In Sermon Illustrations: "Christian Names"

I Am A Southern Baptist And Here Is My Casserole!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

A kindergarten teacher gave her class a “show and tell” assignment of bringing something to represent their religion. The first child got in front of the class and said, “My name is Benjamin, and I am Jewish, and this is the Star of David.” The second child got in front of her class and said, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Religions, Faith, Pastors, Churches, Symbols, Denominations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of Squanto  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

The Story of Squanto Most of us know the story of the first Thanksgiving -- at least, we know the Pilgrim version. But how many of us know the Indian viewpoint? No, I’m not talking about some revisionist, politically correct version of history. I’m talking about the amazing story of the way God ...read more

Keep Yourself Pure. Be An Example Of The Believer ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Whittaker on Nov 23, 2004

Keep yourself pure. Be an example of the believer in purity. This high calling is only possible with God’s help. Cynthia was invited to a slumber party with three of her jigh school friends. They were having a good time when one of the girls said, “Let’s invite the guys over for the night.” Her ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Lou Gehrig Was Such A Clumsy Ball Player That The ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Sep 1, 2009

Lou Gehrig was such a clumsy ball player that the boys in his neighborhood would not let him play on their team. But he was committed. He did not give up. Eventually, his name was entered into baseball’s Hall of Fame. Woodrow Wilson could not read until he was ten years old. But he was a ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Pentecostal

Behind A Church In The Small Town Of Flint Hill, ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 8, 2009

Behind a church in the small town of Flint Hill, Virginia, you will find the grave of a young seminary student named Albert Gallatin Willis, who died on October 14, 1864. Albert Willis’ story is unusual. Albert Willis served with the famed command of Mosby’s Raiders during the Civil War. Because ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Substitute Sacrifice

Denomination: Pentecostal

Redeeming The Rag, Tag And Bobtail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2010

REDEEMING THE RAG, TAG AND BOBTAIL Luke 19:10 "...the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." In the 3rd-century, a skeptic named Celsus made fun of Origen (a Christian leader of day) "When most teachers go forth to teach, they cry, ’Come to me, you who are clean and worthy,’ and they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Psalm 47 And Rosh Hashanah

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 20, 2010

PSALM 47 AND ROSH HASHANAH When a brand new believer in 1974, my friend loaned his LP Album by Messianic Jewish group "Lamb." When I married Marylu in 1980, I married into Lamb albums. One of the songs was titled, "Clap Your Hands, All Ye People," and was a paraphrase of Psalm 47. Preparing this ...read more

Tags: Holidays

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Religion A Vs. Religion B

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

RELIGION A VS. RELIGION B The 19th-century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard identified two kinds of religion--Religion A and Religion B. The first is "faith" in name only (2 Tim. 3:5). It's the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living Lord. Religion B, on the ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: *other

Killing Each Other Over Race

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Mar 22, 2011

KILLING EACH OTHER OVER RACE Two million people have been killed during the civil war in the Sudan Region of Africa mostly over race, mostly over skin tone. The name Sudan comes from "bilad al sudan": Arabic for "the land of the blacks." So you might expect Sudanese to be comfortable with the ...read more

Tags: Racism

Denomination: United Methodist

Dedication Is Costly

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 4, 2012

DEDICATION IS COSTLY Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Already Approved

Contributed by Bret Toman on Mar 14, 2013

ALREADY APPROVED I remember trying to get approved for our first mortgage. There were a number of difficulties and it was very frustrating both for me, and I'm sure for our agent. But after all the sweat and tears we got approval and consequently the offer on the house we wanted was accepted. Some ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

If Ii Were Satan...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

IF I WERE SATAN… I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man's effort, instead of God's blessings; I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around; I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7-9

Tags: America, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, The Devil

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Tell You A Story Of A Man You Know. He Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Let me tell you a story of a man you know. He is called by some a man of sorrows. He was born into a poor family in 1809. His mother died when he was 9 years old. He ran for state legislature when he was 22 – lost. His fiancées died when he was 26. He marries at the age of 33 – she suffers from ...read more

Tags: Children

1348 Letting Children Free To ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 15, 2008

1348 Letting Children Free to Develop? A gentleman named Coleridge was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving little children any religious instruction whatsoever. His theory was that the child’s mind should not be prejudiced in any direction, but when he came to ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Other

When Running The 2001 London Marathon, I Made ...

Contributed by Gary Birch on Jul 25, 2008

When running the 2001 London Marathon, I made sure I had my name on the front of my shirt so as many people as possible would be shouting my ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Where Do You Belong?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 28, 2001

Where Do You Belong? Erma Bombeck told of a little boy named Donald who talked about education and the fears of going to school: "My name is Donald, and I don’t know anything. I have new underwear, a loose tooth, and didn’t sleep last night because I’m worried. What if a bell rings and a man ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Guilt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Son Of Resurrection  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2004

SON OF RESURRECTION Dr. Joseph Haroutunian, professor at McCormick Theological Seminary, came to America from Armenia. One day a well-meaning friend said to him, "Your name is difficult to pronounce and difficult to spell--it could hurt your professional career. Why don’t you change your name to ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Miracles Of Jesus

Do You Desire God's Honor Above Your ...

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Jun 22, 2008

Do you desire God’s honor above your own? My first ministry after seminary was back home in Rochester, NY. I was one of two chaplains at the Monroe County Jail. Every Saturday evening we would hold a worship service in the auditorium at the jail for the inmates. One of the deputies was ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Two Strangely Connected Events That Occurred In ...  PRO

Contributed by David Whitten on Nov 29, 2001

Two strangely connected events that occurred in 1865 greatly impact American lives even today. 1) General William Booth founded the Salvation Army and now millions are fed, clothed and given shelter in the name of Jesus. As Booth proclaims "A heart to God and a hand to man". 2) The other event ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gordon Mcdonald Tells This Story: "A Nigerian ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 12, 2004

Gordon McDonald tells this story: “A Nigerian woman who is a physician at a great teaching hospital in the United States came out of the crowd today to say something kind about the lecture I had just given. She introduced herself using an American name. ‘What’s your African name?’ I asked. She ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Methodist