In Sermon Illustrations: "Be The Church"

Because Of Strife

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

That great ol’ preacher J.Vernon McGee writes, “I had an uncle who never came to know the Lord. My aunt used to weep and say, “Oh, he won’t listen” Do you know why? With her lived a sister, another aunt, and I used to go there sometimes on Sundays for dinner. Do you know what we had for dinner? ...read more

Tags: Patriarchs Abraham

The Visitor Experience

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 29, 2012

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE Back in the 1980s, a man visited 18 different churches of differing beliefs to find out what churches are really like. The man said that he sat near the front. After each service he walked slowly to the rear; then returned to the front; and then back to the foyer using ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Martyrdom Of John ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

MARTYRDOM OF JOHN DENLEY One day, on the way to visit some friends, John Denley was stopped and searched by the authorities, who found his written confession of faith. Denley believed the Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as its head, and that the present state church, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Faith, Persecution, Martyr

Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 5, 2024

1 Timothy 3:6 - "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." Recently, a father sat down with his four-year-old son and asked him if he would like the $10 in his right hand or the two Oreo cookies in his left hand. His son immediately chose ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:6

Tags: Talent, Maturity, Novice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Congo, Poor People Who Have Nothing To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on May 18, 2001

In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Tags: Poverty, Money, Giving General

Denomination: *other

Parachurch Donor Revenue Growth Has Outstripped ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Parachurch Donor Revenue growth has outstripped churches for the past 20 or more years. In 1900, parachurches received about 12.5% of religious donations. By 1970, that had increased to 28.5% and it’s estimated that in 1996 parachurches received 51.5% ($100 billion) , ...read more

Tags: Giving General

The Content Of Belief Is Important: Jonathan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield ...read more

Tags: Doubt

The Content Of Belief Is Important: Jonathan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield ...read more

Tags: Doubt

The Late Larry Burkett, A Financial Expert Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on May 9, 2006

The late Larry Burkett, a financial expert said, “If every Church member in America would increase their giving to an average of 10% (current estimates are that American Christians give less than 3%), there would be an extra $69 billion for overseas missions and an additional $150 billion in income ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 27:30

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian Church

Billy Who Was Given 2 Quarters By His Grandma On ...

Contributed by Debra Klein on Jun 5, 2006

Billy who was given 2 quarters by his grandma on Sunday. One was for the Sunday school offering and the other for an ice cream cone on the way home from church. Billy was flipping both quarters in the air on his way to church when one of them slipped from his hand and fell into ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Church Of God

Now What Do You Think Of That? Shocking Want To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? Shocking Want to know what happened? I was told that young preacher went into the pulpit and called for an immediate congregational meeting. He told the congregation what the man had just said to him and he asked for dismissal for that man from the board and from ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

In The Congo, Poor People Who Have Nothing To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Tony Evans Writes: "Make No Mistake About It. No ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 6, 2011

Tony Evans writes: "Make no mistake about it. No matter how big a church's staff may be, there is always a primary leader who has been invested by God with authority and responsibility. This leader is not a despot, and he is accountable to the body of elders...There has to be a place where the buck ...read more

Tags: Pastors

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Blood Of The Martyrs Is The Seed Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The blood of the martyrs is the seed ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Silent Night Carol

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 6, 2001

Silent Night Carol On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Joseph Franz Mohr (1792-1848) walked the three kilometres from his home - in the Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg - to visit his friend Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Mohr brought ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Heaven

Denomination: Anglican

A Woman Came To An Elder Of A Congregation In ...

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 13, 2006

A woman came to an elder of a congregation in Lubbock, Texas asking if he would study the Bible with her. He gladly studied with her, which resulted in the woman’s salvation. Curiously the elder asked the woman what PROMPTED her to come in and study the Bible. She told the elder over a year ago her ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Assembly Of God

God's Will Prevails

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Dec 15, 2008

God's Will Prevails David Aikman, formerly of Time magazine, in 2002 spent three months researching the state of Christianity in China. He tells an incredible story. The Chinese church after fifty years of persecution and repression is thriving. When the Communists took control of China five ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Baptist

In A Book Called

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 7, 2009

In a book called “Rethinking the Church,” James Emery White tells this story. He was speaking at a conference where he mentioned using contemporary music to help those who haven’t grown up in the church to receive the truth of the gospel. Afterward, an elderly woman came up to speak to him. With ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a ...read more

Tags: Persecution Of Christians, Cultural Warfare

Denomination: Lutheran

Remaining Faithful  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 9, 2002

REMAINING FAITHFUL 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 of parents ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Faith, Children

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational