In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 4:1-11:11"

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

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

Our House Was Directly Across The Street From The ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Oct 30, 2000

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 6:10-20, Matthew 7:1-24, John 4:13-25, Genesis 1:1-12, Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 105:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Love, Christlikeness, Compassion, Forgiveness General, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Not What's Happening Today That Drags A Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 8, 2000

“It’s not what’s happening today that drags a man down. It’s remorse over what happened yesterday, and dread of tomorrow.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:34

Tags: Peace, God Brings Hope, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Orthodox

In Football They Have A Huddle, The Goal ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 11, 2000

“In football they have a huddle, the goal of the huddle is to give you thirty seconds to call the play, that is why they give you a huddle.(At a professional football game there may be ) Sixty thousand people watching you huddle, they don’t mind you taking thirty seconds to call the play. They ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Genesis 3:16-17

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Pure, Great Commission, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

A Poem By Pastor Clinton Meininger From His Book ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 11, 2000

A poem by Pastor Clinton Meininger from his book "Springs of Living Waters"tells us of the mysteries of life. He says: "All around me, Lord of life, My world is tumbling in. There’s nothing sure and nothing safe From gossip, greed and sin: And yet, I know ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-16

Tags: God's Provision, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

How To Catch A Monkey  PRO

Contributed by Doug Sanders on Jan 2, 2001

HOW TO CATCH A MONKEY Native hunters in the jungles of Africa have a clever way of trapping monkeys. They slice a coconut in two, hollow it out, and in one half of the shell cut a hole just big enough for a monkey’s hand to pass through. Then they place an orange in the other coconut half before ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:38, Matthew 8:5-13

Tags: Human Value, John Wesley, Lost, Grace, Sacrifices, Salvation, Riches, Track, Support, Sovereign, Need, Church, Course, Business And Marketplace, Encouragement, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Girl’s Prayer: A Little Girl Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mccutchen on Jan 26, 2001

A little girl’s Prayer: A little girl was being punished by eating alone in the corner of the dining room. The family paid no attention to her until they heard her pray: “I thank Thee, Lord, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 5:16-18, Matthew 6:3-20, Psalm 145:8-21

Tags: Compassion, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Many Years Ago, Executives Of The Time-Life ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Many years ago, executives of the Time-Life publishing organization discovered that the company’s profit margin had shrunk to an alarmingly low level. Consequently, they began an intensive effort to try to cut costs. Efficiency experts suggested that substantial savings could be effected in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Promises Of God, Love, Mercy, God's Forgiveness, Endurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Powerful Figures In Wall Street Fell ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 29, 2001

One of the powerful figures in Wall Street fell in love with an actress. For many months he was always seen escorting her about in the fashionable circles of town. Deciding to marry her, he first put a private detective to the job of looking into her former dealings and friends in order to guard ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42

Tags: Holiness, Gossip, Judgment, Pride, Romantic Love, Reputation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Notice Satan’s Version Of Grace - It Had An ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 1, 2001

notice Satan’s version of grace - it had an IF clause attached to it. [[This reminds me of the many ploys out there today - get 400 dollars of free merchandise - IF you sign up for MSN for three years. No money down - no interest for 12 months - you can own a new car NOW! But all you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:12-15, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 4:26-34

Tags: Money, Sin Deceptive, Temptation Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

One Of The Most Incredible Stories Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

ILL. One of the most incredible stories of forgiveness I’ve ever heard came out of Tulsa, OK, a couple of years ago. Tom McGee was a young man who went out for a night of partying & revelry. He got drunk & ran head-on into a car driven by a young man by the name of Ted Morris. He killed Ted ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48, Leviticus 19:17-18, Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 18:21-22, Jonah 4:1-10, Matthew 18:23-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Cross Agony, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Like The Story About 3 Prospectors Who Found A ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

I like the story about 3 prospectors who found a rich vein of gold in California during the gold rush days. They realized what a great discovery they had, & decided, "We’ve a really good thing going here as long as no one else finds out about it." So they each took a vow to keep it secret. Then ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13-17, John 3:16, 1 John 3:1-3, Isaiah 61:1-4, Matthew 6:1-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Wealth, Witness Let It Show, Gospel Of John, Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Charlene Cothran Is The Publisher Of Venus ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Charlene Cothran is the publisher of Venus Magazine, which is a periodical for lesbians of African descent. She recently announced on the magazine’s web site that she has become a Christian and has rejected the lesbian lifestyle she had been living. Cothran said that as a magazine publisher she ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1-20, John 14:6, Matthew 10:37-39, Luke 16:1-13

Tags: Story, Commitment To Christ

When I Graduated High School, I Was Like Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When I graduated high school, I was like most boys. I knew everything. I was going to get a job and get rich by the end of the year. I was going to be my own man and live life the way I wanted to. My father was retired from the Air Force. When I got ready to join the Navy, he sat me down and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7:1-10

Tags: Patriarchs Joseph

William H. Willimon, In His Commentary On Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

William H. Willimon, in his commentary on our Gospel lesson for this morning, offers an interesting lens through which we might view this text. He says, and I quote, “How do we see?… What we see seems to be connected to some sort of template in the brain. When sensory images are fed in through the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Suffering

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Suffering One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:44

Tags: Cross Agony