In Sermon Illustrations: "Big Heart"

Gang Member's Turf

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

We learned that the belt of truth is a belt of truthfulness. It is “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). It is avoiding all forms of lies, hypocrisy, deception, and manipulation because that is the devil’s turf. Gang members in these big cities understand the value of staying on your own turf. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Safety, Spiritual Warfare, Truthfulness, Lies, Turf  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Prayer As Our Heavy Artillery

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul has completed the metaphor of Roman armor. But he is not finished teaching about spiritual warfare. In fact, he has come to the most important weapon in our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is the heavy artillery. Through prayer we call down the bombardment of God against our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Intercession, Victory, Armor, Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

16,743 Yards Of Persistence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

16,743 YARDS OF PERSISTENCE God has always honored persistence. I have always appreciated Emmitt Smith. I was glad to see him set the NFL rushing record last Sunday. He isn’t as flashy as Walter Payton or Barry Sanders, and he never possessed true break-away speed. But his strength lies in his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1, Luke 20:27-38, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Persistence, Parable Widow

I Did A Google Image Search For The

Contributed by James Jack on Apr 11, 2009

I did a google image search for the “armour of God.” It’s extraordinary the number of diagrams and pictures devoted to this theme. For our instruction and entertainment (well, actually more for our entertainment), I’ll show you a selection. • They normally involve someone decked out somewhat like ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Anglican

The Richest Man In The World

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 16, 2009

THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD After 13 years, Bill Gates is no longer the richest man in the world. The technology tycoon was not ranked Richest Man in the World for the first time in over a decade. Bill Gates fell from his spot on the top to a lowly number three position. His net worth of $58 ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: *other

Imaginary Jesus

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

IMAGINARY JESUS Matt Mikalatos has written a fictional story entitled, "Imaginary Jesus." In that story the main character encounters a wide variety of people who claim to be Jesus, but who actually represent our diverse and ever-changing depictions of who we want Jesus to be and the roles we want ...read more

Tags: Doctrine

Denomination: Methodist

There's A Joke About A Man Who Was A Keen Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There’s a joke about a man who was a keen church goer. The pillar of the church. I looked up pillar of the church in my A-Z of Christianity: a big thick thing that holds everything up and restricts vision. (From Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation by Adrian Plass published by Authentic – a very funny ...read more

Tags: Hell

The Surest Sign That God Has Done A Work Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"The surest sign that God has done a work of grace in my heart is that I love Jesus Christ best, not weakly and faintly, not intellectually, but passionately, personally ...read more

Tags: Grace

If You Are Not Happy Today, You Will Never Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you are not happy today, you will never be happy Strive to be patient, unselfish, purposeful, strong, eager and work mightily If you do these things with a grateful heart, you ...read more

Tags: Joy

There Is Now Set Before Us Life And Good, Death ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"There is now set before us life and good, death and evilBut if our hearts shall turn away so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced ...read more

Tags: Truth

The Only True Wisdom  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Aug 7, 2013

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." (Socrates) You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:9

Tags: Wise, Wisdom Of God, Godly Wisdom, Real Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of Our Former Students Had This On Her My ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 28, 2008

One of our former students had this on her My Space: "A girl’s heart should be so wrapped up in God that a guy has to seek Him ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

In My Garden I Tested The Soil And Found It To Be ...

Contributed by Charles Salmon on Jan 2, 2005

In my garden I tested the soil and found it to be deficient in Nitrogen. My plants wouldn’t grow. It doesn’t matter how good the seed was. The Word is able ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bible Nowhere Speaks About A "Happy" ...  PRO

Contributed by Bart Leger on Feb 6, 2005

“The Bible nowhere speaks about a “happy” Christian; it talks plentifully of joy. Happiness depends on things that happen, and may sometimes be an insult; joyfulness is never touched by external ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Good Character Is The Best Tombstone. Those ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2006

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name ...read more

Tags: Character

Simon Peter Said: Lord, To Whom Shall We Go? ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"Simon Peter said: Lord, to whom shall we go? These words are ringing down through the ages, and should deeply impress upon our hearts the thought that Christ alone ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

We Cannot Tell The Precise Moment When ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Definition Of Sound Worship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

But how about this definition of sound worship by William Temple: "To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

How Do I Know He Lives?  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Aug 11, 2003

How Do I Know He Lives? How do I know that Christ has risen? What proof have I to give? He touched my life one blessed day, And I began to live. How do I know he left the tomb That morning long ago? I met Him just this morning, And my heart is still aglow. How do I know the endless life He ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

Missionary Mom Wanted Her Children To Know The ...  PRO

Contributed by Craig Hamlin on Jan 5, 2004

Missionary mom wanted her children to know the importance of sharing their faith with lost people. One day, ten-year old Ryan was driving imaginary race cars with his friends. Several minutes later he came bounding into the house and yelled, "Mom, you’ve got to come quick. Isabelle wants to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist