In Sermon Illustrations: "Better Life"

In You Mind Put Yourself On The Western Prairie ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 14, 2007

In you mind put yourself on the western prairie in the summer of 1866. Imagine being asleep at night when you are awaken by the smell of burning weeds. That prairie brush fire smoke would strake fear into your heart. It is impossible to out run the fire. It moves fast as the wind and wide as ...read more

One Of The Most Unusual Things In The History Of ...

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 30, 2007

One of the most unusual things in the history of World War II was Adolph Hitler signing the Munich Pact on September 30, 1938. Here was a man who was geared up for war and evidently aiming his guns toward England. England was weak and unable to defend herself at that time, and Hitler was ready to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Do We Have That Fire In The Belly To Carry Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

Do we have that fire in the belly to carry our cross when things get tough? The other day (Thursday), I met a Marine Sergeant who is recuperating from wounds he received about 14 months ago. The explosion damaged multiple vertebrae, his left hip, and parts of his legs. His entire left side ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Great Classical Cellist Pablo Casals, In His ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 4, 2007

The great classical cellist Pablo Casals, in his life story entitled Joys and Sorrows, tells readers his first memory of attending worship on Christmas Eve when he was five-years-old. He walked to the church in a small village in Spain, hand-in-hand with his father, who was the church’s ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

If You Ever Paid Attention To Authors And ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 24, 2007

If you ever paid attention to authors and composers when we used to sing out of the hymnals, you may remember the name Phillip P. Bliss. He was the second most famous Christian song writer in history. Had he lived as long as his peers, Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley and Ira ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

On April 1, 2007, Knievel Announced To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Dec 11, 2007

On April 1, 2007, Knievel announced to a worldwide audience that he ’believed in Jesus Christ’ for the first time. He professed his personal faith in Christ to more than 4,000 people who gathered inside the Crystal Cathedral for Palm Sunday services in Orange County, California, and to millions via ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

On April 23rd, 1978, In A Small Seaside Chapel In ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jan 13, 2008

On April 23rd, 1978, in a small seaside chapel in San Juan, La Union, in the Republic of the Philippines, my father, speaking the local dialect of Ilocano, baptized me, his son. He said I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. On that day, the heavens didn’t ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

How Many Christians Does It Take To Change A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Mitchell on Jan 31, 2008

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? Charismatics/Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness. Presbyterians: None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times. Roman Catholic: None. Candles only. Baptists: At least 15. One ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago Now There Was A Television Show ...

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Mar 11, 2008

Several years ago now there was a television show called That Seventies Show. Perhaps some of you have seen it. While the credits ran each week as the show opened, the cast was shown sitting in the car that belonged to the main character on the show. And the entire cast sang a song about hanging ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Several Years Ago Now There Was A Television Show ...

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Mar 11, 2008

Several years ago now there was a television show called That Seventies Show. Perhaps some of you have seen it. While the credits ran each week as the show opened, the cast was shown sitting in the car that belonged to the main character on the show. And the entire cast sang a song about hanging ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In His Alpha Talk "What About The Church," Nicky ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Mar 30, 2008

In his Alpha Talk “What About the Church,” Nicky Gumbel tells this story about John Wimber, the founding pastor of the Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship and the Worldwide Vineyard Movement: “John Wimber was once approached by a member of his congregation who had met somebody in great need. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

As Clayton J. Schmit Put It In His Commentary On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text, “The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost of baby food and diapers, sleepless ...read more

In The Ultimate Obedience Depicted In 1 Peter 4:1 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

In the ultimate obedience depicted in 1 Peter 4:1 Believers who have died have ceased from sin will have entered into an eternal condition of holy perfection, free from all sin’s influences and effects (cf. 1 Cor. 15:42–43; 2 Cor. 5:1; Rev. 21:4; 22:14–15). SAFELY HOME I am home in Heaven, dear ...read more

Tags: Death

Don't Tell Me, Show Me

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Apr 18, 2008

DON'T TELL ME, SHOW ME The young woman was married and had two beautiful children. But one day as she was standing over the sink, washing dishes, she thought 'There must be more to life than this.' When her husband came home, he found a note she'd written and began to weep. She would call him ...read more

Tags: Action

Denomination: Baptist

I've Been Reading A Book By A Pastor Named Erwin ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

I've been reading a book by a pastor named Erwin Rafael McManus. He tells about a conversation he had with his daughter, Mariah. He was explaining that Christians often face danger and even death. His daughter asked, "Has anyone ever tried to kill you, Daddy?" And he answered, "Sort of." She ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Identifies With Our Suffering

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 28, 2008

IDENTIFIES WITH OUR SUFFERING His name was Joseph Damien, and you’ve probably heard his story before, but it bears repeating. A Belgian priest, he was sent in 1873 to minister to lepers in Hawaii. As soon as he arrived on Molokai, he began trying to build friendships with the residents of the ...read more

Tags: Suffering, Submit, Why Suffering, Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Hands Of Ordinary Christians, Small Social ...

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on May 11, 2008

In the hands of ordinary Christians, small social groups are a big spiritual deal. This is because "ordinary Christians" have more credibility than the ordained clergy. A guy named Herb Miller did some great research: * When first-time visitors to a local church receive a "glad you came" visit ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Free Methodist

Some Early Settlers Were Traveling Together ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 14, 2008

Some EARLY SETTLERS were traveling together across the western prairies of the United States. One day they were horrified to see a fire fanned by strong wind coming their way. As the flames raced closer and closer, one man, to the amazement of the others, set fire to a large patch of grass ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Weed?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

ARE YOU A WEED? I would like to tell you a story about how a little girl helped the neighbor bully change his ways. The bully's name was Todd; his parents were divorced, and he was left to fend for himself. He's rude, and for an eight-year-old he can swear pretty good. When he comes over to ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Jesus Said In John 13: 35, "Your Love For One ...

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Aug 3, 2008

Jesus said in John 13: 35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” A great New Testament example of this being done is in the early church. As Jews began to put their faith in Christ as the Messiah, they began to feel the effects of hostility toward them. They ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist