In Sermon Illustrations: "Character Traits"

In My Studies This Week I Came Across These Words ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 5, 2004

In my studies this week I came across these words from a book in my office called, The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey. As my class in Chicago read the Gospels and watched movies about Jesus’ life, we noticed a striking pattern: the more unsavory the characters, the more at ease they seemed ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Story: In March 2004, I Was In The Second ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 5, 2005

Story: In March 2004, I was in the second bookshop in Dymchurch rummaging through the books when I came across a second hand Jerusalem Bible. As I opened the Bible up, a number of papers fell into my hand. On one of them was written a story. It was obviously very meaningful to the previous ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Erwin Mcmanus Says, "Truth Exists Because God Is ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 22, 2006

Erwin McManus says, “Truth exists because God is trustworthy. The biblical understanding of truth is that all truth comes from God. Our experience of an objective reality is the result of the very character and nature of God. The integrity of the cosmos is an extension of the personhood of its ...read more

Tags: Truth Absolute

Denomination: Methodist

Jerry Seigle And Joe Shuster Were Barely Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Apr 5, 2006

Jerry Seigle and Joe Shuster were barely out of high school in the down and dirty days of the Great Depression when they came up with their brainchild. During these desperate days when big governments and big business and big problems made the little man feel even less powerless, these two Jewish ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

While Hunting Deer In The Tehema Wildlife Area ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

While hunting deer in the Tehema Wildlife Area near Red Bluff in northern California, Jay Rathman climbed to a ledge on the slope of a rocky gorge. As he raised his head to look over the ledge above, he sensed movement to the right of his face. A coiled rattler struck with lightning speed, just ...read more

Tags: Endurance

What Child Has Not Watched With Wonder As Mother ...

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

What child has not watched with wonder as Mother wielded a needle and thread? But mothers not only make and mend clothes, they make and mend characters! To do this sometimes requires “needling.” The greatest heritage anyone can receive is the influence of a Christian home. But ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:27-30

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jenna And I Boarded A -1:00 A.m. Flight In Tel ...

Contributed by Matthew Bushnell on Nov 29, 2006

Jenna and I boarded a -1:00 A.M. flight in Tel Aviv which would carry us back to the States. Travelling is always hectic, but that night it was especially bad. The plane was packed and we were delayed because of extra-tight airport security. As we boarded, I realized that our seats weren’t ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Commercial Appeal," Memphis, Tn Tues., Sept. ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 21, 2007

“The Commercial Appeal,” Memphis, TN Tues., Sept. 12, 2006. Study asks: In what God do we trust? Baylor University in Waco, Texas researchers found we may be "one nation, under God," but Americans actually worship at least four versions of the Lord (according to the Baylor Religion Survey released ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Throughout The History Of Major League Baseball, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Throughout the history of Major League Baseball, and certainly that of the Minnesota Twins baseball team, few characters have achieved the iconic status as that of former major-leaguer Kirby Puckett. His life started in the world’s largest housing projects -- Chicago’s Robert Taylor Homes -- a ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

If You Are Going To Be Jesus' Apprentice Only ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

If you are going to be Jesus’ apprentice only one essential condition must be met: you must spend time with the person you are mentoring. You can’t do discipleship at arms length or through distance learning. Most Christians don’t think in terms of this lifestyle of apprenticeship. They spend ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Doing God's Will

Law, Fulfilled In Christ

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 13, 2007

Law, fulfilled in Christ The Little Flower A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers ‘the Little Flower’ because he was only five foot four and always wore a ...read more

Denomination: Other

Shelter Of Dreams  PRO

Contributed by Grant Van Boeschoten on Apr 22, 2008

SHELTER OF DREAMS But how can a dream realistically provide shelter? I give you the example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr whose dream for equality is still providing shelter today. His dream came to the forefront of American politics when the Montgomery Bus Boycott forced the Supreme Court to rule ...read more

Tags: Dreams

Jill Rigby Notes From Her Book "Raising ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 13, 2008

Jill Rigby notes from Her book "Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World" that the following areas need to be shielded and monitored in our homes: Magazines, Books, Music, TV, Movies, and certain others. 1. We as parents must bear the burden to shield the eyes and the ears of our ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Girl's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A GIRL’S PRAYER When in college Robert J , Morgan came across a poem written by a teenage girl looking for a husband. It was written as a prayer, and this is what she said: Dear God, I pray all unafraid / As girls are wont to be I do not want a handsome man / But make him, Lord, like Thee. I do ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I've Been Reading A Very Powerful Book, Tortured ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 2, 2009

I’ve been reading a very powerful book, Tortured for Christ, which is a testimony from a follower of Jesus who suffered immensely in Romania after the communist takeover. Originally published 30 years ago, it is still very powerful. Richard Wurmbrand was a faithful servant of Christ in the ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Church Of God

Prejudice Comes From An Unclean ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Prejudice Comes from an Unclean Heart I like this thought posted by Mike Atkinson in his daily email humor list some time ago. If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-15

Tags: Racism

Please Notice That Paul Did Not Pray For These ...

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Nov 28, 2009

Please notice that Paul did not pray for these Christians to get the Lord’s resurrection power. They already had it! And Christian, so do you. So, how well do you know the power of His resurrection? Paul prayed for them to spiritually know and see the power they already had. *It actually reminds ...read more

Tags: Power, Riches

Denomination: Baptist

In The Film Version Of Ray Bradbury’s ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on May 29, 2010

In the film version of Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” the action starts with a cold October wind blowing through a Midwestern town. Let’s look at the theater film preview of this film and give you an idea of what I’m talking about. The “October People” had come with their ...read more

Tags: Change, Wind

Denomination: *other

The Modern Rich Man

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 30, 2010

A popular story recounts a meeting that may have taken place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1923. There is debate whether the meeting in fact occurred, but what is not in question is the actual rise and fall of the men featured in the story, who were nine of the richest men in the world ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Catholic

James Von Moltke: For What A Mighty Task

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

JAMES VON MOLTKE: FOR WHAT A MIGHTY TASK James von Moltke came from a long line of German warriors and soldiers. For two centuries the name Moltke resounded proudly in the history of the Prussians and Germans. But James would serve a different fate. He was just as brave and just as devoted but his ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-13

Tags: Heroism