In Sermon Illustrations: "1 John 15:18-19:23"

According To Psychologist William Damon, Respect ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:17, John 10:4-16

Tags: Authority, Respect

Prayer's Best Position  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 20, 2002

PRAYER'S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key was in the hands. He always ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8, John 17:1-26

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General, Strength

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Measuring Up  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 25, 2002

MEASURING UP In Washington D.C. there is a building called the "National Institute of Standards & Technology." This facility is responsible for storing perfect samples of weights and measurements. They have what are called “prototypes” of pound weights and kilograms. Measuring rods for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:1-4, John 5:1-10

Tags: Faith, Holiness, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Should I Not Forgive?  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Jul 13, 2002

WHY SHOULD I NOT FORGIVE? Deweese Eunick (mother of a 6 year old girl, killed by a 12 year old boy who was wrestling with her) The boy, Lionel Tate was being sentenced for life in prison for this murder. The mother said to reporters on ABC, "It’s more that he’s a human being, you know?" she ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25, John 5:5

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

True Service  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jan 8, 2003

TRUE SERVICE Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside. Self-righteous service is impressed with the “big deal.” True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14, John 13:1-15

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Discipleship, Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist

Did God Create Everything That Exists? Does Evil ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Oct 1, 2005

Did God create everything that exists? Does evil exist? Did God create evil? A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?" A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!" God created ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, John 8:35

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Grandfather Found His Grandson, Jumping Up And ...  PRO

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

A grandfather found his grandson, jumping up and down in his playpen, crying at the top of his voice. When Johnnie saw his grandfather, he reached up his little chubby hands and said, “Out, Gramp, out.” It was only natural for Grandfather to reach down to lift the little fellow out of his ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:25, John 3:16

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Story Of The Good Pizza (Names Changed To ...

Contributed by Robbie Parsons on Nov 5, 2006

THE STORY OF THE GOOD PIZZA (names changed to protect people) Our young three year old daughter loves the locally owned Sherry’s Gustavo’s Pizza Store. We eat at the buffet almost every week. She eats one slice of pepperoni and one slice of "sweet pizza", crust with cinnamon and iced glaze. One ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:9-10

Denomination: United Methodist

I Remember Well When The Holy Spirit Helped Me ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Nov 29, 2006

I remember well when the Holy Spirit helped me come to a conviction that I was a sinner and needed a Savior. I was a young adult of 20, married, and the father of one child at the time. I had been running with the boys and come to the place of desiring a divorce from my wife. Also, I was doing ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19, John 3:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Wandering Off  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

WANDERING OFF Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:36, John 10:1-18

Tags: Sheep, Shepherd, Love, People In Acts, Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Flock  (view more)  (view less)

Too Many Times People Want Glory Just For ...  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Aug 25, 2003

Too many times people want glory just for themselves. Sometimes football players score a touchdown and do a dance wanting everyone to applaud them and their greatness. Sometimes baseball players hit a homerun and prance around the bases. They want the crowds to worship and adore them. If we want ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:26-28, John 17:1

Tags: Christian Values, Humility

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Story: At A Comparative Religions Conference, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 31, 2003

Story: At a comparative religions conference, the wise and the scholarly were in a spirited debate about what is unique about Christianity. Someone suggested what set Christianity apart from other religions was the concept of incarnation, the idea that God took human form in Jesus. But someone ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8, John 3:16

Tags: God's Love, God The Father, Love

Denomination: Anglican

A Small Boy Is Sent To Bed By His Father. Five ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Biolsi on Apr 7, 2004

A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later.... "Da-ad...." "What?" "I’m thirsty. Can you bring drink of water?" "No. You had your chance. Lights out." Five minutes later: "Da-aaaad....." "WHAT?" "I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??" "I told you NO!" If you ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37, Isaiah 55:1-3

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Baptist

Larry Crabb, In His Book "Shattered Dreams," ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 9, 2004

Larry Crabb, in his book “Shattered Dreams,” (another way of saying letdowns) “Our shattered dreams are never random. They are always a piece in a larger puzzle, a chapter in a larger story. Pain is a tragedy. But it’s never only a tragedy. For the Christian it’s always a necessary mile on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15, John 10:10

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Was A Certain Professor Of Religion Named ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Nov 9, 2004

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the Western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his or ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, John 3:16-17

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Remembering My Purpose  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

REMEMBERING MY PURPOSE The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly tombs ever built, but there is something fascinating about its beginnings. In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial to her. The shah ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14, John 2:14-25

Tags: Fulfillment, Lost, New Year's Day, Purpose, Communion  (view more)  (view less)

One Day The Reformer Martin Luther Was Feeling ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One day the reformer Martin Luther was feeling rather down. The Pope was after him. His colleagues were bickering among themselves. He felt the heavy pressure that came with being a professor, pastor, and father. And he was in excruciating pain from kidney stones. As he moped around the house ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:27, John 16:32-33

Tags: God's Provision

Years Ago There Was A Woman Crossing The Hills ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Years ago there was a woman crossing the hills of South Wales on foot in the midst of a blizzard but she was not as fortunate as my wife and I were in South Dakota. She never made it to her destination. When they found her frozen body they did not understand why in that climate she was not wearing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Atonement, Salvation, Cross, World Religions, Eternal Life  (view more)  (view less)

Max Lucado Writes, "I Was Flying Home To San ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

MAX LUCADO WRITES, “I WAS FLYING HOME TO SAN ANTONIO ONE EVENING AND AS THE WHEELS OF THE PLANE HIT THE RUNWAY, ALL THROUGH THE PLANE YOU COULD HEAR THE UNFASTENING OF SEATBELTS. A VOICE CAME OVER THE INTERCOM SAYING, ’PLEASE REMAIN SEATED WITH YOUR SEATBELT FASTENED UNTIL THE PLANE COMES TO A ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13, John 2:1-11

Tags: Faith General

From The Dining Room We Walked Into The Living ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

“From the dining room we walked into the living room. This room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He said, ‘This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 38:15-16

Denomination: Wesleyan