote the name of the King of Egypt in golden letters. This was all ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Wanted: Movers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

WANTED: MOVERS Suppose that one of the local businessmen had purchased a new building and was planning to move all of his stock into the new store. He placed an ad in the paper offering $100.00 per day to anyone who would come to help him make the move. The first workers were there early on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Grace, Parable Vineyard, Promises Of God

The Real Deal?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

THE REAL DEAL? Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young accountant who was fresh out of school, "What starting salary were you thinking about?" The Accountant said, "In the neighborhood of 100,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Romans 3:20-26

Tags: Parable Vineyard, Grace, Labor Day, Workplace

Treasure In The Mud  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 4, 2004

TREASURE IN THE MUD A number of years ago, there was a geologist by the name of Dr. Williamson who was doing some work in the country of Tanzania. One day, he found himself driving in a deserted area, slipping and sliding along a rain-soaked road. Suddenly his four-wheel drive vehicle sank up to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46

Tags: Parable Treasure

The Value Of A Pearl  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 4, 2004

THE VALUE OF A PEARL Pearls were perceived in the first century in much the same way we view diamonds today. They were the most valuable gem in the world at that time. If you owned a pearl, you owned a fortune. And there was a good reason for it. Pearl hunting involved immense danger. The fine ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46, Matthew 13:44-46

Tags: Parable General, Kingdom Of God

How Much Would You Pay?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 4, 2004

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY? Several years ago, USA Today reported the results of a Roper Starch Worldwide survey of the wealthiest 1 percent of U.S. households or the 1 million households that have an annual income of at least $250,000 or a net worth at least $2.5 million. They were asked what they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46

Tags: Parable General, Parable Treasure

Eric Liddell--Olympic Hero In The 1924 Games Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 7, 2004

ERIC LIDDELL--Olympic hero in the 1924 games who refused to run in heats because they were held on Sunday. Lost the chance to win the gold in twso events but went on to win the 400. Arms thrashing, head bobbing and tilted, legs dancing, Liddell ran to victory, five meters ahead of the silver ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Athletics, Priorities, Sabbath, Sacrifice, Missionary, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

The If/Then Of Easter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 7, 2004

THE IF/THEN OF EASTER It’s Easter time. Time to eat all the candy and marshmallow eggs. Time to pig out. There’s gotta be a nicer word for pig out. A euphemism, as it were. Hey, try to think up a nicer word for euphemism. And while you’re at it, think up a shorter word for abbreviation. And a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-20, Matthew 28:1-20

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Go Quickly, Tell

Let's Play ‘let's Pretend'. Let's Pretend That ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

Let’s play ‘Let’s Pretend’. Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 17:1-13, James 1:22, John 19:30-31, John 11:1-45, John 11:45-57  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Priest And A Rabbi From Local Parishes Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 17, 2004

A priest and a rabbi from local parishes were standing by the side of the road holding up signs. The rabbi’s read, "The End is Near!" The priest, on the other side of the road, held up a sign which read, "Turn before it’s too late!" They planned to hold up their signs to each passing car. "Get a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4-13

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Would That Get Me Into Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2004

WOULD THAT GET ME INTO HEAVEN "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?" I asked the children in my Sunday School class. "NO!" the children all answered. "If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-20

Tags: Heaven

An Organization In Montana Once Offered A Bounty ...  PRO

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

An organization in Montana once offered a bounty of five thousand dollars for every wolf captured alive. Two hunters named Sam and Jed decided to head for the hills and make some money capturing wolves. Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests searching for their valuable prey. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

Graffiti With Meaning!" Matthew 14: 22-24 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 15, 2004

“Graffiti With Meaning!” Matthew 14: 22-24 Key verse(s): 23: “After he had dismissed the, he went up on a mountainside by himself to prayer. When evening came, he was there alone . . .” “Isolation is not all that bad . . . it just depends on who you spend it with.” At first glance this ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-24

Tags: Boat, Prayer How To

Denomination: Lutheran

Many People Have Trouble With The Concept Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 22, 2004

Many people have trouble with the concept of total depravity. While not denying they are sinners, many people feel that their sin isn’t bad enough to condemn them. What they don’t understand is that any sin is wholly unacceptable to God. Let’s suppose I invite you over to my house this Saturday ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:6-9, Romans 3:9-20

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Basket, Fish And Loaves, Leftovers

Denomination: Baptist

King Herod Was A Descendant Of The Edomite, Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Santos on Nov 24, 2004

King Herod was a descendant of the Edomite, who was commonly called Edomeans during Jesus’ days. Herod had ruled as governor of Galilee from 47 to 37 B.C. he was then promoted to rule as king over all Palestine from 37 to 4 B.C. he became famous for building cities, fortresses, and temples ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18

Tags: Christmas, Herod

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rick Warren Writes In "The Purpose Driven Life," ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Nov 30, 2004

Rick Warren writes in “The Purpose Driven Life,” “I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, “Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: *other