In Sermon Illustrations: "Bitterness"

Too Soft On People?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

TOO SOFT ON PEOPLE? A preacher named Ron Rose told a woman who came into his office complaining that his sermons always being about forgiveness and grace. She said he needed to come down harder on the sinners and in her words, "nail them." After her rant, Ron asked, "So, you’ve got forgiveness ...read more

Scripture: John 1:15-17

Tags: Grace

Weeds

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Sep 19, 2010

Yesterday, with the encouragement of my wife, I got rid of some THORNY WEEDS growing like trees in the back garden. The thorns were now like razor sharp nails and so it was difficult to get to the roots without punctures, scratches and a bad attitude. I knew that if I didn't get to the roots, they ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Brothers Were Convicted Of Stealing Sheep...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Two brothers were convicted of stealing sheep many years ago in England. In accordance with the punishment of those days, they were branded in the forehead with the letters “ST” for sheep thief. One brother, unable to bear the stigma, fled to a foreign country where he died full of bitterness and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1

Tags: Holiness, Saint, Good Reputation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Six Humans Trapped By Happenstance In Bleak And ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 13, 2001

Six humans trapped by happenstance in bleak and bitter cold, Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story goes. Their dying fire in need of logs, The first man held his back, For on the faces around the fire He noticed one was black. The next man looking across the way Saw one not of his ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cold Within  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 24, 2002

THE COLD WITHIN Six humans trapped by happenstance in bleak and bitter cold, Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story goes. Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back, for on the faces around the fire he noticed one was black. The next man looking across the way saw ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Jesus On His Birthday  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

"TO JESUS ON HIS BIRTHDAY" The American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay once wrote a biting, ironic poem called "To Jesus on His Birthday." Surely none of us can deny guilt in some of the areas it includes in its brief scope: For this, your mother sweated in the cold, For this you bled upon the ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Christmas Advent

Dr. James Dobson Tells A Story About A Family ...

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Oct 20, 2004

Dr. James Dobson tells a story about a family that lived in the Northeast part of the country. In the bitterly cold part of winter their car had become espe­cially dirty, what with road salts, frozen slush, and other wintry deposits. Conscious of the condition of their car, this family was driving ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Baptist

This Is Not The Only Time The Philippian Brethren ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Feb 13, 2007

This is not the only time the Philippian Brethren saw Paul in JAIL and having his JOY TESTED by DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCE - Acts 16:22-25 What if we had the opportunity to INTERVIEW Paul while he was in this DUNGEON, what do you think he would tell us? Paul and Silas, are you in there? “Yes, we’re ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In L880, James Garfield Was Elected President Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In l880, James Garfield was elected president of the United States, but after only six months in office, he was shot in the back with a revolver. He never lost consciousness. At the hospital, the doctor probed the wound with his little finger to seek the bullet. He couldn’t find it, so he tried a ...read more

Tags: Guilt

A Father's Influence To The World  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Thomas Norton on Jul 17, 2007

A father’s influence to the world Many years ago a small Jewish boy asked his father, "Why must we surrender our Jewish faith and start to attend Lutheran services here in Germany’ The father replied, "Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us and support our business ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Joy Of Salvation

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 7, 2009

THE JOY OF SALVATION The late great English Congregationalist clergyman and church leader, Robert William Dale (1829-1895), once wrote: "We do not please God more by eating bitter aloes than by eating honey. A cloudy, foggy, rainy day is not more heavenly than a day of sunshine. A funeral march ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-17

Tags: Joy

Forcing Doors Or Build Bridges

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 12, 2009

FORCING DOORS OR BUILD BRIDGES There were two unmarried sisters who had such a bitter fight that they stopped speaking to each other. Unable or unwilling to leave their small home, they continued to use the same rooms and sleep in the same bedroom. A chalk line divided the sleeping area into two ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgiving The Unrepentant By R.t. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Forgiving the Unrepentant by R.T. Kendall In an article by R.T. Kendall titled, ‘Forgiving the Unrepentant’, he recalls an incident that happened to him. “When I was minister of Westminster Chapel in London, the people who had betrayed me didn’t think they had done one thing wrong. You could have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:34

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others

Discipline, Brokenness, And Strength

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010

DISCIPLINE, BROKENNESS, AND STRENGTH Discipline is a virtue that is in short supply nowadays. We see men and women demonstrating a dangerous lack of self restraint and discipline. People do things just because they feel like it, ignoring the consequences. What there is no restraint, no discipline ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Burn The Books!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 16, 2005

Burn the Books! (08.18.05--Envy!--Prov 14:30) “Envy cannot read; therefore its will is that all books should be burned.” If we can’t have it then it should not be possible for others to know what we ourselves have not be given. When we equate envy with justice, we travel a very rocky road. Denying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:30

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Lutheran

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 20, 2005

Late Bloomers! (09.22.05--Grace Walks!--Psalm 93:5) Fairness is a doctrine that we have gone hog-wild with. We seem as a people possessed by a sense of “all things being equal.” Unfortunately, we are so captivated by a sense of justice at all costs, we often lose sight of the fact that a doctrine ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 93:5

Tags: Beauty, Righteousness, Walk, Holiness, God's Omniscience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

40 Men Die For Christ

Contributed by Benjamin Karner on Sep 18, 2009

40 MEN DIE FOR CHRIST One such story took place in 328 B.C. in a city high in the icy mountains of Armenia. It was a bitterly cold winter and in the middle of that winter an order came from the Roman emperor that every man, woman, and child under the rule of his empire must bow down to ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 2, 2021

Quit all the comparisons: IT IS ABOUT GOD’S GLORY. HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH LEARNED TO ENCOURAGE THOSE THAT WERE DOING A WORK THAT SEEMED SMALL IN THEIR OWN EYES. Get excited. Haggai 2:2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:10

Tags: Glory, Small Things

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Chemistry 101 — Table Of Elements  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 11, 2001

Chemistry 101 -- Table of Elements Two new additions to the Periodic Table of Elements: Element Name: WOMAN Symbol: WO Atomic Weight:(don’t even go there) Physical properties: Generally round in form. Boils at nothing and may freeze at anytime. Melts whenever treated properly. Very bitter if ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Romantic Love, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

University Of Chicago Divinity School Each Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 24, 2001

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DIVINITY SCHOOL each years has what is called ’BAPTIST DAY’. On this day each one is to bring a lunch to an outdoor picnic area and the school invites one of the popular lecturers to speak at the theological education center. One year DR. PAUL TILLICH came and spent 2 1/2 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-10, Psalm 34:8

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Atheism, Jesus, Knowledge, Truth  (view more)  (view less)