In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Thessalonians 3:1-11:3"

Almost Giving

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2012

ALMOST GIVING One of the Ad Council's most effective public service commercials is the "Don't Almost Give" campaign. One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of steps. The narrator says, "This man almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38, James 2:16

Tags: Giving General

D.l. Moody On Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 31, 2012

D.L. MOODY ON GRACE D.L. Moody was an American evangelist (February 5, 1837 - December 22, 1899 - 62 years). Moody said: "Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out." He also said: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Tags: Grace

Never Done With You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 14, 2013

NEVER DONE WITH YOU There is a show on the SyFy channel that Vickie and I watch called "Eureka." It is about a sheriff in a town of geniuses. The Sheriff is always working through comedic catastrophes that the geniuses have induced with their experiments. But the biggest dilemma the sheriff often ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Nazarene

Rejected On Earth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2016

REJECTED ON EARTH... Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Tags: Moses, Acceptance, Rejection, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'll Take Hymn!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2016

One Sunday, a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money. He asked the people to consider donating a little more than usual into the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the offering plates were passed, the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:21-23

Tags: Marriage, Dating, Husbands And Wives, Singles

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rebellion

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

REBELLION Long, long ago in a world far, far away from here there was a great kingdom. It was a kingdom fill with the wonders of all the ages. Everywhere that the eye looked the mind became overwhelmed with all the beauty. This world was filled with such beauty that it surpassed all imagination. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3

Tags: Rebellion, Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Happy Meal

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2020

The McDonalds “Happy Meal” might be the most famous meal in all the world. It's a meal for a kid that’s served at McDonalds restaurants that promises to make them happy – at least for a few fleeting minutes! In the mid-1970s, a MacDonald’s restaurant in Guatemala offered a hamburger, small ...read more

Tags: Peace, Happiness, Joy, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Unity Comes

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:13

Tags: Unity, Maturity

Denomination: Baptist

Famous Last Words

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2021

FAMOUS LAST WORDS..... 1. Charles Gussman was a writer and TV announcer, who wrote the pilot episode of Days of Our Lives, among other shows. As he became ill, he said he wanted his last words to be memorable. When he daughter reminded him of this, he gently removed his oxygen mask and whispered: ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Paul, Death, Farewell, Last Words

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seven Life Lessons From Samson

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

Certainly the story of Samson and the prostitute of Gaza stands as a cautionary tale to all of us. Here are some of the obvious lessons: 1) Just because we think we have conquered a certain sin doesn’t mean it will stay conquered forever. 2) The price of long-term spiritual victory is continued ...read more

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Judgment, Samson, Brokenness, Backslidden  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remembering Our Heavenly Connection

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

In one of the YouTube videos, Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his observation that humans, unlike most animals, sleep on their backs, naturally facing the sky. This position may have fostered a deep connection with the heavens. However, from a Christian perspective, this curiosity and upward gaze might ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:16-18

Tags: Celestial Connection, Spiritual, Genesis, Creation, Adam And Eve, Remembrance, Night Sky  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

What Are The Five Solas Of The Reformation?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 11, 2024

What are the 5 Solas of the Reformation? The 5 “Solas” of the Reformation (“solas,” meaning, “alones”) are five principles that are foundational to the doctrine of salvation that were the focus of the Protestant Reformation. These five "solas" led to the rejection of the false teachings ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Faith, Grace, Scripture, Sin, Salvation, Theology, Glory Of God, Reformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Journey To See God Face To Face

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 19, 2025

Everyone has a desire to see God face to face, but before that they are some prerequisites that need to checked 1) Am I right with God and others? 2) Are my hands clean? 3) Is my heart pure? We need to get answers to these questions from the Holy Spirit. As we receive the answers and correct ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:8

Tags: Faith, Hope

The Harvest Is Ripe  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

THE HARVEST IS RIPE The Harvest is ripe -- Here's proof: Wycliffe: Vision 2025 Translation projects started in every language on the planet by 2025. Worldwide evangelism: In "The Faith Equation," Dr. Marvin Bittinger, Professor of Mathematics at Purdue University and author of over 175 college ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:1-5, John 6:25-35

Tags: Harvest, Islam, Muslim, Converts, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Una Bolsa Con Agujeros

Contributed by James Dina on Dec 2, 2020

UNA BOLSA CON AGUJEROS "Sembráis mucho y traéis poco; coméis, pero no tenéis suficiente; bebéis, pero no os llenáis de bebida; os vestís, pero nadie se calienta; y el que gana un salario, gana un salario para meterlo en un saco con agujeros". (Hageo ...read more

Scripture: Job 22:25

Tags: Defense, Holes

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unsung Heroines-Anna The Prophetess

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 24, 2022

Introduction: Only a few women were considered true prophetesses in the Bible. Isaiah’s wife was called one of these (Isaiah 8:3), and Miriam, Moses’ sister, was another (Exodus 15:20). Deborah was not only a judge, but also a prophetess (Judges 4:4) and Huldah was the prophetess who gave Josiah’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38

Tags: Jesus Christ, Anna, Prophetesses

Denomination: Baptist

Run Your Race Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Run Your Race shows how silly it would be for someone to stop short of home in a game, but it is the same in our Christian life when we are not Christians all the time. We must realize the need to be active serving Christians 24/7 in our lives. URL: https://youtu.be/Ai6qZPECLiw SUMMARY In this ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7

Tags: Run Your Race, Never Stop Living For Jesus

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine article on Jack La Lanne: Fit for Life. At 86, Jack La Lanne has dipped, chinned, pushed, pulled, and lifted more often than anyone in recorded history. His present training regimen is tailor-made for only superheroes. While many of his contemporaries ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Christian Disciplines, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dilemma Of American Atheist Society  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2002

DILEMMA OF AMERICAN ATHEIST SOCIETY For some reason, Christians feel intimidated by atheism. They assume that the atheist and the intellectual are on the same level. The assumption is groundless: A recent article published by the American Atheist Society was written by a zealous but discouraged ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Apologetics God

Wrong Righteousness  PRO

Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004

Wrong Righteousness Quote: "If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra Text: Romans 10:1-4 Prop: a new US $20 bill (or adapt for local currency) Summary: Some people try to get to heaven on their own by being a good person. The only righteousness that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-4

Tags: Apologetics General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist