In Sermon Illustrations: "Conformed To The World"

Invitation Needed

Contributed by William L. Vincent on Aug 6, 2011

INVITATION NEEDED I have recently been contacted by a Pastor in Nigeria who is wanting us to come and preach a crusade there. But you cannot just fly into Nigeria; you have to be invited. The local Pastor has to send an official letter of invitation, that letter must state what I would be visiting ...read more

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Denomination: Orthodox

The Fellowship Of His Suffering

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Sep 13, 2011

THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING "Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institute estimates that at least 600 million -- and maybe closer to 700 million -- Christians world-wide are experiencing some level of persecution. That means roughly one in every three people who profess the name of Christ is ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Select The Greatest Gift

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 11, 2011

SELECT THE GREATEST GIFT Even people of this world know the value of a thoughtful gift. When Pastor John Bisagno was working as chaplain to the Houston Oilers, the players gave him an autographed football which every player had signed inscribed with a Scripture from the Bible. Whenever he looks ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Escaped ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

ESCAPED CONFLICTS In the 1980’s a retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the least likely place affected by a nuclear war -- a place of ultimate ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Go Through The Optical Illusions: (Slides ...

Contributed by C Vincent on Feb 13, 2009

Go through the optical illusions: (slides 1-6) The eyes can be deceiving. The brain may tell us one thing while our eyes see another. Dog: How do we respond? (7) Most of us warm to animals. Children begging: How do we respond? (8) The sight of children may cause us to think more deeply about the ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Poor Sudanese ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

POOR SUDANESE CHILD There is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine. The picture depicts a famine-stricken child crawling towards a United Nations food camp, located a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die, so that it can eat it. This picture ...read more

Tags: Poverty

To Be God's Instrument

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 2, 2013

TO BE GOD'S INSTRUMENT Ah to be your instrument O God, like Paul to the Gentiles, like Philipp to the eunuch, like Jesus to the world, to be your instrument. To be like a scalpel in the gentle hands of a surgeon, healing and mending. To be like the plow in the weathered hands of the farmer, sowing ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Church Of God

Supporting The Poor  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 8, 2013

SUPPORTING THE POOR In a 1998 article in Christian History magazine, Rodney Stark said: "In a world lacking social services, Christians were their brothers' keepers. At the end of the second century AD, Tertullian wrote that while pagan temples spend their donations "on feasts and drinking ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:26, Galatians 2:10

Tags: Charitable, Poor, Benevolence, Helping Poor

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I May Never See You Again

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

Phillips Brooks of Boston became quite ill and would see no visitors. However, when Robert Ingersoll, the noted atheist, heard that his friend was sick, he called at his home and was admitted at once. "I appreciate this very much," said Mr. Ingersoll. "But why do you see me when you deny ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Great Christmas Illustration

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 19, 2022

Jesus came to offer Himself for the sins of the world. o He was born in another man’s stable. o He was laid in another man’s manger. o He would preach in another man’s boat. o He would ride into Jerusalem on another man’s colt. o He would eat His last supper in another man’s upper room. o He ...read more

Tags: Messiah, Christmas, Sacrifice, Jesus, Birth Of Christ, Others, One Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wright Brothers And The Wrong Message

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 28, 2023

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Unsaved, Confused, Message, Gospel, Missions, Witnessing, Lost, Birth Of Christ, Evangelism, Christmas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Warsaw Children’s Choir (1946)

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Dec 4, 2025

The Warsaw Children’s Choir (1946) Now we shift scenes again. It was Christmas Eve, 1946. World War II had ended, but the city of Warsaw lay in ruins—bombed-out buildings, shattered streets, burned timbers. The Philharmonic gathered a children’s choir made up almost entirely of orphans—children who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:33-40

Tags: Warsaw, Christmas, Wwii, O Come All Ye Faithful, Children Singing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Tale Of Two Kings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

TALE OF TWO KINGS Two of the greatest love stories ever told. The one, at Camelot; the other, at Calvary. Two of the noblest kings ever to live. The one, King Arthur; the other, King of the Jews. The one is adorned with a jeweled crown; the other, with a crown of thorns. The comparisons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-35, John 10:15-18

Tags: Cross, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Children's Perspective On Mom

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 4, 2009

CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVE ON MOM. The following are different answers given by school-age children to the stated questions: "Why were mothers created?" 1. She’s the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is. 2. Think about it; it was the best way to get more people. 3. Mostly to clean the ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Lights Along The Shore

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 9, 2017

The Lights Along the Shore To me, lighthouses are among the most charming of man-made structures. Their unique and essential purpose makes each one a thing of exquisite beauty. Seafarers seeking a haven on a stormy night find a beam from the shore as precious as life itself. Perhaps Philip ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3-7, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 22:5, John 3:19-21, Malachi 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Navigation, Light, Sea, Harbor, Light And Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

[065]. A Message From A Poem – Earth Is Going To Reap Its Sinfulness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 21, 2025

[065]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EARTH IS GOING TO REAP ITS SINFULNESS “You will get what you deserve!” “I hope you get into lots of trouble.” These may be the sayings of children and the thoughts of adults. What they are all looking to is retribution. Retribution is usually associated with ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 2:2-3

Tags: Retribution, Recompense, Revenge, Accountability, Sinfulness, Sowing, Reaping, Vengeance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[188]. A Message From A Poem – My Jesus Is My Mighty Rock

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 6, 2025

[188]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MY JESUS IS MY MIGHTY ROCK In the Old Testament the “ROCK” featured a lot. The first incident was when Moses struck the Rock at the Lord’s command {{Exodus 17:5-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:8, Psalm 31:2-3, Psalm 18:1-2, Exodus 17:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Moses Struck The Rock, Rock, Security, Rock Of Offense, Mighty Fortress, Mighty Rock, Christian Poems, Jesus, Moses, Safety, Salvation, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Moravian Brethren, 200 Years Ago, Formed One ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

The Moravian Brethren, 200 years ago, formed one of the greatest missionary movements. Two of their members heard of a leper colony in Africa where no missionary was allowed to enter and then return home for fear that the disease might spread in Germany. They volunteered to go into that leper ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Descriptions Of God, Follower

Denomination: Baptist