In Sermon Illustrations: "Another Way"

Slow And Steady  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 28, 2003

SLOW AND STEADY The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:4-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Balaam's Error,

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 25, 2024

And this from the Revelation to John at Patmos: Jesus words to the angel of the church at Pergamum give us the view of God as to what happened in Numbers chapters 22-25, and why God was angry with Balaam. Balaam was a deceiver. “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:1-41, Revelation 2:14, Numbers 25:1-3

Tags: Deception, Teaching, Israelites, Pergamum, Stumbling Block, Sexual Immorality, Idols  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Hound Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

In his book The Call, author Os Guinness writes: We cannot find God without God. We cannot reach God without God. We cannot satisfy God without God—which is another way of saying that our seeking will always fall short unless God’s grace initiates the search and unless God’s call draws us to Him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Works, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's The Demand?

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Feb 5, 2012

WHAT'S THE DEMAND? The magazine, Christianity Today, reported in its April 4, 1986 issue of a tool company that manufactured drill bits. Faced with financial losses, company executives gathered to discuss the problem: a declining demand for drill bits. The CEO challenged his men: "How can we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Lutheran

Quest Study Bible Notes This About The Question," ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 24, 2003

Quest Study Bible notes this about the question,” What changed at this pivotal point in history?” The resurrection vindicated Jesus’ claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God’s dealings with humankind. No longer would people have to follow rules and ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[146]. A Message From A Poem – In Union With Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 29, 2025

[146]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN UNION WITH CHRIST It is a great joy and a mark of praise that we are in Christ. Do Christians use that phrase “in Christ” and not think into the depth of it? In union with Christ examines that subject, and it is too great to write well on it in a poem with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6, Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:2, Romans 6:5

Tags: Forever, Love One Another, Risen Lord, Union With Chris, Grace, Savior, Unity, Bond  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hold That Thought!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2020

One church where I served as pastor has a ping-pong table in the fellowship hall, and sometimes a younger member or two asked me to join them in a game. Now, I was old enough to be their grandfather but that doesn’t stop them from asking! I did appreciate the fact that these youngsters, aged around ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Children, Thoughts, Fun And Games

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Slander. What Is Slandering? It Can Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 26, 2012

Do not slander. What is slandering? It can be called many things such as: backstabbing, mud-slinging, bad-mouthing, and it could also include condemning someone. Whatever it is, it doesn’t sound good from the pages of scripture. ILL.- William Cowper (English poet) said, “He that slanders me paints ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:18

Tags: Words

What Changed At Easter?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 16, 2008

What Changed at Easter? Quest Study Bible notes this about the question, "What changed at Easter, this pivotal point in history?" "The resurrection vindicated Jesus' claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God’s dealings with humankind. No longer would ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cycles Of Dying Churches

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2022

Almost all churches go through “lifecycles” - they start with a MAN, a visionary leader has a passion to to accomplish a God-given Vision -- then they become a MOVEMENT. At this stage the people are nearly 100% committed. They spend time together at each other’s homes and in Bible studies. Then ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Tags: Dying Churches, Church, Revival, Seven Churches

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That Skimming Torpedo!" Jonah 4: 1-11 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 23, 2004

“That Skimming Torpedo!” Jonah 4: 1-11 Key verse(s): 1: “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry.” Jealousy is different in another way. It is the one anger emotion that can be launched with a smiling face. We tend to put a lot of planning into it before we launch it. There is ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

Coming Soon !?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 13, 2020

Many of us, I'm sure, remember hearing the words "Coming soon to a (fill in the blank) near you . . ."m intended to grab your attention. Well, sometimes that did indeed happen, as a lot of us want to find something new, maybe the latest and greatest thing to come our way. There are a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, Acts 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Coming Soon, Return Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

In A Poem Attributed To Archbishop Oscar Romero, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

In a poem attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero, entitled “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own,” he states: “It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, ...read more

In A Poem Attributed To Archbishop Oscar Romero, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

In a poem attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero, entitled "Prophets of a Future Not Our Own," he states: "It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Refuse Good Advice And Watch Your Plans ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 22, 2001

“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed” (Proverbs 3:21). We can say it another way: Heed wise counsel, or watch your hopes be cancelled. The hard won truth of this proverb is evident in an experience that riveted my generation. In January of 1985 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1

Tags: God's Omniscience, Leadership General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: United Methodist

The Nobodies Of The Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

THE NOBODIES OF THE CHURCH Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States during the Clinton administration, was interviewed on "60 Minutes" on June 26, 1999. She seems to hold this ancient opinion of Christians. Here is how she defined a cultist: "A cultist is one who has a strong belief in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Miraculous Human Body, Citation: Jeff ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 7, 2001

[The Miraculous Human Body, Citation: Jeff Arthurs; references Dr. John Medina, genetic engineer, University of Washington, in 1995 lecture at Multnomah Bible College, Portland, Oregon] The average human heart pumps over 1,000 gallons a day, over 55 million gallons in a lifetime. This is enough to ...read more

Tags: Creation, Evolution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Miraculous Human Body  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2004

THE MIRACULOUS HUMAN BODY The average human heart pumps over 1,000 gallons a day, over 55 million gallons in a lifetime. This is enough to fill 13 super tankers. It never sleeps, beating 2.5 billion times in a lifetime. The lungs contain 1,000 miles of capillaries. The process of exchanging ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Creation, Apologetics God

Marriage

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

A story from Warsaw, Ohio, is catching some attention today (August 13, 2014). It seems the dancers at Foxhole nightclub decided to picket a church that had been hassling them for years. Apparently the members and pastor of New Beginnings Ministries felt called by God to try to rid their community ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-39

Tags: Sex, Intimacy In Marriage

Denomination: Baptist