In Sermon Illustrations: "Bible Translation"

American Adults Who Have Not Attended A Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

American adults who have not attended a church or faith community in the past year are less likely to be concerned about the U.S. moral condition, much less likely to believe they are making a positive difference in the world, less optimistic about the future, less likely to believe the Bible is ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Robert Cook, President Of King's College Once ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Sep 11, 2008

Robert Cook, President of King’s College once related a true story from the early years of his ministry. Evidently at that time, he had been receiving some rather pointed criticism. In fact, it had become of such great concern to him that he sought the counsel of a friend, the beloved Bible ...read more

Tags: Betrayal

Denomination: Pentecostal

True Peace And Joy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

True Peace and Joy As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Joy

A Young Lady Was Soaking Up The Sun's Rays On A ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 29, 2008

A young lady was soaking up the sun's rays on a Florida beach when a little boy in his swimming trunks, carrying a towel, came up to her and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" She was surprised by the question but she replied, "Why, yes, I do." Then he asked her: "Do you go to church every ...read more

Tags: Character, Testimony, Honesty

Denomination: Pentecostal

Standing Out

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 23, 2009

STANDING OUT I remember an experience as a 16-year-old, Salvation Army soldier. I was walking to the church from my house for Bible study. In those days, soldiers wore uniforms to every church function. On route to the church, there were 12 or 15 peers hanging outside the pool hall that I had to ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Salvation Army

Simple Love

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 1, 2009

SIMPLE LOVE The great theologian of the last century, Karl Barth, wrote a 10 volume theological work titled "Ethics." When traveling and lecturing throughout the United States at all the important universities and theological schools, it is reported that one young man asked him, "Dr. Barth, you ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Heathers And Gratitude

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Nov 6, 2009

HEATHERS AND GRATITUDE Some people think being thankful all the time is like going around with a goofy smile on your face all of the time and being insensitive to other people’s feelings. Some think it means to always be happy. We can be grateful, thankful, without being irrationally "happy" in ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: *other

Decline Of Christianity In America  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2010

DECLINE OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA North America is the only continent on earth where Christianity is not growing. Only 17.5% of the population of the US attends church on a regular Sunday. During the 1990’s there was a 19.4% decline in church attendance. 85% of churches in America are ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Church Growth

Not "If"

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 8, 2010

NOT "IF" Wiersbe tells of a counselor who was trying to help a man who had come forward during an evangelistic meeting. "I’m a Christian," the man said, "but there’s sin in my life, and I need help." The counselor showed him 1 John 1:9 and suggested that the man confess his sins to God. "O ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

William Carey: When God Pleases

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

WILLIAM CAREY: WHEN GOD PLEASES In 1786 William Carey, a shoemaker/pastor from Northamptonshire, was burdened by the needs of the worlds people. He stood before a counsel of representatives at a ministerial meeting in Northampton. He explained his burden to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus ...read more

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Brethren

Enjoying Each Day

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 27, 2010

ENJOYING EACH DAY When Tamer Lee Owens celebrated her 104th birthday, she credited "laughter, the Lord, and the little things" for keeping her going. She still finds enjoyment each day in talking with people, taking a walk, and reading the Bible as she has done since childhood. "I don’t know how ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Her!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2012

LOVE HER! I recently heard a preacher speaking of his efforts to counsel a man who was having marital trouble. He said to the man, "The Bible says husbands love your wives." "But I do not love her anymore," he replied. "Then love her as your sister in the Lord." "But I don't think she is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Do You Know The Spirit?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 8, 2012

DO YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT? "Consider these honest questions: How many Christians suffer from a spiritual life that is dry and mechanical? How many serve a Jesus, whom they know about from the Bible, but who is not a living reality in their experience? And do we ever wonder why Holy Spirit ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Important Hebrew Name Of God

Contributed by William Nickoley on Feb 4, 2017

“The days are coming,” says the LORD, “that I will raise up a righteous Branch for David, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the earth. 6 . . . And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’” Jeremiah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:5-6

Tags: God's Name, God's Righteousness, Relationship With God, God Our Righteousness, Handout  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Book Of Re-Evaluation!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2022

Charles Schulz consistently provided helpful and humorous insights through his Peanuts comic strip. In one run he showed Charlie Brown's sister, Sally, struggling with her memory verse for Sunday. She was lost in her thoughts trying to figure it out when she recalled, "Maybe it was ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Evaluation, Seven Churches, Church, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Greatest Spiritual Challenges We Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Anger/Bitterness. 5. Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Anger, Spiritual Battles, Lust, Discipleship, Temptation, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Waiting For My Test Results From A ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Travis on Jun 24, 2001

I was waiting for my test results from a Christian Education class at the Bible Colllege where I attended. I knew I had every answer right and I was anticipating an A as my grade, but to my disappointment I received a C. The teacher admitted I had every answer right, but I had failed to follow ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:2-3, Mark 11:14

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Gifts Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

Philip Yancey Relates How A Professor Virginia ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Jan 7, 2002

Philip Yancey relates how a professor Virginia Stem Owens assigned the Sermon on the Mount to her composition class at Texas A&M University. She asked her students to write a short essay on this passage of Scripture. Here is what one student wrote: “The things asked in this sermon are absurd. To ...read more

Tags: Adultery, Parable General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

During The Second World War A Certain City Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2002

During the second world war a certain city church in London was all set out for harvest thanksgiving. In the center of the gifts was a sheaf of corn. The service was never held, for, on the Saturday night, a savage air raid laid the church in ruins. The months passed and the spring came, and ...read more

My Dad Was A Preacher At A Small Church In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 19, 2003

My dad was a preacher at a small church in Northwest Indiana. Sometimes he would take me and my little brother Steve to the Thursday morning Bible study. George, an elderly gentleman, would split his donut with my little brother. One Sunday my brother came to church with a sandwich bag full of ...read more

Tags: Giving General