In Sermon Illustrations: "Acting"

In The Days When The Great Evangelist Moody Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 9, 2006

In the days when the great evangelist Moody was preaching in Chicago, a man, partially under the influence of liquor, seeing the warm lights of Moody’s tabernacle, staggered up the steps to the front door. Upon opening it, he saw no one within, but he did see the motto hanging above the pulpit: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:16

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jonathan Edwards States:

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 30, 2009

Jonathan Edwards states: "If any think it is a more perfect definition of the Will to say that it is that by which the soul either chooses or refuses, I am content with it; though I think it enough to say, it is that by which the soul chooses: for in every act of will whatsoever, the mind chooses ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Occasionally, I Read A Web Log By A Young Man Who ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 26, 2010

Occasionally, I read a web log by a young man who gives only his first name, which is Justin. In a recent post on his blog, which he calls “Uban Idealist,” he says this. He says, “For a long time my reaction to seeing [the broken] areas in my life has been to work hard on them. Try to act more ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Imagine For A Moment You Were In A Playground ...

Contributed by Andrew Drummond on Nov 11, 2007

Imagine for a moment you were in a playground and you saw someone trying to abduct a child, what would you do? I think we would act, without hesitation we would be stirred into action. You would not stand by and let something so terrible just happen. A conviction ...read more

7 Ways To Pray For Lost Loved Ones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Praying for Unsaved Loved Ones “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) 1. Pray that God will draw them to himself. “No one can come to me unless the Father … draws him.” (John 6:44) 2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, John 20:21

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Burden, Lost, Unsaved, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peter Drucker Says; "Americans Today Go To Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Peter Drucker says; "Americans today go to church for reasons very different from those of two generations ago. Then attendance was steered by heritage, habit, and social status, now it is an act of commitment, and therefore meaningful. It is no longer an act of conformity, and therefore ...read more

Tags: Church General

A.t. Pierson Wrote,

Contributed by Don Jones on Mar 24, 2009

A.T. Pierson wrote, "Whatever is done for God, without respect of its comparative character as related to other acts, is service, and only that is service. Service is, comprehensively speaking, doing the will of God. He is the object. All is for Him, for His sake, as unto the Lord, not as unto ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Baptist

Pentecost Proves That God Wants Everyone To Know The Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

"Another reason for the gift of tongues was to let the people know that the Gospel was for the whole world. God wants to speak to every person in his or her own language and give the saving message of salvation in Jesus Christ! The emphasis in the Book of Acts is on worldwide evangelization, ...read more

Tags: Lost, Unsaved, Simon Peter, Love Of God, Languages, Gift Of Tongues, World, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions, Witnessing, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Treat Each Other Like The Answer To A Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Dave Clark on Dec 11, 2012

TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER I can still see one of the great provokers in my life. I met her on a work trip to Kentucky. Our youth group was working on a woman’s house, but it wasn’t very much fun. We hated where we were. Porches and front yards littered with old cars, sofas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:43-48, Acts 10:30-33

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Kindness That Echoes Eternity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

A few years ago, a sports columnist named Steve Rushin wrote about a moment at a baseball game that stuck with me. It didn’t involve a home run or a dramatic win—but something much quieter and more meaningful. Steve and his teenage son were at a Minnesota Twins game, sitting among the crowds when ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35

Tags: Humble, Giving, Kindness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Efficacious Grace We Are Not Merely Passive, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2006

"In efficacious grace we are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest. But God does all, and we do all. God produces all, we act all. For that is what produces, viz. our own acts. God is the only proper author and fountain; we only are the proper ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Jonathan Edwards On Freedom Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Jonathan Edwards on Freedom of the Will “If any think it is a more perfect definition of the Will to say that it is that by which the soul either chooses or refuses, I am content with it; though I think it enough to say, it is that by which the soul chooses: for in every act of will whatsoever, the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9

Tags: Thought

In Reference To The Terrorist Attacks On ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Sep 17, 2001

IN REFERENCE TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AMERICA, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH SAID, “THESE ACTS OF MASS MURDER WERE INTENDED TO FRIGHTEN OUR NATION INTO CHAOS AND RETREAT. BUT THEY HAVE FAILED. OUR COUNTRY IS STRONG. A GREAT PEOPLE HAS BEEN MOVED TO DEFEND A GREAT NATION. TERRORIST ATTACKS CAN SHAKE ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Free Methodist

John Wesley, The Founder Of The Methodists, ...

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodists, realized that if he went longer than 3 hours without praying to God and reading his word, then he began to think and act like the world rather than think and act like Jesus. So every three hours, he stopped what he was doing to be with God. This helped ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Methodist

Feelings And Actions

Contributed by Dennis Fite on Nov 27, 2014

I once heard Dr. Robert Jeffress express his advice to those not ’feeling’ thankful. "I have found that it is a lot easier to act yourself into a feeling than it is to feel yourself into an action." From his wise statement I have surmised that the very act of giving thanks or expressing ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Thankfulness, Action, Feelings, Unthankfulness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[089]. A Message From A Poem – Specific – For The Unsaved - The Three Ts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 26, 2025

[089]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SPECIFIC – FOR THE UNSAVED - THE THREE Ts Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. That was the purpose of the First Advent called Christmas. There is no way to be saved except through repentance and placing your life in the hands of God. There are many ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:30, Psalm 37:5, Romans 3:12, Acts 26:20

Tags: Turn, Poem, Take, Must Be Born Again, Be Saved Now, Hell, Trust, Salvation, Repentance, Poetry, Unsaved  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroines-Rhoda Of Jerusalem

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 13, 2022

Introduction: She’s only mentioned in one passage, and often for what she didn’t do. But this unsung heroine knew what she had seen, and nothing was going to change her mind! Text: Acts 12:11-17, KJV: 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:11-17

Tags: Prayer, Peter, Rhoda, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Health Checks  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (True Devotions) Rick Warren wrote, "The key for churches in the 21st Century will be church health, not growth." When a congregation is healthy, it will grow spiritually and enjoy the benefits of a live, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. A healthy Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Children, Moses, Deception, Godly Women, Listen, Liar, Selectively, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cost For Preaching The Truth About Baptism

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

Baptism is identification with Christ. Baptism allows the believer in Christ to openly identify with Christ who died, was buried and who rose again on his behalf. It is a public testimony to say I have identified with Christ. I will live for Christ. On October 15, 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Baptism, Persecution, Immersion, Reformation, Church History, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My Favorite Football Stories Is Credited ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Apr 23, 2002

One of my favorite football stories is credited to Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers. It’s probably an urban or sports legend but I still like it... It seems that there was a rookie running back (Paul Horning?) who celebrated wildly in the end zone when he made his first professional ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ