In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Corinthians 10:23-33"

Psychological Conditioning Of Monkeys -If You Put ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2004

Psychological Conditioning of monkeys -If you put five monkeys in a cage and hang a banana on a string at the top of the cage with a ladder leading up to it, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:1-4, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship Definition

Bill Broadhurst Was A Great Runner And He Entered ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jan 26, 2005

Bill Broadhurst was a great runner and he entered a 10k race in Omahu, a race that Bill Rodgers would win in less than 30 minutes. Bill Broadhurst had a handicap, he was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism early in life. But he still loved to run and for him to be in the same race ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Recent Poll By The Barna Research Group In ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 2, 2001

a recent poll by the Barna Research Group in America found that only 37% of adults thought the birth of Jesus is the most important aspect of Christmas. 44% of the respondents said family time is the most important part of the Christmas celebration. 3% said presents or parties were the most ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:9-21, John 1:19-28

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Anglican

Jim Cymbala Began At The Brooklyn Tabernacle As ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 27, 2000

Jim Cymbala began at the Brooklyn Tabernacle as an ill-equipped, under-educated, time-strapped preacher who led a second congregation in New Jersey. The Brooklyn church had no money to pay him, a ramshackle building, and barely enough attendance to bother with weekly meetings. Today, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jeremiah 8:1-6

Tags: Revival, Prayer Persistence, Prayer General, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

R. Kent Hughes, In His Book, James—faith ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Miano on Apr 21, 2001

R. Kent Hughes, in his book, James—Faith That Works, shares this story. "It is said that Napoleon, while looking at some papers, let slip the bridle of his horse, which reared so that the Emperor was in danger. A corporal of the grenadiers leaped forward and caught the bridle, bringing the ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, 2 Kings 25:27-30

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith, Assurance

Denomination: *other

Our Thinking Vs. God's Promises  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 8, 2001

16. Our Thinking vs. God’s Promises. a. We say- It’s impossible. God says- All things are possible with Me. b. We- I can’t do it. God- You can do all things through Christ. c. We- I’m too tired. God- Come to Me, I will give you rest. d. We- I’m always worried and frustrated. God- Cast all your ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 8:1-6, Genesis 35:1-21

Tags: God The Father, Promise, Descriptions Of God

A Man Is Driving With His Wife At His Side And ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Oct 22, 2001

A man is driving with his wife at his side and his mother-in-law in the back seat. The women just won’t leave him alone. His mother-in-law says, "You’re driving too fast!" His wife says, "Stay more to the left." After ten mixed orders, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:15-16, 2 Samuel 23:1-7

Tags: Leadership General, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He Was A Professional Thief. His Name Stirred ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

He was a professional thief. His name stirred fear as the desert wind stirs tumbleweeds. He terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line for thirteen years, roaring like a tornado in and out of the Sierra Nevada’s, spooking the most rugged frontiersmen. In journals from San Francisco to New York, his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5-8, Matthew 10:24-31

Tags: Endurance, Fear, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Recently Heard About A Doctor Who Seemed To ...  PRO

Contributed by Cameron Horsburgh on Feb 1, 2002

I recently heard about a doctor who seemed to have had a huge amount of success as a GP. Whilst he only had a small number of patients on his books, they all stayed in remarkable health. A journalist heard about this doctor, and decided to pay him a visit. Now this journalist, a man by the name of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:29-32, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Holiness

Singer Sheryl Crow Said Recently, In A New York ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 3, 2008

Singer Sheryl Crow said recently, in a New York Post interview: “I believe in God. I believe in Jesus and Buddha and Mohammed and all those that were enlightened. I wouldn’t say necessarily that I’m a strict Christian. I’m not sure I believe in heaven.” Sheryl Crow is where many people are today; ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6, 2 Peter 2:20-21

Tags: Faith, Truth, Relativism, Pluralism

Denomination: Wesleyan

Angel Warriors  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008

Angel Warriors John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 66:1-2, 2 Kings 6:17

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Wesleyan

Rearranging Ashes

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2010

Rearranging Ashes The story is told of an eastern ascetic holy man who covered himself with ashes as a sign of humility and regularly sat on a prominent street corner of his city. When tourists asked permission to take his picture, the mystic would rearrange his ashes to give the best image of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-14, Matthew 6:1-18

Tags: Hypocrisy

A Parable Of Parables  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

A PARABLE OF PARABLES The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Luke 22:24-27

Tags: Doctrine

Chrysostom On Ecclesiastes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011

CHRYSOSTOM ON ECCLESIASTES Eutropius had fallen into disgrace. As the highest-ranking official in the Byzantine Empire (late fourth century), he served as the closest adviser to the emperor Arcadius, then ruling in Constantinople. But Eutropius abused his imperial power and aroused the anger of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2 Kings 16:10-16

Tags: Evangelism How To

Capture And Control  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 7, 2011

CAPTURE AND CONTROL Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:26, John 8:1-11

Tags: Satan

Faster And Faster  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

FASTER AND FASTER Does anyone here know who "Million Dollar Bill" is? If you guessed Bill Gates, then you would be wrong. Another nickname is "Awesome Bill from Dawsonville." In the year 1987, at Talladega Motor Speedway, Bill Elliot set the fastest recorded speed for a qualifying lap at 212.809 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-9, John 20:1-11

Tags: Forgiveness, Patience, Time

A Bankrupt Nation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

A BANKRUPT NATION John MacArthur in his book “Can God Bless America” states that "America wants God's blessing but not God. Our nation has systematically pushed Him out of the national consciousness--rejecting biblical morality, ignoring His Word, and relying on the political and entertainment ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, Romans 1:18-32

Tags: America

We Know Our Future Includes A Promise. But We Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Lu on Nov 26, 2011

We know our future includes a promise. But we do not know how to transition into that promise. Maybe ’not knowing’ is just an excuse – we just straight out refuse to take that next step. That’s because while we are in the present, we often permit the past to occupy and govern our emotions. We drag ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:17-21, 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Angels Of Reconciliation  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012

ANGELS OF RECONCILIATION With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, James 2:15-20

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

No Replacement Refs  PRO

Contributed by Tim White on Oct 6, 2012

NO REPLACEMENT REFS Matthew 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' One week ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:22-23, 2 Chronicles 29:35-36

Tags: Salvation, Trusting God

Denomination: Baptist