In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Thessalonians 16:1-12"

The Four Soils: A Physical Illustration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

THE FOUR SOILS: A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION (The following physical illustration is taken from “Heno Head’s Simple Science Object Talks.” If you decide use it, take note that you need to carefully measure out how much baking soda you use, and how much vinegar you place in each jar. Since we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Keys To ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Keys to Wisdom Proverbs 4:7-8 says, “Wisdom is supreme; though it costs you all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” The whole of Scripture gives us some practical applications that can be accomplished by all who are willing to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:7-8

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Words Of Comfort

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Words of Comfort Heaven Benjamin Franklin has often been quoted as saying, "In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes." Many have figured out ways to get out of paying taxes, legal or otherwise, but no one has yet been able to avoid the certainty of death. Sooner or later you are ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Predestination Talks

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THE PREDESTINATION TALKS Ligon Duncan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS, tells the following story: I well remember as a fifteen year-old boy at my grandparents’ house, reading through Ephesians 1 with grandmother and granddad and my aunt and the family for our morning ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Debt Out Of Control

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

DEBT OUT OF CONTROL Nearly - 80 percent of all divorced couples between the ages of 20 and 30 list financial difficulties as the primary cause of their separation and divorce. From Money-zine.com the following statistics paint the picture of America’s improper handling of their finances: The ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:6-18

Tags: Debt

Unsung Heroines-Joash's Aunt And Nurse

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 2, 2022

Introduction: These two ladies risked certain death to save the crown prince (and, it might be added, the ancestor of the Messiah!) Text: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, KJV: 10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Tags: Joash, Unsung Heroines, Jehoshabeath

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And President Lincoln  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2011

PRAYER AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House, said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr. President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so. We are giving you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Ephesians 3:20, Romans 1:8-17, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Philippians 1:1-11, 2 Timothy 1:5-8, Luke 15:11-32, Acts 3:1-10, Romans 8:22-27, Psalm 139:1-24, Isaiah 52:2-3, Luke 11:9-10, Luke 18:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Loyal, God Hears, Call Of God, Living Faith, Prayer Persistence  (view more)  (view less)

Mom's Bible

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 9, 2023

Mom’s Bible Mom’s Bible was old and worn, The pages yellowed with time; Adorned with handwritten notes Mom penned while in her prime. Eagerly I scanned each page, Hanging on to her every word. My eyes became all misty, As within my spirit stirred. It was like Mom was speaking Into my troubled ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:25-26, Psalm 139:13, Exodus 20:12, Proverbs 1:8-9, Philippians 1:2-3, Proverbs 23:25, Proverbs 22:6, Isaiah 55:11, 1 Peter 1:16, 2 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Mom, Mother's Day, Poem

Denomination: Baptist

He Could Have Turned Around  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

He could have turned around A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Omaha Police on the “suspicion of robbery and giving police false information,” which was one of many wrong turns for this young man. His first wrong turn was the desire to make some quick, easy money for whatever reason. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 29:6

Tags: Sin Wages Of, Sin Deceptive, Repentance

David Wilkerson's Founder Of Teen Challenge ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 30, 2004

David Wilkerson's founder of Teen Challenge states from his book Sipping Saints: 1. Drinking is the world's most staggering problem. We face the horrible statistics of more than a million young Americans becoming alcoholics. Six million of their parents are already there. We have become a sodden ...read more

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leo Tolstoy Had A Marvelous Metaphor About The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Leo Tolstoy had a marvelous metaphor about the need for us to set definite boundaries on our own appetites. It is called “How Much Land Does a Man Need?" There was a peasant named Pahom who worked hard and honestly for his family. He always remained poor and thought, "If only we had our own land, ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

History Of Calvinism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

HISTORY OF CALVINISM In 1610, just one year after the death of James Arminius (a Dutch Seminary professor) five articles of faith based on his teachings were drawn up by his followers. The Arminians, as his followers came to be called, presented these five doctrines to the State of Holland in the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25, Ephesians 1:3-5

Tags: Warning, Calvinism

Unsung Heroines-Huldah, The Prophetess

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 10, 2022

Introduction: When King Josiah of Judah heard the Word of God from Shaphan, he immediately tore his clothes and asked a group of men to “inquire of the LORD”. These men found Huldah, a prophetess, and God gave His message to them through her. Text: 2 Kings 22:14-20. KJV: 14 So Hilkiah the priest, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 22:14-20

Tags: Judgment, Josiah, Huldah, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Misapplied Scriptures: Amos 3:7

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 2, 2023

Introduction: Like many believers, I didn’t spend too much time reading the Bible, let alone doing serious study, for many of my years as a believer. It seems some religious leaders or devout followers know this and use verses such as this one to prove a point. If true believers don’t have a ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:7

Tags: False Prophets, Prophets, Misapplied Scriptures

Denomination: Baptist

[121]. A Message From A Poem – From Where Did God Originate?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 5, 2025

[121]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM WHERE DID GOD ORIGINATE? The real title of this poem is HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER but the title is too long for SermonCentral to accept, so I changed the title. This is a dialogue poem. There are 4 speakers. Speaker 1 is a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:16-17, Colossians 2:20-23

Tags: Rationalist, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Atheist, All Things, Agnostic, Gnostics, Gnosticism, Existence Of God, Christian, Creation, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book "The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Santasiere on Aug 29, 2001

In his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, John Maxwell tells the story of one of the most incredible restorations in American business history. It happened at the Chrysler Corporation in the early 1980’s. Chrysler was in a mess, despite a long history of success. At one point in ...read more

Tags: Workplace Evangelism, Endurance, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Voice Mail  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 20, 2001

VOICE MAIL While we have a direct access to our Heavenly Father, imagine if He had one of those computer-answering devices. It might be something like this: As we begin to pray we hear... Thank you for calling your Heavenly Father’s house. Your call may be monitored for quality assurance. Please ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Ever, Prayer Adoration, Illustration, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Precious Blood  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 18, 2002

PRECIOUS BLOOD Several years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Vera Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever. February 16, 1989. A very normal Thursday morning. The phone rang at 9:15 a.m. "There’s been an accident..." It involved their son Ben. As they approached the intersection of ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Blood, Lord's Supper, Jesus Christ

A Farmer One Planted Two Fruit Trees On Opposite ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2005

A farmer one planted two fruit trees on opposite sides of his property. The one he planted to provide a hedge hide the unsightly view of an old landfill; the other to provide shade to rest under near a cool mountain stream which ran down beside his fields. As the two trees grew, both produced ...read more

Tags: Parable General