In Sermon Illustrations: "Chosen People"

Get Down In The Ditches

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Aug 18, 2008

GET DOWN IN THE DITCHES A few years ago when I had my motorcycle accident and ended up in a ditch full of dirt, I was lost in the same way the Bible uses the world "lost." I could not get out of that ditch, even though every fiber of my being wanted to. My HEART wanted to. My spirit wanted to. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Wesleyan

Persecution In Uganda, Story Of Kefa ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Persecution in Uganda, Story of Kefa Sempangi Kefa Sempangi (whose story is told in the book A Distant Grief, Regal Books) was a national pastor in Africa and barely escaped with his family from brutal oppression and terror in his home country of Uganda. They made their way to Philadelphia, where ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-24

Tags: Persecution

Revenge Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Revenge is Sweet They thought it was just kids playing pranks, but it turned out to be an angry 72 year old man, instead. From 2003-2005, a number of former teachers and school admins in NY reported a rash of vandalism at their homes. They would wake up to punctured car tires from roofing nails ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Tags: Bitterness

Staying In Touch...in The Right Way

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 28, 2009

STAYING IN TOUCH...IN THE RIGHT WAY Evangelism issue #1: staying in touch with the world -- in a right way From InternetEvangelismDay.com: "There are two major reasons why we so often fail to touch many non-Christians with the Gospel. Firstly, we frequently present the good news in language and ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Went To A Conference In Brisbane Once In A ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 21, 2010

I went to a conference in Brisbane once in a large Church lead by Pastor Reg Kliminiok. After he spoke, I went to him to thank him for his message. I finally got my opportunity after others had finished speaking with him. He took an interest in me and asked me about my Church. Halfway through the ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A U.s. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

A U.S. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti After an Earthquake John Wesley had this for his rule of life: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:14

Tags: Compassion

¿como Debo Hablar? (Translation Below)

Contributed by Major Gerardo Balmori on Mar 22, 2010

¿Como debo hablar? (Translation below) ¿Ha hablado alguna vez con alguien, teniendo el sentimiento en su corazón que realmente no le escuchaban? Este es un lamento común entre los cristianos que predicamos los consejos de la palabra de Dios a otros. Sabemos que hablamos verdad, que proclamamos ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

Denomination: Salvation Army

Church Asks Non-Participants To Leave

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

CHURCH ASKS NON-PARTICIPANTS TO LEAVE Just a few years ago, Larknews.com carried the following fictional piece of satire on its website. In the form of a news release, it reported: Julie and Bob Clark were stunned to receive a letter from their church in July asking them to "participate in the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16

Tags: Church Growth

A Study In Compassion

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 10, 2012

A STUDY IN COMPASSION John Darley and Daniel Batson decided to replicate the story of the Good Samaritan with seminary students. A few variables were introduced. The seminarians were interviewed and asked why they wanted to go into ministry. There were a variety of responses, but the vast majority ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Baptist

The Basis Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2012

THE BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE Oprah Winfrey said, “I discovered I didn’t feel worthy of love unless I was accomplishing something. I suddenly realized I have never felt I could be loved for just being.” Madonna said, “My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. That’s always been ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Fear And Worry

When To Pray For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 13, 2012

WHEN TO PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT I think about the pastor of the church that I went to couple of years in California, Pastor Chuck. A man came to him and said he wanted to make a large donation - one million dollar donation. The pastor said to that, “Wow – that is a lot of money. Let me go first and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

An Atheist's Perspective On Evangelism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2014

Perhaps you've heard of Penn and Teller the comedy team who has worked Las Vegas for years. Penn Jillette is an atheist, but he recorded a video journal a few years ago telling the story about a man who waited to speak to him after one of their shows. Penn said the man was a successful businessman ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Atheist, Evangelism Urgency

I Happened On An Interview With Dr. Adrian ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jan 26, 2001

*I happened on an interview with Dr. Adrian Roger’s long time Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis Tennessee. Dr. Rogers is summing up what made his years of ministry there possible: “If you were to put Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, anybody else out there and let them speak to the same people ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Judges Ends With These Words, "In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

The Book of Judges ends with these words, "In those days there was no king," no law. And because there was no law, "every man did what was right in his own sight." Can you imagine what a world like that would be? Just look at Los Angeles in 1992, or Miami in the 1980’s, or Watts in the 1960’s. ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lyndon Johnson Was The President Of The United ...  PRO

Contributed by Mathews Itty on Mar 28, 2001

Lyndon Johnson was the President of the United States of America during the 1960’s. He was quite famous for his love of speed. Once Evangelist Dr. Billy graham and his wife were invited to his farmhouse in Texas. This farmhouse was located by the side of a river amidst lush green surroundings. ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Pentecostal

Requires A Can Of Coca-Cola) Coca-Cola Is One ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 2, 2001

(Requires a can of Coca-cola) Coca-cola is one product that has far outgrown its humble beginnings. In 1886, Dr. John Pemberton first introduced Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism How To, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

We All Have Adversaries Or Opponents Toward ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2001

"… we all have adversaries or opponents toward whom we feel animosity. He may be the owner of a competing business who’s stealing your best customers, and if you’re honest, you’ll admit that you hate him for putting your livelihood in jeopardy. She may be a colleague who’s fighting against you ...read more

I Know That Sometimes It Seems That Everybody And ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 6, 2001

I know that sometimes it seems that everybody and his brother wants something from you. IT HAD BEEN A HARD WINTER IN THE ROCKIES. THE SNOW PILED DEEPER AND DEEPER. THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ZERO AND STAYED THERE. THE RIVERS FROZE OVER. PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING. THE RED CROSS USED ...read more

Tags: Women, Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Brother Lawrence Was A French Monk Who Lived From ...  PRO

Contributed by Carla Powell on Feb 2, 2002

Brother Lawrence was a French monk who lived from 1611 to 1691. You might think that a man who was born nearly 400 years ago would have very little to say to today’s working people, but he had some great insights into our theme of ministry in daily life. Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Worship General

Denomination: Lutheran

Survivor Eva Hart Remembers The Night, April 15, ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Mar 6, 2002

Survivor Eva Hart remembers the night, April 15, 1912, on which the Titanic plunged 12,000 feet to the Atlantic floor, some two hours and forty minutes after an iceberg tore a 300-foot gash in the starboard side: "I saw all the horror of its sinking, and I heard, even more dreadful, the cries of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7-9

Tags: Fear And Worry, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ