In Sermon Illustrations: "Cheap Grace"

Let Us Love Them

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 25, 2011

LET US LOVE THEM Tony Campolo tells about some homeless teenagers from the Philadelphia streets who beat to death a Korean honor student doing graduate work in medicine at the U of PA. His parents came to the U.S. for the trial, and sat silently through his murderers’ entire trial. At the end, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Achieving Virtue

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 4, 2011

ACHIEVING VIRTUE The word "virtue" is taken from the Latin word virtus and actually means "strength" or "manliness." So you see that the real strength of this life is found by successfully winning the inner war of faith. It is because of weakness that we are ruled by passions and controlled by ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Lutheran

The "Stream Of Forgiveness"  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 14, 2013

THE "STREAM OF FORGIVENESS" Mirosalv Volf wrote a fantastic book on forgiveness titled "Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace." In the book he uses the beautiful imagery of a stream to show how God's character (love) is poured into us by His Spirit and becomes our ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Nazarene

F.e.a.r

Contributed by Alexier Mayes on Aug 8, 2017

Theres a song written by Ian Brown, known most famously as the Lead Singer from Manchester Band 'The Stone Roses' The song simply entitled FEAR uses the letters of the word to describe a sentence and the most poignant one of all states:- FINAL EXECUTION AND RESURRECTION Four words which mean ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Love, Fear, Resurrection, Trust, Perfect Love, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wise Heart

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 15, 2021

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. KJV This does not mean you sugar coat the Word, but rather choose words or actions that do not offend in such a way no one wants to listen. Too many times Christians are rude and crude not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:21

Tags: Wisdom, Speech, Lips, Sweetness, Prudent  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mothers And May

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 9, 2023

Mothers and May There are many things I love about the magic month of May-- the beautiful budding flowers, the gorgeous life-giving weather, the celebration of Mother’s Day! There are many things I love about our having Mother’s Day-- a day of recognition, a time to offer commendation, to one ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Psalm 127:1-3, Proverbs 23:25, Luke 8:21, Genesis 3:20, Romans 13:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Mother's Day, Poetry

Denomination: Baptist

The Church At This Point Has A Few Options At Its ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 25, 2009

The church at this point has a few options at its disposal to confront this injustice (Idea here pulled from Jim Cymbala’s book “Fresh Power “ pg. 88,89). a. They could start a demonstration – they could march on Washington and protest because there are 5,000plus in the church at this point in ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ken Wales: Christian Integrity

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2012

KEN WALES: CHRISTIAN INTEGRITY Ken Wales is a TV and film producer, who has produced several, award-winning TV series and films, including Christy, East of Eden and the highly-acclaimed movie Amazing Grace. Wales has enjoyed tremendous success as a producer, but he started his Hollywood career ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Author And Teacher, Dr. Howard Hendricks Tells ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 4, 2001

Author and teacher, Dr. Howard Hendricks tells the story of a young man who strayed from the Lord but was finally brought back by the help of a friend who really loved him. When there was full repentance and restoration, Dr. Hendricks asked this Christian how it felt away from the Lord. The young ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups, Christian Love

Life Is War. That's Not All It Is. But It Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Cruse on Jul 18, 2001

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Colossians 1:9-18

Tags: Demons, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

W.h. Griffith Thomas Scourged Christians This ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

W.H. Griffith Thomas scourged Christians this way, “There is no greater foe to Christianity than mere profession. There is no greater discredit to Christianity today than to stand up for it, and yet not live it in our lives. There is no greater danger in the Christian world today than to stand up ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-10

Tags: Growth In Christ, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Wife Tells Of Two High School Graduates Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Joey Wilbourn on Sep 9, 2003

My wife tells of two high school graduates who had grown up in the wide-open spaces of the Texas Panhandle. Both received basketball scholarships to attend a small college in the dense forests of the Piney Woods of east Texas. Although they were eager to come and play basketball they both left ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:20

Tags: Christian Liberty

Denomination: Baptist

When I Was A Boy, I Saw A Stereo At Foley's ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 23, 2004

When I was a boy, I saw a stereo at Foley’s department store that I wanted. My father agreed to pay for the stereo on the condition that I pay him back with the money I received from mowing lawns that summer. It was my first real loan in some ways. I received the benefits of the stereo ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

Perseverance--Perseverance Means That Through The ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Oct 9, 2004

Perseverance--Perseverance means that through the Holy Spirit we are able to continue in the Christian way even while facing trials on every side. Perseverance is a gift of God’s grace whereby we continue to patiently depend upon Jesus. Sometimes in Church we hear a lot of talk about ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, Turned away God’s wrath forever; By His better grief and woe He saved us from the evil foe. Christ says: ’Come, all ye that labor, And receive My grace and favor’; They who feel no want nor ill Need no physician’s help nor skill. As His pledge of love ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

F.e. Marsh Has Enumerated Some Of God's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

F.E. Marsh has enumerated some of God’s blessings: An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6). An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5). A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10). A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9). A hope ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Celeste Sibley, One-Time Columnist For The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Celeste Sibley, one-time columnist for the Atlanta (GA) Constitution, took her three children to a diner for breakfast one morning. It was crowded and they had to take separate seats at the counter. Eight-year-old Mary was seated at the far end of the counter and when her food was served she called ...read more

Tags: Children

Over The Almost Past Half Century My Wife And I ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Oct 23, 2006

Over the almost past half century my wife and I have ministered in over 125 countries seeing many thousands of people from every walk of life come to receive Christ. I have yet to meet one person who has been saved by the Grace of God say that they were sorry they became a Christian. That the day ...read more

Can You Imagine Being In Time's Square In New ...

Contributed by James Chandler on Jan 11, 2007

Can you imagine being in Time’s Square in New York City, and there on the jumbo-tron screen was every sin you have ever committed being displayed for all to see? How horrible would that be? How humiliating would that be? We all know we have sin in our life, we just don’t want everyone else to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ