In Sermon Illustrations: "Comforter" showing 501-520 of 985

Brennan Manning Urges Us Toward Creative ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 19, 2007

Brennan Manning urges us toward creative listening imagining God’s words to us as such (I invite you to close your eyes and imagine Jesus speaking these words to you now): “Has it crossed your mind that I am proud you accepted the gift of faith I offered you? Proud that you freely chose Me, after I ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Phone Rings. It Is Kremlin. Mr. Putin Heard A ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Dec 21, 2007

The phone rings. It is Kremlin. Mr. Putin heard a sermon and invites me to bend his ear. A limousine arrives; attendants open doors, carry luggage, and ensure my every comfort. A police escort takes me to the airport where a private plane waits. When we land in Russia, a red carpet cushions my ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Knows His Own

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

GOD KNOWS HIS OWN The guillemot is a small arctic sea bird that lives on the rocky cliffs of northern coastal regions. These birds flock together by the thousands in comparatively small areas. Because of the crowded conditions, hundreds of females lay their pear-shaped eggs side by side on a ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Among The Apostles, The One Absolutely Stunning ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Apr 13, 2009

"Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one thoroughly groveling failure was Peter. Judas was a success in the ways that most impress us: he was successful both financially and politically. He cleverly arranged to control the money of the apostolic band; he ...read more

Tags: Apostles Judas, Peter And Judas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In Disney's Animated Movie Toy Story, Woody (...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on May 11, 2010

In Disney's animated movie Toy Story, Woody (a plush toy cowboy) confronts Buzz Lightyear (a toy astronaut) with the fact that he is only an action figure and not really a space hero. Early in the movie Woody shouts, "You're not a space ranger! You're an action figure—a child's plaything." After ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Forgiveness Limits...?

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Jul 31, 2010

FORGIVENESS LIMITS...? I feel more comfortable when I can see the extent of my obligations. That brings light to the lesson of Peter in Matthew 18. Peter was concerned about how many times he should forgive his neighbor. Peter knew what the rabbis had to say on the topic. They had read the hook ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

We Need Christ In Good Times And Bad

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2011

WE NEED CHRIST IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD Presbyterian minister of the 19th century, J. R. Miller, once wrote that "We need Christ just as much in our bright, prosperous, exalted hours as in the days of darkness, adversity, and depression. We are quite in danger of thinking that religion is only for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Tags: Jesus Christ

The Shepherd's Blood

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

THE SHEPHERD'S BLOOD In 1972, a shepherd had brought his sheep into a walled-off, enclosed area for the night, and he had just gone to sleep when he heard a commotion. He quickly rushed over to where the sound was coming from and to his horror he discovered that a wolf was in the process of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-14

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Saved Based On The Name

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

SAVED BASED ON THE NAME There was a lawyer in a metropolitan city that was leaving his firm one night and as he was walking ot his car he saw a dirty bum on the sidewalk leaned up against a building. He had pity on the bum and told him that he wanted to help him out. He took put a pen and began to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14

Tags: Grace

Death As Reward

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 15, 2011

DEATH AS REWARD I am reading a book that has changed a lot of the ways I think about things of God. One statement really got me. "Your life is free to be radical when you see death as your reward." The book “Radical” by David Platt. That’s it isn’t it? That is why we worry. Because we don’t see ...read more

Tags: Death

Christlikeness: A Painful Process  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on May 9, 2012

CHRISTLIKENESS: A PAINFUL PROCESS The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 16:24-25, Revelation 12:1-2

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Standard Of Comparison  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 27, 2012

STANDARD OF COMPARISON Michael Green, in his book Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, shares a good lesson which I think is appropriate for beginning our message this evening. He states: All of us frequently compare ourselves favorably with someone else. We all think of someone whom we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16, Exodus 7:8-23

Tags: Holiness

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Fellowship, Giving, Ministry To Others, Serving, Support, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gen. Douglas Macarthur Wrote This Prayer For His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son. He prayed: "Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, & brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud & unbending in honest defeat, & humble & gentle in victory. "Build me a son ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Goals, Children, Father's Day, Father, Dreams  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Francois Fenelon, A Seventeenth Century Roman ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

Francois Fenelon, a seventeenth century Roman Catholic said this about prayer: Tell God all that is on your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles, that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys, that He may sober them; tell Him your ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Prayer General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Many Years Ago I Attended A Birthday Party For My ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

Many years ago I attended a birthday party for my gay friend and co-worker, Julian. Sixty gay men and four straight women had gathered to celebrate in a high-rise penthouse with a dramatic sweeping view of San Francisco Bay. Greeting me warmly, Julian exuberantly kissed me on both cheeks ...read more

I Can't Change Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jan 2, 2002

Illus.: “I Can’t Change Jesus” Bill Irwin, a man who is blind, has a talking computer he uses to study the Bible. He’s had a few chuckles over some of the pronunciations. "For a long time," Bill says, "the computer pronounced Holy Bible as ’holly bibble’ until I figured out how to modify it." ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 6:17-20

Tags: God's Omniscience, Jesus Teachings, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Valley Of Sorrow  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

The Valley of Sorrow by Bernice Peyman I came to the Valley of Sorrow, And dreadful it looked to my view But Jesus was walking beside me, So together we journeyed it through. And now I look back to that valley As the fairest I ever have trod, For I learned there the love of my Father, I leaned on ...read more

Tags: Human Body

Why Am I Here?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

WHY AM I HERE? "Many years ago I attended a birthday party for my gay friend and co-worker, Julian. Sixty gay men and four straight women had gathered to celebrate in a high-rise penthouse with a dramatic sweeping view of the San Francisco Bay. Greeting me warmly, Julian exuberantly kissed me on ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Great Commission, Church Purpose Of

A Problem Becomes A Solution  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 30, 2002

A Problem Becomes a Solution I stood dismayed in the kitchen of our newly acquired country home--I had accidentally submerged my left foot in a tray of fresh wall paint. A few minutes later, as I took off my comfortable, hole-in-the-toe painting sneakers, I regretted that I hadn’t brought along ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational