In Sermon Illustrations: "Acts 21 23 1"

Importance Of Religion: According To A Recent Cbs ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Importance of Religion: According to a recent CBS News Poll 45% of Americans say the most important part of religion is following the teachings and traditions of their faith as closely as they can. 38% say the search for spirituality — no matter where it takes them — is more important than sticking ...read more

Tags: Character

It's What You Do—not When You Do It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

IT’S WHAT YOU DO--NOT WHEN YOU DO IT Ted Williams, at age 42, slammed a home run in his last official time at bat. Mickey Mantle, age 20, hit 23 home runs his first full year in the major leagues. Golda Meir was 71 when she became Prime Minister of Israel. William Pitt II was 24 when he ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Leeches In Burma Fall Off Traveler In Herbal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Leeches in Burma Fall Off Traveler in Herbal Bath William Arnot wrote this: "A traveler in Burma, after fording a certain river, found his body covered all over by a swarm of small leeches, busily sucking his blood. His first impulse was to tear them from his flesh: but his servant warned him that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus

I Can't Remember

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

I CAN'T REMEMBER An elderly man moved into a retirement community. It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to and she was attracted to him, also. They spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-14

Tags: Aging

Lessons From A Banana Tree

Contributed by Michael Walther on Aug 8, 2011

LESSONS FROM A BANANA TREE I once learned an interesting lessons from a retired pastor who grew banana trees in his backyard. Bananas will grow in our hot and humid Southern Illinois summers. But the season isn't long enough for them to produce much fruit. Some people tried to overcome this by ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Lutheran

An Article In The Associated Press This Past ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An article in the associated press this past week illustrates the concept of rejecting mediocrity. Coach Tubby Smith left Kentucky and is moving to become the coach of Minnesota. The article in the associated press read… “In Tubby Smith’s 10 seasons at Kentucky, the Wildcats never missed the NCAA ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

A Death Blow To Self-Centered False Gospels  PRO

Contributed by Michael Wiley on Nov 12, 2008

John MacArthur writes: This passage...strikes a death blow to the self-centered false gospels that are so popular in contemporary Christianity. It leaves no room for the gospel of getting, in which God is considered a type of utilitarian genie who jumps to provide a believer's every whim. It ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fasting Is Getting More Attention These Days. In ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

Fasting is getting more attention these days. In a special issue of Time Magazine on "How Faith Can Heal" Jeffrey Kluger writes: "Faith and health overlap in other ways too. Take fasting. One of the staples of both traditional wellness protocols and traditional religious rituals is the cleansing ...read more

Tags: Fast

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Last Sermon D.l. Moody Preached

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

D.L. Moody was one of the greatest preachers in American history. On November 23, 1899 in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, Moody became very sick as he preached. “I must have souls in Kansas City,” he had told the students at his school in Chicago. “Never have I wanted so much to lead men and ...read more

Tags: Moody, Preach The Word, Great Supper, Evangelism, Faithfulness, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is An Alleged New Year’s Letter ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Fox on Dec 12, 2000

ILL: This is an alleged New Year’s letter written from a church member to the pastor. Dear Pastor: You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30, Mark 7:1-8

Tags: New Year's Day, Growth In Christ, Faith, Sandra

Denomination: Baptist

U.s. Divorce Statistics  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Dec 7, 2001

U.S. Divorce Statistics (1997 except where noted) Total divorces granted: 1,163,000 Rate per 1,000 population (1999): (excluding CA, CO, IN and LA) 4.1 State with the lowest divorce rate: Massachusetts. Rate per 1,000 population: 2.4 State with the higest divorce rate: Nevada. Rate per ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-10

Tags: Marriage Singleness, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eve: The World's First Mother  PRO

Contributed by Stan Szelkowski on May 5, 2011

EVE: THE WORLD'S FIRST MOTHER 7 Advantages of Being 1st 1. No "in-laws!" 2. No one to be compared to (Eve never heard, "Johnny's mother...") 3. No bad culture or influences to fight against 4. No birthdays (of your own) to celebrate (perpetually 29 and holding!) 5. You hold the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:27-30, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What We Know About Mary Magdalene

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 20, 2006

Here is what we know - 1. She was from Magdala in Galilee 2. Jesus cast seven demons out of her. 3. She joined the band of disciples and followed Jesus where ever he went. Luke 8:2 4. She was at the cross when all the male disciples had fled (Mk 15:40, Jn 19:25) 5. She observed Jesus burial (Mk ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Mary Did You Know

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Apr 4, 2025

Mary did you know First choice Luke chapter 2:1-20 Second choice Matthew chapter 1: 18-25 1. I love Christmas but the reason why I love it has changed throughout the years!!! 2. Paul Harvey 3. Story of Bible (creation, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, the law, Christmas) 4. ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Virgin Birth

Denomination: *other

This Is Only A Test

Contributed by Kelvin Parks on May 2, 2026

This is only a test. Not a punishment. Not a sign God forgot you. A test. James 1:2 says count it ALL joy when you fall into diverse temptations. The testing of your faith works patience. And patience has a perfect work. You are not in a storm. You are in a process. The test is not meant to break ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2

Tags: Tests, Trials

Denomination: Baptist

When I Was In The Military Ministry I Knew A ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Williamson on Nov 6, 2006

When I was in the military ministry I knew a retiree friend that worked at a local antique shop. I ran into him at a local furniture store one day and he proceeded to tell me the secrets to separating the true antiques from the clever reproductions. He showed me a four drawer dresser and he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31

Tags: Authenticity

Denomination: Baptist

The Time Is Now

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Nov 11, 2024

Sermon Illustration: "The Time Is Now!" Biblical Text: 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

Since '70 The Annual Number Of Marriages Per ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 9, 2006

Since ’70 the annual number of marriages per 1,000 women has declined more than 1/3. (Foster Letter ...read more

Tags: Women

[121]. A Message From A Poem – From Where Did God Originate?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 5, 2025

[121]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM WHERE DID GOD ORIGINATE? The real title of this poem is HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER but the title is too long for SermonCentral to accept, so I changed the title. This is a dialogue poem. There are 4 speakers. Speaker 1 is a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:16-17, Colossians 2:20-23

Tags: Existence Of God, Rationalist, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Jesus, Atheist, All Things, Agnostic, Gnostics, Gnosticism, Christian, Creation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Worldwide Number Of Mobile Cell Phone Users ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

The worldwide number of mobile cell phone users is estimated at 1.6 billion people in ’04, vs. 1.3 billion in ‘03. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Communication General