In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Health"

Answered Prayers  PRO

Contributed by Chris Hodges on Jul 28, 2003

An unknown confederate soldier wrote: I asked God for strength that I might achieve I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey I asked for health that I might do greater things I was given infirmity that I might do better things I asked for riches that I might be happy I was given poverty ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Religious Teens: The Majority Of American Teens ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Religious Teens: The majority of American teens believes in God and worship in conventional congregations, but their religious knowledge is remarkably shallow, finds The National Study of Youth and Religion funded by the Lily Foundation. Devout teens hold more traditional sexual and other values ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Women's Priorities: A Recent Center For The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Women’s Priorities: A recent Center for the Advancement of Women survey finds 51% of women in the U.S. believe in banning abortion completely or allowing abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or saving the mother’s life. 30% agree with abortion being “generally available to those who want it.” ...read more

Tags: Women

An Old Missionary Couple Had Been Working In ...

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Mar 11, 2006

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and were returning home to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken. On the same ship was President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from a hunting expedition. As the passengers disembarked there was a crowd of admirers ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

My Unspoken Prayers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An unknown confederate soldier wrote: I asked God for strength that I might achieve I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey I asked for health that I might do greater things I was given infirmity that I might do better things I asked for riches that I might be happy I was given poverty ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Recently The Stock Market Plummeted After Hitting ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 8, 2007

Recently the stock market plummeted after hitting another record high and who saved the day? The empire! They lowered one insignificant rate but resulted in millions of dollars that would have been spent on interest to be used for spending. The empire saved us!! Meanwhile nothing really changed ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

There Was A Young Ambitious Man Talking To His ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Bezanson on Oct 17, 2007

There was a young ambitious man talking to his grandfather about his future plans. The young man said,” I will learn my trade.” The grandfather asked, “And then?” The young man said,” I will set up a business.” The grandfather asked, “And then?” The boy said,” And then I will make my fortune.” The ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

The Man Had A Choice To Be Healed Or Not. There ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 25, 2008

"The man had a choice to be healed or not. There had to be a 'want to' in his will. He could have decided to stay unhealed forever, and there could have been some reasons to do so. He may have wanted to remain unhealed so he could just lie around, or he may have grown accustomed to begging and knew ...read more

Tags: Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Never Said Thanks  PRO

Contributed by Et Tapper on Feb 9, 2009

NEVER SAID THANKS Edward Spencer was a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, and also a member of a life-saving squad during his school years. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue seventeen ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Was Hungry And You Formed A Humanities Club And ...

Contributed by Kyle Rye on Apr 29, 2009

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club and you discussed my hunger. Thank you. I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel in the cellar to pray for my release. I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two-Year-Old Boy Addicted To Smoking In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2010

Two-Year-Old Boy Addicted to Smoking in Indonesia An Indonesian father claims his two-year-old son is addicted to cigarettes, a newspaper reported. Mohammad Rizal, from the Southeast Asian country’s Musi Banyuasin province, said his son Rizal is hooked on tobacco after having his first cigarette at ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Tags: Parenting

When Prayers Are Answered Just The Opposite Of How You Prayed!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

Found on the body of a Confederate Soldier during the Civil War: I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Tags: Prayer, Will Of God, Mysteries, Surprises

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is The Mission Field?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 10, 2023

Most people associate missions with leaving for another city, country, or continent. This is because, technically speaking, we refer to those who have crossed cultural, ethnic, or geographic lines in order to share about Jesus as missionaries. However, mission work includes more than rain forest ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Missions, Revival, Witnessing, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Suicide Myth

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

It is a myth that suicide rates increase during the holidays. It is true that deaths rise around Christmas and New Year’s Day. Authorities are not sure why, but some suspect it is because people delay addressing health concerns until after the holidays and/or because hospitals, nursing homes, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas, Suicide, Christmas Myth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Story Of Rick Warren And His Best-Selling ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 20, 2008

The story of Rick Warren and his best-selling book the "The Purpose Driven Life." What is he doing with all the money? USA Today article: June 4th 2006 edition: A uniter, not a divider Warren is no liberal. He backed President Bush in the 2004 election and opposes abortion and stem cell ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Depression: "I Need ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

DEPRESSION: "I NEED HELP." Dear Sir, Hi. My name is Carole. I am seventeen years old and a senior in high school. And I want to die. My name is Brandy. I’m 13 years old and I’ve tried to kill myself six times. I had some problems with my mom and I felt I couldn’t live anymore. I don’t know what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-21

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Biting The Hand That Feeds You  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 26, 2011

BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU The other week, Laura and I were watching the Animal Planet. On the show we were watching was a dog that was rescued from a neglectful family. The poor animal had a big chain collar embedded into its neck. It had been a long time since the large animal had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Sacrifice, Compassion, Trust

Denomination: Other

Even You Can Be Forgiven

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Even You Can Be Forgiven I heard the story of a preacher who was at a certain church preaching on the subject of forgiveness. In the crowd that day there was young woman whose heart was heavy with a load of guilt and shame. After he had finished preaching, a few moments had passed by and every one ...read more

Tags: Guilt

The Absence Of A Loving Father  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

THE ABSENCE OF A LOVING FATHER Dr. Paul Vitz, Professor of Psychology at New York University, studied the lives of more than a dozen of the world's most influential atheists over the last four centuries. As a result, Vitz discovered they all had one thing in common: defective relationships with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day

Imagine There Is A Bank That Credits Your Account ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Macdonald on Nov 1, 2001

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400. Yes, every morning. However, it debits what is left over at the end of the day. Every evening, it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every penny, of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:5

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational