In Sermon Illustrations: "Becoming A Christian"

Get Acquainted With Heaven

Contributed by Francis Balla on Sep 24, 2012

GET ACQUAINTED WITH HEAVEN "The man who is about to sail for Australia or New Zealand as a settler, is naturally anxious to know something about his future home, its climate, its employments, its inhabitants, its ways, its customs. All these are subjects of deep interest to him. You are leaving ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

Trusting Faith

Contributed by Kristen Wright Zeller on Aug 26, 2014

Those who share Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior begin to become as magnets to those who share the same intimate relationship. While humans range from "new" to "elder," there is still a feeling of familiarity in those who gather together to worship in spirit and in truth. A sense somewhat of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Trust, Recognize God, Faith To Believe, Move Mountains

Denomination: Christian Church

The Intruder

Contributed by James Dorman on May 11, 2017

One night I was certain that I was about to become the victim of a home invasion. Something had awakened me. I heard a strange noise and became even more alert. As I slowly looked around with my heart thumping I saw him! He was standing there looking at me. I wasn’t sure what to do. I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Tags: Fear, Perception

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Eve Communion Confession

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Nov 23, 2019

Confession O Lord, we remember you, O Lamb of God Born this day to take away the sin of the world; O Word become flesh, Who came down to share our humanity; You alone are worthy. Help us remember You not only with our lips, But with our hearts as well; Help our lives proclaim Your truth. As we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Communion, Christmas Eve, Confession

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pursuit Of Happiness

Contributed by Larry Hinkle on Dec 12, 2019

A disgruntled early American once complained to Ben Franklin, “so where is all this happiness that the Constitution was supposed to guarantee me?” Franklin is said to have responded, “The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Tags: Happiness, Joy

Denomination: Methodist

A Lesson On Purity From Ermine

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal best known for his snow-white fur, which is his protection and security. Instinctively, he protects his glossy coat with great care lest it become soiled. Hunters often capitalize on this trait. Instead of setting a mechanical trap ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Purity, Righteousness, Beatitudes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Marriage Insight

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 15, 2021

Destructive to marriage is the self fulfillment ethic that assumes marriage and the family are primarily institutions of personal fulfillment, necessary for us to become whole or happy. The assumption is that there is someone just right for us to marry and that if we look closely enough we will ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Relationships, Love, Marriage

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Attendance In The Usa At An All-Time Low

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2022

During the First Great Awakening, 20 percent of the colonial population came to Christ and joined churches. Today, less than 20 percent regularly attend church. Discussed at length in his book The American Church in Crisis, David Olson conducted research showing that only 17.5 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: America, Revival, Church Attendance, Evangelism, Church, Worship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Going To Tell You A Metaphoric Story Based ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2007

I’m going to tell you a metaphoric story based upon a metaphor written by Silvia Hartmann. There was a merchant ship at sea. It was a beautiful day. The sea was calm, the sun was warm, and the breeze was full and refreshing. A nor’easter blows and a storm engulfs the ship. The Captain looks to ...read more

Mary Crowley Lived In The 1930s – The Time Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Mary Crowley lived in the 1930s – the time of the Great Depression. Her husband left her with a young daughter to raise. Nobody told Mary she couldn’t get a job during the Depression, so she went out and got one. In time she founded a very successful company called Home Interiors and Gifts, and ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Robert Fulghum Wrote In The Kansas City Times, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Robert Fulghum wrote in the Kansas City Times, "Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school These are the things I learned: Share everything. ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

In 1991 James Patterson And Peter Kim Released ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In 1991 James Patterson and Peter Kim released The Day America Told the Truth, a study based on an extensive opinion survey which guaranteed the anonymity of its participants. And the truth was shocking Let me give you a brief sampling of their findings: Only 13% of Americans see all Ten ...read more

Tags: Cults

A While Ago My Wife Had A Job Evaluation From Her ...

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 16, 2007

A while ago my wife had a job evaluation from her employer. Her boss commended her for doing a good job, and she received a nominal raise in pay. Nothing that would change her lifestyle, but an increase in pay none the less. Upon leaving the evaluation she said to her boss, “Thank you for the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

"Clean House" Show On Style Network

Contributed by Roger Nelmes on Jan 28, 2008

“Clean House” show on Style Network Each episode begins with a short montage introducing the subjects of the makeover. Homeowners typically are "victims" of a combination of poor housekeeping ability and lifestyle situations that exacerbate the problem. Most of the homes on the show are so messy ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Make Me Fit To Live With

Contributed by Ferdinand Funk on Sep 26, 2008

Make Me Fit to Live With John Drescher, in his book, If I Were Starting My Family Again, says something really profound. He used to pray for his children, that they would become more obedient, pleasant, loving, and so on. And then he says: "... it struck me that this kind of praying myst stop...I ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Mennonite

Oh Favre Who Art In Lambeau  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 28, 2008

OH FAVRE WHO ART IN LAMBEAU When does sports as entertainment become sports as idolatry? Consider this banner seen at Lambeau Field in 1996, the season the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl in New Orleans and their quarterback Brett Favre was named the most valuable player: “Our Favre who art ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 1:1-18

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Other

Sin Changes You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 21, 2022

I heard a quote many years ago that I believe is from a movie I do not recommend called 8mm. (it is about human trafficking or some other awful thing). The quote is so true: If you dance with the devil, the devil dont change. The devil changes YOU. We can see this principle illustrated so ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8, 1 Peter 5:9

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Compromise

Denomination: Charismatic

Cheating

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 23, 2023

Cheating now more common Once upon a time in a tiny French village, the townspeople decided to honor their parish priest by each bringing a bottle of wine the following Sunday for the pastor’s empty wine barrel. The pastor was delighted, and he asked all in attendance to join him for a glass of ...read more

Scripture: James 5:12, Matthew 5:37

Tags: Truth, Integrity, Honesty, Cheating, Lying  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want To Share A Story That Has Changed The Way ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I want to share a story that has changed the way I view compassion. If I was a Hollywood film producer, I would make a movie out of it. It is a true story about a man named Bulus Tsetu. He and his family felt the call of God to start a Bible school in Nigeria, Africa. So after they had been there ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General