In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Corinthians 12 3b 13"

It Is Finished

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 2, 2026

It is finished. In the Nicene Creed, we confess: "On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." (Pause) What does this mean? The Scriptures share with us ... this truth: BIBLE My little ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-2, John 19:30

Tags: Finished, Attorney, Pleading Throne, Righteous, Forgive, Defense, Right Hand, Scriptures, Nicene Creed, Mercy, Father, Power, Advocate, Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

If There Is No God, Who Decides?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In 1882, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote a short parable that still echoes through Western culture. He imagines a man running into a crowded marketplace in broad daylight, holding a lantern. He cries out, “Where is God? I will tell you—we have killed Him. You and I. We are His ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17, Judges 2:10-15

Tags: Evil, Culture, Meaning, Good, Values, God Is Dead  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[308]. A Message From A Poem - This Sinful World Faces Reality

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 11, 2026

[308]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THIS SINFUL WORLD FACES REALITY The opening line sets the theme of this poem – “The differential is greater now than ever it was,” and becomes a contrast of what is righteous and what is wicked. The gap is widening and wickedness is growing. The 6 stanzas - each ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: World, Judgment, Reality, Decline, Coming Judgment, Sin In The World, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Be Afraid!

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

Another book I would recommend is “The Screwtape Letters” (1942) by C.S. Lewis. This is from the preface: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:8-10, 1 Peter 2:10-13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Satan, Cs Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Denomination: Methodist

Jonathan Edwards On Spiritual Pride And Judging Others

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 29, 2026

Jonathan Edwards, the preacher of the First Great Awakening in America, wrote this: , “The spiritually proud person is apt to find fault with other saints, that they are low in grace; and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are; and being quick to discern and take notice of their ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:3-6, John 14:23-24

Tags: Spiritual Pride, Judging Others

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Break Ranks: Four Biblical Keys To Keeping Unity Alive

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 13, 2026

I’m starting a new study this week from a dark period in the history of Old Testament Israel. After the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon — a season in which Israel experienced a good deal of success and influence — the nation does something tragic: it divides. What follows is a troubled and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3, 1 Peter 3:8

Tags: Compassion, Humility, Unity, Sympathy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[097]. A Message From A Poem – Gates Of Hesitation

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

[097]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GATES OF HESITATION This poem tells a story. Jesus told His listeners something – {{Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate for THE GATE IS WIDE and the way is broad that leads to destruction and many are those who enter by it, for THE GATE IS SMALL and the way ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 12:30, Psalm 1:1-6, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Destruction, Hesitation, Narrow Gate, Two Ways, Broad Gate, Gates  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Biblical Cinema Growth: The Passion Of The Christ ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Biblical Cinema Growth: The Passion of The Christ movie (earned more than $370 million in North America alone) may be the forerunner of a ‘renaissance’ in Christian film. Several new Bible-based blockbusters are on their way claims Richard Gazolwski, President of WYSIWYG Filmworks. They are The ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Biblical Cinema Growth: The Passion Of The Christ ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2006

Biblical Cinema Growth: The Passion of The Christ movie (earned more than $370 million in North America alone) may be the forerunner of a ‘renaissance’ in Christian film. Several new Bible-based blockbusters are on their way claims Richard Gazolwski, President of WYSIWYG Filmworks. They are The ...read more

Tags: Television And Movies

Christmas Under Attack: Fox News Conducted A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Christmas Under Attack: Fox News conducted a survey 11/29 asking: •Do you consider Christmas a religious holiday or cultural holiday? Religious: 57% ... Cultural 14% ... Both: 12% •Do you agree there is a war on Christmas in the U.S.? Agree: 42% ... Disagree: 48% •Does it seem that the public ...read more

Tags: Christmas

When We Walk Into God's House To Worship We ...

Contributed by Hugh Laing on Feb 15, 2010

When we walk into God's House to worship we should leave ALL else behind. We should be here to commune with God only and if we are here for any other reason we should not be here. And I must say this also...we should have prepared to be here. How? On our knees praying for guidance. Why do I say ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Baptist

The Greed Trap

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

THE GREED TRAP It is true that sin is a self snare. In a move against the Mafia’s control of the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, the case was broken open when investigators discovered that the mob boss had transferred $168,000 from a high interest fund to a low interest bank account so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-18

Tags: Greed

Tech @ Church: A New Barna Group Survey Reports ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Tech @ Church: A new Barna Group survey reports 57% of Protestant churches now have a website. 62% use a large-screen projection system in their communications. 56% now rely on e-mail blasts for reaching their people. 62% integrate video content into their worship services, while 61% include live ...read more

Tags: Church General

I Have Heard That Possums Are Smart Animals. You ...

Contributed by Brandon Park on Jan 31, 2010

I have heard that possums are smart animals. You wouldn’t think so because you hardly ever see one except when it’s dead on the road. There’s a joke that goes, “why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done!” But possums, it turns out, are smart. They won’t enter ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

Evangelism?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

EVANGELISM? A 4-year study funded by the Lily Endowment designed to identify and analyze highly effective examples of evangelism by congregations in 7 mainline denominations reached two primary findings: (1) Of the 30,000 churches that qualified for the Mainline Evangelism Project, only 1/2 of 1% ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Warm Hands And Hot Pants

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Warm Hands and Hot Pants A Lesson Learned the Hot Way As a kid, I was always up for new adventures—especially if they involved tagging along with my dad to the country store on a brisk fall morning. The place smelled like fresh coffee, worn leather, and sweet pipe tobacco, and old-timers ...read more

Scripture: John 16:4, James 3:5, Ecclesiastes 7:25, 2 Timothy 3:7, Proverbs 13:16, Proverbs 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Father's Day, Wisdom, Wise, Experience, Fire, Nostalgia, Stupid, Lessons Of Life, Coutry Living, Country Boy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Before You Yield To Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Dr Warren Wiersbe has some excellent words we all need to keep on the "front burner" of our mind so that we have our loins (minds) girded for action (before) the next time we are tempted to commit some flagrant, presumptive, abominable sin against our Holy, Holy, Holy God. BEFORE you ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tribulation, Yield, Trials, Lust, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Lies, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Spiritual Beliefs Impact Work Life? 45% ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Should Spiritual Beliefs Impact Work Life? 45% of American adults think they should, but only 1/3 of that group actually practice it. This is according to recent research by Life @ Work, a company formed by Tom Addington and Stephen Graves to help people understand how ...read more

Tags: Workplace Evangelism

Busters Unresponsive: George Barna Notes That, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Busters Unresponsive: George Barna notes that, “Baby Busters have proven to be the most gospel-resistant generation the Church has seen in many years. While more than 1/3 of Baby boomers were likely to be born again by the time they reached their early adult ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Should Women Speak In Church?  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 9, 2003

SHOULD WOMEN SPEAK IN CHURCH? Catherine Booth, wife of Salvation Army founder William Booth, once responded to a man who argued, "Paul said to the Corinthians it is a shame for women to speak in the church" "Oh yes, so he did;" said Catherine, "but in the first place this is not a church, and ...read more

Tags: Women

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational