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

Black Market Sacrifices (Plagiarism)

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

After choosing the title of this sermon I began looking for an illustration that captured the sense of what I meant by a “black market sacrifice.” And to my great distress I found one – kind of. The search for an illustration became the illustration. Confused? Let me explain. When I prepare ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Truly Thankful: J. B. Fuqua

Contributed by Richard Jumper on Nov 16, 2010

TRULY THANKFUL: J. B. FUQUA When J. B. Fuqua was just a boy, someone lent him a helping hand. And he paid them back millions of times over for their kindness. J. B. grew up in rural Virginia in the years after World War I. Those were lean times for many people. J. B. made up his mind at a young ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

The Faith Of Cecil B. Demille

Contributed by W F on Jan 10, 2011

THE FAITH OF CECIL B. DEMILLE Cecil B DeMille, the famous Hollywood film director was responsible for a number of famous movies with Biblical themes such as: The King of Kings The Sign of the Cross The Crusades Samson and Delilah The Ten Commandments DeMille was once asked what his finest ...read more

Tags: Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: *other

Never Go Hungry Again

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN Fred and Cheryl went to Haiti in 1985 to bring a child home that they had adopted. Addie was five years old. Her parents had been killed in a traffic accident that left her without a family, but as she walked across the tarmac to board the plane, the tiny orphan reached up ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: God's Provision

Community: A Lost Art  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

COMMUNITY: A LOST ART I inherited an old trunk that sat in my grandma’s basement. It had belonged to the generation before, who had used it to bring their possessions across the sea from Sweden. It sits in my dining room. It smells a little musty, but I treasure it as a link to my heritage. I was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Hospitality

Servanthood And Spiritual Growth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

SERVANTHOOD AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH I surveyed my church to see if people saw a relationship between ministering to others and spiritual growth. When asked, "To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?," 92 percent answered positively. None responded that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

God's Word In A Mental Hospital

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 11, 2011

GOD'S WORD IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL I think you'll agree that all true and sincere spiritual movement in your life has been caused and created by the word of God. I served for one year as a part-time chaplain at a mental hospital. One of my duties there was to help people suffering from chemical ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Serving

Denomination: Lutheran

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Blessings In The Messes

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

Sometimes life is a mess! As I sit in my own office you can barely see the top of my desk and just about every available flat surface is cluttered with some books or papers of some sort! Sermons to preach, classes to teach, meetings to prepare for, schedules to keep - my office sometimes ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:4

Tags: Resolution, Busyness, Ordinary People, Blessings, Count Your Blessings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Forgiveness Is Not

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT by Dr. Larry Petton (excerpt from my book, "I CAN'T FORGIVE"). Text: Ephesians chapter 4 Ruth Bell Graham described a successful marriage as the "union of two great forgivers." Forgiveness has been described as, “Me not hurting you, because you ...read more

Tags: Forgive Them, Father, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rembrandt’s Return Of The Prodigal Son

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

I was an art major in undergrad, which means I took more art history classes than any human should be required to sit through. And then, because God has a sense of humor, I spent an entire semester in seminary studying one painting. One. Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son. Paper after paper ...read more

Scripture: James 4:10, Luke 15:20

Tags: Grace, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mr. President? (07.13.05--Tomorrow--Mark ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 12, 2005

Mr. President? (07.13.05--Tomorrow--Mark 13:33-34) We spend so much time preparing for some things. Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, a family reunion or simply an evening dinner with the family, if there’s people involved, there’s always a goodly amount of preparation that precedes the event. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:33-34

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Lutheran

Only A Risk Away! (08.26.05--Under ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 25, 2005

Only A Risk Away! (08.26.05--Under Pressure!--Judges 6:25-30) Is it worth Risking? It used to be that life was a matter of “this I will risk” but “this I will not.” Risk was something that was weighed on a daily basis. It was a part of life. You picked one thing over another because you had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30, Judges 6:25-30

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

The Fact That Our Good Deeds Are Not Good Enough ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 14, 2003

The fact that our good deeds are not good enough to get us into heaven is no more cruel than it’s cruel for you to tell the fish in the water (I hope your not talking to the fish in the water) “I just can’t breath in your environment.” To say that, is not a cruel statement it is just a statement ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-18, Romans 6:23, Romans 6:2-7, Romans 6:6

Tags: Apologetics General, Apologetics Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remote Control  PRO

Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004

Remote Control Prop: A television remote control Summary: A remote control is used to demonstrate prayers made by faith. Look at what I brought with me today. Do you know what this is? [a television remote control] I’ve always wondered how these things work. You just click on this button and the ...read more

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Satan's Worldwide Convention  PRO

Contributed by James Harrington on Sep 20, 2004

Satan’s worldwide convention: Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his devils, he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24, 1 Corinthians 7:35

Tags: Feelings, Emotions, Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Ship Is Safer In The Harbor, But That's Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2007

“A ship is safer in the harbor, but that’s not what a ship was made for.”-Dad The truth of those words sunk into my heart… and I believe they’ve helped to direct the course of my life. Imagine a beautiful ship… built with the best wood, and decorated with great sails and flags honoring the ships ...read more

Tags: Flag, War

I Lost My Boat, But I Preserved My Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

I LOST MY BOAT, BUT I PRESERVED MY LIFE An American (Ken Barnes), safely headed toward land after three days adrift, said a driving storm off the tip of South America snapped his masts and rolled his yacht, shattering his dream to make a nonstop, round-the-world voyage. "I lost my boat, but I ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness "The Sermon on the Mount" explains the true intent of the law which cancels the natural responses of man and calls for supernatural behavior. Righteousness is an attribute of God. Jesus gives Christians a glorious hope and reward that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago, As I Was Just Beginning My ...

Contributed by Deborah Westbrook on Aug 13, 2008

Several years ago, as I was just beginning my serious study for ministry, I became friends with a woman about my own age, and in similar circumstances. She was a single mother of two middle school age boys. She wanted the best she could provide for her children…as we all do. Through several ...read more

Tags: Principles

Denomination: Methodist