In Sermon Illustrations: "Commands"

Billy Graham's Arena Dreams

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 7, 2012

BILLY GRAHAM'S ARENA DREAMS Billy Graham, in his book "Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well" (pp. 2-3, Thomas Nelson) writes: I have remained a baseball fan, not necessarily of one team over another but of the game itself--the teamwork, the strategy, and the challenge of defeating the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Dreams

Denomination: Baptist

The 40 Martyrs  PRO

Contributed by David Tack on Feb 25, 2012

THE 40 MARTYRS "History knows them as the forty martyrs of Sebaste. They were soldiers in the famed Twelfth Legion of Rome’s imperial army, around A.D. 320. One day the captain informed his troops that Emperor Licinius had sent down an edict commanding all soldiers to offer a sacrifice to his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10, Luke 12:4

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And Cadwalader

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 8, 2012

PRAYER AND CADWALADER In 1747, Benjamin Franklin organized the "Philadelphia Associators." This was a volunteer militia for the protection of the city. Colonel John Cadwalader was elected its senior officer in 1776. In December of 1776, Cadwalader and his volunteer militia were stationed 10 miles ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Village Of The Book

Contributed by Perry Greene on Apr 17, 2012

THE VILLAGE OF THE BOOK It was early in 1945. As United States forces pushed deep into Okinawa they came across a village unlike any they had ever seen. Here at Shimabuku they were met and welcomed by two old men who invited the troops in as "fellow Christians." Correspondent Clarence W. Hall ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Literal Hell

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Jul 23, 2012

LITERAL HELL When it comes to believing in hell I think of the story of Dr. Maurice Rawlings a noted and celebrated coronary care doctor, who writes of his conversion to belief in a literal hell in Beyond Death’s Door. In 1977 he was giving a stress test to a man who was having chest pains. In the ...read more

Tags: Hell, Death, Afterlife, Demons

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For An Animation Of Psalm 42, Please Go To ...

Contributed by Jessica Johnson on Aug 5, 2012

for an Animation of Psalm 42, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTMfZ1u9DHU&feature=plcp . 'As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the Living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Tags: Water, Wave, Enemy, Night, Call, Pants, Countenance, Worship General, Delivery, Day, Deer, Waterfalls, Bones, Appear, Breaker, God, Soul, Rock, Help, Presence, Deep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

A Row Of Dominoes

Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Dec 18, 2012

Have you ever taken the time to set up a row of dominoes and then you push the first one and the first one knocks down the second one which knocks down the third one which knocks down the fourth one, etc until they have all fallen? The same case exists with the Holy Scriptures; when you knock one ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Nazarene

Pax Romana  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2012

PAX ROMANA About 27 years before Jesus was born Rome experienced something unique that history has called Pax Romana = the peace of Rome. Beginning with the reign of Augustine, Emperor of Rome and lasting till about 180 A.D. (a period of 200 years) Rome was at peace. They had few internal ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Christmas Carol

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 22, 2014

Not that it is in the Bible but a story familiar around this time of the year is Ebenezer Scrooge. Ebenezer is a man incapable of joy. Scrooge is rich, but he lives alone in squalor. He takes pleasure in nothing and is indifferent to human suffering. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:15

Tags: Christmas, Joy, Scrooge, Joy And Gospel

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Story: In 1981 The Film, Chariots Of Fire, Won ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 21, 2001

Story: In 1981 the film, Chariots of Fire, won an Oscar - the Academy Award for Best Picture. It tells the true story of two atheletes: Harold Abrahams - a man of the world and Eric Liddell - a committed Christian. Eric Liddell was one of the favourites to win the gold medal for the 100 m ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Camel Ride Up Mount Sinai

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 29, 2008

CAMEL RIDE UP MOUNT SINAI It is 3:00 in the morning and we are waiting with other pilgrims on the back side of Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the base of mount Sinai. It is a moonless night, pitch black beyond the small light we huddle around. I wonder if I dressed warm enough, I am surprised it ...read more

Tags: Moses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Turn To Me

Contributed by Dale Hummel on May 2, 2008

TURN TO ME Dallas Willard in his book, Hearing God, tells the story of a businessman: Robert C. McFarlane was a well-known businessman in the Los Angeles area. He moved to California from Oklahoma in 1970, and within just a few days of his arrival--due to a disastrous misunderstanding with a ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Encouragement

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Encouragement He traveled to every hamlet in Essex County. His passion was to start churches, encourage the saints and teach people the word of God. Cyrus Comstock was born in December 1765 and lived his life in the Champlain valley. Cyrus was also an inventor. Are you familiar with the ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

A. According To A Usa Today Article, In 2003 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

A. ACCORDING TO A USA TODAY ARTICLE, IN 2003 AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT #316 WITH 68 PASSENGERS SAT ON THE RUNWAY AT NEW YORK’S JFK AIRPORT, WHILE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TRIED TO DETERMINE IF A WOMAN ON BOARD WAS LEAVING THIS COUNTRY AGAINST HER WILL. B. SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAD SERVED AS ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Children On Silence  PRO

Contributed by Carl Greene on Feb 16, 2009

CHILDREN ON SILENCE Author Kathleen Norris used to play a game with elementary-school children in which she would make a deal with them. "First you get to make noise," she would bargain, "and then you’ll make silence." The time of noise was always predictably chaotic -- shouting, pounding and ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Methodist

Baby Steps!" Numbers 33: 1-49 Key Verse(S): 2a: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 29, 2004

“Baby Steps!” Numbers 33: 1-49 Key verse(s): 2a: “At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey . . .” I opened up the paper the other day and there staring me right in the face was a “huge success.” The newspaper was focusing on people who had made it; you know, those who ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 33:1-49

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Lutheran

Love Your Enemies  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Aug 28, 2001

Illus.: “Love Your Enemies” We found ourselves on the same track with several carloads of Japanese wounded after we were freed from the Kwai prison camp. These unfortunates were on their own without medical care. No longer fit for action in Burma, they had been packed into railway cars which were ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Promises Of God, Grace

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Shanty Remodel  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

THE SHANTY REMODEL "In the upper portion of New York City, many citizens may often have noticed, especially in the past years, a great number of miserable shanties, standing on the choicest sites. Though perhaps on the corner of a splendid new avenue or looking out on a magnificent prospect, the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Holiness, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Flag Of Rags  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A FLAG OF RAGS In the final years of our imprisonment, the North Vietnamese moved us from small cells with one or two prisoners to large rooms with as many as 30-40 men to a room. We preferred this situation for the companionship and strength we could draw from our fellow prisoners. In addition ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:10-11

Tags: Political Freedom, Patriotism, Veterans, Endurance, Independence Day  (view more)  (view less)

The City Of Jerusalem Has Always Been A Major ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jul 23, 2002

The city of Jerusalem has always been a major center for conflict. In 1099, an invading army took the city and massacred the inhabitants. The destruction was so complete that the invaders proudly reported that the narrow streets ran red with blood. 88 years later, an army appeared to retake the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist