In Sermon Illustrations: "Challenge"

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

When Do We Worship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2011

WHEN DO WE WORSHIP Author Douglas J. Moo: "Worship is not merely, or even mainly, what we do on Sunday morning. Worship is a 24/7 matter. We worship God when we give ourselves to him in service. We worship God when we show love to others, when we do our jobs faithfully and with integrity, when we ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Tags: Worship Definition

Pastoral Search Committee Of The First Lukewarm ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE FIRST LUKEWARM CHURCH I was recently contacted by a pulpit committee that was interested in my ministry. I met with Chairman of the Disenchanted, Bro Tepid. He described his church; First Lukewarm Church of the Apathetic. “Nothing too boring, nothing too exciting. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Lukewarm

Divorce Rate Myth Among Christians

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

DIVORCE RATE MYTH AMONG CHRISTIANS A common myth going around is that the divorce rate is the same among Christians as it is among non-Christians. But such just isn't the case, when you take a closer look. According to the "Americans for Divorce Reform," the divorce rate among the general ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12

Tags: Divorce

Imagine This If You Can: A Boy Who Is Blind Is A ...

Contributed by Don Hawks on Aug 14, 2007

Imagine this if you can: A boy who is blind is a skilled skateboarder, among many other things. Oftentimes it takes a light tap on the shoulder - or a slap in the face - to put things in perspective and bring a brighter note to our seemingly difficult times. One such tap is the story of Ben ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Without One Plea  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WITHOUT ONE PLEA Charlotte Elliott was a sickly English woman who had developed a long history of refusing to do things she was asked to do because of her illness. Her brother, who was a pastor, had been particularly persistent in trying to get her out of herself, trying to get her involved in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:3-11, John 4:1-26

Tags: Healing, Brokenness, Trials And Difficulties, Used

Abound, Then Rebound

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

ABOUND, THEN REBOUND Abundant Love must REBOUND. Rebounding, as every good basketball team knows, is the cutting edge between defense and offense. Whichever team rebounds most successfully becomes the team in control of the ball. The team that rebounds becomes the offense, goes on the move and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

Integrity Meltdown

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Feb 2, 2009

INTEGRITY MELTDOWN What do the following people have in common? John Edwards David Duchovny Fast Eddie Johnson Winona Ryder Jeremiah Gunner Scott Karen Raborn Heather Johnston Amy Wilkins The all experienced some type of integrity meltdown. John Edwards -- Had and affair and fathered a child ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

We Live In An Incredible World That Has Been ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

We live in an incredible world that has been wonderfully designed and marvelously created by God. When the last tubes of the Lincoln Tunnel under the Hudson River for the Pennsylvania Railroad were about to be joined in 1927, a young civil engineer named Richardson was chosen for the task because ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-9

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Louis Ix Of France (1215-1270)

Contributed by Gary Kins on Jun 25, 2007

Louis IX of France (1215-1270) St. Louis led an exemplary life, bearing constantly in mind his mother’s words: "I would rather see you dead at my feet than guilty of a mortal sin." His biographers have told us of the long hours he spent in prayer, fasting, and penance, without the knowledge of his ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greeting The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

GREETING THE QUEEN Greeting Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 2007 was quite a chore and challenge to the Americans. "Do people wear pants, dresses or business attire to meet the queen?" was a common question guests fortunate to be invited to meet the queen asked. Dinner attire was white tie and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-16

Tags: Second Coming

So Often, It Seems Like People And Even Churches ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 21, 2009

So often, it seems like people and even churches want grace without responsibility. With forgiveness comes a responsibility to be forgiving. Our response comes through the ability to confess our love to Jesus and confess our shortcomings, our flaws, and our sins. It is the response to grace that ...read more

Tags: Love For God, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Church Of God

A Drastic Decline Among Americans Who Live With A Biblical Worldview

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Mar 30, 2023

The year was 1999 and George Barna just wrapped up his latest study on the status of the Worldview of American adults. He was shocked to discover that only 12% of American adults were living their life with a Biblical worldview. He knew that if this trend did not change then it would mean a rapid ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:6, Matthew 9:37-38

Tags: Evangelism, Harvest, Statistics, Biblical Worldview, American Adults  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

August 22, 1741, Was A Sweltering Day In The ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 27, 2001

“August 22, 1741, was a sweltering day in the city of London. An elderly stooped-shouldered man wandered through the streets. His nightly aimless wandering through the streets of the city had become a familiar ritual. His angry mind raced back to the memories of great adulation and then looked at a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-31

Tags: Sacrifice, God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Called To Serve

Contributed by Dr Fr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 1, 2023

In 1884, a devastating famine struck India, claiming over 50 lakh lives. In the midst of despair, Christian organizations from America, driven by compassion, sailed to India to provide medical aid and sustenance. Dr. John, accompanied by his daughter Ida Scudder, arrived in Ranipet. The dire ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Service, Called

Denomination: Other

So This Morning, We Are Going To Try To Stimulate ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2009

So this morning, we are going to try to stimulate different portions of the brain. We are going to have communion. Tactile worship and meditation definitely engage our senses in a way that make God more real. We are going to sing about worshipping in the best times and worst times with a song ...read more

Tags: Music

Denomination: Church Of God

Different Views Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Different Views of Time You may not realize it, but your appreciation of time this morning goes well beyond the challenges of adjusting to daylight-savings time. There was a time when time was a relatively simple thing. People were born, grew up, grew old and died. Days, seasons and years past. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Time

The Legions Of The Unjazzed

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2011

THE LEGIONS OF THE UNJAZZED In Dr. David Jeremiah's book "Life Wide Open" he writes about a young man who turned the surfing world upside down in the 1950's. Killer Dana was the most notorious wave in California. When it was really ripping and roaring, the best surfers in the world gave it plenty ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:11

Tags: Zeal

Giving The Poor A Reason To Live

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

GIVING THE POOR A REASON TO LIVE So let's humble ourselves before each other and experience His grace. It's the way to true glory and dignity even if we find ourselves down and out. That's what Abbe Pierre discovered when he founded the Emmaus Communities in 1949. The Emmaus Communities today ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-17, Galatians 5:13-15

Tags: Servanthood

Talk About Rising To The Top Of Your Field, ...  PRO

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Sep 25, 2012

Talk about rising to the top of your field, Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her influence on modern dance has been compared to Picasso’s on modern visual arts, Stravinsky’s on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s on architecture. We should ...read more

Scripture: John 12:25-26

Tags: Fulfillment, Worldliness, Workplace Balance, Workplace Success

Denomination: Baptist