In Sermon Illustrations: "Bible Study"

More Than A Decade Ago, Matt Thom, A Few Help...

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Aug 1, 2008

More than a decade ago, Matt Thom, a few helpful young teens and me conceived of and set in motion a tree house for our back yard. The tree had a great section where branches came together but it wasn’t large enough for a good side platform. Instead, we placed four 12’ pressure treated 4x4’s around ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Infinity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

INFINITY Let me introduce you to a person called Michael Rae. In his own words, he is on a path to immortality which involves a near-abstinence level of food, the dedication of an accountant to approve every calorie, and an obsession with death. The youthful, 38-year-old research assistant ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Tags: Immortality

The Origin Of Taps

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

The Origin of Taps It all began in 1862 during the Civil War when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederates were on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who ...read more

Tags: Death

Jonathan Edwards, Who Was One Of America's ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on May 20, 2010

Jonathan Edwards, who was one of America's greatest theologians, was a New England pastor of the 1700s. Edwards was brilliant. At age 6 he studied Latin. He entered Yale when not quite 13 and graduated when barely 15. He was ordained at 19, taught at Yale by 20 and later became president of ...read more

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Great Awakening

Denomination: Baptist

Chess Game With Satan

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

CHESS GAME WITH SATAN From a great chess player of Cincinnati, we learn that in the early part of the last century an artist who was also a great chess player painted a picture of a chess game. The players were a young man and Satan. The young man manipulated the white pieces; Satan the black ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: *other

We Need Models

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 15, 2011

WE NEED MODELS Peter tells us not only that Jesus Christ is the model but what are the tools and pieces to put together so that this model is complete and working for God's glory and our security in our lives. I remember getting a model car for a birthday present when I was about 12. It was a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Chess Game With Satan

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 10, 2012

CHESS GAME WITH SATAN From a great chess player of Cincinnati, we learn that in the early part of the last century an artist who was also a great chess player painted a picture of a chess game. The players were a young man and Satan. The young man manipulated the white pieces; Satan the black ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: *other

Make It Your Aim Not To Sin

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 24, 2012

MAKE IT YOUR AIM NOT TO SIN The whole purpose of John's letter, he says, is that we not sin. One day as I was studying this chapter I realized that my personal life's objective regarding holiness was less than that of John's. He was saying, in effect, "Make it your aim not to sin." As I thought ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Divorce Rate Myth Among Christians

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

DIVORCE RATE MYTH AMONG CHRISTIANS A common myth going around is that the divorce rate is the same among Christians as it is among non-Christians. But such just isn't the case, when you take a closer look. According to the "Americans for Divorce Reform," the divorce rate among the general ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Tags: Divorce

There's A Familiar Story About The New Bride Who ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jan 11, 2014

There's a familiar story about the new bride who is cooking a big family dinner. As the ladies are gathered in the kitchen, the bride puts the roast in the pan and asks her mother why we always cut the end of the roast and put it in another pan? They ask grandma who says, "well honey, I cut the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-2

Tags: Newlywed, Tradition, Ritual, Misunderstandings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastoral Ministry Crisis

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2015

2009 Statistics Of Why Pastors Leave the Ministry by Fuller Institute, George Barna and Pastoral Care Inc, Focus On The Family. 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America. 4,000 new churches start each year in America. 7,000 churches close each year in America. 25% of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29

Tags: Pastoral Leadership, Pastoral Ministry

The Concept Of Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley. It reads: One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course, he would distribute the exam with the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Don Richardson, In His Book Eternity In Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 11, 2005

Don Richardson, in his book Eternity in Their Hearts, tells an amazing story of spiritual harvest. In an area once called Burma, which is now modern Myanmar, lying between China and Thailand, and touching the border of Laos, there lived about a quarter-million tribal people called the Lahu. For ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Clip: "Everybody Loves Raymond," Excerpted From ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Oct 28, 2002

[Clip: "Everybody Loves Raymond," excerpted from episode 119, "Talk To Your Daughter". Note: this episode is one of four included in a "For Your Consideration" DVD/VHS package that was prepared for the 2002 Emmy voters. You might find it on ebay.] Deborah: Ally just doesn’t want to know how we get ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Fulfillment, Worry

Denomination: Baptist

Charlie's Thanksgiving List

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 22, 2022

Charlie’s Thanksgiving List The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal. After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Thanksgiving, God's Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

The Movie "Thirteen" Retells The Life Story Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bumble Ho on Sep 26, 2005

The movie “Thirteen” retells the life story of a typical thirteen-years-old girl in LA. In one scene, the girl was depressed, so she got into a bathroom and start getting a razor and cut her arms with it and inflicted pain on herself so that she could feel better. “What!” I was shocked and could ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

An Elderly Man Said To H.a. Ironside, "I Will Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

An elderly man said to H.A. Ironside, “I will not go on unless I know I’m saved, or else know it’s hopeless to seek to be sure of it. I want a definite witness, something I can’t be mistaken about!” Ironside replied, “Suppose you had a vision of an angel who told you your sins were forgiven. ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Alternative Church: In A Typical Week, 22% Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Alternative Church: In a typical week, 22% of American adults engage in spiritual encounters outside the traditional church, 9% participate in a house church while more than 10% turn to the Internet as their foundation for interactive faith experience (Most in tandem with another form). Revolution, ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Americans Read Christian Books: Barna Research ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Americans Read Christian Books: Barna Research Group found that 48% of all U.S. adults and 51% of teens read at least one Christian book other than the Bible in the past year. Moreover, 35% of all U.S. adults and 34% of teens bought at least one Christian book in that same time period. 50% of all ...read more

Tags: Entertainment

Is That Superman Or ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 15, 2002

IS THAT SUPERMAN OR ... Remember some years ago when you used to hear on TV, "Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s Superman"? On our televisions, we would watch a super human perform amazing feats as the people stood in awe. The third book of the best selling series, "Left ...read more

Tags: Antichrist