In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 6:5-13:13"

Which Window?  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 28, 2008

WHICH WINDOW? Catherine Marshall wrote: "My friend Marge had an experience aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On one side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-7, Mark 6:1-6, Deuteronomy 6:18, Matthew 6:1-6, Isaiah 30:1-15, Deuteronomy 6:9-15, Psalm 90:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Trust, Wait, Perspective, Busy

Denomination: Pentecostal

Einstein And Emmy  PRO

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Apr 28, 2008

EINSTEIN AND EMMY When Einstein fled Nazi Germany, he came to America and bought an old two-story house within walking distance of Princeton University. There he entertained some of the most distinguished people of his day and discussed with them issues as far ranging as physics to human rights. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 40:1-5, 2 Kings 20:1-5, Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 24:32-44, Romans 8:20-39, Romans 12:1-2, John 12:23-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Children, Welcome, Gift, Funeral, Follow, Persistence, Deny, Share, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Overcoming The Loss Of Hands And Feet

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 16, 2008

David and Becky Guinn have been on my mind this past week. In 1997, the Lord blessed me to go with David on a mission trip to Ukraine. It was a life-changing experience for me. David and Becky deeply love the Lord. They have faithfully served the Lord for years in college ministry, mission work and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30, Matthew 12:9-15, 2 Timothy 1:1-12

Tags: Faith, Perseverance, Overcome Difficulty

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Trust Feelings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

DON'T TRUST FEELINGS I read of a helicopter pilot who flew from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific told this story. He said, "I was flying the helicopter back to the ship when a blinding fog rolled in. Flying at a low altitude, I knew that a single mistake would plunge my crew and me into the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36, Matthew 9:14-18

Tags: Faith, Guidance, Feelings, Hardship Of Life, Facts  (view more)  (view less)

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

We Used To Live In This Small Farming Town North ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Sep 22, 2008

We used to live in this small farming town north of Manhattan. Down the street from our house was a sweet-natured and friendly family with a strange habit. They never seemed to throw anything away. They had completely filled their front porch with bags of trash and it wasn't long before their yard ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:37-38, Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22

Tags: Change, Transformation, New Life, Born Again, Wineskin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

The Thread In Your Eye

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 14, 2008

The Thread in Your Eye I awoke one morning with a terrible pain in my eye. I had no idea why it hurt, but I could not do what needed to be done that day with that kind of pain in my eye. I went to the Optometrist who spent a great deal of time examining my eye. Then he reached in with a swab and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:3

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Pitcairn Bible

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2008

The Pitcairn Bible The story of the Mutiny on the Bounty has been told many times and has been made glamourised by the 1962 film starring Trevor Howard and Marlon Brando in the lead roles. But the one part of the story that is not so well known is the transformation on Pitcairn Island of the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14, Matthew 8:5-13

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Anglican

Looking Through Clean Windows  PRO

Contributed by Charles Steiner on Nov 6, 2008

LOOKING THROUGH CLEAN WINDOWS A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. 'That laundry is not very clean', she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-24, Luke 19:28-40, Matthew 7:5, 1 Kings 4:20-34, John 4:1-15, Matthew 7:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Happiness, Hosanna, Judgment, Rejoice, Homage, Bethany  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

In Wwii When The Marines Captured The Island Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2008

In WWII when the Marines captured the island of Saipan, the Japanese ordered the inhabitants to kill themselves by jumping off a cliff. I was in Saipan in 1984, and I was at this very hill where the Japanese ordered their own people to jump off and kill themselves. Hundreds of feet below are the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28

Tags: Salvation

We Need More Training  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WE NEED MORE TRAINING I have decided to join the US Army. Depending on whether or not I could pass the physical.... Well, let's assume I did. In that case, I figure it should only take me about one week of training and I'll be ready to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. OH COME ON NOW! We all know better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-27

Tags: Attendance, Church Body Of Christ

When I Think Of Stewardship (Humor)  PRO

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 29, 2008

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a small Church located in a farming community. The pastor of the church would call on every member of the congregation as part of the annual pledge campaign. The next home he was going to visit was Farmer Brown’s. Now Mr. Brown was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:18, Proverbs 3:9, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 6:21, Malachi 3:8-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Giving, Stewardship

Denomination: Anglican

The Joy Of Salvation

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 7, 2009

THE JOY OF SALVATION The late great English Congregationalist clergyman and church leader, Robert William Dale (1829-1895), once wrote: "We do not please God more by eating bitter aloes than by eating honey. A cloudy, foggy, rainy day is not more heavenly than a day of sunshine. A funeral march ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-17

Tags: Joy

Some Thoughts On Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

SOME THOUGHTS ON FORGIVENESS Bernard Meltzer was a United States radio host for several decades. His advice call-in show was called "What's Your Problem?" Meltzer said, "When you forgive, you in no way change the past--but you sure do change the future." ------- Mark Twain had some sour thoughts ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Forgiveness General

Make Sure We Were Abiding

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

MAKE SURE WE WERE ABIDING Stuart Briscoe, author and long-time pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, tells about the time he traveled to Poland during the cold war. He was involved in several weeks of itinerant ministry, and one winter day his sponsors drove him in the dead of night ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13

Tags: Jesus Teachings

François Fénelon Once ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

François Fénelon once wrote: "Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask for crosses or consolations; I simply present ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Hypocrisy Is Like The 12-Year-Old Boy Who Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

Hypocrisy is like the 12-year-old boy who was waiting for his first orthodontist appointment and was a bit nervous. Apparently he wanted to impress the dentist. On the patient questionnaire, in the space marked "Hobbies," he had written, "Swimming, riding my bike, and flossing." That’s a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:4-5

Tags: Hypocrisy

Do Not Keep On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

DO NOT KEEP ON BABBLING Dr. Clarence Bass, professor at Bethel Theological Seminary, early in his ministry preached at a church in Los Angeles. He thought he had done quite well as he stood at the door greeting people as they left the church. The remarks about his preaching were complimentary. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Discernment—or Judgment?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

DISCERNMENT--OR JUDGMENT? So how does a critical attitude come back to haunt you? Here’s one way. A man wanted to impress his friends with his eye for art as they went to an art gallery together. He forgot his glasses, was nearsighted, and couldn’t hardly see his hand in front of his face. But he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Tags: Gifts Discernment