In Sermon Illustrations: "Call To Worship"

The Noahide Commands

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2009

THE NOAHIDE COMMANDS A Pagan could become > An Alien Believer > A God-fearer > A Jew (proselyte) A pagan would be an idolater or worship many gods, or one not serving the true God. An alien believer would be a gentile who wanted to be saved, repented from his sins and turned to the God of ...read more

Tags: Israel

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Nicolaitan Compromise With Idolatry In Church Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Nicolaitan Compromise with Idolatry in Church of Pergamum Bruce Longenecker's book, "The Lost Letters of Pergamum" (pp. 165-166) illustrates their teaching in a story about a Nicolaitan (Kalandion) that attended the Pergamum church. Kalandion is visiting a Christian who has been imprisoned for ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Tags: Idolatry, Reputation

It Interests Me That God Tests Me By Allowing Me ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 27, 2009

"It interests me that God tests me by allowing me to go through difficult situations in order to prove the quality of my character, the genuineness of my worship and the motivations of my service. What is your Marah? I can sing praises easily when things are working out well for me. Throughout my ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Ellison Research Study Finds 90% Of Americans ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

An Ellison Research study finds 90% of Americans feel the law should support religious groups renting public property, such as a public school gym or a library room, for meetings if non-religious groups are allowed to do so. 89% say it should be legal for a public school teacher to permit a “moment ...read more

Tags: Law

The Labor Of Love Is Not A Duty

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 4, 2008

The Labor of Love is Not a Duty It is not something we have to do. It is not even something we ought to do. Loving God as we worship can never be done because we know we ought to do it. Now sometimes we need to fake it until we make it. Sometimes we need to do it even if we don't feel like it. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Church Of God

The Visitor Experience

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 29, 2012

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE Back in the 1980s, a man visited 18 different churches of differing beliefs to find out what churches are really like. The man said that he sat near the front. After each service he walked slowly to the rear; then returned to the front; and then back to the foyer using ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dry Wood: There Is A Difference Between A Dead ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Yandris on Mar 8, 2003

DRY WOOD: There is a difference between a dead saint and a dry saint. A dead saint is like a statue that never moves and eventually the pigeons will land on it and build their nest. But a dry saint is like dry wood, easily kindled. Dry wood just seems to catch on fire faster. Even though they have ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jack Mooring (From The Christian Band Leeland): ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Apr 23, 2009

Jack Mooring (from the Christian band Leeland): "What changed us wasn’t just going to church. It wasn’t going to youth group. It was being in the altar and experiencing the anointing and the presence of God. We want to bring that to Christian music in a new way and have kids experience the Holy ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Pentecostal

William Reid Recognized How Far Our Thankfulness ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 25, 2009

William Reid recognized how far our thankfulness falls short. He wrote, "Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness, For dull content with warmth and sheltered care, For songs of praise for worldly wealthiness, While of your richer gifts we’re unaware" (Christians Worship, 482:1, "Forgive ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Lutheran

Barna Notes The Main Reason Why People Do Not ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 26, 2004

Barna notes the main reason why people do not currently attend church in a survey he did in 2000 and in 1990: Main reason for not attending church 2000 1990 1. No time; schedule conflicts; working 26% 24% 2. Not interested; nothing to offer 16% 16% 3. ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastor Training: The Most Common Types Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Pastor Training: The most common types of training pastors seek are: · Leadership/management skills – 54% · Church growth – 52% · Prayer/spiritual growth/renewal – 49% · Evangelism/outreach training – 45% · Personal skills training – 28% · Discipleship/small group development – 26% · Worship ...read more

Tags: Church General

Thomas Watson -- Sin Is Such A Trade That ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 28, 2006

Thomas Watson -- Sin is such a trade that whoever follows is sure to break. What did Achan get by his wedge of gold? It was a wedge to cleave asunder his soul from God. What did Judas get by his treason? He purchased a halter. What did King Ahaz get by worshiping the gods of Damascus? ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

If Every Religion Of The World Was Simply A Set ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 18, 2007

If every religion of the world was simply a set of philosophical reasonings with no basis in relationship to a living God then their statements that all religions are equal in value and validity would make sense. Different groups and cultures of people would only have to agree to disagree on the ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

One Sunday When Louis Xiv And His Royal Party ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

One Sunday when Louis XIV and his royal party arrived at church, no one was there except the court preacher, Archbishop Fenelon. Surprised, the King said, "Where is everybody?" Why isn’t anyone else present this morning?" The minister said "I announced that Your Majesty would not be here today, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If We Are To Maintain The Great Heritage Which ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership ...read more

Tags: Family

Habitual Offenders

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 23, 2009

HABITUAL OFFENDERS In the world of criminal prosecution, sometimes an individual has a track record of crime; if so, they may try to prosecute him/her as a "habitual offender." As a result, the individual will spend more time in jail because the courts have decided that crime is a way of life for ...read more

Tags: God's Judgment

Denomination: Independent/Bible

J.c. Ryle On What Makes A True ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

J.C. Ryle on what makes a true Christian J. C. Ryle: “Knowledge, orthodoxy, correct forms in worship, a respectable and moral life – these do not make a true Christian” (497). Do we love Jesus? That is the issue; it is the question Jesus asks Peter in John 21; we must ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Love For God

On Melkarth

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Dec 4, 2010

ON MELKARTH Melkarth was the kind of god that required the burning of innocent children as oblations upon his altar. One of the underlying reasons why Baal was worshiped was that he was believed to be lord of the land. To induce him to send rain upon the earth, fertility cult practices were ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Baptist

Researcher George Barna In 2006 Asked Pastors ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Crowson on Mar 23, 2008

Researcher George Barna in 2006 asked pastors what they thought was the number 1 priority in the lives of their congregations. Pastors responded that 70% of their peoples #1 priority was their walk w/God. Keep in mind that Barna is asking pastors about people who regularly attend worship. When ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Letter To Santa  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A LETTER TO SANTA: Dear Santa Claus: You’ll probably be surprised to receive this letter from an adult. You may be even more surprised as you read it to find that the writer is neither a maiden aunt nor a disgruntled bachelor. I’m a young mother. It isn’t my intention, Santa, to hurt your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal