In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Leadership"

He Became Like Us

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

HE BECAME LIKE US John Howard Griffin was a white man who believed he could never understand the plight of African-Americans unless he became like one. In 1959, he darkened his skin with medication, sun lamps, and stains, then traveled throughout the South. His book, Black Like Me, helped whites ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Rich Landowner Learns That God Owns ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Rich Landowner Learns that God Owns Everything The late Bishop Edwin Hughes once delivered a rousing sermon on "God’s Ownership" that put a rich parishioner’s nose out-of-joint. The wealthy man took the Bishop off for lunch, and then walked him through his elaborate gardens, woodlands, and farm. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 24:1-10

Tags: Property

The Tomb Is Empty

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Apr 14, 2010

THE TOMB IS EMPTY Little Philip, born with Down Syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership Magazine. But because of a ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Power In Creation, Citation: ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 7, 2001

[God’s Power in Creation, Citation: Christianity Today (4-23-99), reprinted in "To Illustrate Plus," Leadership Journal (21.1), p. 69] Patrick O’Boyle recalls the late-1940s Hyde Park "Speakers’ Corner" appearances of Frank Sheed, the Catholic author and publisher: Sheed could be devastating with ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Creation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Paying The Bully  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

STOP PAYING THE BULLY In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Tags: Satan

Some Years Ago, On New Year's Day During The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Some years ago, on New Year’s Day during the Tournament of Roses Parade, a beautiful float sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The entire parade was stalled until someone could find a gas can and get this giant, flower-covered float moving again. The ironic thing was this float represented the ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Let No One Go Unwarned

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

LET NO ONE GO UNWARNED In the brief span of just 30 seconds, 53 people die worldwide and 36 of them enter eternity without Christ. With more than one person per second going to Hell, Charles Spurgeon’s words of urgency and concern need to resonate in our hearts: "If sinners be damned, at least let ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Treasure In Christ, But "Out Of Gas"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

TREASURE IN CHRIST, BUT "OUT OF GAS" Several years ago, on New Year’s Day, a beautiful float in the Tournament of Roses parade suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Tags: God's Provision

Submission?

Contributed by Tim Chinn on Apr 4, 2011

SUBMISSION? A poll was taken a few years ago asking, both men and women this question, “Should wives submit to their husbands?” (In 1998, the Southern Baptists also sparked controversy with their statement that wives should "submit graciously" to the "servant leadership" of their husbands. At that ...read more

Tags: Wife

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Things Go Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 19, 2012

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds’ Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: "It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up." (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24

Tags: Mistakes

A Mucker Kind Of Love!" 1 Peter 1:22-25 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 5, 2005

“A Mucker Kind of Love!” 1 Peter 1:22-25 Key verse(s) 22:“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” Where self is involved, there is no afterthought. Either we focus on us or we focus on ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-15, Luke 23:40-42, 1 Peter 1:22-25

Tags: Mystery, Please, King, Liberty, Lord, Feet, Freedom, I'm Sorry, Heart, Change, Ancient Paths, Attention, Christian Love, Christ Love, Christmas, Church, Commitment, Compassion, Foot, Emmanuel, Stand, Savior, Thanks  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Eyes And Toes

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Aug 11, 2009

EYES AND TOES There is a terrific story I once heard in a taped message from a marvelous Baptist pastor named Ron Dunn. Dunn's parable suggested that once upon a time there was a body where the eyes convinced all of the other parts of the body that the gift of SIGHT was the only important gift. ...read more

Denomination: *other

The Book "Will Daylight Come?" By Richard ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Apr 18, 2003

The book “Will Daylight Come?” by Richard Hoefler, illustrates the truth, that forgiveness frees and unforgiveness enslaves. A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to grandma’s back yard, he ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Grace, Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

This Great Nation Will Endure As It Has Endured, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Harrison on Oct 27, 2008

This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself——nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: Methodist

A Gem Dealer Was Strolling The Aisles At The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2001

A gem dealer was strolling the aisles at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show when he noticed a blue-violet stone the size and shape of a potato. He looked it over, then, as calmly as possible, asked the vendor, "You want $15 for this?" The seller, realizing the rock wasn’t as pretty as others in the ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Promises Of God

A Worthless Piece Of Paper  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 15, 2002

A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER In 1830, a man named George Wilson was convicted of killing a government employee while robbing the U.S. Mail. He was tried and sentenced to be hanged. Andrew Jackson, then the President, issued a pardon for Wilson, but Wilson did a strange thing: he refused to ...read more

On June 6, 1981, Doug Whitt And His Bride, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bud Rose on Nov 26, 2005

On June 6, 1981, Doug Whitt and his bride, Sylvia, were escorted to their hotel’s fancy bridal suite in the wee hours of the morning. In the suite they saw a sofa, chairs, and table, but where was the bed? Then they discovered the sofa was a hide-a-bed, with a lumpy mattress and sagging springs. ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tbn Troubles Ministry Watchdog Wall Watchers Has ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

TBN Troubles Ministry watchdog Wall Watchers has recommended Trinity Broadcasting Network leaders Paul and Jan Crouch step down from TBN leadership, citing their lavish lifestyle, a lack of TBN financial transparency, and other problems. The announcement also notes the couple takes home an annual ...read more

Tags: Money

Samuel Logan Brengle Was One Of The Truly Great ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Samuel Logan Brengle was one of the truly great leaders of the Salvation Army. A man of scholarship as well as of singular spiritual power, he outlined the road to spiritual authority and leadership in these challenging words: "It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is ...read more

Scripture: John 2:15

Tags: Prayer How To

Grandpa And The Peach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

GRANDPA AND THE PEACH "Four-year-old Jason was visiting his grandparents. Grandpa was in his study intently reading. Jason walked in carrying a peach, said something Grandpa didn't catch, and handed the peach to him. "Thinking his wife had sent him a snack, Grandpa took it and ate it. Just as he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

Tags: Children