In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Hopping"

In Fact, 15 Percent Of Everything Christ Said ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Apr 23, 2002

“In fact, 15 percent of everything Christ said relates to this topic (money and possessions) – more than His teachings on heaven and hell combined. Why did Jesus put such an emphasis on money and possessions? Because there’s a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we think ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Church Practices, Money

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Woman Once Wrote That At A Garage Sale She Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 31, 2002

A woman once wrote that at a garage sale she had spotted a handsome antique copper kettle for only $2.50. It was badly tarnished, so she asked the woman running the sale if the discoloration would come out. She cheerfully offered to try some copper cleaner on it and disappeared with it into the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:11-14

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What You Do In A Lifetime  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Rice on Jun 28, 2002

In a magazine article: Based upon an average 71 year old life span. You will spend... 23 years sleeping (8 hours a day) 6 years in a car 3 years eating 11 years in leisure activities 2 years getting dressed 17 years working and... let’s say you come to church sunday morning and evening and ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Make More Friends In Two Months By ...  PRO

Contributed by David Ibeleme on Jul 20, 2002

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Animals Of Prey Will Always Go For The Weaker ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Smith on Aug 20, 2002

Animals of prey will always go for the weaker isolated animal. The devil is no different. The fellowship of other ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: God Brings Hope, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Pentecostal

George Barna Did A Survey And Wrote A Book About ...

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Sep 18, 2002

George Barna did a survey and wrote a book about the status of today’s church, and it was shocking. He found that the divorce rate for non-Christians was 23%, and the divorce rate for Born Again Christians was 27%. That’s right, the Christians had a higher divorce rate than the non-Christian. ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Dallas Willard, Professor At The University Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Bordelon on Sep 21, 2002

Dallas Willard, professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Philosophy, offers this observation about the church - "By the middle of this [twentieth] century, [the church] had lost any recognized, reasonable, theologically and pychologically sound approach to ...read more

Tags: Church General, Discipleship, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Evening A Grandson Was Talking To His ...  PRO

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Oct 14, 2002

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandmother about current events. The grandson asked his grandmother what she thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandma replied, "Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television, penicillin, ...read more

Tags: Lent, Church Practices, Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

Accepting The Marginal  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002

ACCEPTING THE MARGINAL In speaking to church leaders Dallas Willard says “The leading assumption in the American church today – and the Australian one I’ll add – is that you can be a Christian but not a disciple. That has placed a tremendous burden on a mass of Christians who are not disciples. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Church General, Discipleship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Term "Golden Hour" Was Originally Coined By ...

Contributed by Troy Brewer on Dec 19, 2002

The term "golden hour" was originally coined by Dr. R Adams Cowley of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services, who is regarded as the pioneer of modern trauma care. Dr. Cowley advocated that most trauma patients die of shock, which comes from sluggish or non-existent circulation ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Evangelism Urgency, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bat Infestation  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Sep 19, 2007

Illus.: “Bat Infestation” Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat-infestation problems. “I got so mad,” said one, “I took a shotgun and fired at them. I missed and it made holes in the ceiling. The trustees are still upset with me.” Another pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Tags: Baptism, Church Discipline, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Are Many Things I Don't Enjoy. One Of Them ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 20, 2008

There are many things I don’t enjoy. One of them is taking my vehicle to the dealership to have it serviced. Then there’s the wait for a ride back to the office (or sit in the waiting room drinking terrible coffee). I lose the rhythm in my day. This past week was an absolute nightmare on ...read more

Tags: Encouragement, Church Growth, Finish, Start

Denomination: Salvation Army

I Recently Read The Story Of A Man Who, In 2006, ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 9, 2008

I recently read the story of a man who, in 2006, was driving along a road in Pune India, a city located in the Maharashtra province of central India. The man was driving a common mode of transportation in India, his motorcycle with its mighty 2 stroke engine, through torrential rains on a road that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Tags: Gospel Of John, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian Church

The Only One Pulling  PRO

Contributed by Guy Glass on Nov 2, 2009

THE ONLY ONE PULLING A guy drives into a ditch, but luckily, a farmer is there to help. He hitches his horse, Buddy, up to the car and yells, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy doesn’t move. "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy doesn’t budge. "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer says, "Pull, Buddy, ...read more

Tags: Fathers Day, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Chuck Smith Meets A New Brother In Christ—a ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Chuck Smith Meets a New Brother in Christ—A Tribal Chief in New Guinea Chuck Smith: I was over in New Guinea and I had this native chieftain come up to me. He had to speak to me through an interpreter. And he had these spears in his hand. He said, "I used these to kill men. But," he said, "now ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:3-6

Tags: Body Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ

It's Not About Repentance

Contributed by Cameron Conway on Aug 2, 2010

IT'S NOT ABOUT REPENTANCE Today it's not about repentance; it's about our feelings. It's not about prayer; it's about going out for coffee. It's not about revolution; it's about the status quo. It's not about sanctification and righteousness; it's about making money. It's not about ...read more

Tags: Discouragement, Disappointment, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Foursquare

A Pastor's Dream Of His Own Worship Service  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

A PASTOR’S DREAM OF HIS OWN WORSHIP SERVICE The story is told of a pastor of a large church who had a dream one night that really opened his eyes. He dreamed that he could see his own church worship service on Sunday morning. But there was something very strange happening. The choir was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Church, Worship, Devotion, Intimacy With God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Absentees In The Upper Room

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 9, 2014

ABSENTEES IN THE UPPER ROOM Written by Dr. Larry Petton One of the curious questions I have always had concerns the people who actually saw Christ after His resurrection. I would love to have been part of that group to see Jesus in His glorified, resurrected body! But, for some reason, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-15

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Resurrection, Power

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Community

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 2, 2015

Dr. B. adds, “Christ desired that his church would be the earthly community of oneness modeled after the eternal community of oneness. Jesus went on to declare that he had provided his followers with everything they needed to bring about this oneness. He prayed, “I have given them the glory that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Tags: Connection, Church Community, Christian Community

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Are The Men?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 1, 2016

WHERE ARE THE MEN? Churches in America are needing more than just a few good men. Here are the statistics from God Facts: *** The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. *** On any given Sunday, there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-10

Tags: Men, Church Attendance, Ministry To Men

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational