In Sermon Illustrations: "Acts 2 14a 36 41"

Shallow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

SHALLOW LIVES A few statistics clarify a problem. The figures I have are from five years ago, but I believe the comparisons are still the same. Americans gave $2.9 billion dollars to overseas missions. That sounds pretty good until you find out that we spend $8.4 billion to see movies, $13 billion ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Defining Moments

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

DEFINING MOMENTS The American director, Ken Burns (Born: 1953), once said; and, I quote: "Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being." The American public servant, Donald Evans (Born: 1946), once said; and, I ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Church Health Services

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

CHURCH HEALTH SERVICES Nearly 70% of U.S. churches provide direct health services and 65% provide educational health programs, according to the National Council of Churches (NCC) USA Congregational Health Survey. Only 6.4% offer no programs of any kind in health care ministries. The congregations ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Catholic Schools ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CLOSING 1,267 Catholic schools have closed since 2000, and enrollment nationwide has dropped by 382,125 students, or 14% percent, according to the National Catholic Education Association. The problem is most apparent in inner cities. Catholic schools have been closing since their ...read more

Tags: School

An Outstretched Hand

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

AN OUTSTRETCHED HAND In Stockholm, Sweden, a woman was injured as she rushed to catch a streetcar. She stumbled in front of the moving car and was caught beneath it. The police sent for a crane to lift the car off her body. While waiting for the crane, a crowd of people gathered out of curiosity. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Christian Love

On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

ON PERSPECTIVE An airline pilot flying over the southeastern U.S. called the local tower and said, "We are passing over at 35,000--give us a time check." The tower said, "What airline are you?" "What difference does it make? I just want the time." replied the pilot. The tower responded, "Oh, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-24

Tags: Unbelief, Time

Not One Thanked Him  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

NOT ONE THANKED HIM Edward Spencer was a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, and also a member of a life-saving squad during his school years. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Tags: Gratitude

Getting Organized  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

GETTING ORGANIZED In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Fathers Significantly Impact The Family Values. ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jun 21, 2009

Fathers significantly impact the family values. It is alarming however to learn that fathers are missing in the home and it continues to be a growing concern. There are studies to support many facts about the absence of fathers at home: - The absence of fathers results in children grieving as if ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties, Fathers

Denomination: Salvation Army

This Is Not Going To Be A Debate About Creation ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 24, 2009

This is not going to be a debate about creation or evolution, but I do want to share a quote from a well known pastor named Randy Croft: Astrophysicists have found that there are over 60 criteria that are necessary for life on earth. For you and me to live. Life could not exist or form if any one ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Sleeping The Night Before Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

SLEEPING THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR EXECUTION In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:7

Tags: Peace

Traveling Couple Misspells Destination In Gps And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

Traveling Couple Misspells Destination in GPS and Ends Up in Wrong Place Last July the BBC news reported on how a couple from Sweden typed Carpi into their GPS when they meant Capri. Their GPS did what it was suppose to and took them 400 miles off course. A tourism official in Carpi said, "Capri is ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:6

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

Revenge Vs. Bearing A Grudge

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 30, 2009

REVENGE VS. BEARING A GRUDGE Tractate Yoma, Chapter 2 (aka, 23a): "What is called revenge, and what is called bearing a grudge? Revenge is such a case: When one comes to the other, and asks him to lend a sickle to him, he says: Nay. On the morrow, the second comes to the first, and wants to borrow ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Focusing On The Law Just Arouses More Desire To ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2009

Focusing on the LAW just arouses more desire to BREAK the law. Back when our first grandchild was about a year old, we hadn’t yet bought a gate for the bottom of the stairs. We put everything we could find in front of those stairs. (Show picture of 1 year old morgan climbing stairs) You can’t ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Shy Welshman Went And Slipped A Love Letter ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 31, 2010

A shy Welshman went and slipped a love letter under his neighbor lady’s door each week for 40 years. Because of an argument they had years before, she continued to refuse to speak to him. Finally, after 2,184 love letters – with no response of any kind – the now 74 year old man went and knocked on ...read more

Tags: Love, God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

University Of Louisville Psychologist Michael ...

Contributed by David Ward on Apr 1, 2010

University of Louisville psychologist Michael Cunningham recently did an extensive study of the most common complaints men and women have about each other. Here is what he discovered: 1. The most common complaints men have re: women include: a. the silent treatment b. bringing up past ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Was The Point?

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Apr 1, 2010

WHAT WAS THE POINT? Alan Scholes, a former agnostic, testifies from his experience: "I had often heard my religious friends say, 'Jesus died for our sins' or 'Jesus died to save the world.' I could see how the good example of Jesus’ actions might possibly influence some men and women to live ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

The Greek Exegesis Of The Greek Term

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 13, 2010

The Greek Exegesis of the Greek term "I am the gate". Gate or Door - Thura Thoo-rah! The opening or the closure. 1. Old Testament models for the shepherd image, for going in and out, and for door prediction (especially in the messianic context of Ps. 118:19-21: "Open for me the gates of ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lincoln's Planned Treatment Of Southerners After ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2010

Lincoln’s Planned Treatment of Southerners After the Civil War Likened to God’s Forgiveness of Our Sins Abraham Lincoln was interviewed by someone right before the end of the Civil War. The reporter said “What are you going to do to those rebellious southerners after the war is over? How are you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-8

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Sometimes We Come Against Things That Violates ...

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on Jun 11, 2010

Sometimes we come against things that violates our core principles and we may not be able to speak up or stand up for what we know we should. But with the conviction and power of faith, we stand up for our beliefs and consequently do the right thing. Doing the right is powered by faith! The bible ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Independent/Bible