In Sermon Illustrations: "Believe In Yourself"

George Mueller On Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

GEORGE MUELLER ON PRAYER George Mueller: "I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Comfort, Believe, Security, Saved, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Impersonating A Christian

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jan 16, 2015

In her recently published book “Dance with the Devil” Barbara Bentley shares her experience with former husband, John Perry, a mysterious man, whose father was supposedly portrayed by John Wayne in a World War II movie. She fell in love with him when He dazzled her and her friends with his heroic ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Hypocrisy, Day Of Judgment, False Believer, Imposter

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham's Conversion

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

In an interview on October 15, 2013 Billy Graham said, “There are two basic needs that all people have: the need for hope and the need for salvation. It should not be surprising if people believe easily in a God who makes no demands, but this is not the God of the Bible. Satan has cleverly misled ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Matthew 5:17-18

Tags: Salvation, Repentance, Billy Graham, Easy Believism

Denomination: Charismatic

The Long Ride Home

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 19, 2020

(Note: I used this illustration as part of a funeral message in January 2017) Back when I was 11 years of age, I really discovered pro baseball! We lived about four hours away from Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time—which was no problem for me! Well, I must have really pestered Dad because he ...read more

Tags: Lazarus, Death Of Believers, Fathers And Sons, Assurance

Denomination: Baptist

Contact With Another World

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

A group of scientists are directing their thoughts and needs into the heavens, but not to the God of the Bible. They have calculated that as many as fifty million civilizations may exist somewhere in space, and they believe that some of them may have found methods to improve our lives and control ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, Mark 11:24

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Believing, Asking, Scientists, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

W.e. Vines Defines True Saving Faith

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2024

W E Vines defines genuine saving faith as consisting of the following: (1) A firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2 Thess. 2:11 -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:11

Tags: Believing, Faith, Salvation, Truth, Assurance, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'm Not Growing Old  PRO

Contributed by Jay Patton on May 20, 2002

I’m Not Growing Old They say that I am growing old I’ve heard them say it times untold In language plain and bold But I’m not growing old This frail old shell in which I dwell Is growing old I know full well But I’m not growing old. What if my hair has turned gray Gray hair is honorable, they ...read more

Tags: Leader, Disciples, Giving Yourself, Follow, Fear And Worry, Family  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Get Some Rest!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2002

GET SOME REST! Our most notorious industrial accidents in recent years—Exxon Valdez, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, the fatal navigational error of Korean Air Lines 007—all occurred in the middle of the night. When the USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian A300 airbus killing all 290 people aboard, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 31:13-17

Tags: Commandments Sabbath, Giving Yourself, Workplace Balance, Labor Day

Bob Russell Who Preaches In Louisville Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 27, 2002

Bob Russell who preaches in Louisville was raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and he tells the story of his first youth minister who was a city-boy. Now his youth group was made up mostly of kids from the farm so they didn’t think they would have much in common with this city slicker and so weren’t ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Giving Yourself, Gifts General, Superhero, Hero  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

A Number Of Years Ago Orel Hirschheiser Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 27, 2002

A number of years ago Orel Hirschheiser was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They had just won the World Series, & Orel had been named “The most valuable player of the series.” One of the TV shows about the series showed him in the dugout just before the 9th inning started. He was leaning ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Mennonite

As Someone Said, "Not All Who Profess Christ ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

As someone said, "Not all who profess Christ ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Call Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

Bob Munford Tells Of A Certain Italian Harbor ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 1, 2001

Bob Munford tells of a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Holy Spirit In Believers, Bible Influence

Denomination: Church Of God

On Tuesday Morning September 11, 2001 Dawn ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Sep 17, 2001

: On Tuesday morning September 11, 2001 Dawn Robinson followed her usual morning routine while getting ready for work. Which consist of her morning quiet time where she prays for God’s leadership throughout the day. Shortly after arriving at work in New York City she made her way to her office in ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Holy Spirit In Believers, Disciplines Meditation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On The Southern Coast Of Italy, There Is A Harbor ...  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on Jan 19, 2002

On the southern coast of Italy, there is a harbor which is very treacherous and difficult to navigate, especially at night. But experienced seamen understand that there is a safe, proven method to steer the waters. There are three lighted buoys placed at intervals right in the middle of the ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Holy Spirit In Believers, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Methodist

Huge Reserves  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

HUGE RESERVES Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ tells this story of a famous oil field called Yates Pool: During the depression this field was a sheep ranch owned by a man named Yates. Mr. Yates wasn’t able to make enough on his ranching operation to pay the principal and interest on ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Acts 1:1-8

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Holy Spirit In Believers, Gifts General

Unless There Is Within Us That Which Is Above Us, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:6-9, Joshua 7:6-9

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Kingdom Of God, Temptation Resisting

Christian, If Thou Wouldst Know The Path Of Duty, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, God's Omniscience, God The Father

During Wwii, When Italy Invaded Ethiopia, All ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 17, 2002

During WWII, when Italy invaded Ethiopia, all Protestant missionaries were forced to leave the country. In one district there was a church of about 70. Some 5 years later when the missionaries returned, they found 60,000 Christians ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Church Purpose Of, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Wesleyan

Stopping To Focus  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on Aug 9, 2002

STOPPING TO FOCUS Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Lordship Of Christ, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran