In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 3:1-20"

The Mirror  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 21, 2008

THE MIRROR Author Robert Fulghum tells this story of one of his professors, a wise man whose name was Alexander Papaderos: At the last session on the last morning of a two week seminar on Greek culture, Dr. Papaderos turned and made the ritual gesture: "Are there any questions?" Quiet quilted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Did You Ask?

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jun 13, 2008

DID YOU ASK? There is an old story about how the University of Chicago received a million-dollar grant from the heiress of a major department store. She had been a student at Northwest. So, administrators of Northwest went to visit her and asked why she had not made such a gift to her alma mater. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

God The Rebuilder  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

GOD THE REBUILDER Three men are hiking and they come upon a large raging river. They need to get to the other side, but they don’t know how. The first man says, "God, give me the strength to cross this river." Poof! God gives him big arms and strong legs, and he swims across the raging river. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1

Tags: Law, Heaven, Sabbath, Regulations, God Is Good, Observing Rules, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

In The 18th Century, Selina Hastings, Countess Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

In the 18th Century, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntington, invited the Duchess of Buckingham to come and hear George Whitfield preach. The Duchess wrote to the Countess of Huntington about the Gospel that Whitefield and his fellow "Methodists" preached as follows: "It is monstrous to be told ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:10-14

Tags: Sin General

Can't Just Sit Around

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND The following is a true story. Larry Walters led a fairly boring normal life as a truck driver in southern California until the fateful day of July 2nd, 1982. On that day, Larry turned himself into a legend. You see, ever since he was a boy Larry had dreamed of flying, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Tags: Action

Proclaiming ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Proclaiming God’s Word A Necessity in Corporate Worship Congregational worship opens the door for the Holy Spirit gift of proclaiming God’s Word. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Knowing exactly what the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:4

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ministering To ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ministering to Christ In The Midst of Disaster “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom… For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Many Hypocrites

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

TOO MANY HYPOCRITES One of the most common excuses given for someone not surrendering to the Gospel of Christ is found in this statement, "There are too many hypocrites in the church." Many persons who are seen by outsiders to be "hypocrites" may be true, yet immature, Christians. Christians ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:25

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crown Of Thorns  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

CROWN OF THORNS Nearly thirty years ago on Saturday night I sat in an indoor arena excitedly watching a beautiful Arabian stallion receive the very high honor of "Legion of Merit." The lights were turned off and a large spotlight appeared at the entrance gate. Music played as this beautiful bay ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:28-30

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Return Good For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. He was a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement." Perkins started a church, then a Bible Institute, a radio program, followed by a health clinic, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit Seldom in history have so few words been spoken with so much meaning. The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before believers and unbelievers alike a descriptive picture of the true disciple of Christ. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and are a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn One of the greatest messages ever proclaimed was delivered by Jesus Christ and is referred to as the "Sermon on the Mount." His message is as relevant today as it was when it was first spoken. Our Lord opens this message not with a joke, but with the Beatitudes. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness "The Sermon on the Mount" explains the true intent of the law which cancels the natural responses of man and calls for supernatural behavior. Righteousness is an attribute of God. Jesus gives Christians a glorious hope and reward that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Merciful

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Merciful In the Sermon on the Mount, we notice that Jesus' subject was not on how people are to be saved, but on the fruit of those who allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. One of the signs or evidences that a person has been converted is that he is now merciful. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Peacemakers "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) There is a commission from God that is available to every obedient Christian today and that is to be a peacemaker. Argument and discord is a great waste of energies better spent on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Persecuted  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Persecuted Matthew 5:10-12 says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Pro - ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

God Is Pro - Choice! He really is! Every day of your life, until you draw your final breath, you will stand at the CrossRoads and be asked to make a choice. Which way will you choose? God has set before you two gates, one wide and one narrow. He has set before you two roads, one broad and one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-21

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Believer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

TRUE BELIEVER There was a young seminarian who was taking an oral examination for his ordination process. During the questioning, one of the examiners asked him if he believed in a personal devil. "No," he replied, "I do not believe in the devil." Hearing this, the examiners began to discuss the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Tags: Church General

What Are You Looking For?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A certain man went to Church one Sunday. He frowned when the organist missed a note during the opening hymn. He gave a mean stare at two teenagers talking to each other when the congregation was at prayer. During the Scripture readings, he kept looking impatiently at his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:21-52

Tags: Weeds, Tares, Church General