In Sermon Illustrations: "Cheerful Giving"

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

Conformity

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

I first noticed this in leading people to Christ. They were beautiful before they were “church broke.” Great young converts often start out as radiant Christians and end up only as carbon-copy Baptists. Great young ministers start out as adorable mavericks, but after a business meeting or two and a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:2-5

Tags: Conformity, Accepting

Denomination: Baptist

Pure Love Brings Joy

Contributed by Christopher Sweeney on May 19, 2017

Many of you may have experienced this but I have from my two nephews and my time in youth ministry that there are times when you are having the worst days and then a child will run up to you and give you a hug or say I love you and everything goes away. Why, why is it that a hug can help erase the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Love, Joy

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 Monkey In The Quicksand

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: You cannot pull yourself out of sin. Verse: “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law…” (Romans 3:20 NIV). Illustration: A little monkey fell in the quicksand. As he was sinking into the sand, a monkey on the bank started giving him advice. He said, ...read more

Tags: Need For Christ, Sin, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Baksheesh

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 27, 2018

Donald Barhhouse says, “One of the first words learned by the traveler in India is “baksheesh.” Multitudes of begars hold out their hands and say this one word. Preaching through an interpreter, I had occasion to speak of salvation as the gift of God. I emphasized the word. It is a gift. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3, Titus 3:5

Tags: Salvation, Poor In Spirit, Gift Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 28, 2019

A young driver was in a hurry to get to an appointment and illegally parked his car. He left this note under the windshield wiper of his auto: So sorry, but I have circled the block for twenty minutes. I am late for an appointment and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job! ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Temptation, Humor, Lord's Prayer, Policemen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staying Where You Started!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

The problem is that Christians do not go on with God. They get saved, give a testimony of their salvation, and that’s all they ever have. They never maintain a serious study of the Word of God, which is essential to growth. They are like the little girl who fell out of bed one night. When the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race, Perserverance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soldier For Life

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 2, 2021

While I am honored and privileged to have served in my country's military, my desire now is to serve honorably in the army of Jesus Christ. I want to be able to serve on the battlefield, I want to live the life of a warrior. I am too old to serve my country, but I pray for many years to do ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Tags: Obedience, Victory, Warfare, Weapons

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

He's No Stranger

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

He’s the wisest man in the church; There’s nothing he can’t do. If you turn down your ministry, He’ll be there to do it for you. He’s also a very faithful member, And shows up right on the dot. Then if you don’t keep your commitment, He’ll cover you and fill in your spot. He’s obviously ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:12, Colossians 3:23

Tags: Labor Day, Funny, Poem, Blame Shifting, Work, Lazy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

How Much Does The Bible Talk About The Second Coming?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Was Salome?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

By comparing Matt. 27:56 with John 19:25, it seems likely that Salome was sister to Mary (Jesus’ mother). “By inference from the other Gospel accounts, Salome is also identified with the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Mt. 27:56) and with the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus…. (John 19:25)… If ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:56, John 19:25, Mark 10:35-40

Tags: Jesus' Family, Mary's Sister, Jesus' Aunt, Salome

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The (Unwise) Wisdom Of The World

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2025

The world in its wisdom may tell us that there is no such thing as truth. That there is no such thing as that which is right and that which wrong. But our experience, of even the simplest of human experiences, will cause us to question that. If you were to ask a gas station attendant for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Tags: Better, Follow Jesus, Unwise, Directions, Wisdom Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Seven Things To Be Thankful For At Christmas

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Seven Things To Be Thankful For at Christmas * for automatic dishwashers. They make it possible to get out of the kitchen before the family come in for their after-dinner snacks. * for husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house. They usually make them big enough to call in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Husbands, Teenagers

Denomination: Anglican

Even Back Then I Was Searching For Hard Evidence ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 14, 2001

Even back then I was searching for hard evidence of God as an alternative to faith. And one day found it-on television, of all places. While randomly flipping a dial, I came across a mass healing service being conducted by Kathryn Kuhlman. I watched for a few minutes as she brought various people ...read more

The Shanty Remodel  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

THE SHANTY REMODEL "In the upper portion of New York City, many citizens may often have noticed, especially in the past years, a great number of miserable shanties, standing on the choicest sites. Though perhaps on the corner of a splendid new avenue or looking out on a magnificent prospect, the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Holiness, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sir Earnest Shackleton's Epic Tale Of Survival ...

Contributed by Dr. C. David White on Apr 6, 2002

Sir Earnest Shackleton’s epic tale of survival and courage began with dreams of being the first expedition to cross the Antarctic continent. En route, the Endurance became beset in the ice deep within the Weddell Sea and drifted with the pack for ten months before finally being crushed and sunk in ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

The Courage Of Shannon Wray  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2002

THE COURAGE OF SHANNON WRAY After winning a hard fought battle over an attempt to censor religious references from her speech, Shannon Wray delivered her non-censored salutatorian speech on Friday during the Hollidaysburg Area High School graduation ceremony. Shannon was represented by Mat ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational