In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Timothy 4 6 8 16 18"

Who Is Praying For Me?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Pastor Jim Cymbala's daughter had been running from God for a long time. Chrissy had rebelled against her family, had left home, and was living as far from God as she could. But one night, this teenager awoke with the distinct feeling that someone was praying for her. And someone was. The ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, James 4:1-2

Tags: Petition, Intercessory Prayer, Interceding For Sinners, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simple Confession, Profound Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

In 1818 one out of six women who had children died of something called “childbirth fever.” A doctor’s daily routine back then started in the dissecting room, where he performed autopsies, and from there he made his rounds to examine expectant mothers. No one even thought to wash his hands...at ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

This Is An Alleged New Year’s Letter ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Fox on Dec 12, 2000

ILL: This is an alleged New Year’s letter written from a church member to the pastor. Dear Pastor: You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30, Mark 7:1-8

Tags: New Year's Day, Growth In Christ, Faith, Sandra

Denomination: Baptist

Because He Came

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

Here are six blessings Paul mentions in Galatians 4:4-7 that flow to us because Christ came. We are redeemed (Gal 4:5a). We are adopted into God’s family (Gal 4:5b). The Holy Spirit now lives within us (Gal 4:6a). We call God Father (Gal ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Tags: The Birth Of Christ, The Virgin Birth, Why Christ Came, Galatians

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Absolute

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 4, 2013

GOD IS ABSOLUTE If we bought a new piano or a new organ and moved it into the sanctuary, we would need to tune it, or everything else, typically. The impression is that there are differences in how the instruments are tuned. If the new piano is tuned a little higher than the old equipment, then ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Evangelism?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

EVANGELISM? A 4-year study funded by the Lily Endowment designed to identify and analyze highly effective examples of evangelism by congregations in 7 mainline denominations reached two primary findings: (1) Of the 30,000 churches that qualified for the Mainline Evangelism Project, only 1/2 of 1% ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Seven Stages Of Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

SEVEN STAGES OF TEMPTATION 1 THE LOOK --- "When he is drawn away" 2 THE LUST --- "By his own desires" 3 THE LURE --- "And Enticed" 4 THE CONCEPTION ---- "When desire has conceived" 5 THE BIRTH -- "It gives birth to sin" 6 THE GROWTH ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Overcoming, Tests, Trials, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Victory, Lies, Tribulation, Defeat, Sin, Lust, Deception, Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John & Margie Cooper Were Married In 1941. They ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Feb 22, 2005

John & Margie Cooper were married in 1941. They settled down on a farm with high hopes of becoming the nation’s largest onion growers. But 4 years later after Margie had given birth to 2 children, she fell victim to polio and spent the majority of her time years completely bedridden. Gone were all ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Marriage Commitment, Devotion, Vow

Denomination: Christian Church

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

In The Foreward Of His Book, Inside Out, Larry ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffery Lindsay on Aug 11, 2001

In the foreward of his book, Inside Out, Larry Crabb writes this: “Modern Christianity, in dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world. The message, whether it’s from fundamentalists requiring us to live by a favored set of rules or from ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-24, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Tags: Emotions, Blessed, Blessing, Hardship Of Life, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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: Hope, Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

David Livingstone Went To Darkest Africa As A ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 22, 2001

David Livingstone went to darkest Africa as a lone missionary. After some time his missions committee wrote to him saying, "Some people would like to join you. What’s the easiest road to get where you are?" He replied, "If they’re looking for the easiest road, tell them to stay in England. I ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Hardship, Missions, Suffering, Trial, Victory, Endurance, Evangelism Fear Of, Evangelism, Disciplines, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

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

Don Richardson Was A Missionary To The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Feb 11, 2002

: Don Richardson was a missionary to the cannibalistic, headhunting Sawi tribe of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Try as he would, he could not find a way to make the people understand the gospel message, especially the significance of Christ’s atoning death on the cross. Sawi villages were constantly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Genesis 37:1-36

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cracked Pot  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

THE CRACKED POT A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 1:16

Tags: God In The Hardships, Imperfection, Jars Of Clay, Patience, Perseverance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Seeing The Rainbow From God's Side  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Jul 19, 2003

SEEING THE RAINBOW FROM GOD’S SIDE Some years ago it was my privilege to be one of the speakers in a large Bible Conference held in Dallas, Texas. Inasmuch as I was conducting a revival meeting in Houston that same week, it was necessary for me to fly to and from the Dallas appointment. My oldest ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:16-17, Mark 4:35-41

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Baptist

Answered Prayers  PRO

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

An unknown confederate soldier wrote: I asked God for strength that I might achieve I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey I asked for health that I might do greater things I was given infirmity that I might do better things I asked for riches that I might be happy I was given poverty ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Resurrection Of The Dead  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 26, 2003

The Resurrection of the Dead Avijah Powers felt moderately sure nobody would recognize him when he registered under an assumed name at the little inn. It was more than twenty years since he had left the town--a hard, reckless boy, running away from a good father and a devoted mother because he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, James 1:9-11

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Years Ago C.s. Lewis Wrote The Screwtape ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 4, 2003

Many years ago C.S. Lewis wrote the Screwtape Letters. Screwtape was an assistant devil writing to his nephew Wormwood. Screwtape was telling his nephew how to make the "patient" leave the camp of the arch enemy, the Prince of Peace, and dwell in the camp of the real boss, the prince of darkness. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:4, Matthew 3:1-12

Tags: Temptation Pride

Denomination: Lutheran

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