In Sermon Illustrations: "Colossians 1:1-3:5"

Over-Running The Temple

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012

OVER-RUNNING THE TEMPLE Ta Prohm is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-14

Tags: Sin Wages Of

God's Glory And Our Happiness

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 27, 2012

GOD'S GLORY AND OUR HAPPINESS Jonathan Edwards writes: God in seeking his glory seeks the good of his creatures, because the emanation of his glory ... implies the ... happiness of his creatures. And in communicating his fullness for them, he does it for himself, because their good, which he ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:20-23

Tags: Glory, Jonathan, Common Good, Jonathan Edwards

Denomination: Baptist

A Missionary Sat On The Patio Watching A Blac...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

A missionary sat on the patio watching a black ant crawl up a table leg until it reached some spilled sugar. After it ate some of the sugar it crawled back down the table leg. Soon two black ants crawled up the table leg to the sugar. They ate and left. Soon a steady stream of black ants moved ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:6

Tags: Evangelism, Growing, Fruit-Bearing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus In Every Book Of The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 19, 2016

JESUS IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE In Genesis – He is the seed of woman. In Exodus - He is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus- He is Our High Priest. In Numbers- He is the Cloud by day and a Pillar of Fire by night. In Deuteronomy- He is the Prophet like unto Moses. In ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-7

Tags: Bible, Jesus, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humphery The Whale

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Sep 6, 2017

Remember Humphrey the humpback whale? Humphrey became a national celebrity in 1985 when he made his way into the San Francisco Bay and headed up the Sacramento River into fresh water which, of course, could have been fatal for him. Each evening a large local television audience would tune in for ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-19

Tags: God Is Personal, God Communicates

Denomination: Lutheran

When A Man's World Is Right

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jul 1, 2018

One Saturday morning a minister was busily trying to prepare his sermon under the most difficult conditions. It was a rainy day, and his young son was restless and bored, with little to do. Finally, in desperation, the minister picked up an old magazine and thumbed through it until he came to a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:12-14, Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 2:15-17

Tags: Change, Born Again, Daughter, World, Father, Children, Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can Keep Your Fork

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A woman had been diagnosed with cancer and had been given three months to live. Her doctor told her to start making preparations to die. So she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20, Revelation 22:12, Colossians 1:27, Titus 1:2

Tags: Heaven, Future, Hope, Citizenship

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Triangle Of Hurt

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 18, 2019

THE TRIANGLE? IT TAKES 3 PEOPLE TO HURT YOU. THE PERSON THAT SAID IT. THE PERSON THAT HEARD IT AND PASSED IT ON… AND YOU TO ACCEPT IT. Did you crucify a person today? Did you murder someone with your words? Did you destroy some ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Hurt, Words

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Keep Looking Up!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

A father and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The father told his son to keep a lookout while he went to get a melon. He snuck into the patch, took a melon and called to the boy, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways." The boy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Temptation, Stealing, Looking Up

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

Mystery

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

Paul talks about a Mystery hidden in God. Let me tell you about a great mystery story: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Senior, was a doctor. As such he was very interested in the use of ether. In order to know how his patients felt under its influence, he once had a dose administered to himself. As he was ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:26-27

Tags: Mystery Hidden, Mystery Found

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Flag And The Cross

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 1, 2020

Symbols evoke feelings of adoration or hatred. In this election year, the elephant and donkey mean different things to different people. Let's talk about a symbol that all Americans should be able to adore. In 1813 General Armistead commissioned Mary Pickersgill to make a huge flag that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 2:15

Tags: Patriotic, Cross, Power Of God, United States, National Anthem, Flag Of United States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mystery

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

Paul talks about a Mystery hidden in God. Let me tell you about a great mystery story: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Senior, was a doctor. As such he was very interested in the use of ether. In order to know how his patients felt under its influence, he once had a dose administered to himself. As he was ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:26-27

Tags: Mystery, Mystery Found

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Hears Everything We Say

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

There was a man who had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would pray a blessing to the Lord. One day after his usual combination of complaint and prayer, his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?” “Why, of course,” he replied. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Complaint, God Hears

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You A Chicken Or An Eagle?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

John McNeil tells the story of a young eagle he had raised with a flock of chickens. The out-of-place bird had never learned to fly. One day McNeil thought he would teach this bird how, so he tried throwing it up in the air. But each time the bird would look down and fall to the ground. Then he had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Holy Spirit, Vision, Spiritual Growth, Eagles, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Excess Baggage

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

In 1845, the ill-fated Franklin Expedition sailed from England to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean.The crew loaded their two sailing ships with a lot of things they didn't need: a 1,200-volume library, fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silverware for each officer with his initials ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Vision, Worldliness, Spiritual Victory, Habits, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trapped By Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

A well-known author once told this story of an account he had with sea gulls: “Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were dead fish embedded in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Vision, Temptation, Compromise, Worldliness, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staying Where You Started!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

The problem is that Christians do not go on with God. They get saved, give a testimony of their salvation, and that’s all they ever have. They never maintain a serious study of the Word of God, which is essential to growth. They are like the little girl who fell out of bed one night. When the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race, Perserverance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Can't See The Greatness Of God...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“If you don't see the greatness of God, then all the things that money can buy become very enticing. If you can't see the sun, you will be impressed with a street light. If you've never felt thunder and lightning, you'll be impressed with fireworks. And, if you turn your back on ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-4

Tags: Deception, Vision, Worldliness, Glory Of God, Greatness Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Want To Quit?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

There was a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness he came across what he thought was a signpost. It ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Fear, Commitment, Endurance, Apostasy, Perserverance, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational