In Sermon Illustrations: "Becoming The Church"

Undefiled Eyes

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Undefiled Eyes The church that continues the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ has Christians who long to have undefiled eyes. The first thought that comes to mind regarding undefiled eyes is a child of God who refrains from watching pornography or movies that are full of violence. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-4

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED? Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Christians were routinely persecuted for their faith by the Communist regime. We have many inspiring stories of courageous Christians behind the Iron Curtain who were willing to die for their faith during this difficult period in world ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Hospitality To Strangers  PRO

Contributed by Susan Babb, Osl on Oct 9, 2008

A. Friend – some years ago B. Sunday worship service, church like ours C. Service begun – member of congregation began worship, no pastor yet D. Man dressed shabbily in a heavy overcoat and wild hair and who could of used a bath came into service 1. Trouble finding a seat, pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45, Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Love, Acceptance, Compassion, Hospitality, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Story Of Martin Luther

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 17, 2011

THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER In 1517, an obscure Catholic priest named Martin Luther placed his life in God's hands when he nailed his 95 theses, his 95 arguments against the Catholic church, on the door of the Wittenberg Church. There was nothing wrong with nailing pages to the door. Everything was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit In The Movies—the Apostle

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2012

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE MOVIES--THE APOSTLE In 1983 Robert Duvall wanted to make The Apostle because he felt that the motion picture industry had mostly ignored the work of the Holy Spirit. According to Duvall, filmmakers hardly ever made a movie that would actually show the truth about the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit General

A Wonderful, Imaginative Short Story By Nathaniel ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A wonderful, imaginative short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the necessity of having the right focus. It is entitled “The Great Stone Face.” The tale centers around a man named Ernest who grew up in a village renowned for a natural wonder that rested just outside its boundaries. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:16-23

Tags: Humor, Mother's Day, Story, Devotional

The Word Of God—the Owner's Manual

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

THE WORD OF GOD--THE OWNER'S MANUAL As a kid, I remember a very popular game. Simon Says. Usually played at school or parties, several of us would do whatever "Simon" told us to do, as long as it was preceded by the phrase: "Simon Says". It seems to me that we have become a society of "Simon ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Truth

Healed But Not Cured!" Hebrews 12: 5-12: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 26, 2004

“Healed But Not Cured!” Hebrews 12: 5-12: Key verse(s): 6 “...because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Sickness! There isn’t a life that hasn’t been touched by it. And, when we count our blessings at the end of the day, we aren’t likely to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-12

Tags: Poverty, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Sheila-Ism?" Matthew 25:14-30 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 6, 2005

“Sheila-ism?” Matthew 25:14-30 Key verse(s) 24:“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.’” Taking the safest route is something that my father always ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Faith, Faith General, Gift, Money, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

[331]. A Message From A Poem - We Need The Lord Always

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 8, 2026

[331]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WE NEED THE LORD ALWAYS In the past, maybe 150 years ago, divers who dived for pearls in clams, would have a tube for air going from a boat on the surface and it was operated by a pump. I think the tube might have been made from rubber. There was no such thing ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:22-23, Hebrews 4:16, James 4:8

Tags: Walk, Faithfulness, Needy, Need, Draw Near To God, Walk With The Lord, Christian Poems, Closer Than A Brother, Pearl Divers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Was In Training As A Marine, I Remember ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 12, 2002

When I was in training as a Marine, I remember one particularly grueling exercise where we were deposited in the center of Dartmoor, England. We were told to make our way on foot to a certain point on the map more than fifty rugged miles away. As we had done a similar journey the previous day, ...read more

Tags: Compassion, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Islam Is One Of The World's Fastest Growing ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 24, 2002

Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing religions. It is estimated that there are 2 billion followers of Islam, (Muslims) worldwide and that there are close to 6 million converts in the U.S. I’ve listed for you some of the main differences between Islam and Christianity. (1) Christians believe ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian Church

65279;pride Is Dangerously Deceptive. A While ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Prather on Sep 28, 2002

Pride is dangerously deceptive. A while back I had been doing some work on the computer when it crashed and I lost all my work. I came upstairs and Vanessa was amazed at how good my attitude was. She said, “Are you okay after losing your work?” I said, “Well, the computer certainly ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

C. S. Lewis, In The Voyage Of The Dawntreader, ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 29, 2002

C. S. Lewis, in The Voyage of the Dawntreader, part of The Chronicles of Narnia series, tells the story of Eustace, a boy who happens upon a hidden treasure which is guarded by a dragon. He has become alienated from his friends and their values by his own churlishness, and when he finds the ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

I Would Like To Share With You This Morning, A ...

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Aug 8, 2005

I would like to share with you this morning, a brief description of a Charlie Chaplin’s movie, "City Lights". Chaplin plays a little vagabond tramp who opens himself to anyone who opens their door to him. He becomes a vehicle for salvation for both a poor blind girl and a rich man. The rich man is ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Do Not Conform Any Longer To The Pattern Of This ...

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Aug 28, 2007

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom 12:2, NIV). The word we translate "transformed" is metamorfousthe. Does that sound ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Mennonite

A Couple Of Years Ago When The Kirby's Were Here ...

Contributed by Gordon Douglas on Mar 4, 2008

A couple of years ago when the Kirby’s were here from India I let Kallie drive up I-17. I could not have picked a worse time…. Rush hour traffic…. Most of you probably know just how it is on I-17 from about the 101 to Anthem Way… Bumper to bumper…. Big trucks… little trucks… Cars of all ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

On The 28th May 1972 The Duke Of Windsor, The ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jun 6, 2008

ON THE 28TH MAY 1972 THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, THE UNCROWNED KING EDWARD 8TH DIED IN PARIS. THE SAME EVENING A TELEVISION PROGRAMME REHEARSED THE MAIN EVENTS OF HIS LIFE. EXTRACTS FROM EARLIER FILMS WERE SHOWN, WHICH HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS UPBRINGING, BRIEF REIGN AND ABDICATION. RECALLING HIS ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

A Christian's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“A Christian’s Prayer” “Statesmen Who Fear God” The children of God can most certainly desire godly leaders and call out to the Lord for those who walk in the fear of the Lord. The last words of King David in 2 Samuel give us this truth, “The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:21-23

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Old ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Aug 22, 2008

Old Habits The French Revolution was tough on nobility. For years the people with money and power in France ignored and humiliated the common people, forcing them to suffer and starve while the noblemen lived in luxury. With the revolution came payback. The guillotine was the method of choice ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational