In Sermon Illustrations: "Coming To Christ"

Devoting Yourself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 21, 2014

DEVOTING YOURSELF When it says they "devoted themselves" it means they were steadfast or single minded in purpose or desire. They wanted it and they were going after it, so to speak. In 2008 Sanya Richards-Ross competed in the 400 Meter in Beijing. She started the race strong and built a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Devotion, Church Body Of Christ, Spiritual Discipline

The Nfl...a Moral Compass?

Contributed by Robert Harmon on Oct 4, 2014

How would you like to have the NFL as your moral compass? Last week, we were hammered by reports about Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson and how the NFL was responding (or not responding) to the allegations of abuse. Tabloids, Social Media, and ESPN have been overloaded with their stories and many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:24-27

Tags: Firm Foundation, Becoming Like Christ, Nfl

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Play It Safe!

Contributed by Trae Durden on Nov 11, 2014

“Life was no cakewalk for Jesus, and he didn’t promise it would be any easier for his followers. We shouldn’t be surprised by resistance and persecution. Yet most of us play it safe. We pursue comfort. We spend ourselves to get more stuff. And we prefer to be entertained. We are all tempted by the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:34-38

Tags: Comfort, Risk, Life In Christ, John Piper

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fear In The Work Cubicle

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 4, 2015

IN THE WORK CUBICLE (p) It’s a normal day at the office. You got to work 5 minutes late like usual. You find your normal parking place open and you whip your car into the spot and grab all that you need from the passenger seat. You are soon in the elevator heading to your floor. The elevator ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Workplace, Sharing Christ, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Preaching Fluff Versus Quality

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 8, 2017

I once lived in a town where there were two preachers who were polar opposites. The one was very charismatic and enthusiastic. But, he did not preach the Bible. I asked him one day why he didn't preach the Bible. His answer was that the people could read their Bibles at home. He preached ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Great Commission, Preach Christ, Teach Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Propitiation In Ancient Judaism

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

David Flusser writes, “ Since the age of the Hasmoneans, Jews had believed that the saints who died to sanctify the name of God atoned for the sins of Israel… Even Jews who did not accept Christianity evidently believed that Jesus, like the other martyrs of the Roman ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Death Of Christ, Penal Atonement

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Romans 6,7 & 8 Compared & Contrasted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

Romans 6 deals with the believer being dead to Sin. Romans 7 deals with the believer being dead to the Law. Romans 8 deals with the believer being alive in the Spirit, who gives us the power to life the "victorious ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-13

Tags: Sin, Dead To Sin, Alive In Christ, The Law

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Apathy Club  PRO

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

The Apathy Club Did you hear about the college students who wanted to form a new organization on their campus? They called it the "Apathy Club"? Their "Apathy Club" wasn't going to be like any other student group. Where most organizations have a purpose or goal -- or some common interest to unify ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-19

Tags: Path, Promise, Apathy, Performance, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Kierkegaard's Complacent Duck  PRO

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

Kierkegaard's Complacent Duck There was a Danish philosopher named Kierkegaard whose writings are weighty and tough to read. But that deep thinker one time told a simple parable that describes how easy it is to slide into complacency. According to his parable, one Spring, a duck was flying ...read more

Tags: Lazy, Sloth, Commitment To Christ, Complacency, Sleep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Cards Can Be Funny!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

Our culture really gets into Christmas cards. It’s reported that Americans send 2.1 billion of them each year. Hallmark alone has more than 2,700 Christmas card designs. I don’t always read the cards but do like to catch up on those famous “Our-family-is-perfect Christmas letters” often found ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Christ, Holidays, Laughter, Christmas Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Sermon Outlines

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

The People (for unto us) The Point in Time (is born this day) The Place (in the city of David) The Person (a Savior) The Prominence (which is Christ the Lord) The Manger Held the Predicted Lamb The Manger Held the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Preaching, Birth Of Christ, Sermons, Outlines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Living In Light Of Eternity

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

Over the triple doorways of the Cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend, “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Eternity, Heaven, Materialism, Judgment Seat Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Engraved On A Cathedral In Germany

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

These words are engraved on a cathedral in Lubeck, Germany: You call Me master and obey Me not, You call Me light and see Me not, You call Me the way and walk Me not, You call Me life and live Me not, You call Me wise and follow Me not, You call Me fair and love Me not, You call Me rich ...read more

Tags: Servant, Obedience, Lordship Of Christ, Lord, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Owe Our Whole Lives To God!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 3, 2022

Genesis 6:1-9 Some think that the “sons of God” in this passage are angels; how can we say not? - v3 tells us that these men will die and angels are eternal beings; also, Jesus Himself tells us in the Gospels that angels do not marry! What can we say about Gen 6:2? – God’s creations of people are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-9

Tags: Love, Thanksgiving, Sin, Life, Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas Answered Our Greatest Need!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 19, 2022

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Savior, Salvation, Birth Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baptist Kittens

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2023

A Church of Christ minister walked past a street corner stand that was full of kittens for sale by a little boy in his neighborhood. The sign over the kittens read, "Church of Christ kittens for sale, one week old.....$5.00 each". The minister smiled and said, "My son, you are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Baptists, Church, Truth, Humor, Church Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Stable To Table

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 11, 2023

From Stable to Table Down from the splendors of Heaven to the lowliness of a stable, Wrapped in swaddling clothes, God’s Lamb lay in a manger cradle. His destiny ordained, Heaven’s loss, mankind to save, through a cross. From the lowly stable, to sitting with his disciples around the table: Do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Galatians 4:4, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 1:14

Tags: Lord's Supper, Birth Of Christ, Christmas, Communion

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Change Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2002

DON'T CHANGE ME Elie Wiesel, the eloquent Jewish author, once told this story: “A just man comes to Sodom hoping to save the city. He pickets. What else can he do? He goes from street to street, from marketplace to marketplace, shouting, ‘Men and women, repent. What you are doing is wrong. It will ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Growth In Christ, New Year's Day

Gene A. Getz, In His Book, The Measure Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 7, 2003

Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity: 1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs) 2. A giving church (supporting the church and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Tags: Church General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: *other

Josh Mcdowell, A Dedicated Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

Josh McDowell, a dedicated Christian intellectual, wrote, "I was invited to speak in a university in South America. Because of the university’s Marxist leanings, I was the first American to speak there in four years, & it was a tense situation. "Big photographs of me had been posted all over ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ