In Sermon Illustrations: "Changed Lives"

An Increasing Number Of People In America And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

An increasing number of people in America and around the world don't believe in God. The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press has found 20% of Americans ages 18 to 25 say they have no religious affiliation or consider themselves atheists or agnostics, nearly double the rate of 20 years ...read more

Tags: Atheism

The Priority Of God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 1, 2008

THE PRIORITY OF GOD Priorities are an issue in the church today, and David Wilkerson addresses this issue with the following thought from his most recent newslatter: "A priority is the importance you place on something. And Christians who neglect prayer have perverted their priorities! Many ...read more

Tags: Principles

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Twas Battered And Scarred, And The Auctioneer ...

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 4, 2008

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin. But he held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks?" he cried. "Who’ll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll ...read more

Tags: Music

Forgiveness Sets Me Free.

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

"FORGIVENESS SETS ME FREE." Kenneth Hart, a psychology professor at the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada), studied sixty-six recovering alcoholics. The individuals had one thing in common: They were all angry with someone. Teaching forgiveness, Hart found, is one way to break the cycle that ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman Told Of A Distinguished ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 25, 2009

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of SIN. After the service, one of the church deacons came to counsel with him in the study. "Dr. Howard," he said, "we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Your Heart Attack?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 12, 2009

LOVE YOUR HEART ATTACK? Bob Benson, in his book, "See You At The House," tells of a good friend who had a severe heart attack and almost died, but was now well on the road to recovery. Visiting him, Bob asked, "Bill, how do you feel about your heart attack?" Bill answered, "I hate it. It nearly ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Children Need To Be Loved

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 17, 2023

No more convincing evidence of the absence of parental affection exists than that compiled by Rene Spitz. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-5

Tags: Nurture, Touching, Love, Children, Marriage, Parents, Family, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Doctrine Of Atonement

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

We need to have core beliefs that do not change over time – NO MATTER WHAT! The doctrine of atonement is under attack today. It is attacked by folks who look at humans and see each one as basically good who occasionally do bad things. They talk about each person’s freedom to become your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Scripture, Atonement, Authentic, Holy God, Fallen World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Pickle Jar As Far Back As I Can Remember Sat ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 13, 2001

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents’ bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Family, Giving General

Denomination: Lutheran

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Man From Slums Of N.y. Converted And Ordained By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Man from Slums of N.Y. Converted and Ordained by Jim Cymbala Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

Christian Author And Speaker Joni Eareckson Tada ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2001

Christian author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada writes: I’m a quadriplegic, yet I can drive a van (my hand is secured to a big joystick so I can steer, accelerate, and brake). I enjoy being independent, so if there’s something I can do, I will - even if it means tackling the drive-thru at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:19-20, Ephesians 2:11-22

Tags: Patience, Peace, Lord, Giving General, Give Thanks, Forgiveness, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Man Sentenced To Hang For Indian Massacre ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Man Sentenced to Hang for Indian Massacre Pardoned On March 22, 1824 an incident took place in Madison County, Indiana, which came to be known as the Fall Creek Massacre. Six white men murdered nine Seneca and Miami Indians and wounded another. Among the nine dead were three women and four ...read more

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness General

College President Stoops To Child's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

College President Stoops to Child’s Level Our world places little value on children, but Jesus says they are the most important people of all. Why? Because to be little is to be great in God’s eyes, and to receive a child is like receiving Christ. It’s a lesson Jesus wanted His disciples to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Christmas, Incarnation

Spiritual Breakthrough.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 14, 2014

During the week I have been looking at a book by John Larsson where he called Spiritual breakthrough where he talks about Samuel Logan Brengle. In his recalling Brengle, Larsson talks of how at the age of twenty-five, Brengle was at a seminary training to be a minister but he was troubled. He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sanctification, Spiritual Encounter

Denomination: Salvation Army

7 Ways That Eve Distorted The Word Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s go back to Genesis 2:16-17 to review exactly what God said and then we’ll compare it to the distortion Eve came up with: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in ...read more

Tags: Eve, Sin, Evil, Satan, Truth, Temptation, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jean-Paul Sarte Said, "You Will Never Find Peace ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Clark on Apr 12, 2001

Jean-Paul Sarte said, "You will never find peace and happiness until you are ready to commit yourself to something worth dying ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

Helen Keller, Probably The Most Recognized Blind ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 3, 2001

Helen Keller, probably the most recognized blind person who has ever lived, once said, “What would be worse than being ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace

Denomination: Wesleyan

Failure To Understand Elementary ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Oct 24, 2002

"Failure to understand elementary insights about how to engage the enemy will leave gaping holes in our defenses, thus allowing Satan to ...read more

Tags: Satan, Discipleship, Disciplines General

Denomination: Pentecostal

S. Truett Cathy, "If You Wish To Enrich Days, ...

Contributed by Craig Hamlin on Jan 5, 2004

S. Truett Cathy, “If you wish to enrich days, plant flowers; If you wish to enrich years, plant trees; If you wish to enrich ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist