In Sermon Illustrations: "Call To Ministry"

At First I Saw God As My Observer, My Judge, ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Jun 9, 2001

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him. But later on, when I met Christ, It ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Commitment To Christ, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

It Is Said Of Miss Reside, The First Woman ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Lucas on Jun 14, 2001

It is said of Miss Reside, the first woman missionary to Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma, that after she had been with the Indians long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian they gave her a new name. They called her “Aim-day-co.” Chief Bigtree, in explaining this name, said, “When we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:16-17

Tags: Repentance, Sharing My Testimony, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

Back In 1995 In Christianity Today - Harold ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 8, 2001

Back in 1995 in Christianity Today - Harold Miller told of the change that God brought to the natives in the Peruvian Amazon. He wrote: “Just one generation ago these were fearful, aggressive, and animistic people; all their contacts with outsiders were marked by violence. But now they’ve been ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Call Of The Disciples, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Young Boy By The Name Of James Had A Desire To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

A young boy by the name of James had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese and began with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy. After making his cheese, he would load his wagon and ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Finding Fulfillment, Focus, Priorities

Definition Of Mission  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 9, 2002

DEFINITION OF MISSION I think mission was put very nicely by the ’Sunday Times’ journalist Matthew Parris – a man, who is by his own confession, not a Christian. ’The New Testament offers a picture of God, who does not sound at all vague. He has sent His Son to earth. He has distinct plans for ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Anglican

What Does It Mean?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Apologetics General, Commitment To Christ

O, Divine Master, Grant That I May Not So Much ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Call Of The Disciples, Parable General

There Is A Peanuts Cartoon That Shows Snoopy ...  PRO

Contributed by J. Richard Lord, Jr. on Feb 10, 2002

There is a Peanuts cartoon that shows Snoopy sitting outside in the middle of a snowstorm. He is shivering from the cold. Linus and Charlie Brown happen by and see Snoopy and his condition. They say, “There is Snoopy, let’s go cheer him up.” They go up to Snoopy and say, “Be of good cheer, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:1-20

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Compassion, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Holiness

65279;a Minister Named Russ Blowers Was Once ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Feb 27, 2002

A minister named Russ Blowers was once asked to speak at Rotary Club about his profession. He wanted to say more than “I’m a preacher.” So this was his talk, “Hi, I’m Russ Blowers. I’m with a global enterprise. We have branches in every country in the world. We have representatives in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Call Of The Disciples, Misconceptions

Denomination: Wesleyan

And, Driver, Hurry Please  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

AND, DRIVER, HURRY PLEASE If you think using cellphones is a distraction while driving a car, just imagine how affected a woman was while traveling on an intercity bus in northern Greece last weekend. As we pick up the story, the passenger was so deep in conversation when the driver reached her ...read more

Tags: Temptation General, Disciplines General, Call Of The Disciples

Mother Superior The Religious Leader In "The ...  PRO

Contributed by Ruben Rivis on Aug 12, 2002

Mother Superior the religious leader in “The Sound of Music”, asked her young Nun – Maria von Trapp, “What is the most important lesson you have learned here?” Maria von Trapp answered, “To find the will of God and to do it!” Like Maria, every Christian ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, God The Father, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sooner Or Later Everyone Reads Or Hears About ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 5, 2003

Sooner or later everyone reads or hears about Cervantes’ story of Don Quixote. Cervantes is thrown in prison in Seville. Finding himself in the middle of a band of cutthroats he tries to divert them by telling them his story of Don Quixote, the Man of La Mancha. In the story, Quixote pictures ...read more

Tags: Call, God's Provision, Missions, Promises Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Forgetting What Is Past And Straining Toward The Future

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Commentator Gordon Fee recalls the famous “miracle mile,” the first time two milers ran under four minutes in the same race. Roger Bannister and John Landy competed in Vancouver, B.C. in 1954. Landy had led all the way, but coming off the final turn toward the finish line he looked over his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Forgetting The Past, Heavenward Calling, Future Oriented

Denomination: Baptist

Babel And Pentecost In Contrast

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 19, 2022

"Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Ministry, Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Revival, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 9, 2023

The story has often been told about the message the founder of the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General William Booth was unable to attend personally because of ill health, so he cabled the delegates a message containing one word: "OTHERS!" In the popular comic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Service, Ministry, Selflessness, Others, Bearing Burdens, One Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Get Rid Of Your Pastor!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 9, 2023

What a blessing it is to have a pastor who loves the Lord, who teaches the Word, and who leads his "flock" aright. I thank God we have a man like that in the church which I attend. In these days of apostasy, when there is such a tragic departure from an emphasis on the Word, how we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11

Tags: Division, Preachers, Ministry, Pastors, Apostasy, Man Of God, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Its Over, Elijah Came!

Contributed by Coz Von on Mar 7, 2016

”Elijah was physically taken up into heaven in a flaming chariot of fire. God said: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their father. Malachi 4:5-6 ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:5-6

Tags: Prophecy, Elijah And Elisha, Miracles Of Elijah, Elijah And Jezebel, Elijah, Love, Happiness, Future  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Serving, Ministry To Others, Volunteers, Fellowship, Support, Giving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am A 52 Year Old Adoptee. I Was Born On ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 11, 2003

I am a 52 year old adoptee. I was born on February 1, 1951 in a Lynchburg, VA hospital. My first two years of life must have been traumatic as my birth mother gave me up when it became apparent that she could not take care of me. She was unmarried at the time and the birth father was a married ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Abortion, Children

Enriching Every Sphere" By Henry G. Bosch From ...  PRO

Contributed by Ron Newton on Aug 6, 2003

"Enriching Every Sphere" by Henry G. Bosch from Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations Signs of The Times, Assurance Publishers Illus... #2679 “Enriching Every Sphere” "Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry ...read more

Tags: Teaching, Mentor, Jesus Teachings, Jesus' Ministry, Jesus Life, Instruct  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness