In Sermon Illustrations: "Character Development"

Joni Eareckson Tada, A Paraplegic Confined To A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Joni Eareckson Tada, a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, wrote the following poem by holding a pen between her teeth: When God wants to drill a man, and thrill a man and skill a man, When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part, When He yearns with all His heart to build so great and ...read more

Tags: Heaven

In Fact I Believe Traditional Values Have Been ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In fact I believe Traditional values have been under attack for the past 15-20 years. How many of you remember Dan Quayle? He served as Vice President under George Bush Senior and during the 1992 re-election campaign Quayle delivered a speech in which he made the following statement regarding the ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Despised At His Birth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

DESPISED AT HIS BIRTH (cf. V. 3) He was born a favored son when he was born to Rachel. It also was not Joseph's fault that he was being despised because of who he was born to, and also when he was born. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We are only born once, physically and all have the opportunity to be ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Someone Named J. R. Illingworth Once Said, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

Someone named J. R. Illingworth once said, "Prayer has been defined to be a wish referred to God; and, if we could keep this thought before us, it would help us to acquire the habit of prayer by making us refer each wish, as it comes into our minds, to God, for His assistance in furtherance or ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Seven Deadly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

SEVEN DEADLY SINS In the Roman Catholic Church there is a list of the seven deadly sins: Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Wrath, and Sloth. In 1995 a film titled Se7en focused on the seven deadly sins, a character that thinks of himself as the Sword of God, chooses victims whom he believes to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21

Tags: Sin General

On Facebook I Have Noticed That You Have The ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 10, 2010

On facebook I have noticed that you have the opportunity of reading your HOROSCOPE for some kind of guidance each day. Apparently it was Empedocles, a fifth century BCE Greek philosopher, who started it all off when he originated the terms FIRE, EARTH, AIR, AND WATER associating them with a persons ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spurgeon On The Final Preservation Of The Saints

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

SPURGEON ON THE FINAL PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS In the words of Charles Spurgeon: When I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, --that Christ had said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25

Tags: Calvinism

I Want To Be Pretty  PRO

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jan 24, 2012

I WANT TO BE PRETTY "I want to be pretty." This is the title of a popular tv program that was airing when we lived in Poland. It was a reality tv show in which in every episode you follow the changes of two women who are the heroes of the program. Each of these women work with a team of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:30

Tags: Faith, Love, Beauty, Faithfulness, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Borg

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2013

The Borg There is a mortal enemy in the Star Trek series called, “The Borg.” Every trekkie knows about them. Whether you follow the Next Generation, or the Voyager series you know about these ghastly characters. In fact, TV Guide rated them as the #4 worst villains of their top 100. “The Borg” are ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Nazarene

An Outline Of Joseph's Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

The story of Joseph’s life can be outlined by several key events in Genesis:   1. REJECTION (37:1-36) – Jacob selected Joseph as the favored son and he was despised by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and left him for dead.   2. REFINEMENT (38:1 – 40:23) – Traders came by and ...read more

Tags: Faith, Temptation, Rejection, Joseph, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Should A Christian Walk?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever noticed how novelists or movie directors make use of the way a person walks to highlight his or her character? Proud man walks erect, their heads held high. Beautiful women glide or float. Villains slouch, sneak, creep, or swagger. The need to describe different ways of walking has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, Isaiah 57:2, 1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8, Psalm 119:106  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Light, Humble, Walk, Worthy, Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Various Studies Conducted By Yale, John Hopkins ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on May 15, 2001

Various studies conducted by Yale, John Hopkins and other groups have documented the following; The absence of a father is a stronger factor than poverty in contributing to juvenile delinquency. In 48 cultures around the world crime rates were highest among adults who as children had been raised ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Tags: Parenting, Father's Day, Family

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Daughter Served As A Camp Counselor This ...  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Aug 26, 2003

My daughter served as a camp counselor this summer. It is a camp in which there are several camps contained in one location. She was a gap counselor and therefore served in several different ones. One camp is called Camp Sparrowood. It is a camp for the mentally challenged ages 8-99. She was ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: United Methodist

So I'm Going To Share With You A List I Came Up ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 10, 2007

So I’m going to share with you a list I came up with of Seven steps guaranteed to embitter your Children: 1. Discipline your child only when you lose your temper. Let him get away with everything, then without warning, let ‘em have it! Blow your top! Scream and Yell! Let ‘er Rip! Go Crazy! ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21

Tags: Children, Call, Leadership

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer Works  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 15, 2001

PRAYER WORKS The researchers at Columbia University conducted a study with 199 women at an in vitro fertilization clinic in Korea. Unknown to the patients and their doctors, groups of strangers from the US, Canada, and Australia were asked to pray for their success in getting pregnant. Pictures ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12

Tags: Gifts Healing, Prayer Answered, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Leadership Magazine, Dave Wilkinson Writes The ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 23, 2002

In Leadership magazine, Dave Wilkinson writes the following to pastors… Have you ever wondered why your pastoral resume doesn’t evoke more enthusiasm? Do you ever think, "What are these people looking for?" Perhaps the question should be, "What aren’t they looking for?" because with the numbers of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Tags: Leadership General, Sacrifice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hugging Is The Answer!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2002

HUGGING IS THE ANSWER! Perhaps I feel this way because my wife is affectionately known as "The Happy Hugger." If it’s moving she’ll stop it and hug it, and if it’s not moving she’ll dust it off and sell it! However, there’s another reason I believe hugging is the answer. According to Greg ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

How To Turn A Disagreement Into A Feud

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 12, 2001

How to turn a disagreement into a feud: 1. Be sure to develop and maintain a healthy fear of conflict, letting your own feelings build up so you are in an explosive frame of mind. 2. If you must state your concerns, be as vague and general as possible. Then the other person cannot do anything ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Anger, Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago There Was A Well-Known ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Sep 26, 2001

"Several years ago there was a well-known television circus show that developed a Bengal tiger act. Like the rest of the show, it was done "live" before a live audience, One evening, the tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

I Felt A Suspicious "Bump" As I Pulled My Car ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wall, Jr. on Aug 26, 2003

I felt a suspicious "bump" as I pulled my car into the driveway and came to a stop in our carport. Sure enough, one of the rear tires was flat, exposing the metal cord of the steel-belted radial. The next morning, when I visited the tire dealer, I noticed that the same brand of tire on the other ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Sin General

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance