In Sermon Illustrations: "Civil Service"

A Pastor Asked A Ten-Year-Old Boy After Service ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A pastor asked a ten-year-old boy after service one morning if the boy knew why the church served coffee to the adults after church. The boy said, “Sure. ...read more

Tags: Heaven

These Small Acts Of Service Won't Show Up On Our ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 16, 2008

These small acts of service won’t show up on our “to do” list. Opportunities for Mundane Service have a way of surprising us … sometimes in our busiest moments --- which means we have to be willing to be interrupted. I had one such unscheduled event a while back when a man came to my office ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Topic Today Is Worship And Service. I'd Like ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 29, 2009

Our topic today is worship and service. I’d like to begin by telling a true story that happened to Reverend Forrest I. Sears. He writes: Wilma had been a member of our church for many, many years. In her later years she needed the assistance of a cane to help in walking. As she was talking ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Joke To Share When Attendance In The First Service Begins To Drop

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Worship, Pastors, Attending Church, Dead Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Prophetic Zeal, Culture, Racism, Civil Rights

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Serving Others

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost”. - Arthur Ashe In a small, dusty town in western Oklahoma one November there lived a young single mother struggling to make ends meet. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:12-14

Tags: Humility, Christian Service

Denomination: Charismatic

The Houston Hero

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2017

Abe Minor, a man nicknamed “The Houston Hero,” has been rescuing people all week. He started by being sent by his wife to rescue her friend’s family, which included four kids, one of which was an infant. As he was going there, others called out for his help as they saw him with his boat. He said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Tags: Service, Love, Serve

Denomination: Lutheran

Pioneer

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2020

Time Magazine's obituary - Dr. Wilfred Thomason Grenfell's October 21, 1940. Oct. 21, 1940 - Wilfred Grenfell spent his boyhood on the Sands of Dee near Cheshire, England. He used to filch biscuits and wine from his school larder to give to fishermen as they left at dawn to catch the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Romans 12:1-8

Tags: Service, Sacrifice, Commitment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love For Christ And People

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

In the early years, Circuit riders were most often lay preachers without formal education. They were young, poor, and, for the most part, single. Traveling thousands of miles a year. Though circuit riders eventually represented many different denominations but none were more aggressive or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Tags: Service, Servant, Dedication

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Humility

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

The Western meaning of humility derives from the usage of the Hebrew speaking Jews, Latin speaking Romans and the Greeks, in particular Greek speaking Christians of the first century. In all three languages the word used to describe humility means "low", as in low to the ground: the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Service, Humility, Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Are You Serving Or Souring

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 13, 2022

If you are not serving where you are do not expect to be called to somewhere else to serve. Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Saul/Paul and Barnabas were already serving in the church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:2

Tags: Service, Ministry, Call

Denomination: Baptist

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 3, 2007

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Johann Sebastian Bach was born into the musical family of Bachs in 1685. By the age of ten, both of his parents were dead. Early in his friction-filled life, young Johann determined he would write music … music for the glory of God … and this he did. Most of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:36

Tags: Service, Glory Of God

Denomination: Nazarene

Sharing Love

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

In Irving Illinois a group purchased the old school building and made it into a long term alcohol recovery program. Some of those started coming to worship at the Irving church, two had met there, Matt and Kim, I and not using their real names. My favorite wife, Lisa and I got to know them, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19, Mark 12:30-31

Tags: Service, Hope, Blessings

I Took A Break In My Naval Service After My First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2006

I took a break in my Naval Service after my first enlistment. I came home and my Grand Mother on my Mothers side that I called Granny wanted me to stay with her. I loved my Granny so I moved in with her. It wasn’t long before I had a run in with Rusty. He lived there too. You see I sat down in ...read more

Feed Them

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 12, 2016

The thing is that Jesus did perform the miracle, but he didn’t feed the five thousand. You may be thinking here; Andrew you’re just being a bit silly about this. But for Jesus disciples this was one of those great learning moments. The disciples rock up with a problem and Jesus says we'll solve it, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:35-44

Tags: Equipped For Service, Miracle, Hands On, Service, Feeding 5000  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Great Quotes By Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 16, 2020

While Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave many memorable quotations about freedom, civil rights, humankind and other critical issues, as a Christian pastor, some of his most notable quotes were on matters of faith. 1. “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” ...read more

Scripture: Amos 4:4, Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Justice, Civil Rights, Equality, Martin Luther King

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Faith Of Stonewall Jackson

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2021

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture Gods and Generals that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never more strikingly ...read more

Tags: Courage, Will Of God, Civil War, Sovereignty Of God, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Brother Served His First Parish In Massillion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 12, 2000

My brother served his first parish in Massillion, Ohio, as an associate pastor, with the late Pastor Maurice "Mo" White. Pastor White was a very large, strong and vibrant man. During one Lenten season, one of the older, but faithful members of the church came with her husband to an evening Lenten ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-9

Tags: Death, Funerals Christian, Service

Denomination: Lutheran

Brenda Goodine Shares A Story About Her Friend ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Nov 7, 2001

Brenda Goodine shares a story about her friend who decided to talk to her bright four-year-old son, Benji, about receiving Christ. “Benji,” she asked quietly, “would you like to have Jesus in your heart?” Benji thought for a few minutes and then rolling his blue eyes answered, “No. I don’t think I ...read more

Tags: Service, Commitment To Christ, Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing Disciplines The Inordinate Desires Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 17, 2002

Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4

Tags: Service, Servanthood, Disciplines, World