In Sermon Illustrations: "Character Traits"

What Is Culture?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

WHAT IS CULTURE? What is culture? It is the ways of thinking, living, and behaving that define a people and underlie its achievements. It is a nation’s collective mind, its sense of right and wrong, the way it perceives reality, and its definition of self. Culture is the morals and habits a mother ...read more

Tags: Culture

Fight Club

Contributed by Jay Winters on Feb 9, 2008

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Three In One who makes our lives more beautiful than what they could ever be on their own. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, About ten years ago, a movie came out that just about everyone saw. It was called “Fight ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

This Morning I Want To Focus Upon Some New ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

This morning I want to focus upon some new year’s resolutions that each of should consider for ourselves, but before we delve into our topic, I thought you might enjoy a few stories of failed resolutions: A story is told that At the beginning of a new year, a high school principal decided to post ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 1:15-16, Lamentations 5:1-22

Tags: Resolution, Mothers Day, Mothers, New Year's Day, New Year, Honor Mothers, Children Obey  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things God Won't Ask

Contributed by Tony Abram on Aug 20, 2009

10 THINGS GOD WON'T ASK 1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove. He’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. 2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house. He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3. God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your ...read more

Tags: Judgment

In The Movie From Louis L'amour's Book, "Hondo", ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 7, 2005

In the movie from Louis L’Amour’s book, “Hondo”, John Wayne passes the news to Geraldine Page’s character that their friend, Apache Chief Vittorio has been killed in battle. Her response is ‘no, it can’t be’, to which Hondo declares, ‘Everybody gets dead, it was his turn”. In spite of our ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Orthodox

In The Tv Series Firefly, In The Episode "The ...

Contributed by Dan Waite on Dec 1, 2005

In the TV series Firefly, in the episode “The Great Train Robbery,” the captain has agreed to a job to steal something. After finding out that it is medicine, which is badly needed, he decides to break his contract and return the stolen medicine. The sherif catches him returning the medicine and ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Group Of First Graders Decided That They Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 12, 2007

‘A group of first graders decided that they were going to produce their very own Christmas program and so they produced their own updated nativity story. All the major characters were there – Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men from afar… but where was Mary? Shortly after the production began, ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Church Of God

In His Book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller Talks ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 16, 2007

In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller talks about the kind of ruts a lot of us tend to get ourselves into. He says, ‘The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: Life is about me…. I hear addicts talk about the shakes and panic attacks and the highs and lows of resisting their ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At A U.s. Arsenal A Few Years Ago, A Large ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At a U.S. arsenal a few years ago, a large cannon lay, marked "Condemned." The attendant pointed out some indentations about the size of a pinhead which dotted the barrel in a dozen places. They did not appear to go deeper than a 32nd of an inch; and yet the weapon was condemned. There might be a ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Remember Eeyore The Donkey From The Winnie The ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 21, 2007

"Remember Eeyore the donkey from the Winnie the Pooh stories? He is a sad, droop-eared character who is forever losing his tail and resigning himself to the idea of going through life without it until someone finds it for him and pins it back on. Even then he is never joyful over finding his ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Men In Black

Contributed by Mark Nichols on Mar 12, 2008

Men In Black. Begin video with Will Smith’s character at the training center for Men In Black. He arrives late. He says, “Excuse me, but why are we here?” A marine promptly stands up and says, “We are here because you’re looking for the best of the best sir!” Will Smith laughs and says, “This ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

H.a. Ironside Wrote: "Have You Noticed That A ...

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Nov 26, 2008

H.A. Ironside wrote: “Have you noticed that a man’s use of his money is often the acid test of his character? . . . If you are afraid that perhaps the love of money is getting a grip upon you just try giving away some of it, and if you feel more cheerful and happy than before, then love of money ...read more

Tags: Stewardship

Denomination: Baptist

Heathers And Gratitude

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Nov 6, 2009

HEATHERS AND GRATITUDE Some people think being thankful all the time is like going around with a goofy smile on your face all of the time and being insensitive to other people’s feelings. Some think it means to always be happy. We can be grateful, thankful, without being irrationally "happy" in ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: *other

Keeping Christ In A Cradle

Contributed by Ken Pell on Dec 25, 2011

KEEPING CHRIST IN A CRADLE The World prefers to keep Jesus in a cradle where He is innocent and powerless. the dare not allow Him to be Lord and God much less our suffering servant. In the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (a movie I could not watch in its entirety and has no ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Nazarene

Did You Ever Notice A Tag On A Piece Of Clothing ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 4, 2001

Did you ever notice a tag on a piece of clothing saying, “The irregularities in this product are not flaws, but are a natural result of the handworking of the fabric.”? That’s the way we are, too! God put into your very being certain things that reflect His nature and His character in a way that no ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-5, Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Baptist

There Are No Shortcuts To Maturity  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 13, 2003

There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes ...read more

In His Book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller Says ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 29, 2006

In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller says some very pointed things about a rut that all of us can get ourselves into. He says, ‘The most difficult lie I have ever contended with is this: Life is about me…. I hear addicts talk about the shakes and panic attacks and the highs and lows of ...read more

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Church Of God

A Funny Thing Happened In Darlington, Maryland, ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 12, 2006

A funny thing happened in Darlington, Maryland, several years ago. Edith, a mother of eight, was coming home from a neighbor’s house one Saturday afternoon. Things seemed too quiet as she walked across her front yard. Curious, she peered through the screen door and saw five of her youngest children ...read more

Scripture: Job 21:22

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

A Few Years Ago There Was A Tv Show Called Early ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Feb 20, 2008

A few years ago there was a TV show called Early Edition. The main character in this program would receive a paper every day that showed what was going to happen the next day. He would then set out to correct the bad things before they happened. Through a series of events in which he often put ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

2920 Alexander's Garments. When Alexander The ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 12, 2008

2920 Alexander’s Garments. When Alexander the Great entertained the kings and nobles at the court of Persia, he appeared wearing only those garments which had been woven for him by his mother, Olympias, who was the daughter of a chieftain, the wife of a king, and the mother of a conqueror. One ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Other