In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 15:10-20:20"

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

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

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

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

Jesus In An Age Of Higher Learning  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Feb 24, 2005

Jesus In an Age of Higher Learning Simon Peter answered, “Lord you are the Messianic parousia, the pre-existent Logos, the eschatological anticipation of the cosmos, the epistemological problem of the ages, the Christological manifestation, and the antitheses of the Adamic quandary. I Cor. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:16

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Plan For Pain!" Matthew 16:21-28 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 6, 2005

“God’s Plan for Pain!” Matthew 16:21-28 Key verse(s): 25:“‘For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.’” “And whatever you do, make sure you don’t hurt yourself!” The tractor tire was heavy; definitely a two man job. Perched on the back of his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

A Wanted Man  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 18, 2005

A WANTED MAN "If Jesus had of entered into one of our modern cities, leading the parade, He would have been arrested immediately. He would be a wanted man. The FDA would want Him for turning water into wine without a license; the EPA for killing fig trees; the AMA for practicing medicine ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 20:17-19

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

The Most Toys? (09.08.05--The Temporal ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 6, 2005

The Most Toys? (09.08.05--The Temporal Things!--Matthew 16:26) The world teaches this--You can never have too much of a good thing! We must always have enough or we are being somehow cheated of that which we truly deserve. If one were to ever wonder why we live in such a greedy world, this tenet, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

This Story Comes From P131-133 Of The The Lion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Sep 14, 2005

This story comes from p131-133 of the The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Peter, the great king, has just slain the evil wolf general Maugrim. Aslan tells him he has blood on his sword. Peter looks down and sees that t is true. He bends down and wipes the blood ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Baptist

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

Time Check  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 21, 2005

Sometimes finding the right path depends greatly on friends that you have in high places. An airline pilot flying over the southeastern U.S. called the local tower and said, “We are passing over at 35,000--give us a time check.” The tower said, “What airline are you?” “What difference does it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:23

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Lutheran

Victor Hugo, Who Is Famous For His Novel The ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 24, 2006

Victor Hugo, who is famous for his novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, also so wrote a story called “Ninety-Three.” It tells of a ship caught in a dangerous storm on the high seas. At the height of the storm, the frightened sailors heard a terrible crashing noise below the deck. They knew at once ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:19

Denomination: Baptist

Jake Was 92, And Jessie Was 89 When They Found ...  PRO

Contributed by Stewart Holloway on Nov 14, 2006

Jake was 92, and Jessie was 89 when they found each other and decided to get married. They were so excited. One day they were strolling along discussing their wedding plans, and on the way, they passed a drug store. Jake said, “Let’s go in here,” and Jessie followed. He walked to the rear of the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5

Tags: Marriage, Companionship, Aging, Romantic Love

Denomination: Baptist

1 [mercy] A Mother Once Approached Napoleon ...

Contributed by Tony Earl on Nov 23, 2006

#1 [MERCY] A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don’t ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:25-30

Denomination: Baptist

Three Children Left Home And Worked So Hard That ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 14, 2007

Three children left home and worked so hard that they didn’t spend much time with their parents. The father passes a way and they all went home. They were all very prosperous and had accumulated vast amounts of money. They discussed what gifts they were going to give their elderly mother. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21, Matthew 15:21-30

What's Up With Jesus?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT’S UP WITH JESUS? Renowned theologian Karl Barth was lecturing to a group of students at Princeton when a student asked him, "Sir, don’t you think that God has revealed himself in other religions and not only in Christianity?" With a modest thunder he stunned the crowd, replying, "No, God has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Tags: Jesus Christ

Jonah Jones - From Cocaine Trafficker To Christian Counselor

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

*The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see a change in our lives. *Jonah Jones had a terrible childhood. Jonah’s parents were drug traffickers who introduced him to cocaine when he was 8-years-old. Unbelievable! -- but true. Worse than that, Jonah’s stepfather raped him. His mother abused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 16:20-25

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus, Testimonies, Changed By Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Protecting Our Children

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN Studies show 25-33% of girls and 5-15% of boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18. The majority will be abused by family members or trusted family friends. Churches are urged to take steps in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:5-7

Tags: Children

Staring At The Gates Of Hell

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

STARING AT THE GATES OF HELL Auguste Rodin was a French impressionist sculptor. He created The Thinker. The Thinker was originally meant to sit on top of Rodin’s greatest masterpiece, the Gates of Hell. The Thinker is contemplating an eternity of judgment separated from God. Author Neil Cole ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Betty Crocker ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

BETTY CROCKER SALVATION In 1952, when the Betty Crocker company first began selling cake mixes, they offered a product which only needed water, and you would get a perfectly moist cake every time. But it bombed, and they couldn’t understand why! So they commissioned a study and found that people ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:25

Tags: Salvation