In Sermon Illustrations: "Bible Translation"

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

Lisa Marino Has A Personal Fitness Coach Who ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Dec 2, 2003

Lisa Marino has a personal fitness coach who gives her advice and encouragement. But she’s never seen him. As a participant in a program called, “Life Practice,” Lisa begins each day by sending a report of her diet, exercise, sleep, and stress to an Internet web site. Later she receives an e-mail ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Disciplines General

Denomination: Pentecostal

For 16 Years, John Kovac Was A "Tenant Of A ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 12, 2004

1. For 16 years, John Kovac was a “tenant of a tunnel.” John and a few others lived underground in an abandoned railroad tunnel in New York City. When Amtrak bought the tunnel and prepared to reopen it, John was forced to look for a place to live above ground. According to The New York Times, Mr. ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Pentecostal

Top Ten Ways You Know You're In A Bad Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2004

TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN A BAD CHURCH 10. The church bus has gun racks. 9. The church staff consists of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor and Socio-pastor. 8. The Bible they use is the "Dr. Seuss Version." 7. There’s an ATM in the lobby. 6. The choir wears leather robes. 5. Worship ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Church General

What Does A Line That Goes Down The Middle Of The ...

Contributed by Art Good on Jun 7, 2007

What does a line that goes down the middle of the road mean? Solid line, no passing. Stay on your own side of the road. Dotted line, like one in picture means you can pass if there is nothing coming the other way. Whether solid line or dotted line, reminds you that you are supposed to drive on ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

He Died On January 28, 814. Many Years Later, ...  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 17, 2007

He died on January 28, 814. Many years later, archaeologists discovered the tomb of Charlemagne, the great king and emperor of France. When the tomb was opened, after being closed for centuries, the men who entered it found something amazing. They found certain treasures of the kingdom, of course. ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Last Tuesday Night On Prime Time They Showed The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Last Tuesday night on Prime Time they showed the new Christ, De Jesus from Puerto Rico. He claims to be the better Christ and declares there is no sin, no Satan, and no one will go to hell. They interviewed several church members as to what they thought about their Christ. And they believe in him ...read more

Tags: Faith General

What Those Oats Can Do

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

What Those Oats Can Do Henry Crowell, founder of the Quaker Oats Company and a significant contributor to the work of Moody Bible Institute knew how to use money wisely. As a young man, he received Christ as his Savior. When he began his business career in a little Ohio factory, he promised God ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Isa 57:20-21 "…the Wicked Are Like The Tossing ...

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Jun 28, 2007

Isa 57:20-21 “…the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest… God says, ‘There is no peace for the wicked.’" After a family dinner one Sunday afternoon my dad and uncles were sitting around the living room talking politics. Uncle Walter kept dozing off and dad would tickle his ear with ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

The Ability To Read And To Study God's Word For ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 23, 2007

The ability to read and to study God’s Word for yourself, gives you a great step up in your battle with temptations and trails. The Puritans thought reading was so important that in 1647 they passed the “Old Deluder Satan Act”, the first law in the United States requiring public education be ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Can You Be So Narrow-Minded?

Contributed by Rick Balmer on Sep 20, 2007

“How can you be so narrow-minded?” The question jolted Steve from the newspaper he was reading in the teacher’s lounge. Jenna, the school librarian, was frowning and pointing at his coffee mug, which bore the message “One Way: Jesus”. Jenna was a follower of New Age religion. She believed there ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rico Tice Makes An Interesting Observation In ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 20, 2007

Rico Tice makes an interesting observation in his book, Christianity Explored: “I didn’t have a particularly religious upbringing myself. In fact, my experience of Christianity was limited to a few dull sermons, slightly spooky people in strange garments, hanging about in dank halls and religious ...read more

Denomination: Other

Works Vs. Fruit  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 15, 2009

WORKS VS. FRUIT A machine in a factory works and turns out a product, but it could never manufacture "fruit." Fruit must grow out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). When you think of "works," you think of effort, labor, strain, and toil; when you ...read more

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Other

Falling Asleep In Church

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Apr 22, 2009

FALLING ASLEEP IN CHURCH Please don't think I'm complaining about folks who fall asleep in church. I understand some people can’t help it. I am convinced that some people fall asleep in church during the sermon because their have a physical ailment. Some folk must have a snooze button attached at ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Church Of God

Accountability Questions For Men  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 22, 2009

ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS FOR MEN Accountability requires being vulnerable enough to allow someone to explore your habits, priorities and neglect. Chuck Swindoll for example, has seven questions that he and a group of fellow pastors challenge each other with regularly: 1. Have you been with a ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Salvation Army

Billy Graham's Rebuttal To Johnny Carson About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Billy Graham’s Rebuttal to Johnny Carson about Second Coming Several years ago Johnny Carson had Billy Graham as a guest on his show. At one point there was a lull in the conversation and Johnny said, "You know what Billy, I bet if Jesus ever came back to earth, I bet we’d do him in again!" Billy ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-16

Tags: Second Coming

Life Begins At The Cross

Contributed by James Mercer on Dec 8, 2009

LIFE BEGINS AT THE CROSS We don’t begin to live until we believe on Jesus and receive this everlasting life. A popular book a generation ago was entitled, Life Begins at Forty, where the author sought to prove that a person just enters the prime of life at forty years of age. The new saying is ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Baptist

When Robinson Crusoe Was On A Deserted Island ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 15, 2009

When Robinson Crusoe was on a deserted island after his ship had wrecked, he found a bible among the chests he had salvaged. His heart was changed upon reading it and he uttered these words. “I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon the dark side, and to consider ...read more

Tags: Commandments Covet

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ