In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Ministry"

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

Jesus Said In John 13: 35, "Your Love For One ...

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Aug 3, 2008

Jesus said in John 13: 35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” A great New Testament example of this being done is in the early church. As Jews began to put their faith in Christ as the Messiah, they began to feel the effects of hostility toward them. They ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Remember The Mission

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

REMEMBER THE MISSION In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial to her. The shah placed his wife's casket in the middle of a parcel of land, and construction of the temple literally began around it. But several years ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

If You Want To Make God Laugh, Tell Him Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

We Cant Cross A Bridge Until We Come To It, But ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"We cant cross a bridge until we come to it, but I always like to lay down ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Dont Change Your Game Plan Unless You Have To. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Dont change your game plan unless you have to. Certainly, youve got to have a plan thats flexible, but ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Make No Little Plans; They Have No Magic To Stir ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Make no little plans; they have no magic to ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

The Conscientious Plodder Is Nearly Always ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The conscientious plodder is nearly always outdistanced by the fellow who stops ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Good Things Happen Only When Planned. Bad Things ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Good things happen only when planned. Bad things ...read more

Tags: Church Practices