In Sermon Illustrations: "Advent Sermon Series"

Precious Dad Moment  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 26, 2002

PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection. A thick slab of ham, a fresh bun, crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw were aching in anticipation, I carried it to the picnic table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-30

Tags: Father's Day, God's Light, Children, Advent, Anticipation, Christmas, Parenting, Thanksgiving, Tongue, Wilderness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Just Another Christmas

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 11, 2023

As we ponder Christmas time And contemplate the season, Help us remember the Christ, For He is the true reason That we celebrate Christmas And make such jubilation: He brought glad tidings of peace And the gift of salvation. So, just another Christmas? Oh, no, may it never be. As ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:1-20, Galatians 4:4

Tags: Birth Of Christ, Christmas Prayer, Christmas Poems, Poems Of Christmas, Holiday Poems, Christmas, Advent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

How Valuable Is Salt? 40 Million Tons Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Dashner on Dec 21, 2001

How valuable is salt? 40 million tons are required each year to fill our needs. Homer called it divine. Plato called it a "substance dear to the gods." Shakespeare mentioned salt 17 times in his plays. Perhaps Leonard da Vinci wanted to send a subtle message about purity lost when he painted "The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:38-50, Luke 14:34-35

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, New Life, Outreach, Sermon On The Mount, Salt, Discipleship, Evangelism, Christian Values  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Amen, Pharaoh

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Oct 5, 2010

AMEN, PHARAOH A pastor was invited at another church to preach. When he began his sermon, there was enthusiasm. The more the congregation responded loud to his sermon, the longer he went on. Finally, he noticed that the host pastor had started responding to his sermon by saying "Amen, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9

Tags: Moses, Go, Release, Excitement, Enthusiasm, Windy, Long, Short, Direct, Point, Sermon, Brief  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Do You Weep Over Your Sin?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A young pastor visited Dundee, Scotland, shortly after Robert Murray McCheyne died at age thirty. Many people had come to Christ because of McCheyne's ministry, and the visitor wanted to know the secret of his great influence. The old sexton of McCheyne's church led the preacher into ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Sermon On The Mount, Mourning Over Sin, Prayer, Revival, Repentance, Beatitudes, Pastors, Brokenness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Outline Of Acts 2

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Acts 2 can be divided into 4 main events all related to the arrival of the Holy Spirit: I. The Arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) II. The Reaction to the Holy Spirit's Arrival (Acts 2:5-13)a. Amazement (Acts 2:5-12)b. Mockery (Acts 2:13) III. The Explanation of the ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Revival, Simon Peter, Sermon Outlines, Church, Holy Spirit, Teaching, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Emails Got Mixed Up And A Widow Passed Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 50 years earlier. Because of their hectic schedules, it was difficult for the couple to coordinate their travel plans. So, the husband ...read more

Tags: Hell, Marriage, Pastors, Confusion, Shock, Husbands, Sermons, Wives, Funerals, Widows, Surprises, Miscommunication, Emails  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Doers Of The Word

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 8, 2022

There is a made-up story about a man who had a dream about heaven. The story is not true but the point it illustrates is true. In this story a man had a dream he died and went to heaven. He toured heaven and it was marvelous just as he imagined it would be. He sees mansions, streets of gold and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Tags: Doing, Great Sermons, Doers Of The Word, Practical Faith, Not Hearers Only, Do What It Says, James On Doing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2023

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, Philippians 2:1-11, John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Book Of Life, Return Of Christ, Preachers, Poems, Jesus, Church, Children, Advent, Second Coming, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Letter

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 23, 2023

Now, to the question before me, I shall respond without delay, about the Christ child, and the reason for Christmas day. I suppose they deem me an expert, a good witness of repute, So, I was asked to do my best the falsities to dispute. I lend now my witness; written here from mine own hand: the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-23, Isaiah 60:1-3, Numbers 24:17, Isaiah 9:6-8, Luke 2:1-14, John 1:14, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-10, Genesis 49:10, Daniel 9:24-25, Galatians 4:4-5, Titus 2:11-15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Saint Nick, Christmas Letters, Birth Of Christ, Letter, Santa Claus, Stories, Christmas Poetry, Christmas Stories, Christmas, Advent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Life Begins When Shaken

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

LIFE BEGINS WHEN SHAKEN Father Alfred Delp was a prisoner of the Nazis during World War II. He was charged with treason for true Christian preaching. From his jail cell he wrote about the meaning of Advent, the coming of Christ: "Advent is a time for rousing. Human beings are shaken to the very ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Shadowlands -- A Broadway Play, Later Made Into A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kathy Findley on Oct 25, 2003

Shadowlands -- a Broadway play, later made into a motion picture -- tells the story of C. S. Lewis and his wife, Joy . . .of their intense love for one another . . .and of the shadow that was cast across their life. Shadowlands portrays their struggle with Joy’s cancer. After Joy’s death, Lewis ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Death, Funerals Christian

Denomination: Baptist

The Second Coming In The Bible

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

THE SECOND COMING IN THE BIBLE Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Brethren

There’s A Subject In School You Either Love Or ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

There’s a subject in school you either love or hate--History. People who lack an appreciation of history don’t learn from it. Military leaders study the lives of great generals and the strategies of past battles. Even with the advent of sophisticated technology on the battlefield there is still ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Good Hope, Alabama Is A Small Town With Small ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 15, 2010

Good Hope, Alabama is a small town with small town values. In Cullman County you can’t legally buy beer. Daystar Church, which had grown dramatically under pastor Jerry Lawson, ran up against the sensibilities of this conservative north Alabama community by focusing a month-long series on sex. ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Baptist

On Regret

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

ON REGRET John Greenleaf Whittier, one of our most astute poets, wrote: For of all the sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been.' That is what Regret is all about. The world is full of people who Regret having thoughtlessly chosen the wrong path. Life is a series ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Disappointment

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Enough Scriptures

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Sep 23, 2019

I and several other preaching students were permitted to visit Brother G. E. Steward, a masterful preacher of the gospel, who was holding a gospel meeting in Houston, TX, in the summer of 1972. We were permitted to bring lessons at that meeting. He was following Brother Keeble’s manner of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10-11, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Faith, Disciples, Word Of God, Sound Doctrine, Scriptures, Power In The Word, Training Preachers, Sermon Delivery, Marshall Keeble, Power In Preaching, G E Steward, Masterful Preacher, Gospel Meeting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Get Kicked Out Of Church On Christmas Eve  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 15, 2008

HOW TO GET KICKED OUT OF CHURCH ON CHRISTMAS EVE Christmas Eve 1990. I came this close to being physically thrown out of church. We were new to town and we heard that a certain church in town had a fantastic Christmas Eve service. So, we went with some friends, about ten of us total, to this ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Christmas Eve, Hymn, Hymnal, Hard To Believe, Way, Choir, New Jersey, Shut Up, Kicked Out, Go Away, Eject, Sing, Quiet, Song, Silent Night, Usher, Funny  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prison Doors Open From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PRISON DOORS OPEN FROM OUTSIDE Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned by Hitler during World War II, writes to his fiancé about one of the many lessons he learned from life in prison: “A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty