In Sermon Illustrations: "Attending Church"

Playing Church

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Aug 10, 2008

PLAYING CHURCH Some years ago I met Johnny Moore. Johnny is the lead singer for "His Glory". He tells his story of how he was on his way home one night before he got serious with the Lord. He’d been kinda "playing church." He was on his way home from a Wednesday night prayer meeting, and he ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: United Methodist

Separation Of Church And ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Separation of Church and State “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…” (excerpt from Amendment I, U. S. Constitution) If our United States Constitution actually commands Congress to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-7

Tags: Politics

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Invisible Church  PRO

Contributed by Nathan Johnson on Sep 25, 2008

The Invisible Church Warren Weirsbe tells a story of a free-lance missionary that visited a pastor friend asking for financial support. "What group are you associated with?" his friend asked. The man replied, "I belong to the invisible church." His friend then asked, "Well, what church are you a ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Is The Rope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

THE CHURCH IS THE ROPE Years ago at Niagara Falls two men were in a boat and found themselves caught in the current. The men jumped from their boat and swam for the shore. At last minute ropes from the shore were thrown out to them. The one man grabbed the rope and was pulled to shore. The other ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

The Church Is About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

THE CHURCH IS ABOUT FREEDOM The silkworm makes an amazing journey to becoming a moth. At one point in the journey, the worm spins about itself a remarkable cocoon. The little sack is composed of 400 to 800 yards of silk fiber which seals it from the inside as it waits for metamorphosis. When that ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty

Essential Church For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

ESSENTIAL CHURCH FOR YOUTH LifeWay Resources’ Thom Rainer, after his research among people who stayed in church during ages 18-22 concluded that church should have higher expectations of its younger members. He argues an essential church will expect the younger generation to have a relationship ...read more

Tags: Youth

The Treasure Of The Church  PRO

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

THE TREASURE OF THE CHURCH St. Lawrence was martyred in 258 A.D., but we remember him not for his martyrdom. We remember him as the Archdeacon of Rome. His responsibilities included maintaining the sacred vessels of the small, struggling church and distributing alms to the poor. While he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:13-16

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Perfect Church

Contributed by David Parks on Sep 19, 2022

If you should find the perfect church Without one spot or sore For goodness sake! Don’t join that church! For it won’t be perfect anymore. If you should find the perfect church Where all anxieties cease. Then pass it by, lest you join it, And mar the masterpiece. But since no perfect church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7, Matthew 16:18, 1 Corinthians 13:1-10

Tags: Faith, Love, Church, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Church Matters

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 1, 2024

Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? The tourists are having coffee and doughnuts on Deck C. Presumably someone is minding the ship, correcting the course, avoiding icebergs and shoals, fueling the engines, watching the radar screen, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 4:11-13

Tags: Eternity, Church, Mission

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mockery Of The Church

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

New Zealand, Feb. 26 [2016] (UPI) -- Members of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, otherwise known as Pastafarians, registered their first official marriage celebrant in New Zealand. The group announced the news on its Facebook page, although the first couple that was set to be married by ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7, 1 Timothy 3:15

Tags: Mocking The Church, Mocking Christianity, Ridiculous, Religion, Mockers, Mocking  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

A Study Once Disclosed That If Both Mom And Dad ...  PRO

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Jul 11, 2002

A study once disclosed that if both Mom and Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful. If only Dad, 55% remain faithful. If only Mom, 15%. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful. The statistics speak for themselves - the example ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Tags: Evangelism How To, Parenting

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Last Year, Ken Griffey, Jr. Chose Not To Attend ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Last year, Ken Griffey, Jr. chose not to attend "The Players Choice Awards" to receive the "Player of the Decade" award. Junior beat out three time MVP winner Barry Bonds and four time Cy Young Award winner, Greg Maddux for the honor. The award is a big deal. He joins the ranks of baseball ...read more

Tags: Overachievment, Neglect, Parenting, Children, Favoritism, Protection  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

When I Attended Urbana In 1976 Margaret Clarkson ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 19, 2002

When I attended Urbana in 1976 Margaret Clarkson wrote our theme song from this song, Where we sang with 18,000 in the Illinois University gym, Declare His glory, Among the nations, Throughout creation, His triumph sing. Till all earth’s people bow in adoration and Jesus Christ be everlasting ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Were 49.6 Million Children Attending Public ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

There were 49.6 million children attending public and private schools in the U.S. in ’03, the highest number ever. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Children

Pricey Proms Almost 20 Million Students Attended ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Pricey Proms Almost 20 million students attended proms this year, with the average 17-year old spending $638, or more than $1,200 per couple, according to research by Conde Nast, which publishes Your Prom and Modern Bride ...read more

Tags: Children

Teens Who Attend Religious Services At Least Once ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Teens who attend religious services at least once a week are at significantly lower risk of substance abuse. (Foster ...read more

Tags: Children

Attendance At U.s. Megachurches Is Up 57% In Five ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 19, 2007

Attendance at U.S. megachurches is up 57% in five years. ...read more

Pain Insists On Being Attended To. God Whispers ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Last Week We Attended Our Niece's Wedding. Our ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

Last week we attended our niece’s wedding. Our little 2 year-old granddaughter Lydia was the Flower Girl and our 5-year-old grandson David was Ring-Bearer. Susan was talking to David after the wedding about what a great job he did coming up that aisle. She told him, “Charis said you were an ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ