In Sermon Illustrations: "Better"

A King In An Ancient Palace Secured A Famous ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 13, 2008

A king in an ancient Palace secured a famous musician to BUILD A WONDERFUL HARP. In the evenings the household would gather and spend happy hours listening to the peaceful music. Years went by, the king died and the prince took his family to live in the castle. A musician was found to play the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Following Words Were Written On The Tomb Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 3, 2008

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey: “When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat ...read more

Tags: Immovable

Slide 9) The First Conviction Is ‘there Are ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2008

(Slide 9) The first conviction is ‘there are things that are better than money.’ He names ‘good health, a cultivated intelligence, a clear conscience, and a sympathetic heart.’ He goes on to say, ‘There are some things that we can do without, and one of these is wealth. But there are some things we ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Church Of God

Jim Always Thought He Was A Pretty Good Guy. Oh ...

Contributed by Fred Schaeffer on Dec 5, 2008

Jim always thought he was a pretty good guy. Oh ... he made some mistakes once in a while ... but overall he thought he was OK. He knew that he wasn’t a BAD person. Oh, he fudged on his income tax a little bit .. not really cheated he said .. just fudged a little bit. He would stay out on ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Painter Andrew Wyeth's Understanding Of What ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 3, 2009

Painter Andrew Wyeth’s Understanding of What Doesn’t Show on the Canvas Helps Him Better Draw What Does Andrew Wyeth painted picture of General Lafayette’s quarters near Chadds Ford, Pa., with a sycamore tree behind the building. When his brother first saw the painting, Andrew wasn’t finished with ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

The Definition Of A Saint  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

THE DEFINITION OF A SAINT A young boy went with his parents touring around Europe one summer. Part of their tour included visits to the great old cathedrals of the past. As he visited cathedral after cathedral, he was impressed the massive stained glass portraits of the disciples and of other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Limited Understanding

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 4, 2011

LIMITED UNDERSTANDING Suppose I take my 2 year old to the doctor and he gets a shot in the arm and it really hurts. He doesn’t understand that the shot is to help him get better. All he knows is that shot hurt. And daddy just stood there. Doesn’t dad know how bad a shot hurts? Was he unable to ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Hardships Further His Kingdom  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 6, 2011

HARDSHIPS FURTHER HIS KINGDOM Bill Hybels' The Power of a Whisper (p.110-111): "Don't ever buy into the idea that everything God prompts His followers to do will be uncomplicated or low-cost. Sometimes God asks His children to carry heavy loads, as He did with the apostle Paul. But even--and ...read more

Tags: Love, Others, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Surprise With Joy And Delight

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

SURPRISE WITH JOY AND DELIGHT She squealed with joy – I just know she would. She grinned and chuckled while dashing from room to room as she gazed at all the balloons, streamers and other decorations scattered about. Her little fingers mined through the candy, presents, and other trinkets of fun ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:11-17

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

Maclaren On Facing Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

MACLAREN ON FACING DEATH The great 1800s Scottish preacher Alexander MacLaren said: "Many of us cling to life with a desperate clutch, like some poor wretch pushed over a precipice and trying to dig his nails into the rock as he falls. Some of us cling to it because we dread what is beyond, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-23

Tags: Death Nearness

His Yoke Is Light

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Jan 14, 2013

HIS YOKE IS LIGHT Mark Guy Pearse preached a sermon on Christ's invitation to the weary and heavy-laden. I had finished my sermon when a good man came to me and said "I wish I had known what you were going to preach about. I could have told you something." "Well, my friend," I said, "may I have ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Fools

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 16, 2021

It was a cold and silent night. The weather was freezing cold. A group of monkeys were on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.” Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20, Ephesians 5:15-20

Tags: Fools, Correcting A Fool

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Great Quotes on the Sovereignty of God R.C. SPROUL: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” MATT CHANDLER: “Trying to figure out God is like trying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Chosen, Election, Knowledge Of God, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Al Mohler's Theological "triaging"

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 11, 2024

Many readers will be familiar with Al Mohler’s helpful analogy of “theological triage” in which he speaks of first-order, second-order, and third-order doctrines. (Note - this is a theological statement about the Bible, not a clear biblical statement from Scripture. It is one author trying to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Church, Discernment, Unity, Doctrine, Heresy, Pastors, False Teaching, Elders  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Contentious Spirit - Speaking Strife

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Here’s a fun fact: You don’t actually have to correct someone when they’re wrong. Shocking, I know! There’s no official appointment letter naming you Earth’s Guardian of Truth and Accuracy. (If there is, it probably got lost in the mail.) Sometimes, it’s okay to just let it go—yes, even if they ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 26:21

Tags: Contentious, Strife, Contentious Spirit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Inevitability Of Gradualness!" Hebrews ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 16, 2005

“The Inevitability of Gradualness!” Hebrews 13:20-22 Key verse(s): 21:“(He) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and every. Amen.” “I was doing the right thing; but it seemed the harder I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30, Hebrews 13:20-22

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

It’s Too Late To Hide

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Dec 31, 2015

It’s Too Late to Hide I first noticed him as he shuffled past me while making his way through the crowd of excited children swarming around the room at the school for deaf and blind children outside Saigon, Vietnam. He moved slow, but steady. His arms and legs were twisted and drawn in such a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:15-16

Tags: Blessings In Christ, Accepted By Grace, Acceptance In Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seeing Only You! (10.14.05--Sacrifice!--Leviticus ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 12, 2005

Seeing Only You! (10.14.05--Sacrifice!--Leviticus 1:2) Think about it; a world free from the chains of pain and suffering--a place where accomplishment reigned and failure rarely reared its ugly head. Since sacrifice requires so much effort and consumes so much valuable time, wouldn’t we be far ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 1:2

Tags: Cross Agony

Denomination: Lutheran

The Land Of Beginning Again!" Philippians 3: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 24, 2005

“The Land of Beginning Again!” Philippians 3: 12-14 Key verse(s): 13-14:“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness "The Sermon on the Mount" explains the true intent of the law which cancels the natural responses of man and calls for supernatural behavior. Righteousness is an attribute of God. Jesus gives Christians a glorious hope and reward that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational