In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 4 20 5 20"

Seven Ways To Test The Spirits

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

The late A. W. Tozer had some wise counsel on how to test the spirits” from I John 4:1. He posed seven tests to apply to any teaching: (1) How does the teaching affect my relationship with God? Is He magnified and glorified, or diminished? (2) How does the teaching affect my attitude toward ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: False Teachers, Holy Spirit, Satan, Teachers, Teaching, Spirit Of Error, Spirits, Truth, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Is Action  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2001

LOVE IS ACTION In his book, Dad, The Family Coach, Dave Simmons tells of an act of sacrificial love that occurred in a shopping mall. One day he took his eight year old Helen and five year old Brandon to the Cloverdale Mall. He needed to buy some tools in Sears. When they pulled into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:7, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

I Have A Dream That One Day On The Red Hills Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Jan 9, 2001

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.. ...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 1 Corinthians 12:20

Tags: One Body, Unconditional Love, Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

My Wife And I Recently Visited With A Couple Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Harden on Jan 18, 2001

My wife and I recently visited with a couple who were the proud parents of a baby boy, just over a year old. As soon as we entered their home, we noticed that everything about this house was dedicated to protecting their baby. There were plastic plugs in the electrical outlets to keep the baby from ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:9, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Tags: Home, God's Provision, Evil, Trinity

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Most Memorable Books I Have Ever Read ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

One of the most memorable books I have ever read is A Severe Mercy. This is the story of Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy, who happened to be friends of C. S. Lewis. This couple was deeply in love and they sought to build the ideal marriage. They would only read books that the other wanted to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 Corinthians 13:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Success

Denomination: Baptist

God Has Given Us All A Sweet Spot—in Fact, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 29, 2001

God has given us all a sweet spot—in fact, Paul says that God has given us the gift of a sweet spot so that we could serve God and produce the maximum result and maximum satisfaction both for God and for us. Mark McGwire said, “When I feel the ball hit right on the sweet spot, a home run is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Tags: Field, Gifts General

Denomination: United Methodist

A Fellow Stopped At A Gas Station And, After ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 19, 2005

A fellow stopped at a gas station and, after filling the tank on his car, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola and he watched a couple of men working along the roadside. One man would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other man ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 3:6

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Breakdown In Communication

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Feb 11, 2012

A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION My favorite Burns and Allen routine was the time when George was lecturing Gracie about carelessness. Gracie remembered one of her relatives who accidently parked in a red zone. George said, "That was very careless." Gracie responded, "Yes, it really was." "He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Tags: Communication, Tongue, Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

If Crumbs Of Joy Now, What Next?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

IF CRUMBS OF JOY NOW, WHAT NEXT? A widely respected man known as "Uncle Johnson" died in Michigan at the incredible age of 120. Perhaps his advanced years could be credited in part to the cheerful outlook that characterized his life. One day while at work in his garden, he was singing songs of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: Joy

Marriage: Preparation Is Key  PRO

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jan 12, 2013

MARRIAGE: PREPARATION IS KEY "Promises are no substitute for preparation in marriage. Just because you say 'I Do' does not make you able. Just because you say 'I Do' does not make you capable. It only makes you accountable. And when you are accountable for something you are not capable of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Marriage, Wedding, Promise, Marriage Struggle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Missing The Point

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 2, 2021

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon. Four worms were placed into four separate jars: The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was put into a container of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

Tags: Interpretation, Conclusion, Misunderstanding, Error, Perspective, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Super Bowl Mvp

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 14, 2022

When receiver Cooper Krupp was named MVP of the 2021 NFL Super Bowl fans may think an athlete would soak up the attention, inflate their ego and define their identity according to their on field accomplishments. But Kupp actually minimized the place of football and elevated the kingdom of God. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Tags: Gospel, Discipleship, Reward, Witness, Eternity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Communion

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 30, 2025

Hugh Price Hughes (9 February 1847 – 17 November 1902), was a Welsh Methodist clergyman and he wrote this: I was struck even then at the way in which the most exalted were reduced to their simple humanity. Then, again, at the Holy Communion, all men are absolutely equal. One table for rich ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Tags: Holy Communion, Equal, Iron Duke

Denomination: Anglican

Virginity Value: "Adolescent Virginity Has A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Virginity Value: “Adolescent virginity has a significant impact on well-being in middle adulthood,” says Focus on the Family Medical Issues Analyst Reginald Finger, M.D., M.P.H. “Men and women who were virgins at age 18, when evaluated approximately 20 years later, had about half the risk of ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Unsung Heroes: He Brought Meal To Save The Meal

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 19, 2020

Introduction: This event took place in the days of Elisha, who followed Elijah as one of God’s prophets, during the days of Israel’s divided kingdom. Many of the people in both nations, Israel in the north and Judah in the south, gave up on the God of Israel and began to worship various false gods ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:38-41

Tags: Famine, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

I Am A Soldier  PRO

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on May 26, 2002

I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct, Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit-- trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire. I am a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Tags: Disciplines General, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

The Wrong Target

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 31, 2021

Emmons loses gold medal after aiming at wrong target! 2004 Washington Post: Matt Emmons of the United States shoots at wrong target, finishes eighth. (Douglas C. Pizac -- AP) Matthew Emmons is an elite athlete ! He was an accounting major from Browns Mill, New Jersey. He was a four-year ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:26-30, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Purpose, Priorities, Idolatry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Don't See The Evidence

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 31, 2022

I was with a friend talking to a new acquaintance when she began touting the virtues of a weight loss book she had read a few years earlier. “It will completely change your relationship with food,” she exclaimed, insisting he take down the name of the book and its author. I saw the man glance at ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, James 1:23, James 1:24, James 1:25, 2 Corinthians 8:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Doer Of The Word, Integrity, Honesty

Denomination: Charismatic

Preaching, Power And Persecution

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 20, 2022

John Hus: 1369-1415 John Hus of Prague was burned at the stake at age 46. His crime was an uncompromising preaching of the gospel and calling for church reform in pre-reformation Europe. His Sunday pulpit was the Bethlehem Chapel adjacent to the University of Prague. Czech nobles had built the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 1:1-10

Tags: Culture, Gospel, Persecution, Power, Preaching, Renewal  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[192]. Message From A Poem – No Contradiction Found Here

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 8, 2025

[192]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NO CONTRADICTION FOUND HERE I am not sure if I should explain each of these or let you work them out for yourselves. I was going to explain what seems to be contradictions, then I changed my mind. I will decide on that tomorrow! Well, I have decided to let you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:3, Titus 2:13

Tags: Christian Poems, Born Again, The Blessed Hope, Paradoxes, Contradictions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational