In Sermon Illustrations: "Acknowledging God"

Baptism Is A Label  PRO

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 7, 2011

BAPTISM IS A LABEL Some believed that because they were circumcised they were saved. But God never intended circumcision/baptism to do anything. Consider, for example, labels. They name the products, but they do not bring them into being. So with circumcision: BAPTISM LABELS YOU A CHRISTIAN, BUT ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

No Good Christians

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 26, 2011

NO GOOD CHRISTIANS Have you ever been on a vacation and then felt like you need another vacation because you were so tired? That is this life. A lot of times we do things that we think will bring us peace and contentment but in the end they just make us more worn out. The more you TRY to be a ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Moody's Dying Words  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Sep 21, 2011

MOODY'S DYING WORDS "Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go." "No, no, Father," said Moody's son, "You are dreaming." "I am not dreaming," replied Moody. "I have been within the gates. I have seen the ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

George Mueller On Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

GEORGE MUELLER ON PRAYER George Mueller: "I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Comfort, Believe, Security, Saved, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Look Up In Your Heart  PRO

Contributed by David Tack on Oct 17, 2012

LOOK UP IN YOUR HEART A.W. Tozer reminds us, "You may be still with arthritis so that you can’t even get on your knees to pray, but you can look up in your heart, for prayer isn’t a matter of getting on your knees. Prayer is the elevation of the heart to God and that is all a man needs to praise, ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Worth?  PRO

Contributed by Juan P Barrientez Jr. on Nov 18, 2012

WHAT ARE YOU WORTH? The price of a dead body to be used by medical students and CNBC had the following information: Spine - $900 Hand and Forearm - $385 Shoulder -$500 Heart - $500 Corneas - $6,000/pair Kidneys - $300-500 Intact Head - $6,000 Brain - $600 Knees - $650 each Tendons - ...read more

Tags: Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

John Macarthur: Christ Was Born To Die

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 14, 2014

John MacArthur: "The reason that Jesus Christ was born was to die. It greatly concerns me today that there are some who are always talking about the fact that Jesus was a wonderful person who through a set of circumstances got Himself into a mess and wound up getting crucified. However, the Word ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:23

Tags: Foreknowledge, Cross Of Christ, Cross Of Calvary

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He'll Keep His Word

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 7, 2014

Daniel Overdorf: I visited a friend in the hospital. He had neared the end of an extended battle with cancer. The chemotherapy had taken most of his ability to think. I read some Scripture passages to him about God's promises, unsure if he even heard me, then I prayed. As I turned to leave the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 8:6-13

Tags: Cross, Covenant

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simpson's Cocoa Powder

Contributed by Jason Albertson on Nov 8, 2014

There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Tags: Purity, Personal Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Birthdays ...

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Jun 10, 2018

While talking to one of the little ones that came forward during children's hour, I was trying to determine if they were old enough for Vacation Bible School (they were four). So I said, "You are four now, when will you be five?" He looked up with complete confidence and seemed amazed I would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:13-15

Tags: A Little Child, Stating The Obvious, Unless You Become Like A Child

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Scratch Resistant

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 6, 2022

I was emailing with a friend about the intense testing we all seemed to be experiencing when she emailed back to me: I think a very good analogy for the unending intense spiritual attacks is to liken it to how a diamond is formed… Diamonds are formed under extreme pressure and intense heat, ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 13:9

Tags: Endurance, Fiery Trials, Spiritual Strength, Refining, Tests, Spiritual Attacks  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Revenge, Justice And Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

Someone has offered this penetrating comparison of the difference between revenge, justice, and grace. If someone brutally murders your son and you take things into your own hands, that's revenge. If you're content to allow the law and the courts to arrest and punish the offender, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Salvation, Redemption, Justification, Revenge, Adoption, Justice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Less Important Than We Think

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2023

In his book, “Being with God,” Pastor AJ Sherrill addresses how the practices of contemplative prayer help the Believer see what’s going on inside: we are so caught up in our inner dramas that we lack the clarity to know what to pray for. Surrendering to the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27) ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-27, Luke 14:7-14

Tags: Love, Humility, Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

That Great Getting' Up Morning...

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 30, 2024

And now O Lord – When I’ve done drunk my last cup of sorrow— When I’ve been called everything but a child of God— When I’ve done travelling up the rough side of the mountain— O – Mary’s baby— When I start down the steep and slippery steps of death— When this old world begins to rock beneath my ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Tags: Death, Resurrection, Hope, Dying, Funeral  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Work With It!" Romans 12: 1-8: Key Verse(S): 6 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 10, 2004

“Work With It!” Romans 12: 1-8: Key verse(s): 6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” “All things being equal!” Where that may be the rallying cry of today’s philosophical democratically-driven culture, it wasn’t the impetus for justice in the Brunner household as I was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8, Mark 1:21-28

Tags: Family, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

A Supernatural Event!" Matthew 5:43-48 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 31, 2005

“A Supernatural Event!” Matthew 5:43-48 Key verse(s): 44:“‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Pray for them who hate you! We know that this is what Jesus taught. And there are examples from Scripture of those who have dealt with their enemies in this manner. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

Kick Me!" Matthew 28:1-10 Key Verse(S): 6:"He Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 24, 2005

“Kick Me!” Matthew 28:1-10 Key verse(s): 6:“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Getting pulled into a practical joke is not much fun; especially when you walk in so innocently and depart with egg all over your face. I remember that my two brothers and I always had a pretty good time ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Lutheran

Afghan Spiritual Harvest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

AFGHAN SPIRITUAL HARVEST In his book What Good Is God?, Philip Yancey writes: "This is a true story from Afghanistan that took place in the early 1970s, before the Russian occupation or the Taliban regime. At the time, the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-11, Mark 19:1-20

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Grocery Store Meltdown

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Oct 4, 2015

Many times you’ll have no clue what to do. But you still have to pretend you are in control. Like when your three-year old melts down at the grocery store. What do you do? You are wearing a "WWJD" bracelet and still you have no valid answer. You’ve read a ton of parenting books and although many ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:6

Tags: Parenting, Fatherhood, Dads

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misapplied Scriptures, Psalm 137:9

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 3, 2023

Introduction: Yahoo! ™ used to have a section or forum where people could ask and answer questions about any of many topics. One of my favorites was the “religion and spirituality” section. Some people were genuinely interested in spiritual matters. It goes without saying there were a number of ...read more

Tags: Punishment, Babylonian Captivity, Misapplied Scriptures

Denomination: Baptist