In Sermon Illustrations: "Church As Bride"

After Only His Third Sunday As The Pastor Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

After only his third Sunday as the Pastor of the little country church, an Elder came to the church office on Monday morning to visit the young minister. It seems the pastor had preached the same sermon three Sundays in a row. The Elder asked, “How long do you intend to use that same ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Flip Wilson Was A Popular Comedian Several Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Nov 18, 2002

Flip Wilson was a popular comedian several years ago, some of you are old enough to remember him, and some are not. 1. But one of his characters was a Preacher at the "What’s Happening Now Church." In a skit that he did he told about this preacher. 2. He’d yell: "IF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

Some Time Ago An 18-Year-Old Girl From Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Archer on Aug 16, 2001

Some time ago an 18-year-old girl from Washington state attended a worship service. For the first time in her life she heard the gospel message. The following Tuesday the members of the church received a letter from her. It read: Dear Church members: Last Sunday I attended your church, and I heard ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:11-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

Because Of Strife

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

That great ol’ preacher J.Vernon McGee writes, “I had an uncle who never came to know the Lord. My aunt used to weep and say, “Oh, he won’t listen” Do you know why? With her lived a sister, another aunt, and I used to go there sometimes on Sundays for dinner. Do you know what we had for dinner? ...read more

Tags: Patriarchs Abraham

The Visitor Experience

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 29, 2012

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE Back in the 1980s, a man visited 18 different churches of differing beliefs to find out what churches are really like. The man said that he sat near the front. After each service he walked slowly to the rear; then returned to the front; and then back to the foyer using ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Martyrdom Of John ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

MARTYRDOM OF JOHN DENLEY One day, on the way to visit some friends, John Denley was stopped and searched by the authorities, who found his written confession of faith. Denley believed the Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as its head, and that the present state church, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Faith, Persecution, Martyr

Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 5, 2024

1 Timothy 3:6 - "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." Recently, a father sat down with his four-year-old son and asked him if he would like the $10 in his right hand or the two Oreo cookies in his left hand. His son immediately chose ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:6

Tags: Talent, Maturity, Novice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[259]. A Message From A Poem – The Cold Frosty Night Reveals The Dawn

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[259]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE COLD FROSTY NIGHT REVEALS THE DAWN The cold, frosty night is this current existence in the world where Christians live and are waiting for their Lord to come. The dawn is the coming of the Lord. A number of people correctly see this coming for the Church and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Luke 12:32, 1 John 3:2

Tags: Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, The World Is Getting Worse, Cold Nights, Frosty Nights, Love, Second Coming, Misery, Dawn, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[328]. A Message From A Poem - Wake Up And Read The Signs!

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 30, 2026

[328]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WAKE UP AND READ THE SIGNS! Those who might follow my writing know that sometimes I address current events and prophetic subjects (eschatology). The reason for doing that is that we might understand the signs of the times. Look at what Jesus said in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Matthew 16:1-3

Tags: Increase, Rapture, Wake Up, Wickedness, Return, Alert, Signs Of The Times, Read The Signs, Christian Poems, Darker Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parachurch Donor Revenue Growth Has Outstripped ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Parachurch Donor Revenue growth has outstripped churches for the past 20 or more years. In 1900, parachurches received about 12.5% of religious donations. By 1970, that had increased to 28.5% and it’s estimated that in 1996 parachurches received 51.5% ($100 billion) , ...read more

Tags: Giving General

The Content Of Belief Is Important: Jonathan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield ...read more

Tags: Doubt

The Content Of Belief Is Important: Jonathan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield ...read more

Tags: Doubt

The Late Larry Burkett, A Financial Expert Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on May 9, 2006

The late Larry Burkett, a financial expert said, “If every Church member in America would increase their giving to an average of 10% (current estimates are that American Christians give less than 3%), there would be an extra $69 billion for overseas missions and an additional $150 billion in income ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 27:30

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian Church

Billy Who Was Given 2 Quarters By His Grandma On ...

Contributed by Debra Klein on Jun 5, 2006

Billy who was given 2 quarters by his grandma on Sunday. One was for the Sunday school offering and the other for an ice cream cone on the way home from church. Billy was flipping both quarters in the air on his way to church when one of them slipped from his hand and fell into ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Church Of God

In The Congo, Poor People Who Have Nothing To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on May 18, 2001

In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Tags: Poverty, Money, Giving General

Denomination: *other

Now What Do You Think Of That? Shocking Want To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT? Shocking Want to know what happened? I was told that young preacher went into the pulpit and called for an immediate congregational meeting. He told the congregation what the man had just said to him and he asked for dismissal for that man from the board and from ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

In The Congo, Poor People Who Have Nothing To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Tony Evans Writes: "Make No Mistake About It. No ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 6, 2011

Tony Evans writes: "Make no mistake about it. No matter how big a church's staff may be, there is always a primary leader who has been invested by God with authority and responsibility. This leader is not a despot, and he is accountable to the body of elders...There has to be a place where the buck ...read more

Tags: Pastors

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Silent Night Carol

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 6, 2001

Silent Night Carol On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Joseph Franz Mohr (1792-1848) walked the three kilometres from his home - in the Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg - to visit his friend Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Mohr brought ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Heaven

Denomination: Anglican

A Woman Came To An Elder Of A Congregation In ...

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 13, 2006

A woman came to an elder of a congregation in Lubbock, Texas asking if he would study the Bible with her. He gladly studied with her, which resulted in the woman’s salvation. Curiously the elder asked the woman what PROMPTED her to come in and study the Bible. She told the elder over a year ago her ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Assembly Of God