In Sermon Illustrations: "Assisting People"

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Working Hard At Complaining  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2002

WORKING HARD AT COMPLAINING There was a lady who lived alone in a suburban apartment complex. Upset at the noise from the adjacent apartment that she claimed was disturbing her, she immediately picked up the phone and called her landlord. “You need to get up here right away,” she told him. “There ...read more

Mortally Wounded—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2002

MORTALLY WOUNDED- COMMUNION MEDITATION "On the 19th of November 1967, in the vicinity of Dak To, Viet Nam Chaplain Charlie Waters was moving with one of the companies of his Battalion when it engaged a heavily armed enemy battalion. As the battle raged and the casualties mounted, Chaplain Waters, ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Lord's Supper, Lordship Of Christ

A Lesson Of Love At Christmas  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 12, 2003

A LESSON OF LOVE AT CHRISTMAS There is a seldom noticed yet preciously tender lesson to be found in Mary’s actions immediately following the angel’s visit announcing her role as bearer of the Christ Child. She had been told that her cousin Elizabeth was also experiencing an unusual, though ...read more

Tags: Human Body, Christmas Advent

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During World War Ii, A Passenger Ship Set Sail ...

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

During World War II, a passenger ship set sail from Great Britian headed for port in New York City. The Captain of the ship being afraid of enemy vessels, sought the advise and guidance of the British Admiral. The Admiral calmly assured the captain that no matter what happens, he should be sure ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

A Father Told The Story Of His Son's First ...  PRO

Contributed by Klaus Mehrl on Jul 10, 2005

A father told the story of his son’s first serious conflict at school. His boy was being picked on by three bullies. They would punch him, push his bike over, and generally made his life miserable. They told him that they’d meet him the next morning before school and beat him up. That evening the ...read more

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Lutheran

Loss  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Liang on Jan 21, 2006

Loss After William Carey (1761-1834) was well established in his pioneer missionary work in India, his supporters in England sent a printer to assist him. Soon the two men were turning out portions of the Bible for distribution. Carey had spent many years learning the language so that he could ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Engaging God's Power

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 14, 2011

ENGAGING GOD'S POWER Spiritual growth and success is a partnership with God. Paul captured this idea in Philippians 2:12-13, where he wrote: "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." We work ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Secure In The Crossing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2011

SECURE IN THE CROSSING During World War II, a passenger ship set sail from Great Britian headed for port in New York City. The Captain of the ship being afraid of enemy vessels, sought the advice and guidance of the British Admiral. The Admiral calmly assured the captain that no matter what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Tags: Security

Redefining "Deviancy"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

REDEFINING "DEVIANCY" Alcoholism, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, school violence, child abuse, pornography, rape, robbery and murder pervade our nation. America is drowning in wickedness and immorality. For example, Oregon approved legalized physician-assisted suicide in 1994 ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20

Tags: America

To Whoever Finds This...i Love You  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 19, 2012

TO WHOEVER FINDS THIS...I LOVE YOU Several years ago there was a girl in an orphanage. She was unattractive and had mannerisms that were not very attractive either, and so she was disliked and shunned by the other children and was not liked by her teachers. The head of the institution looked for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:30-40

Tags: Kids, Child, Children, God's Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Remember When I First Began In The Ministry. I ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 28, 2007

I remember when I first began in the ministry. I was a young Marine Sergeant living in Yuma, Arizona. I had gotten involved with a retired Pastor. He and I would lead a chapel service every Sunday at various retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and at rescue shelters. I was ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Does Anybody Know Who Has Won The Most Ncaa ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Does anybody know who has won the most NCAA national championships in men’s basketball? It was John Wooden - the coach of the UCLA Bruins. He won all those championships because he focused on. He created TEAMS. If you watch many basketball matchups, you’ll see that many teams have a “go-to” guy who ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Let Me Tell You A Story About A Man. This Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Let me tell you a story about a man. This man grew up in the north end residential area of Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington and attended the University of Washington Law School. His friends considered him suave, debonair, handsome, and smooth with the ladies. He ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Pickup In The Rain

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 16, 2008

PICKUP IN THE RAIN One night in the 1960s, at 11:30 p.m., an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a windy rain storm which was accompanied by lightning. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian Church

The Legacy Of Haddon Robinson

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 7, 2022

Haddon Robinson wrote the classic book on preaching called, “Biblical Preaching.” It has sold more copies than any other preaching textbook. He taught and practised expository preaching to thousands. I had the privilege of being one of his students from 1996-1999 in the Doctor of Ministry program ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Death, Family, Remember, Legacy

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Happens When We Learn About A Really Bad ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

What happens when we learn about a really bad guy repenting? It happens all the time in prison ministry, yet many of us think those people aren’t worth saving. They had more chances than most of us are willing to give them, yet God hasn’t given up on them. Jeffrey Dahmer was a convicted murderer ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

I Would Become The Corn ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

"I WOULD BECOME THE CORN MYSELF." The story is told of two men who were traveling in the country of England a number of years ago. They had stopped at an inn for the night and had gotten settled in for the night when the village came alive with the shouts of alarm. A fire had broken out in a row ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Misplaced Faith  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 12, 2007

Misplaced Faith Philip Yancey, in his book Disappointment With God, writes: Even back then I was searching for hard evidence of God as an alternative to faith. And one day I found it—on television, of all places. While randomly flipping a dial, I came across a mass healing service being conducted ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 4:11, Deuteronomy 3:24, 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Tags: Power, Truth, Miracles, Sovereignty

Denomination: Baptist

Who Would Ever Dream Of Amputating His Own Leg? ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jan 20, 2001

Who would ever dream of amputating his own leg? Nobody-- unless that person had lost his mind or was faced with the grim choice of losing either his leg or his life. That was Bill Jeracki’s terrible predicament, according to The Denver Post, when he was out fishing alone in the foothills of the ...read more

Tags: Death, Christian Disciplines, Mountain, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Wesleyan