In Sermon Illustrations: "Common Ground"

The Treasure Of Christmas

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 19, 2011

I agree it is time Christmas “message” time folks! But firstly how about having a round of Quiz? Which is your favorite Tintin comic? Do I hear the answers…Tintin in Tibet, Crab with the Golden claws etc etc. Some would even confide, any comic with Captain Haddock (most spicy character) in it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other

Understanding The Spirit Named Pan

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

THE SPIRIT NAMED PAN Many creatures, or demonic spirits, that have been called mythological gods are not mythological at all. They are real in the kingdom of darkness. Pan’s appearance in mythology is with horns, ears, and legs of a goat on a man’s body. His sudden appearance was supposed to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18

Tags: Pandemic, Spirits, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Demons, Panic, Fasting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Tragedy Of What Happened At Port Royal

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 13, 2024

Port Royal once situated on the island of Jamaica has been called “the richest and wickedest city in the world." It was the natural rendezvous for most of the pirates of the Caribbean. Liquor, women prostitutes, homosexual rendezvous, gambling, dope – every vice thrived in Port Royal “in ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:7

Tags: Wrath, Sin, Gomorrah, Judgment, Repentance, Righteousness, Homosexuality, Lot, Sodom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Once Was A Fellow Who, With His Dad, ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 28, 2006

There once was a fellow who, with his dad, farmed a little piece of land. Several times a year they would load up the old ox-drawn cart with vegetables and go into the nearest city to sell their produce. Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and son had little in common. The old ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

History Of Calvinism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

HISTORY OF CALVINISM In 1610, just one year after the death of James Arminius (a Dutch Seminary professor) five articles of faith based on his teachings were drawn up by his followers. The Arminians, as his followers came to be called, presented these five doctrines to the State of Holland in the ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25, Ephesians 1:3-5

Tags: Warning, Calvinism

Firestorms

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2011

FIRESTORMS I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp, I discovered that the camp fire looked as if it had gone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22, 1 Samuel 11:3-7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Lake Moses Washington, Friday, May 24, 1985. 1:oo ...  PRO

Contributed by Kent Lenard on Nov 4, 2002

LAKE MOSES WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, MAY 24, 1985. 1:OO AM I rolled and tossed in bed, feeling uneasy about our son John and his family who are missionaries in South Africa. PRAY! the command I sensed was urgent. Now I am wide awake sending passionate pleas to heaven. Please Lord, help John and ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

On The Battlefield Discernment Is Critical. An ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 8, 2004

On the battlefield discernment is critical. An officer leading his men into battle must be able to make decisions quickly and accurately. Decisiveness can spell the difference between victory and defeat. General Robert E. Lee, one of the greatest military strategists to ever wear an American ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

Tags: Goodbye

Denomination: Lutheran

The Four Soils: A Physical Illustration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

THE FOUR SOILS: A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION (The following physical illustration is taken from “Heno Head’s Simple Science Object Talks.” If you decide use it, take note that you need to carefully measure out how much baking soda you use, and how much vinegar you place in each jar. Since we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Can't Just Sit Around

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND The following is a true story. Larry Walters led a fairly boring normal life as a truck driver in southern California until the fateful day of July 2nd, 1982. On that day, Larry turned himself into a legend. You see, ever since he was a boy Larry had dreamed of flying, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Tags: Action

No Replacement Refs  PRO

Contributed by Tim White on Oct 6, 2012

NO REPLACEMENT REFS Matthew 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' One week ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:22-23, 2 Chronicles 29:35-36

Tags: Salvation, Trusting God

Denomination: Baptist

Why Is The F*** Word And And The Sh** Word Used ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 7, 2010

"Why is the F*** word and and the Sh** word used so freely today? Jesus doesn’t directly include this in what He says about oaths in Matthew 5 but it is there by way of application and other passages enlarge on this area of sin, so I am taking a detour. The spirit of what Jesus is saying in Matthew ...read more

Tags: Tongue, Swearing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Diverse Disciples

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 25, 2010

THE DIVERSE DISCIPLES I have always been a bit of a loner. I was not the sort of person you wanted in your team. I didn't fit. If Jesus hadn't come into my life, I am sure I would have ended up as a starving artist or at least a hermit - a recluse with a long beard, black jeans, T-shirt and ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Best Selling Book "She Said Yes!" Missy ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

In the best selling book "She said Yes!" Missy Bernall tells the story of her daughter Cassie, one of the students killed at Columbine High School. Cassie grew up in church, she came from a nice family, had friends and a nice life. Then it all changed. When Cassie entered high school (not ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Baptist

As A Boy Growing Up In The Country I Had Heard ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Carver on May 12, 2001

As a boy growing up in the country I had heard scary stories about a snake called a "Black Racer" that would chase you. These stories kept me very alert as I walked up and down the gravel roads around where we lived. One day mom asked me to go to the neighbors house and borrow an iron because ours ...read more

Tags: Direction, Fear And Worry, Perspective, Obedience, Sin Fall Of Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Was A Man Who Was On His Death Bed And He ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Sep 4, 2001

There was a man who was on his death bed and he called the three men that he trusted the most to come and see him. He called his minister, his doctor and his lawyer to him and said, “When I die, I my savings account of $90,000 divided three ways and when you walk by my casket, I want each of you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Death, Funerals Non-Christian

Denomination: Vineyard

As I Did A Search On The Internet On "Noah's ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Chan on Feb 11, 2005

As I did a search on the Internet on “Noah’s Ark”, I came across a webpage where there was a colourful picture of the Noah’s Ark with the title: “Everything I Really Need to Know I learned from Noah’s Ark. Then it was followed by these statements:  Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A U.s. Air Force Transport Plane With Its Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

A U.S. Air Force transport plane with its captain and 5 crew members was flying over Alaska in the mid-50s when they entered an unusually fierce snowstorm. The navigator contacted an air base only to be told that he had veered several hundred miles off course. Correct coordinates were given to the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15

Tags: Faith, Humility

Denomination: Lutheran

John 14:6 – "Jesus Told Him, ‘i Am The Way, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 14, 2006

John 14:6 – “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” This is so hard for prideful people to accept. Elaine Pagels (author of The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ) says she had an epiphany while ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:8-14

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Several Years Ago, I Heard The Story Of Larry ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Several years ago, I heard the story of Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought forty-five used weather balloons. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?