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

The Talmud From Babylonian Talmud, Tractate ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 4, 2007

"The Talmud from Babylonian Talmud, tractate Sanhedrin page 96b which is the beginning of the major section in the Talmud that deals with the teachings of the Rabbis about the Messiah. The first section deals with Bar Nafle, the Son of the Clouds, which is a name that is given to the Messiah. This ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Of The Great Paradoxes Of The Christian Faith ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 7, 2010

One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that God wants us to talk to Him about everything that is going on in our lives, even though He already knows everything. So why pray? If you’ve ever wrestled with that question, perhaps the thoughts of the 19th-century preacher, R. A. Torrey, ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Mark Of The Beast

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Oct 9, 2012

In verse 15, it tells us what will happen to those people who do not accept the Evil One’s mark: “15 … and all who refuse to worship the image or take his mark will be killed.” I saw recently where Motorola has developed an all inclusive data chip that is no larger than a grain of rice. It ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: *other

Tony Campolo Says That His Wife Is A Brilliant ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 21, 2001

Tony Campolo says that his wife is a brilliant woman. She has a PHD & is capable of pursuing a very profitable career. But she elected to stay home with her children when they were young. Her decision didn’t bother her at all except when other women would ask, “What do you do?” She would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-16, Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Conviction, Children, Mothers, Mother's Day, Motherhood, Parenting, Temptation, Sacrifice, Tithes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Former Under Secretary Of The Interior John C. ...  PRO

Contributed by Tj Tipton on Mar 29, 2001

Former Under Secretary of the Interior John C. Whitaker is reminded of how easy it is to get an out-of-perspective feeling about one’s importance in government whenever he thinks of an 85-year-old woman who has lived her life in one spot in Nova Scotia. The population there swells to nine in summer ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Temptation Pride, College, Daughter, Humility, Independence Day, Perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Year Or So Ago Time Magazine Published A Review ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 16, 2001

A year or so ago Time Magazine published a review of the movie, “The Birdcage.” The review said that while the movie is based on the plot of Robin Williams & Nathan Lane playing a homosexual couple, & Gene Hackman playing a conservative politician who messes up their gay lifestyle, that the movie ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:18-32

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Holiness, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Vicar Was Retiring After 25 Years In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 8, 2001

A vicar was retiring after 25 years in the parish. As he came to clear out his bedroom he found a small bowl with 5 eggs and £1,000 pounds in. Baffled he called his wife and said: Darling, what is this little basket under the bed with five eggs and £1,000 in. "Oh " she said " I must confess that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-7, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Tags: Leadership General, Gifts Encouragement, Gifts Prophecy, Love

Denomination: Anglican

The Indescribable Gift—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 6, 2001

THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT--COMMUNION MEDITATION A few years ago, on "Good Morning, America," Joan Lunden featured some extraordinary gifts you might want to include on your Christmas gift list. One of them was a Jaguar automobile, the Jaguar 220. If you care to order one of these, go to your ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: God's Provision, Heaven, Communion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Devil Has A Plan For Your Life: Doubt - To ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 30, 2001

The devil has a plan for your life: Doubt - To make you question God’s word and His goodness; Discouragement - To make you look at your problems rather than at God; Diversion - To make the wrong things seems attractive so that you will want them more than the right things; Defeat - To make you feel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9, Luke 7:18-35

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Humble Memorial  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

A HUMBLE MEMORIAL In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 1:1

Tags: Emotions, Parable Great Banquet, Humility

An Elderly Man Was Desperately Ill. Knowing The ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

An elderly man was desperately ill. Knowing the time for his departure was near, he called for his closest friends to come see him one last time. Attending him were his doctor, his pastor and his business manager. The old man said, “I know you can’t take it with you, but who knows for sure? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On A Rather Insignificant Sphere  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

ON A RATHER INSIGNIFICANT SPHERE A senior angel is showing a very young angel around the splendors of the universe. They view whirling galaxies and blazing suns, and then flit across the infinite distances of space until at last they enter one particular galaxy of 500 billion stars. As the two ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8, 1 Peter 1:12

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Baptist

Communion In Your ‘civvies'  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2002

COMMUNION IN YOUR ‘CIVVIES’ Janet Daley writes in the UK Telegraph about a “movement among Church of England clergy in favour of going into civvies.” One of the things that the Church of England Synod is debating is the agitation some are having for dress-down Sundays, which would allow the vicar ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:6-7, Hebrews 13:1-16

Tags: Christmas, Hope, Humanity Of Christ, Lord's Supper

For Everyone—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Aug 23, 2002

FOR EVERYONE-COMMUNION MEDITATION James W. Moore of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston tells a story about one of his minister friends. His name is Tom and he does a fascinating thing each month. Even though he has an extremely busy schedule he still makes the time each month to go down ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Luke 22:19

Tags: Lord's Supper, Reverence, Worth, Communion, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I've Been In Long Caravans Before Where Anywhere ...

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Oct 1, 2002

I’ve been in long caravans before where anywhere from 5 to 25 vehicles are making the same trek together - as a tree planting and a youth pastor. You know what my rule always was for the drivers? Keep up with the guy ahead of you. That was my rule. It seemed natural because you’re always ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tags: Following, Guidance, Apprenticeship, Discipleship, Leading, Leadership, Mentoring  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sodium Is An Extremely Active Element Found ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Platt on Nov 1, 2002

Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride - common table salt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Apologetics General, Christian Values, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wisdom Of Babes  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Dec 16, 2002

THE WISDOM OF BABES Have you ever heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” Certainly you have. It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t! For example: · Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12, Proverbs 4:1-27

Tags: Children, Advice, Maturity, Kids, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love From A Kid's Point Of View, Citation: "What ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 27, 2003

[Love from a Kid’s Point of View, Citation: "What Is Love—From a Kid’s Point of View," LightSinger, (accessed 3-14-02)] What is love, from a kid’s point of view? "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Compassion, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Teenage Boy Was Seriously Injured An Automobile ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Oct 21, 2003

A teenage boy was seriously injured an automobile accident. The doctors did all they could to repair the damages to the boy’s body but despite their fast medical knowledge they were unable to completely restore his legs. He was informed that he would eventually walk, but only with the aid of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5, John 16:33

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Healing, Overcome, Determination, Christian Liberty, Trial, Struggles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Paul And The Philippians Remembered And ...  PRO

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Dec 1, 2003

Paul and the Philippians remembered and supported one another in prayer. A joyful, loving, and caring church is one which keeps each other in prayer. Oftentimes, we fail to be a joyful, loving, caring Christian community because we fail to remember and support each other in prayer. There are many ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 John 5:13-15

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Unity

Denomination: Lutheran