In Sermon Illustrations: "Call To Ministry"

Alice Started Saving $1,000 A Year For Retirement ...

Contributed by Aaron Mishoe on Apr 2, 2009

Alice started saving $1,000 a year for retirement when she was 21 years old. She saved this much for 8 years and then stopped at age 29 but let the amount build interest until she was 65. She paid a total of $8,000 into her retirement plan. Ben waited until age 29 to start saving $1,000 a year ...read more

Tags: Money, Finances

Denomination: Holiness

We Get Our Purpose From Him

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jun 22, 2011

WE GET OUR PURPOSE FROM HIM I have three watches. They had no meaning until I bought them; they get their meaning from me. I assign each one its meaning and value. I put this watch on a shelf as a showpiece; it's my show watch. This watch I wear for informal occasions and when working in the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

I Was Driving Home One Sunday From Trinity Of...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I was driving home one Sunday from Trinity of Gentilly, where I was serving. I was on Napolean headed toward the river and had just passed Pascale Manales when I saw Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of St. Charles Ave. I then had a vision of younger families in the Uptown and Garden ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance, Visions

Denomination: Methodist

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Individually, We Are Weak

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2022

This story was written by Donald Grey Barnhouse. Several years ago, two students graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The highest ranking student in the class was a blind man named Overton and, when he received his honor, he insisted that half the credit should go to his friend, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-15

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Small Group

Jesus Loves Me—and I Love Jesus!

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 8, 2025

Sociology professor Anthony Campolo recalls a deeply moving incident that happened in a Christian junior high camp where he served. One of the campers, a boy with spastic paralysis, was the object of heartless ridicule. When he would ask a question, the boys would deliberately answer in a halting, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Testimony

Denomination: Methodist

Bob Russell Shared That Several Months Before ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Demastus on Oct 22, 2001

*Bob Russell shared that several months before they moved into their new church building in 1998, their ministry staff met at the new site for a special staff meeting. Most of the building still wasn’t carpeted, and some of the rooms still had no drywall. They handed out hard hats, magic markers, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgiveness In Action  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 6, 2004

Forgiveness in Action Pastor Hayes a man in his middle forties, was well-loved by his congregation, and faithful to God and to his family. He enjoyed a successful ministry in an exuberantly vital, growing church. Just when everything seemed to be going well, a cloud came over this man and his ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Thessalonian Error  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

THE THESSALONIAN ERROR The Thessalonian error was misunderstanding the purpose of end-time prophecy. The purpose is not to identify the anti-Christ or to inform us of events. Others have misunderstood the purpose of second-coming prophecy. Many people have been identified as the anti-Christ. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Tags: Second Coming

Author Mark Mittelberg Tells About A Man Named ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Opperman on Jan 21, 2008

-Author Mark Mittelberg tells about a man named Jim who wanted to do things God’s way. Jim had a passion for God, a love for people, and a burden to share the message of God’s forgiveness with people who had not heard. The big question for Jim was, “How can I get unchurched people who are so ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[064]. A Message From A Poem – Dull The Sight - Life’s Not Right

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 22, 2025

[064]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DULL THE SIGHT - LIFE’S NOT RIGHT This short poem is a bit like a person trying to read with glasses that are smeared and hazy. What is read will be distorted and the wrong message will be gained. If he/she tries to walk around then an accident is a ...read more

Scripture: James 5:19-20, Hebrews 10:25, 1 John 1:7

Tags: Poem, Dull, The Bible, Light, Vision, Prayer, Sight, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Joe Wright Was Asked To Open The New Session ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 15, 2003

When Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual politically correct generalities. But, what they heard instead was a prayer delivered with grace yet full of truth. "Heavenly Father we ask Your forgiveness. We know Your Word says, ’Woe on ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Confession

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Do Not Particularly Enjoy The World Of Phone ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 21, 2004

I do not particularly enjoy the world of phone message recorders. I am glad they exist, and I have one at the office. Sometimes people leave important messages. Sometimes the message is not crucial, but it communicates a piece of information. In a day when we have so much to do and remember, ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Powerful Prayer Delivered To The Kansas State Senate

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 22, 2022

This prayer was delivered on January 23, 1996 by the Rev. Joe Wright in Kansas. It was said that most of those in attendance were outraged and some walked out. Without a doubt, it is a blunt and direct indictment on modern culture. Within just a few weeks, the Central Christian Church, where ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holiness, Government, Politicians, Sin, America, Prayer, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Make Yourself At Home  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME Becky Pippert, is a Christian author from Naperville, Illinois. While doing campus ministry she met a student named Bill on a college campus in Portland, Oregon. Bill was brilliant, and always looked like he was pondering something deep. He had messy hair, and the entire ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Six Chairs Of Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2008

Six Chairs of Prayer Chair One: My attitude towards prayer is that it is not important. I have no motivation to pray and no desire to pray. Nothing is happening in my life in regards to prayer. Chair Two: My attitude towards prayer is that it is optional. I have a motivation and a desire to pray ...read more

Tags: Life

Seeing You For Real

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

SEEING YOU FOR REAL Just a few years ago, Leadership Journal did an interview with Saul Cruz, who along with his wife founded Armonia (Harmony) Ministries in Mexico City. They minister to hundreds of poor people all over Mexico today, but they began their ministry by planting a church on the edge ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-19

Tags: Servanthood

According To One Expert Children Go Through 4 ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Burkey on May 16, 2005

According to one expert children go through 4 stages of dealing with their fathers. In stage one, they call you da-da. In stage 2 they grow and call you daddy. As they mature and reach ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

What Specifically Are We Being Reminded Of? In ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 14, 2003

What specifically are we being reminded of? In verses 24 and 25 of our text Jesus said “…do this in remembrance of Me.” It is a memorial service in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. On one of the walls in our home is a little heart shaped plaque. On it are the words “When this you see remember ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Charismatic