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

Living Together And Divorce

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2009

LIVING TOGETHER AND DIVORCE A recent study by the Penn State University interviewed 92 couples found, in general, those who lived together before marriage were • more verbally aggressive, • more hostile and • less supportive than those who waited until marriage to live ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:16

Tags: Divorce

The Vessel God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE VESSEL GOD USES The Master was searching for a vessel to use; on the shelf there were many--which one would He choose? "Take me", cried the gold one, "I’m shiny and bright, I’m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Tags: Servanthood

Billy Graham's Story About An African Mother Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Billy Graham’s Story About An African Mother Who Prayed Let me share this story to show you the position we have with the Lord in prayer. Billy Graham shares this story of an African mother who came to Christ and grew in her commitment and devotion to the Lord. She was a woman that prayed all the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2

Tags: Prayer General

College President Stoops To Child's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

College President Stoops to Child’s Level Our world places little value on children, but Jesus says they are the most important people of all. Why? Because to be little is to be great in God’s eyes, and to receive a child is like receiving Christ. It’s a lesson Jesus wanted His disciples to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Christmas, Incarnation

I Just Want Bread  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

"I Just Want Bread" There was a beggar who came and sat before a baker. "I want bread," he said. "How wise you are," the baker assured him. "Bread is what you need. And you have come to the right bakery." So he pulled his cookbook down from his shelf and began to tell the beggar all he knew about ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-59

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Does God Have The Say?

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 13, 2010

DOES GOD HAVE THE SAY? WE HAVE JUST MOVED TO SYDNEY NSW from the Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia. I didn't come seeking a better position, certainly not better scenery or more money. We don't even have our own house to live in at present. When we moved, we moved because we knew that God was ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Antivirus: Holy Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Mar 18, 2010

ANTIVIRUS: HOLY SPIRIT Jesus said in verse 7 of John 16, "For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Jesus was God in the flesh, of course. He could have spoken this world out of existence at any given time, but, I would like to use an ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-20

Tags: Holy Spirit, Salvation, Indwelling, Saved, Holy Spirit Attributes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Speaking With A Man Recently Who Had Been ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 13, 2010

I was speaking with a man recently who had been in a near fatal car accident and he said that God didn’t seem to care about His injuries. I asked him if he blamed God and He said something to the effect of "Yes, GOD IS TO BLAME. Why didn’t He intervene when I had that car accident, or when my ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Lifesavers

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 30, 2010

Nantucket, Massachusetts is located next to important shipping lanes running along the East Coast. Toward the end of the 1800s sailing ships were in their heyday. Nantucket Island saw hundreds of vessels passing by each day—all navigating without the advantages of modern technology. Treacherous ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Big Ed

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

BIG ED When I was in high school, there was this girl -- let's call her "Edith". Everyone called her Big "Ed" because she was on the heavy side. She was the youngest of four sisters, the three older ones being very attractive. Edith accepted the nickname, showed no real signs of being injured ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Misfit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Good Name I Never Met

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 14, 2011

A GOOD NAME I NEVER MET In his book, I Almost Missed The Sunset, Bill Gaither writes: Gloria and I had been married a couple of years. We were teaching school in Alexandria, Indiana, where I had grown up, and we wanted a piece of land where we could build a house. I noticed the parcel south of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

Tags: Character, Armor Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Empty Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE EMPTY GIFT God offers us more than this world does, but most of us never take the time to see it. There was a 15-year old boy named Joey, whose mother died at birth. She was a severe alcoholic, and that had affected his pre-natal development. The result was that he was slightly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas

Armor That Holds Up

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2011

ARMOR THAT HOLDS UP I came across what I thought was a rather interesting story this week as I was preparing for this message. It was a story detailing a class action law suit aimed at a company called Second Chance Body Armor. Second Chance manufactures bullet proof vests for police officers and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Security

Broken Vessels Wanted  PRO

Contributed by David Robb on Jun 1, 2011

Broken Vessels Wanted (David Robb) My tears of weeping are pleasing to the Lord. My cries of emptiness are a song to His heart. He is pleased with me when I am broken, because, what He desires most of me is a broken spirit and a humble heart. He desires that of me because, with a broken ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:47

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Purpose Of Marriage

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE God is the Helper of His people! Does that mean He is inferior to them? Does that mean He is second-rate? No way! He is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe. He is in no way inferior to His creation. So it is with women. Even though God made her to help her man, she is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26

Tags: Marriage General

The Heaviest Loads

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 30, 2011

THE HEAVIEST LOADS N. T. Wright, in writing about this passage (Mt 23:1-12), tells the story of trying to prepare for a hiking and camping trip. He went to an outfitter who took him around the store showing him everything he would need. The salesman recommended a good sleeping bag and a durable ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Methodist

Sending The Very Best  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 18, 2011

SENDING THE VERY BEST Someone has composed the following list of "Cards You'll Never See at Hallmark": "Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder.... What was I thinking?!" "I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love.... After having ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25, Philippians 1:3-30, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Joy, Friendship General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Don't Give Up—the Case Of Mrs. Ruth Ertel

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

DON’T GIVE UP--THE CASE OF MRS. RUTH ERTEL In 1965 a divorced mother of two, found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris’s steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Endurance

The Keeper Of The Springs By Peter Marshall  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

THE KEEPER OF THE SPRINGS by Peter Marshall Once upon a time, a certain town grew up at the foot of a mountain range. It was sheltered in the lee of the protecting heights, so that the wind that shuddered at the doors and flung handfuls of sleet against the window panes was a wind whose fury was ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

The Locust Plague Described

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 29, 2013

THE LOCUST PLAGUE DESCRIBED The judgment in the book of Joel centers on the warning of a plague of locusts. Now you may think, "Ah, little grasshoppers. Not much of a problem, eh." History records a similar event. Let me read to you: In 1915 a plague of locusts covered Palestine and Syria from ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:4

Tags: God's Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ