In Sermon Illustrations: "Bearing Fruit"

The Incredible Value Of One Child

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Success, Spiritual Fruit, Flesh, Fruit Of The Spirit, Souls, Evangelism, Children, Holy Spirit, Faithfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Absolute

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 4, 2013

GOD IS ABSOLUTE If we bought a new piano or a new organ and moved it into the sanctuary, we would need to tune it, or everything else, typically. The impression is that there are differences in how the instruments are tuned. If the new piano is tuned a little higher than the old equipment, then ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Success In This Great Enterprise Of Teaching ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Success in this great enterprise of teaching the Bible for fruitful results, like success in any other undertaking, ...read more

Tags: Promise, Purpose, Faithfulness, Fruitful, Christian Values  (view more)  (view less)

Being A Professional 24 7

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 22, 2021

Athletes strive for excellence and continual improvement. Disciples of Christ must take the same attitude. Hockey star Matthew Barzal of the New York Islanders comments on doing and being your best: Whether that's having short hair and clean facial hair throughout the regular season or ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:12

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Worship, Commitment, Discipleship, Excellence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Flowers For Offense

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 13, 2022

Man, to florist: ‘I'd like a bunch of flowers, please.” Florist: “Certainly, sir. What flowers would you like?” Man: “Err ... I'm not sure ... Ummm ..” Florist: “Let me help ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-11

Tags: Atonement, Fruit, Vine, Offense, Vegetation, Apologizing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pearl Tree Parable

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 24, 2023

The kingdom of God is like a seed which a woman planted in her garden, and when the time came for the harvest, the tree branches were groaning under the weight of hundreds of large and beautiful pearls which rained down upon everyone who had taken shelter there, and they all became rich beyond ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-52

Tags: Fruit, Kingdom Of God, Reward, Hidden Future

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Evidences Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Evidences of Salvation Repentance The truths relating to man’s acceptance of God’s great salvation are reflected through repentance, faith and obedience. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church in Colosse was, “…That [they] live a life ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:10

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Be Faithful

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Faithfulness, Success, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Young Boy Saw In The Face Of A Missionary

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Many years ago when the great missionary Adoniram Judson was home on furlough, he passed through the city of Stonington, Connecticut. A young boy playing about the wharves at the time of Judson’s arrival was struck by the man’s appearance. Never before had he seen such a light on any ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Children, Missions, Testimony, Witnessing, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Laborers For The Master

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

Laborers for the Master We are laborers for the Master, Bringing sheaves in from His field, Rejoicing in His blessed Spirit For the golden bounty yield. Waste ye not one single moment, For the night will soon appear. Make the most of the daylight, For the end is surely near. Would you labor for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Faithful, Work, Fruitful, Labor Day, Well Done  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Glory Of Springtime

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 30, 2023

Don’t you just love spring? It’s simply glorious. Trees blooming. Plants blossoming. It’s all so beautiful. Unless of course you were looking at my front yard earlier this year. Last summer we bought three bushes that looked so promising. The leaves were supposed to turn all kinds of spectacular ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23, Romans 5:2

Tags: Maturity, Fruit Of The Spirit, Trees, Galatians 5, Church, Spring, Perseverance, Hope, Fruit, Life, Bible, Grace, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Animals And Colors In The Bible

Contributed by Pastor Cosmos on Jan 13, 2011

ANIMALS AND COLORS IN THE BIBLE The Bible to teach us to interperet the Bible by using the the Bible to interperet itself Isaiah 28:9-10 "9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Charismatic

Love Is The Key. Joy Is Love Singing. Peace Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:14, Luke 2:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 16:14, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 John 4:16, Luke 2:15, Luke 2:15-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Conflict, Fruit, Marriage, Love, Love For God, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Knowledge Of Good And Evil  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 8, 2014

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL Viktor Frankl in his book, "Man's Search for Meaning," describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Tags: Good And Evil, Life And Death, Forbidden Fruit, Knowledge Of Good

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Momma, Kiss Me!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Death, Love, Sacrifice, Children, Agape, Mothers, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank You, God, For Rattlesnakes!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll, but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was very ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Repentance, Spiritual Fruit, Brokenness, Unfaithfulness, Backsliding, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Evolution, Compassion, Salvation, Kindness, Education, Humanity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pilot Who Shot Himself Down!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

Chuck Yeager, the pilot who first broke the time barrier, revealed some interesting tidbits from aviation history in his autobiography. One of the most unusual happened at Edwards Air Force Base in the late 50s. A test pilot diving in a Mach-2 fighter actually outraced the shells from his ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Gentleness, Patience, Pace, Slow Down, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am In A Hurry, But God Isn't!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2023

The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried. The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Waiting On God, Holy Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Forbearance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational