In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Family"

In Or Out Of The Fort?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IN OR OUT OF THE FORT? One of the things I find really neat about this area is all of the forts. You have Fort Morgan, all the Forts over at Pensacola NAS. We have had forts all over this country since the day the Pilgrims first landed, up to right now. Some were made of wood, stone, brick and ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

A Shepherd Vs. A Fisherman

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Sep 21, 2007

A SHEPHERD VS. A FISHERMAN A shepherd is usually given an existing flock and maintains that flock in good fashion. A fisherman, by nature, is more aggressive than ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Cult Growth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

CULT GROWTH Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) reported the largest membership increases in a year, according to the National Council of Churches’ 2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses currently rank 25th in size ...read more

Tags: Church General

We Never Know What He'll Do Next

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

WE NEVER KNOW WHAT HE'LL DO NEXT I read about an airplane that had been hijacked somewhere in Europe. As the hijacker made his demands to the pilot, something amazing happened: the pilot realized that the hijacker did not speak French. The pilot did speak French and knew that most of the ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Never Let Them See The Glory

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Aug 9, 2008

NEVER LET THEM SEE THE GLORY C.S. Lewis wrote the book, "The Screwtape Letters". In the book, "Screwtape" is the Devil and his demon is "Wormwood". This is what the Devil says to the demon about Christianity: "Wormwood, the church is fertile field if you keep them bickering over details, ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Health Checks  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (Devoted to Prayer) There are four signs that show that the child of God is a healthy Christian. One is a heart hungry for God's Word, second is his desire to be involved in Christian fellowship, third he observes "Communion," and four he is devoted to prayer. (Acts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Church Discipline

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Many Hypocrites

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

TOO MANY HYPOCRITES One of the most common excuses given for someone not surrendering to the Gospel of Christ is found in this statement, "There are too many hypocrites in the church." Many persons who are seen by outsiders to be "hypocrites" may be true, yet immature, Christians. Christians ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:25

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes It Concerns Me, The Number Of People ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Aug 21, 2008

"Sometimes it concerns me, the number of people who can quote my songs… but they can't quote the scriptures ... I mean, if entertainment is what you want, I suggest Christian entertainment … because I think it is good. But if what you want is spiritual nourishment, I suggest you go to church or ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Erwin Mcmanus States, "Once Survival Has Become ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 26, 2008

Erwin McManus states, "Once survival has become our supreme goal, we have lost our way... the church is not called to survive history but to serve humanity. As with each individual, there is a difference between living and existing for the church...The church exists to serve as the body of Christ, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-28

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

True Believer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

TRUE BELIEVER There was a young seminarian who was taking an oral examination for his ordination process. During the questioning, one of the examiners asked him if he believed in a personal devil. "No," he replied, "I do not believe in the devil." Hearing this, the examiners began to discuss the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43

Tags: Church General

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

THE POWER OF LOVE An old fable tells how different instruments tried to master a piece of iron. The blows of the ax fell heavily, but its edge became more and more blunt. The saw’s relentless teeth worked until they were worn down or broken The hammer’s head flew off at the first stroke. Despite ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Tags: Church General

So What Is A Vision? George Barna Defines It As, ...

Contributed by Tim Smith on Dec 10, 2008

So what is a vision? George Barna defines it as, "Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances." Vision is more than simply what could be. It’s something that must ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Methodist

As We Read This Text, According To Dr. Schmit, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

As we read this text, according to Dr. Schmit, and I quote, "We know that we too are individual members of a large flock of faithful disciples who seek to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. In other words, the work we do is never ours alone to accomplish. We do our part and trust that God ...read more

Tags: Church General

In 2002, The Gallup Index Of Leading Religious ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 5, 2009

In 2002, the Gallup Index of Leading Religious Indicators reached its lowest level, demonstrating the public's most negative overall rating for organized religion since the index began in 1940. The poll found that confidence in organized religion had declined. In 2002, only 45 percent of Americans ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Because God Wanted It  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

BECAUSE GOD WANTED IT Near the Tower of London there stands an ancient parish church called "All Hallows". Just inside the wall enclosing the graveyard at All Hallows there is a large sign, placed so that tourists leaving the Tower may read it. The sign at "All Hallows" cites a bit of history and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Church General

Wineskins

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 7, 2009

Snyder notes: "What did Jesus mean? Certainly he did not mean everything that Christians through the ages have taken from these words. Jesus distinguishes here between something essential and primary (the wine) and something secondary but also necessary and useful (the wineskins). Wineskins would ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Martin Luther  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 7, 2009

ON MARTIN LUTHER Church history illustrates that if a church quits being renewed and refreshed every day then they slide into apathy -- this leads toward man made religion and deadness. In essence the people of God lose their anointing and their transformational power to see lives changed. The ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Didn't Get Him From Here

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

"YOU DIDN’T GET HIM FROM HERE" One Sunday morning a stranger wandered into a small country church in the middle of the sermon. The man was unkempt and dirty. The usher tried his best to seat him off in a far corner, but instead the man walked to the very first pew and sat directly in front of the ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Put The King In First

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PUT THE KING IN FIRST In the Berlin art gallery there is a painting by the famous artist Mengel that is only partially finished. It is supposed to be a painting of King Frederick of Germany talking to his generals. Mengel painstakingly painted the generals first around the outside of the painting. ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Responsible Membership  PRO

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 26, 2009

RESPONSIBLE MEMBERSHIP Author Jerry Bridges comments in an article on commitment, "As I have watched the parade of people through our church, and other churches, I wonder why so few commit themselves to a local body of believers in a significant way. Many sit and soak and do little else, and they ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ