In Sermon Illustrations: "Churches"

Wearing 30,000 Bibles

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Feb 26, 2012

WEARING 30,000 BIBLES Years ago a missionary returned to England for a brief furlough after many years of faithful service in India. He was invited to a dinner at a great summer resort where he met many women of prominence and position. After dinner he went to his room and penned a ...read more

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Baptist

Martin Sheen's Faith

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 2, 2012

MARTIN SHEEN'S FAITH Former Hollywood bad boy Martin Sheen says watching his son, Charlie Sheen, lead a similarly decadent life fills him with remorse. He worries that he learned to be a father too late. He particularly regrets his failure to share his faith. "I never lost my faith," Sheen says. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

John Piper On Minimizing Doctrine

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

JOHN PIPER ON MINIMIZING DOCTRINE I think John Piper put it best in his book, Contending For Our All. He wrote: "To the emerging church that would like to minimize doctrine, Athanasius would say, 'Our young people in Alexandria die for doctrine about Christ. What do your young people die for?' ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:9

Tags: Doctrine

Marriage Takes Hard Work

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 28, 2012

MARRIAGE TAKES HARD WORK Good marriages are designed in heaven, but they are made on earth. And it takes hard work. It reminds me of the pastor of a big city church who ran an ad for a caretaker/housekeeper. The next day, a well-dressed young man appeared at the pastor's door. But before he ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When A Couple Is In Conflict, You Find What You ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 29, 2012

When a couple is in conflict, you find what you are looking for. If you are looking to find fault with your wife, you will find it! If you are looking to find fault with another church member, you will find it. If you are convinced that someone or a some group of people are snobish, or rude, or ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

Riches Are A Mess  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 8, 2013

RICHES ARE A MESS John Alexander-- "Consider this paraphrase: You think it’s good to be rich? Well, you’re wrong. Riches are a mess. It’s you poor who are fortunate. You think it’s good to be well fed now? You’re wrong. You’d be better off hungry. You think you should pursue laughter? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:20-26, James 5:1-6

Tags: Hungry, Poor, Popularity, Mourner

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bible And Good Leaders

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 24, 2014

Gene Getz was leading some Bible studies on the qualifications of church leaders. Two men were there who were new Christians and had little knowledge of the Bible. After a few sessions these two men said, "You know this is the first time we've heard this list of qualifications from the Bible. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-12

Tags: Household, Godly Husbands, True Leader

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Brian Jones Tells The Story Of One Elderly Ge...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2015

Brian Jones tells the story of one elderly gentleman who came forward and was baptized. This older gentleman lived alone. After one service Brian and his family invited this elderly man out to eat. Turns out that this elderly man was soon going on vacation to Florida. The man was excited about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Baptism, Discipleship, Clothing, Great Commission

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

During The Great Depression A Good Man Lost H...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

During the Great Depression a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his young wife. The only thing he had left was his faith. One day as he combed the neighborhood looking for work he stopped to watch as men did ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Tags: Faith, Suffering, Pruning, Works Tested By Fire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Made America Great, Donald Trump?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

WHAT MADE AMERICA GREAT, DONALD TRUMP? Donald Trump says that he wants to make America great again. If he does, he should listen to the words of French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

Tags: America, Memorial Day, Righteousness, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Letters To The Pastor From Kids

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2017

LETTERS TO THE PASTOR FROM KIDS: Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won’t be there. Stephen. Age 8 Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 7 Dear Pastor, I think a lot more ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Kids, Pastors, Funny Questions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Redwood Trees Teach A Lesson On Unity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-9

Tags: Unity, Working Together

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Way To Heaven

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

. A pastor was trying to teach a children’s class about how to be saved. .”If I sold everything I have and gave it to the church, would I go to heaven?” The children answered, “No.” The pastor said, “Very good. That’s right. And if I worked hard at keeping the 10 commandments, would that get me ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-20

Tags: Saved, Heaven Bound, Salvation, Justification, Born Again, Eternal Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

On Evangelism Tactics

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 9, 2021

Many Christians have a wrong interpretation of 1 Corinthians 9:22. Paul would not have gotten a tattoo, a Mohawk, piercings etc. to witness to a group like that because it would have hindered him in witnessing to other groups. He spoke to them from their frame of reference, like all great teachers, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22, 2 Corinthians 6:17

Tags: Evangelism, Separation, Piercings, Tattoos

Denomination: Baptist

Discovered By Mistake

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 24, 2021

In 1968, scientist Spencer Silver at the 3M company created a very weak adhesive that would peel off when removed from any surface. The funny thing was that he was in fact trying to create a super strong adhesive No one thought there was any use for such a product, until another scientist, Art Fry, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:17-40

Tags: Mistakes, Failure, Uninended

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Do You Make People Feel About Themselves?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 14, 2022

How do you think the people on your staff, in your family or church, or even close friends would say that you make them feel about themselves?? Consider these great quotes on how we treat others: John Maxwell – "People may hear your words, but above all, they feel your attitude. Your ...read more

Tags: Leadership, Importance, Feelings, Self Worth, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Empty Agnostic Who Wanted To Believe

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 4, 2022

T.H. Huxley, a well-known agnostic, was with a group of men at a weekend house party. On Sunday morning, while most of them were preparing to go to church, he approached a man known for his Christian character and said, "Suppose you stay at home and tell my why you are a Christian." The ...read more

Tags: Gospel, Witnessing, Atheism, Great Commission, Agnostics, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago Driving Through The Ocala ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 26, 2007

Several years ago driving through the Ocala National Forest at night, I spotted a large brown object lying in the middle of the road. I thought it looked like it might be a bear cub that had been struck by a car. I got out and looked at it, and sure enough, that is what it was. About the time I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Erasmus, The Famous Renaissance Scholar, Once ...

Contributed by Joanna Beveridge on May 25, 2007

Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus returns to heaven after his time on earth. The angels gather around him to learn all ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican