In Sermon Illustrations: "Acknowledging God"

Three Ways Out

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

THREE WAYS OUT Sir Harry Lauder was a British entertainer who proved highly popular throughout the English speaking world both before, during and after World War One. During World War One Lauder worked tirelessly to organize and recruit performers for shows given to troops serving abroad. When ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Death, Despair, Struggles, Hardship Of Life, Trials And Difficulties  (view more)  (view less)

Propitiation

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

The New Testament Greek word "hilasterion" (translated “propitiation” or “sacrifice of atonement”) suggests three related but nuanced concepts: (1) expiation – the legal removal of sin by means of the sacrifice; (2) propitiation – the removal of God's wrath toward the sinner (wrath ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Expiation, Forgiveness Of Sin, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Four Essentials For Sharing The Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

FOUR ESSENTIALS FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL 1) Care: show concern for the person, and concern for your life before him. 2) Dare: it takes courage to witness--courage if the person is a stranger to you, and even more if the person is a close friend or relative. 3) Share: If you want to make a ...read more

Tags: Witnessing, Great Commission, Evangelism, Faith, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not A Popular Subject

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 26, 2022

I used to try to teach on giving about once a year and that focused on tithing because I watched my Mom’s life. She never made even enough money to live on, yet God never let her do without. She kept tithing and giving whether she was doing well or doing not so well. You know, the two LEAST ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Luke 6:38, Proverbs 11:24

Tags: Giving, Tithing, Alms

Denomination: Charismatic

Who's That?

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Apr 2, 2023

Who’s that ridin’ on a colt? Who’s that lowly and humbly coming- coming into Jerusalem on that glorious Palm Sunday day? Who’s that bringin’ hope with him? Who’s that gracefully offering- offering Himself as the Shepherd to all who’ve gone astray? Who’s that? Isn’t He the Messiah? Isn’t He the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-5, John 1:29

Tags: Hosanna, Prophecy About Jesus, Poems For Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday Poem, Religious Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Your Biggest Spiritual Challenge??

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 14, 2023

Discipleship Journal asked its readers to rank the areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them. The results came back in this order: 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness and Sexual lust 6. Envy 7. Gluttony 8. Lying The respondents also noted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Tests, Trials, Temptations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gentlemen, It's Closing Time!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

At the end of the 19th century, two French writers went to visit the well-known French scientist, Peirre Berthelot. Berthelot was a kind of a scientific prophet. He forecast some of the weapons of mass destruction which would appear in the next century. He said to the writers, "We have only ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Last Days, Armageddon, Rapture, Return Of Christ, End Times, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our House Was Directly Across The Street From The ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Oct 30, 2000

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 6:10-20, Matthew 7:1-24, John 4:13-25, Genesis 1:1-12, Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 105:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Love, Christlikeness, Compassion, Forgiveness General, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Born Identity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

BORN IDENTITY Jimmy Gupton tells of when he was 93 and ready to go on home to God. For the 1000th time, he had prayed for God to take him home. His wife had been gone for seven years, and it was getting harder and harder to go through the motions of the holiday. He had a big silver Christmas tree ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Three Little Pigs—follow Up

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jun 29, 2011

THREE LITTLE PIGS--FOLLOW UP Once there was a mother pig who had three little pigs. The pigs left their mother’s pen to live out their lives in the best way possible. The first little pig had not gone far when he decided to base his life on the pursuit of happiness. The pig did whatever made ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Snakes

Contributed by David Goering on Nov 1, 2019

ILLUSTRATION: Gospel Tract Society, Inc., Independence MO -Snakes in an Atheist's Grave - Last September, while engaged in a Defenders Conference in Idaho, a gentleman by the name of Mr. C. M. Crew came to me with one of the strangest stories I had ever heard, about an atheist in Ohio who was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Atheist, Unbelief

Unsung Heroes: She Needed Help And They Responded

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 17, 2020

Introduction: widows, especially those with young children, have faced hardships for many, many years. This young wife was now widowed, and even worse, she had a creditor demanding either payment of a bill—or she would have to give up her two sons. The LORD, however, had another plan to help this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:1-7, Deuteronomy 15:1-6

Tags: Miracles, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Micah’s Misfortunes: "What Aileth Thee?”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 15, 2024

Introduction: Micah of Ephraim is one of the more unusual characters in Scripture. We’ve seen a couple of his misfortunes, but now, in another unintentionally humorous text, we’ll see he faced a problem he couldn’t possibly solve. Text: Judges 18:18-26, KJV: 18 And these went into Micah's ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:18-26

Tags: Danites, Micah Of Ephraim, Idols

Denomination: Baptist

With His Life In Disarray, Steven Lavaggi Sat On ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

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 Diabetes. As if coping with the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-15

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace Evangelism

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

There Was A Man Who Was Born On August 19, 1843 ...  PRO

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Sep 11, 2004

There was a man who was born on August 19, 1843 near Clinton, Michigan. When he was 17 years old he moved to his sister’s home in Tennessee where he enlisted in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He got out of the army a year later in 1862 and he went to St. Louis to study law. On ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Commitment, Love Of The Disciples, Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

See Life As A Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 11, 2005

See Life as a Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly Citizens!--Romans 8:25) What is easily taught but not soon learned: easily preached, but not soon believed: good advice, but not easily followed: well spoken but hard to do?. The answer? Patience. If there is one thing that none of us is capable of doing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:25

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Insurgency! (11.08.05--Christian ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 6, 2005

Insurgency! (11.08.05--Christian Soldiers!--Revelations 12:7) What war? That was the response that I got from a friend recently when I referred to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a war. I looked at him and asked: “How would you define a war?” His response? “A war is when freedom is at stake and our ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7, Revelation 12:7-9

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Lutheran

Two Men Were Flying To Orlando From California ...

Contributed by Michael Gardner on Mar 2, 2006

Two men were flying to Orlando from California and met on an airplane. After exchanging pleasantries, conversation turned to the needs of their community. One of them was a pastor who shared his vision for a soup kitchen just starting up in downtown Orlando. He also told of local churches that ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Methodist

Great Christian Leaders Have Known The Necessity ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on May 30, 2006

Great Christian leaders have known the necessity of coming to repentance and spending some time in intercession for those in harm’s way. President Abraham Lincoln, in a National Proclamation of Prayer and Repentance in 1863 wrote, “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational