In Sermon Illustrations: "Romans 5:1-8:38"

When I Look At History I Think Of Another Time ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 21, 2001

When I look at history I think of another time when America faced a crisis. The year was 1857. America was at both an economic and spiritual low. Attendance in churches had dwindled and there was a cynicism among many concerning religion. It was in the midst of this spiritual crisis that God gave a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Vision, God's Sovereign Will, God's Omniscience

Washington Bureau: Terry Mattingly's Religion ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

WASHINGTON BUREAU: Terry Mattingly’s religion column for 11/07/2001 It’s hard to miss the Big Idea when an artist puts it right on a painting in bold letters. "He That Believeth Not Shall Be Damned. Not A Crown But Hellfire And Brimstone," wrote Howard Finster, using his unorthodox spelling and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Basics Of Christianity

When Rickey Shive Was A Kid Growing Up On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

When Rickey Shive was a kid growing up on the farm, one of the annual jobs he always looked forward to was the "chicken harvest." Apologies should be made in advance for the somewhat graphic nature of this illustration. Nonetheless, he looked forward to the chicken harvest. No, he wasn‘t some ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-14

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Fulfillment, Sin Deceptive

There Is No Situation So Chaotic That God Cannot ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it at the creation. He did it at the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Creation, God In The Hardships

According To A Traditional Hebrew Story, Abraham ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Feb 3, 2002

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Compassion, Peace

Denomination: Other

Dostoevsky And The Firing Squad  PRO

Contributed by David Simmons on Feb 22, 2002

DOSTOEVSKY AND THE FIRING SQUAD The famous Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky told the story of the time he was arrested by the czar and sentenced to die. The czar, though, liked to play cruel psychological tricks on the people who rebelled against him by blindfolding them and standing them in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Fulfillment, Death Nearness

Denomination: Baptist

A New York City Businessman Moved To The Country ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Mar 4, 2002

A New York City businessman moved to the country and bought a piece of land. He went to the local feed and livestock store and talked to the proprietor about how he was going to take up chicken farming. He then asked to buy 100 chicks. "That’s a lot of chicks," commented the proprietor. "I mean ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:4

Tags: Growth In Christ, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Buried In The Deepest Sea  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 8, 2002

BURIED IN THE DEEPEST SEA Several years ago Rick Stacy baptized a man in Lake Superior. It was late October and about 9:00 PM. Rick had been talking with Myron and his wife about accepting the Lord as their personal savior and sealing that decision with baptism into Jesus. Myron was hesitant ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:3, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:11-15

Tags: Grace, God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Baptism, Atonement, Born Again, Redemption, New Life, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Benjamin Franklin In Remarks To The Continental ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 22, 2002

Benjamin Franklin in remarks to the Continental Convention, June 28, 1787, says "I have lived, Sir, a long time [81 years-old], and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God Governs in the affairs of men." [as quoted in America’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39

Tags: God's Sovereign Will, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abraham Lincoln Said Of The War In His 2nd ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2002

Abraham Lincoln said of the war in his 2nd inaugural address in 1865 only weeks before his assassination: “Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained… Each looked for an easier triumph… Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Eugene Peterson In A Long Obedience In The Same ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2002

Eugene Peterson in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction writes, “It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-19

Tags: Holiness

Faithful To Return—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

FAITHFUL TO RETURN--Communion Meditation W. Paul Jones tells the story of women who shared this story from her childhood as a polio victim: “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I like the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

In 1858, A Man Named John Gray Was Buried In Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2002

In 1858, a man named John Gray was buried in old Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh, Scotland. His grave levelled by the hand of time, and unmarked by any stone, became scarcely discernible; but, although no human interest seemed to attach to it. The sacred spot was not wholly disregarded and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

New Hope From Nothing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2002

NEW HOPE FROM NOTHING In Jim Cymbala’s book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, there is the story of a woman named Roberta Langella. A story she tells in her own words. At the age of 16 she left a broken home to move to New York City where she began living with a man twice her age. A man that got her into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:5

Tags: Faith, God Brings Hope

This Is Good!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2002

THIS IS GOOD! The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-3, Romans 8:28

Tags: God In The Hardships, Goodness, All Things Work For Good, Hope, Positive, Struggles, Trial  (view more)  (view less)

Muhammad Ali Today Is Called The Greatest. But ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 26, 2002

Muhammad Ali today is called the greatest. But it hasn’t always been that way. He became the greatest in the eyes of the world over the last 40 years. Muhammad Ali used to “float like a butterfly” and “sting like a bee”. He dazzled crowds with his amazing ability to dodge a punch while he used a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:31-34, Romans 1:24

Tags: Leadership General, Hope

One Of The Most Touching Moments In Sports Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

One of the most touching moments in sports came at the end of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, in which the US hockey team beat the Russians. It was an incredible feat. All during the games the cameras focused on goalie Jim Craig, one of the heroes of the team and on his father in the stands. Craig’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: God's Provision, Christian Liberty

Denomination: Christian Church

In Christ We Have  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

In Christ We Have: A love that can never be fathomed A life that can never die A righteousness that can never be tarnished A peace that can never be understood A rest that can never be disturbed A joy that can never be diminished A hope that can never be disappointed A glory that can never ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11, Romans 5:1

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crying Out  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 17, 2003

CRYING OUT A father tells this story: I was $20,000 in debt with unsecured loans. For two years I had been trying to sell some land to cover the debt, but I couldn’t even get a phone call of interest. I tried Realtor after Realtor without success. Finally, in desperation, I walked into the woods ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer In The Spirit

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Free Gift  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 3, 2003

Salvation is a "Free Gift" from God. Although "Free" it does not mean everyone has it. If the local harware store was handing out free snow shovels today, does that mean you have one, no. You have to go to the hardware store and ask for one of those free snow shovels, and then when it is in your ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:4-14

Tags: God's Forgiveness