In Sermon Illustrations: "Artificial Lives"

A Widely Circulated Story Over The Internet Is ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 27, 2008

A widely circulated story over the Internet is one that is told a couple of different ways but with the same kind of an ending. One way that I have heard it (and perhaps have told it) is that a rushing businessman knocks over a child’s fruit stand in his hurry to catch a train. He stops after ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Church Of God

Hope Changes Everything

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jan 3, 2009

HOPE CHANGES EVERYTHING From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian Church

Wanting To Be Where The Master Is

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Mar 7, 2009

WANTING TO BE WHERE THE MASTER IS The most appealing part of heaven is not what isn’t there or what is there, but rather who is there. And I am referring to Jesus, our Savior. We want to be where our Savior is. Don had 3 German Shepherds—Ranger, Gunner, and Josie. He loved those dogs. And ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When We All Get To Heaven (Quotes By David Platt)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2016

WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN... “I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, ’I wish you would have kept more for yourself.’ I’m confident that God will take care of me.” ¯ David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream “We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism, Heaven, Witnessing, Great Commission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Snake With A Flat Head

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Jesus defeated the devil and all the devil’s power is gone. Verse: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19 NKJV). Illustration: A snake came into my living room. ...read more

Tags: Power And Authority, Power Over Satan, Satan Defeated

Denomination: Charismatic

Romans 1:22

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Romans 1:22 Life is so much vanity. We live on the brink of insanity. This is so very, very odd For creation is in the image of God. We plod along in our sin Knowing that we cannot win. Our souls so easily we sell To that pawnbroker of Hell. Instead of singing, "How Great Thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22

Tags: Sin, Vanity, Hypocrisy, Religion, Traditions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Help, Success, Wise Generosity, Benevolance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Am More Alive Than Ever - D. James Kennedy

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

D. James Kennedy wrote a book called "Skeptics Answered" and in this book, he made this observation that has always stuck with me. It reminds me of a quote from D.L. Moody many years before. Kennedy wrote, "There will, in fact, come a time when some of you will probably be standing ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Death, Easter, Resurrection, Life, Eternal Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It's "A Hard-Knock ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 23, 2002

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It’s "a hard-knock life" for her and her friends. All the hard chores, the abuse, and the neglect only add insult to injury to these poor little girls already carrying the weight of abandonment. But if you’ve seen the musical "Annie," either on stage or screen, you know ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bible Tells Us This About Love, "So We Know ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Feb 24, 2006

The Bible tells us this about love, “So we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16) In the very same epistle we find that Scriptures warn us with, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 ...read more

Scripture: John 13:3-17

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When You First Met "J.e.", You Could Tell He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

When you first met “J.E.”, you could tell he was a very angry man. In fact, at age 54 he’d been an angry person for many years. In a Bible study that night, many questions had been raised in his mind. Talking with the leader afterward, J.E. said, “I asked Jesus to be my Savior when I was 9 years ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-7, Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Mind

Denomination: Baptist

Purifying Agent

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Purifying Agent The Apostle Paul writes about the empowering agent that enables the child of God to live that victorious life: Romans 8:9-11 says, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if the Spirit of Him who raised ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Confidence Of God  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God "Personal God" Christians can walk in confidence because the Lord is a personal God: Psalm 147:11 says, "the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." Song of Solomon 7:10 presents a wonderful truth in regard to our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:10

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Get A Whole Bunch

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

We Get a Whole Bunch Pastor John R Ramsey once wrote, "For some time I have had a person provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that I appreciated, but ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Igdaliah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Text: Jeremiah. 35:4, KJV: And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which (was) by the chamber of the princes, which (was) above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: Thoughts: Igdaliah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:4

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Igdaliah

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Bigger Than Our Box

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 20, 2023

(Have 4 boxes of different sizes for illustration) Here is a box. Its a small one. For some people, what they think of God could fit in this box. They have few expectations and limited knowledge of who God is. Here is another box. It is a little larger. Many people would be comfortable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Tags: God Is Able, Power Of God, Limiting God, Bigness Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Tom Jefferson Wrote On How To Handle Anger ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 5, 2001

(IL) Tom Jefferson wrote on how to handle anger in his "Rules of Living." "When angry count 10 before you speak. If very angry count a hundred." (IL) Mark Twain, 75 yrs later, revised ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11, Jonah 4:1

Tags: Anger, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It Seems The Pastors Small Son Was Told By His ...  PRO

Contributed by Jon Sigler on Jun 20, 2001

It seems the pastors small son was told by his mother that he should wash his hands because there were germs living in all that dirt. He refused and complained: "Germs and Jesus! Germs and Jesus! ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Children

Denomination: Holiness

Opportunities Missed  PRO

Contributed by Ed Mcneely on Jun 25, 2002

Opportunities Missed There was a very cautious man Who never laughed or played. He never risked, he never tried He never sang or prayed. And when one day, he passed away His insurance was ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Finding Fulfillment, Bible Influence

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Paul J. Meyer Reminds Us, "Everyone Leaves A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Nov 13, 2002

Paul J. Meyer reminds us, "Everyone leaves a legacy, whether you have children or not." We all influence the people we encounter. If we want to leave a godly legacy, we will need ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Parenting

Denomination: *other