In Sermon Illustrations: "Christian Perfection"

On July 27th 1993 Javier Sotomayor Of Cuba Set ...

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 2, 2009

On July 27th 1993 Javier Sotomayor of Cuba set the world record for the high jump, he cleared a bar 8 feet high. That means he's the best. But how many times do you suppose he knocked the bar down before he reached that height? And he never cleared it again. Does that mean he's a failure? Of ...read more

Tags: Sin, Sin General

Potential Through Pain

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 19, 2009

POTENTIAL THROUGH PAIN Theologian William Barclay comments and illustrates with a story: "Suffering, if accepted in humility and trust and love, can repair the weaknesses of a {person's} character and add the greatness which so far is not there. It is said that Sir Edward Elgar once listened to a ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Salvation Army

There's An App For That

Contributed by Ken Pell on Feb 10, 2011

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT So is your sin and guilt getting the better of you? Well, now "There’s an app for that." CBS News reports (February 9, 2011) a new application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch called the "Confession Booth app. All you do is confess to your iPhone! It sells for $1.99 ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9-10

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Nazarene

When You Work Around The Church A While It Comes ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 8, 2002

When you work around the church a while it comes quite naturally, the laughter of cynical disbelief. In 1986 the United Methodist General Conference, on the last day of two weeks of meetings, passed a resolution that said we were going to make 9 million new United Methodists by about 1994--this in ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Love Of The Disciples, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Packed And Ready To Go?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2023

The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye" but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look ...read more

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

Tags: Rapture, Ready, Readiness, Maranatha, Feast Of Trumpets, Prepared, Church, Preparation, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That Is Nifty!" Psalms 66: 1-20 Key Verse(S): 3 ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2004

“That IS Nifty!” Psalms 66: 1-20 Key verse(s): 3 “Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.” “The greatest single distinguishing feature of the omnipotence of God is that our imagination gets lost when thinking about it” –– Blaise ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Tags: Glorify, God's Omnipotence

Fulton J. Sheen Has Written These Words From The ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Stokes on Mar 4, 2001

Fulton J. Sheen has written these words from the heart, “The human heart is not shaped like a valentine heart, perfect and regular in contour; it is slightly irregular in shape as if a small piece of it were missing out of its side. That missing part...may very well man that when God created each ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Heaven, Children, Promises Of God

Denomination: Holiness

James Madison The 4th President Of The U.s. Said ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

James Madison the 4th President of the U.S. said of grace, “Grace, it is a free gift of God...to neglect grace is to neglect Him.” The Book of Mormon disgraces grace as in Moroni 10:32-33 “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny ...read more

Tags: Grace

The Church, Therefore, Earnestly Desires That ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 26, 2013

The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Catholic

The Cracked Pot  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

THE CRACKED POT A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 1:16

Tags: God In The Hardships, Imperfection, Jars Of Clay, Perseverance, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Tassels And The Braids!" Hebrews 10:5-10 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 1, 2005

“The Tassels and the Braids!” Hebrews 10:5-10 Key verse(s): 14:“Since than time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” When I was a junior in high school I was inducted into the National Honor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-10

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

Joni Eareckson Tada, A Quadriplegic Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 3, 2007

Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic who was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager, talks about her wedding day. She says, “I felt awkward as my girlfriends strained to shift my paralyzed body into a cumbersome wedding gown. No amount of corseting and binding my body gave me a perfect ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:2-5, Revelation 19:6-9

Tags: Atonement, Heaven, Wisdom, Cross, Bride Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Time Is Now

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Nov 11, 2024

Sermon Illustration: "The Time Is Now!" Biblical Text: 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

Bearing Our Cross

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Apr 7, 2015

A "Natural" Rope a dope... Cross bearing is an indispensable part of a Christian’s life, so that work of moulding a person into a Christ-like image which begins at the point of re-generation is completed in all respects (2 Cor 3:18) by the time of Rapture or one’s departure from the Earthly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Tags: Tithing, Trials And Difficulties, Bearing, Discerning

Denomination: *other

Biblical Change  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Biblical Change "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Renewal, Change, Transformation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Heard A Story That Probably Has More Truth Than ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

I heard a story that probably has more truth than fiction. It is about an employer who brought his employees in once a month for a pep talk. He would inform them of the future plans of the company, & try to excite them about their work so that they would be enthusiastic about what they were ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All Of God: The Silent Drill Team

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

ALL OF GOD: THE SILENT DRILL TEAM There are few things of human engineering that are more beautiful to watch than the marching of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team. To see them move in perfect sync is astounding as they pivot on a dime, all in unison or in perfect order, as they loft their ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 104:1-35, Psalm 104:5-30

Tags: Descriptions Of God

The Knowledge Of Good And Evil  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 8, 2014

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL Viktor Frankl in his book, "Man's Search for Meaning," describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Tags: Good And Evil, Life And Death, Forbidden Fruit, Knowledge Of Good

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Friend Lost Her Mate Several Years Ago And ...  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

A friend lost her mate several years ago and recently developed a friendship with a man who had also lost his spouse. They seemed a perfect match, and all their children agreed they should get married. While they were excited about the upcoming nuptials, they didn’t need more crystal vases, ...read more

Tags: Family, Marriage General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Clip You Are About To See Is From The Movie, ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

The clip you are about to see is from the movie, “Parenthood”.[5] In this movie Gil Buckman (played by Steve Martin) and his wife are struggling to be perfect parents. Gil is having a real hard time dealing with the uncertainties of life. And because of all his fears of what might go wrong he is ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Charismatic