In Sermon Illustrations: "altar" showing 121-140 of 218

The Late Erma Bombeck In Her Book, "If Life ...

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 28, 2006

ILL. The late Erma Bombeck in her book, "If Life is a bowl of Cherries, Why Am I Always in the Pits?", recalled the legend of a church where the chimes rang miraculously whenever someone gave a generous gift. But the chimes hadn’t rung for a long time, even though kings & potentates had come ...read more

Tags: Antichrist

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Gift Of Grace And Forgiveness In Our Time Of Greatest Need

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Julian Silva tells the story of working in a Volunteer Corp’s Chaplain Office in Frankfurt, Germany where he met a German named, Carl Scholtz. During WW II, Carl served as a Nazi soldier but not believing in what he was doing, he tried to desert. He failed in his attempt, was captured and thrown ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Wait On The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

DON’T WAIT ON THE DECISION I recently heard a terrible story about a young man who made a bad decision. The church of a pastor friend of mine had a drama about hell, and a mother brought her 26-year-old son who had been in rehab. When the pastor gave the invitation, the mother got up to go to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 26:26-29

Tags: Salvation

The Late Elvis Presley, A Teenage Rebel From ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

The late Elvis Presley, a teenage rebel from Memphis, Tennessee, with his dark good looks, hipster clothes, daring sideburns, and distinctive singing style, captured the teenage American heart. Elvis could sing everything from gospel and blues to country and pop with the same raw energy and potent ...read more

Tags: Priest

And When On A Dark Friday Afternoon This ...  PRO

Contributed by Eloy Gonzalez on Nov 3, 2002

And when on a dark Friday afternoon this Innocent’s [Jesus] body was placed in a grave, his friends thought that they were seeing the last of Him. No thought of a river carrying life-giving water crossed their mind. He was wrapped in his burial shroud, placed in a borrowed tomb, and a large rock ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 2 Corinthians 9:6

Tags: Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Denomination: Lutheran

A World Of Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2002

A WORLD OF PEACE Bruce Larson tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ: "For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, God's Provision, God Brings Hope

Have You Heard The Story Of Jim Smith And Ron ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on May 30, 2003

Have you heard the story of Jim Smith and Ron Jones? Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note, and he made a face. He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying. He felt sure that the usher was watching to see how much money he put in the offering plate, ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Nazarene

Giving Up The Whole World

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jan 3, 2011

GIVING UP THE WHOLE WORLD Bruce Larson tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ: "For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

De-Sanctified Churches

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

DE-SANCTIFIED CHURCHES Not too long ago, a real estate listing in Dallas had the simple headline: "Converted Church." In other words, what had once been a church facility is now somebody's house. The listing under the heading had this description: "The altar has been adapted for use as a granite ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Tags: Church Purpose Of

The Anger Of King Henry Ii

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

THE ANGER OF KING HENRY II King Henry II of England, back in around 1200, had a lot of power. He put an end to a long and bloody civil war, and ruled both England and a large chunk of France for many years. He was so famous that a movie was made about him, about 25 yrs ago, starring Richard Burton ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Tags: Anger

In God's Time

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 20, 2023

The little boy walked home from Sunday School and the family were sitting around the old pot-bellied stove talking. The boy told his dad and Pa about the lesson. The boy was so excited. He told them he had gone to the altar and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. The boy said he was going to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Tags: Serve, Time

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Moses, Aaron And Hur Went To The Top Of The Hill. ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 14, 2003

Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:11

Tags: Jesus Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Chrysostom On Ecclesiastes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011

CHRYSOSTOM ON ECCLESIASTES Eutropius had fallen into disgrace. As the highest-ranking official in the Byzantine Empire (late fourth century), he served as the closest adviser to the emperor Arcadius, then ruling in Constantinople. But Eutropius abused his imperial power and aroused the anger of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2 Kings 16:10-16

Tags: Evangelism How To

Prayer And Revival  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Nov 10, 2011

PRAYER AND REVIVAL In Belfast, Ireland, in the 1930's, a church that ran about 200 experienced revival. Between 12 and 20 people were saved every night. 6:00 every morning found 50 people in the church praying for an hour. It was not singing, Bible study, and prayer, as much as the teacher in me ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Revival, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Spencer Morgan Rice, Rector Of Trinity Church, ...

Contributed by Dale Hummel on May 14, 2008

Spencer Morgan Rice, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, once told ("Watch, Therefore, for Ye Know Not When the Master Cometh," 2 December 1984) of how early in his ministry he was serving a small congregation in the Los Angeles basin. The sexton of the church took as much interest in those who came ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Teenage Boy Was Seriously Injured An Automobile ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Oct 21, 2003

A teenage boy was seriously injured an automobile accident. The doctors did all they could to repair the damages to the boy’s body but despite their fast medical knowledge they were unable to completely restore his legs. He was informed that he would eventually walk, but only with the aid of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:4-5, John 16:33

Tags: Healing, God's Forgiveness, Determination, Christian Liberty, Overcome, Trial, Struggles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Zanzibar Is An Old City In East Africa. A City ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregory Fisher on Jul 1, 2004

Zanzibar is an old city in East Africa. A city with an unfortunate past. It is filled with ornate architecture, and it is the home of the Swahili Institute, the official guardians of the Kiswahili language. But, for nearly 300 years it was the home of something else. It was the home of one of ...read more

Tags: Salvation By Grace, Salvation, Redemption, Ransom For All, Ransom From Sin, Missionary, Missionary Work, Gospel Impact, Grace, Grace Of God, Justification, Slavery, Sola Gratia  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

Once In His Dream A Man Was Haunted And Thwarted ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

Once in his dream a man was haunted and thwarted by a mysterious, veiled figure. As soon as he had gained a fortune, the veiled form snatched it away from him. When he was about to enter into peace and joy, the veiled figure attacked his mind with fear and anxiety. When he was hungry and sat ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

While At Mcdonalds This Past Week I Saw A ...

Contributed by Charles Newman on Mar 14, 2009

While at McDonalds this past week I saw a grandmother almost in tears of frustration as she tried to strap her toddler granddaughter into a car seat. They couldn’t leave to go to their next destination until the little girl was safe and secure in the car seat. The little child kicked and screamed ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Methodist

Fasting Before The Great Awakening

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

FASTING BEFORE THE GREAT AWAKENING Jonathan Edwards was a man used by God in the First Great Awakening. I have read that he preached in a weak, squeaking, monotone voice and held his tiny manuscript so close to his face that people could not see his expressions. When he preached, "Sinners in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:2-3, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-35, Acts 14:23, Luke 2:37, Matthew 6:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Fast

Denomination: Baptist