In Sermon Illustrations: "Art Collector"

Language Deficit

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2022

. As families become more dysfunctional, social skills decline. A number of school counselors are noting a rise in “language deficit.” Some parents rarely converse with their children but use the television as a nanny. The result: children recognize but do not grasp the meaning of COMMON words. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Communication, Speech, Talking, Social Skills, Language Skills  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Have Been In This Business For 51 Years, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I have been in this business for 51 years, during which time a lot of prominent, gifted leaders have crashed and burned. I think of one in a major southern city who had a large work, a creative ministry in the arts that was widely known. Women in his church sued him and his staff for seducing ...read more

Tags: Cults

When Benjamin Franklin, One Of Our Founding ...

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Feb 18, 2008

When Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers, served as the Ambassador to France, he occasionally attended what was called The Infidels Club -- a group that spent most of its time searching for and reading literary masterpieces. On one occasion Franklin read the book of Ruth to the club, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The First Computers, Built Around The End Of The ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002

The first computers, built around the end of the Second World War, were large machines that could have taken up most of this sanctuary. But, over a period of 30 - 40 years, they shrunk in size and grew in power. A man by the name of Douglas Engelbart, a former Navy Radar Technician, established ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Church Of God

A Lad In A Baptist Family Got The Notion That He ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 28, 2004

A lad in a Baptist family got the notion that he was going to become a preacher. So he would get up on a stump and preach to the chickens or whatever came by. He decided one day that he ought to practice the art of baptism. He looked around for suitable objects for the ceremony. Their old dog ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Would It Have Felt To Grow Up In Slavery, To ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 23, 2006

How would it have felt to grow up in slavery, to give birth to children who were slaves, and then to die in slavery? Wouldn’t you wonder, "Where is God in all this? If we are God’s people, why isn’t he doing something?" But God thinks in the long term --decades, centuries, and even millennia. ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Life Of Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

THE LIFE OF YOUR MIND "The French sculptor Auguste René Rodin, an innovative and sometimes controversial artist, created masterpieces such as The Man with the Broken Nose, St. John the Baptist, The Bronze Age, or the uncompleted Gates of Hell. But he is most likely known for his work entitled The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:21-25

Tags: Bondage Of Sin, Sin Bondage To

The Master's Touch

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 29, 2010

Poet Roxie Lusk Smith wrote: “The Masters Touch” Deep beyond my mind I know of God’s unfailing skill; He makes the scope of time to bow to his all-mighty will. I cannot doubt the master’s art remolding such as I, An erring child, with willful heart; remade by Him on high. My weakened soul was ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Would You Become A Dog?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 30, 2010

WOULD YOU BECOME A DOG? C. S. Lewis: “Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would you put down ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Brethren

Jim Cymbala Stated In His Book Breakthrough ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 29, 2007

Jim Cymbala stated in his book Breakthrough Prayer, “The God who delights to show mercy is near, waiting for us to call on his name” (page 54).He adds "Today prayer for personal guidance is almost a lost art. Our tendency is to run around doing what we think best and then ask God to bless our ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Man…?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During construction of Emerson Hall at Harvard University, president Charles Eliot invited psychologist and philosopher William James to suggest a suitable inscription for the stone lintel over the doors of the new home of the philosophy department. After some reflection, James sent Eliot a line ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Dr. Lewis Smedes, Wrote About What Forgiveness ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Dr. Lewis Smedes, wrote about what forgiveness is not. • When you forgive a person, this does not mean you are immediately healed. • When you forgive a person, this does not mean you are going to be buddy/buddy. • When we forgive a person, this does not mean we surrender the right to restitution ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Prayer Is The Rope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Billy Graham once noted: “Prayer is not about using God it is more often about getting us in a position where God can use us. I watched the deck hands on the great liner United States as they docked that ship in NY Harbor. First they threw out a rope to the men on the dock. Then, inside the boat ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

A Barna Study Finds 65% Of U.s. Teens Recall ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2008

A Barna study finds 65% of U.S. teens recall learning about moral and ethical standards in the last 12 months; 62% relationships, 55% faith traditions and 50% personal evangelism. Fewer recall church teachings on media, movies and TV within the last year (35%); money and finances (30%); the ...read more

Tags: Youth

In 1856, Auguste Bartholdi Was Inspired To Begin ...

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on May 23, 2008

In 1856, Auguste Bartholdi was inspired to begin working on what would become his most noted work of art. He was approached by the French government to design a lighthouse to put at the entrance of the Suez Canal (Red Sea to the Mediterranean sea). He spent ten years working on the design ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist

God Still Has One More Move

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 22, 2023

This is a story about a painting in a famous art gallery in France. The painting depicts two chess players, one of whom is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident, and the other is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man's soul. (The painting is now popularly known as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Painting, Control, Player, Chess

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In 1915, Colonel T. E. Lawrence Was Traveling ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Mar 15, 2006

In 1915, Colonel T. E. Lawrence was traveling across the desert with some Arabs. Things were desperate. The food was almost gone, and the water was down to its last few drops. Their hoods over their heads to shelter them from the wind which was like a flame, and which was full of the stinging ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Dating" Of A Calendar And "Dating" Of One's ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 29, 2011

"Dating" of a calendar and "dating" of one's life... Universally all the Nations irrespective of their stand on religion adopt a calendar, which uses the Christ’s birth as a base. Yes, the World history is split into 2 not on the basis of the birth of great conquerors like Alexander the great or ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other

Little Gifts

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 14, 2015

The man was quite obviously hard pressed by life .. his clothing was a bit tattered, he hadn’t shaved for several days, his face was gaunt, his eyes vacant. He was hungry, no doubt, and all I had in my pocket was a quarter. I knew that it wouldn’t buy much, but perhaps it was a start, and I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Offering, Giving, Small Gifts, Poor People

Denomination: Nazarene

Overwhelming Influence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 24, 2002

OVERWHELMING INFLUENCE Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science…he shed more ...read more