In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Ministry"

Robert J. Morgan Once Told The Story Of A ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 2, 2009

Robert J. Morgan once told the story of a preacher who was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But,” the man said, “I have a very busy schedule. I can’t be called on for any service, like committee work, teaching, or other such things. I just won’t be available for special projects ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian Church

What Alcoholics Can Teach Us

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 31, 2014

Philip Yancey interviewed a young alcoholic who had formerly been an active church member, but had allowed Alcoholics Anonymous to replace the church. When questioned why, the young man responded, "Mainly I'm trying to survive, and AA helps me in that struggle far better than any church." ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:5

Tags: Accountability, Authenticity, Dependency, Self-Righteousness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

New Hope From Nothing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2002

NEW HOPE FROM NOTHING In Jim Cymbala’s book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, there is the story of a woman named Roberta Langella. A story she tells in her own words. At the age of 16 she left a broken home to move to New York City where she began living with a man twice her age. A man that got her into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:5

Tags: Faith, God Brings Hope

More Like ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

More Like Jesus What then is it to be more like Jesus in righteousness and faithfulness. Consider the story of: William Howard Doane (who) was a wealthy nineteenth-century industrialist who entered the business world at age sixteen and was president of his own manufacturing company by age ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-25

Tags: Music

Doubting (Enter Your Name)

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 30, 2011

DOUBTING (ENTER YOUR NAME) The most famous doubter of all time is Thomas. Through history Judas has been the only disciple criticized more than Thomas. Tradition has given him a new name: "Doubting Thomas." He wanted proof that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. But can you blame him? When the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:6-8, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

Consecrated To God From Youth

Contributed by Samuel Reyes on Apr 9, 2012

CONSECRATED TO GOD FROM YOUTH “Los más grandes hombres de la iglesia cristiana fueron vidas consagradas a Dios desde su juventud. -Juan Wesley era un estudiante en Oxford cuando fundó el Club Santo. -Martin Lutero tenía 27 años cuando abrazo el pasaje y fue inspirado en todo su ministerio por el ...read more

Tags: Youth

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Pastor From ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 23, 2013

THE PASTOR FROM KENYA Ramez Attalah, general director at The Bible Society of Egypt, attended an international conference or Christian leaders in 1974. He was thrilled to be with top-notch leaders from around the globe—sharing and reading interesting papers on important subjects--but the most ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Nazarene

Hugging

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

Once at a young girl’s funeral, I had to make just such a decision. The girl’s father was a member of our church and an air force serviceman. He was an aide on Air Force One and had flown with the president many times. A few generals and lots of upper-crust brass attended the funeral. When it came ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20

Tags: Touch, Healing Touch, Hugging

Denomination: Baptist

The Page That's Been There Since 1597

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

In my office there hangs a framed page positioned strategically so that it's the last thing I see as I leave and the first thing that catches my eye when I sit down each day. It's a page from a Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible is the first mass-produced Bible with verse numbers, and this ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Scripture, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charles Paul Conn Writes About An Actual ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

Charles Paul Conn writes about an actual experience one man had in the Deep South. He says, “When I lived in Atlanta several years ago, I noticed in the Yellow Pages, in the listing of restaurants, and entry for a place called the The Church of God Grill. The peculiar name aroused my curiosity ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Gifts Giving

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

George Barna Notes, "In The 1970's "Seeker ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 10, 2006

1. George Barna notes, “In the 1970’s “seeker churches’ made a strong theoretical argument for the importance of encouraging people to feel no obligation to toe a Bible to church. Their goal was to make visitors feel welcome and comfortable by alleviating the need to locate a Bible, by diminishing ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My Favorite Stories Is The One About West ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 21, 2007

One of my favorite stories is the one about West Side Baptist Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Normally all of the good choir people came to church on Wednesday night to practice, and they tended to be early, well before the 7:30 starting time. But one night, March 1, 1950, one by one, two by two, ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Light Of The ...

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on May 2, 2013

LIGHT OF THE WORLD Jesus stated that we are to be the "Light of the World", and that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the Canadian province of New Brunswick there is a church building on Deer Island that for many years has served as a physical light house to the fishermen of that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-15

Tags: Witness, Light, Influence, Lighthouse, Christian Witness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God's Strategy Or Ours

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 26, 2008

GOD'S STRATEGY OR OURS Several years ago, I was visiting with two young men from Nagaland, a northeastern region of India. God had moved in a mighty way in the region sending revival to the area. Almost the entire population of the region had come to faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit blew through ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Looks Great, But Where's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

LOOKS GREAT, BUT WHERE’S GOD? I am reminded of the story about how a cowboy ventured right off the range one Sunday and attended church. This was a fine church; one of the town’s best and most influential. And the people wore suits that even Armani couldn’t afford. The problem is the cowboy ...read more

Tags: Worship General

The Medal Didn’t Last

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 16, 2025

A church once gave their pastor a medal: “Most Humble Pastor.” They took it back the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4, Micah 6:8

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Charles Finney, Abel Clary. Second Great ...

Contributed by John Putty on Mar 19, 2011

Charles Finney, Abel Clary. Second Great Awakening. It had been said about Rev. Charles Finney that his sermons were chain lightning, flashing conviction into the hearts of the stoutest skeptics. Simple as a child in his utterances, he sometimes startled his hearers by his unique prayers." He ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

John Macarthur On Knowing God's Will

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 27, 2012

JOHN MACARTHUR ON KNOWING GOD'S WILL God’s will is that you be saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive, and suffering. God’s Word makes all this clear. Do not read on until you have grasped these five principles. You say, "MacArthur, you were going to tell me what school I should go to. You ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Tags: God's Will, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Baptist

Above The Circumstances

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES David and Becky Guinn have been on my mind this past week. In 1997, the Lord blessed me to go with David on a mission trip to Ukraine. It was a life-changing experience for me. David and Becky deeply love the Lord. They have faithfully served the Lord for years in college ...read more

Tags: Endurance

I Have Never Forgotten You

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Feb 12, 2009

I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN YOU On Jan. 27, 2009 and I got to go to part of the state evangelism conference in Ruston, LA. Charles Thornton from Texas was one of the preachers. God is using his life in a fantastic way to help reach people in apartment complexes. Their ministry moves CARES Teams into ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Tags: Encouragement, Love Of God, Family Love

Denomination: Baptist