In Sermon Illustrations: "Act" showing 121-140 of 1,893

Jesus Called Us To Be Witnesses, Not Lawyers!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 10, 2023

As Adrian Rogers once said "We are to be witnesses. Now Jesus didn’t call us to be lawyers. A lot of you say, “Well, you know, I just can’t witness.” Of course you can. Suppose you saw an accident, and they brought you into the courtroom, and they said, “Tell us what you saw.” You ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Revival, Acts, Holy Spirit, Great Commission, Evangelism, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Mission-Minded God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 10, 2023

Notice how all three members of the Trinity are involved in Missions: The Father is the first missionary, who goes out of himself in creating the world and sending the Son for our salvation. The Son is the second missionary, who redeems humanity and all creation through his life, death, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Witnessing, Evangelism, Great Commission, Acts, Church, Revival, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Incredible Symbol Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Gordon Brownville's Symbols of the Holy Spirit tells about the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first to discover the magnetic meridian of the North Pole and to discover the South Pole. On one of his trips, Amundsen took a homing pigeon with him. When he had finally reached the top ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23

Tags: Pentecost, Spirit Filled Life, Holy Spirit, Acts, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes: The Devout Men Who Buried Stephen

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 25, 2021

Text, Acts 8:1-2, KJV: 1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-2

Tags: Martyrdom, Stephen, Devout Men

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes-Aquila And Priscilla

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2023

Introduction: This couple is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but with each mention it’s clear they were serving the Lord. They are truly unsung heroes of the Bible! 1 Ministering with Paul in Corinth Text: Acts 18:1-3. KJV 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:18-21

Tags: Unsung Heroes, Priscilla, Aquila

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes-Claudius Lysias

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 22, 2023

Introduction: He was a high-ranking officer in the Roman army, mentioned only a couple of times in Scripture. We don’t know if he ever became a Christian, but we do know that he saved the life of Paul the apostle at least twice! Text: Acts 24:22-23, KJV: 22 And when Felix heard these things, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:22-23

Tags: Persecution, Paul, Claudius Lysias

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Serving Or Souring

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 13, 2022

If you are not serving where you are do not expect to be called to somewhere else to serve. Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Saul/Paul and Barnabas were already serving in the church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:2

Tags: Service, Ministry, Call

Denomination: Baptist

Babel And Pentecost In Contrast

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

"Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Ministry, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Revival, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecost And Babel Contrasted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-7

Tags: Holy Spirit, Babel, Pentecost, Judgment, Tongues  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Habits

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 7, 2012

ON HABITS Someone Once Said... * Thoughts produce acts, acts produce habits, and habits produce character.--Anonymous * If we realize the extent to which we are mere walking bundles of habits, we would give more heed to their own formation.--William James* * First we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:2

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Baptist

A Car Traveling On A Super Highway Needs To Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jun 26, 2003

A car traveling on a super highway needs to have proper and balanced inflation in all four tires to travel safely. No one would venture to drive any distance with the left front tire inflated at 32 PSI, the right front at 28 PSI, the left rear at 36PSI, and the right rear at 10 PSI. That would be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-42

Tags: Disciplines, Balance, Basics Of Christianity, Bible Study, Focus, Vision, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Wealthy, Unhealthy Church

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2014

THE WEALTHY, UNHEALTHY CHURCH Many writers have told the traditional story of the thirteenth century Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, who visited the Vatican in Rome. He was escorted through the fine buildings housing the vast Papal treasury. The Pope, referring to himself as Peter’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-10

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Healing, Power

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Empowered To Serve

Contributed by John Bright on Nov 9, 2023

In every war there are stories of courage, bravery, and acts of heroism that go beyond all human limitations. Do you know the name Desmond Doss? He was a soldier in WW2 that came from Lynchburg, Virginia. Because of his faith tradition that prevented him from carrying a weapon, he enlisted as a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:59-60

Tags: Bravery, Courage, Heroism, World War 2

Denomination: Methodist

Love Was The Highest Motivation, Even Among The ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2008

Love was the highest motivation, even among the Jews. We read in the Talmud: "What difference is there between one who acts from love and one who acts from fear? — The difference is that indicated in this teaching: R. Simeon b. Eleazar says: Greater is he who ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Spiritual Health Checks

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (Hungry for God's Word) A healthy Christian will not find his strength or determine his weakness in the size of the church he attends. Healthy Christians gain strength to overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil by what is written in Acts 2:42, "They devoted ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'll Get Back To You! (08.04.05--Boldness ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 2, 2005

I’ll Get Back to You! (08.04.05--Boldness Too!--Acts 3:11) “Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.” How often have you heard that said in your life. If we could count the number of times action has been spared by inaction due to the “thought process” necessary beforehand, we’d probably ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:11

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

So,... You Say You ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

SO,... YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE? A. W. Tozer wrote, “Fortunately only a few things are matters of life and death, such as a compass for a sea voyage or a guide for a journey across the desert. To ignore these things is not to gamble or take a chance; it is to commit suicide. Here it is either be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:21

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wandering Off  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

WANDERING OFF Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn’t get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:36, John 10:1-18

Tags: Sheep, Shepherd, Love, People In Acts, Jesus Christ, Jesus Teachings, Flock  (view more)  (view less)

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Excellence Is An Art Won By Training And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what ...read more

Tags: Competition