In Sermon Illustrations: "Bearing Fruit" showing 1,041-1,060 of 1,342

Marked As A Possession  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

MARKED AS A POSSESSION Phillip Keller writes, "The day I bought my first 30 sheep, my neighbor and I sat on the dusty corral rails that enclosed the sheep pen and admired the choice, strong, well bred sheep that had just become mine. Turning to me, he handed me a large, sharp killing knife and ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 15:12-18

Tags: Shepherd, Ownership, Adoption, Possession

Sinatra's Fear And Worry

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

SINATRA’S FEAR AND WORRY Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina Sinatra, recalls her father’s unceasing drive to succeed and make money, even when his health was at risk: His health was in tatters and his life mired in financial wrangles, but my father refused to stop giving concerts. "I’ve just got to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Frankl And The Meaning Of Life  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012

FRANKL AND THE MEANING OF LIFE When Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis in World War II and put in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, he was stripped of everything: property, family, possessions, and a manuscript he had spent years researching and writing on finding ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:30

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Baptist

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"grudgitis" Killer Disease

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 14, 2022

"GRUDGITIS" ... KILLER DISEASE "Fret not thyself because of evildoers..." (Psalm 37:1). A grizzly bear lumbered into a clearing where garbage had been dumped. Tourists noticed that there was only one animal the grizzly would permit to eat with him - a skunk. Doubtless he ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1, Colossians 3:12

Tags: Forgiveness, Revenge, Malice, Grudges

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Good Samaritan Is A Portrait Of Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

The Good Samaritan bears the features of the Lord Jesus Christ who comes to seek and save the lost. (1). "He came where he was." Christ comes to us right where we are. In our stripped and wounded condition we could do nothing for ourselves (Ro 5:6). (2). "He had compassion on ...read more

Tags: Neighbor, Kindness, Good Deeds, Good Samaritan, Types Of Christ, Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moved By Grace

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

The word itself... grace... has become trite and debased through misuse and overuse. It does not move us the way it moved our early Christian ancestors. In some European countries, certain high ecclesiastical officials are still called, Your Grace. Sportswriters spoke of Michael Jordan's easy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Tags: Grace, Lacking In Grace, Scandal Of Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Humanity's Quest For Moral Understanding

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

I recently watched a video by Pastor David Wilkinson discussing the innate human understanding of good and evil, heaven and hell. Based on this, I believe that our inherent moral sense inevitably drives humanity to create various religions. Hinduism, with its openness to diverse divine forms, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:14-15

Tags: Religion, Good, Moral Compass, Innate Morality, Moral Understanding, Jesus' Impact, Hell, Evil, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Beyond Fiction

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 20, 2024

In a humorous yet thought-provoking comment, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson critiqued movies like 'Armageddon' and 'Moonfall' for violating more laws of physics per minute than any other movies. This observation serves as an interesting analogy for our spiritual lives. Much like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Fiction, Physics, Gift Of God, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Eternal Consequences, Movie Analogies, Spiritual Life, Reality, Jesus Christ, Eternal Life, Disobedience, God's Law, Forgiveness, Sin, God, Salvation, Gift, Redemption, Faith, Death, Sacrifice, Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 4, 2002

UNSUNG HEROINES In Tom Brokaw’s book "The Greatest Generation Speaks," Veronica Mackey Hulick tells of her service during World War II. Veronica was 20 when she joined the Navy WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service]. She and about 1500 other bright young women worked for hours ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic, Christian Disciplines, Political Freedom

Star Wars Episode Iii: Revenge Of The Sith

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Apr 27, 2008

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith The film takes place three years after the onset of the Clone Wars; the noble Jedi knights are spread out across the galaxy leading a massive clone army in the war against the separatists. After Chancellor Palpatine is kidnapped, Jedi master Obi-Wan ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Walter Wilson Story

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jun 3, 2009

THE WALTER WILSON STORY Walter Lewis Wilson was an American doctor born towards the end of the 19th century. He was a faithful Christian who often hosted visiting missionaries to his church. One visitor from France didn't mince words, asking him, "Who is the Holy Spirit to you?" Wilson's answer ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Anglican

What Is Needed For Joy?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2011

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR JOY? Max Lucado tells the following story about Robert Reed: "I have everything I need for joy!" Robert Reed said. His hands are twisted and his feet are useless. He can't bathe himself. He can't feed himself. He can't brush his teeth, comb his hair, or put on his underwear. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Joy

Grandma Minnie's Roses

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind." - Henri Frederick Amiel Grandma Minnie never had much. She grew up poor and learned early the art of survival. A very ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Gift, Cheerful Giving, Encouraging Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Wrong Way Riegels  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 12, 2002

WRONG WAY RIEGELS The story of "Wrong Way Riegels" is a familiar one, but it bears repeating. On New Year’s Day 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for UCLA. Picking up the loose ball, he lost his direction and ran 65 ...read more

Tags: Faith, God Brings Hope, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reading Their Names  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2002

READING THEIR NAMES Jeff Greenfield is a news correspondent for ABC News. He lives in Salisbury, Connecticutt and has attended the same Memorial Day observance in his community for the last 15 years. He writes: "At 10 a.m., the parade begins moving down Main Street. It is a small parade: ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic, Christian Disciplines

In The Movie, The Secret Garden, The Young Boy ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 19, 2002

In the movie, The Secret Garden, the young boy Colin thinks he’s an invalid. He can’t bear the strong light of day, the clean open air. He believes those things will infect his lungs and snatch his life. he believes he’s destined to be everlastingly bedridden or, in the few struggling moments ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Before You Pick A Fight You Ought To Be Sure You ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Dec 10, 2002

Before you pick a fight you ought to be sure you can win the war. President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, and declared, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Assembly Of God

This Is A True Story. Two Guys In A Church, Paul ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

This is a true story. Two guys in a church, Paul and William decided that they really wanted to become godly men. So they started meeting with one another to pray and encourage one another; they even set goals for themselves and their behavior, and then were accountable to the other one. Paul ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist