In Sermon Illustrations: "Cost Of Dicipleship"

Promises Are ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

PROMISES ARE SACRIFICES Promises are funny things. They’re easy to make and often easier to break, but generally hard to keep. Robert Frost poetically captured that truth in his poem, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. He talks about how sometimes we wish we could be free, for just a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:140

Tags: Promises Of God

A Prayer Of God's ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

A PRAYER OF GOD’S SERVANTS We are God’s servants. We put God’s love for all people first. No race is superior to another. No government is more loved than another. No nation is dearer than another. We do not put our nation’s economy before God’s economy. He tells us to seek first His Kingdom, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Tags: Servanthood, Servants Of God, Servant Attitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Marriage And Guns: Protect Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2009

MARRIAGE AND GUNS: PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT Charlie Shedd wrote his son a series of letters to give some practical advice about marriage. They were published in a book called Letters to Phillip. Here is one of the most moving chapters: Dear Phil, I used to hunt ducks with a man who had a "thing" ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared To Spiritual ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared to Spiritual Brinkmanship It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tags: Holiness

The Pre-War Setbacks Of Winston Churchill

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2011

THE PRE-WAR SETBACKS OF WINSTON CHURCHILL Winston Churchill is remembered as perhaps the greatest prime minister in the history of Great Britain. By the steel of his will, he led his island nation to stand against Hitler and eventually triumph in World War II. But years before that victorious ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Admirer Or Follower?  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 19, 2011

ADMIRER OR FOLLOWER? Recently I heard that in Scotland, a voluntary survey was given to law enforcement officers of their religious affiliations. That may not sound very interesting, but what caught my attention was that 8 of the officers claimed their religious affiliation to be "Jedi". I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Other

Chosen

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 5, 2017

CHOSEN 1 Peter 2:4 …you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious… I was awful. No one had to tell me – I knew it. In my hometown of Littlefield, Texas, the kids used to find a vacant lot relatively bare of weeds, choose up teams and play baseball. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4

Tags: Chosen By God, Baseball, Athlete, Athletic, Sports, Chosen, Elect  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

So If The Kingdom Of Heaven Is So Valuable, Why ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

So if the kingdom of heaven is so valuable, why doesn’t everybody do everything they can to be a part of it? I think it’s because value is often in the eye of the beholder. What has value and what doesn’t is really up to personal interpretation. What some people think are valuable have no value at ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12

Tags: Fig Tree, Parable General

Real Pearls

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 7, 2008

REAL PEARLS The cheerful girl with bouncy curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Her mother checked the back of the little foil box and said, ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pennies, Pluto, And The Things That Matter

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 18, 2025

I just got back to my office after a quick stop for a soda and a snack. When the cashier gave me back my change, he rounded it to the nearest nickel. It looks like we're doing away with pennies. For some odd reason, I think that's sad. But it makes sense (pun intended). From what I hear, it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Pluto, Pennies, Kingdom, Kindness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Max Lucado Tells The Story Of Bob, Who Was Born ...  PRO

Contributed by Peter Thelander on Oct 31, 2001

Max Lucado tells the story of Bob, who was born into the land of coats! His mother loved the color blue and made Bob’s first cost a lovely shade of blue. Every time she noticed her son in his lovely blue coat, she cheered, "Yes, Bob!" He felt good in his blue coat, but Bob had to grow up and go to ...read more

Tags: Racism, Holiness

Denomination: United Methodist

The Following Article Is Based On A Sermon By ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 14, 2002

The following article is based on a sermon by missionary Del Tarr who served fourteen years in West Africa with another mission agency. His story points out the price some people pay to sow the seed of the gospel in hard soil. I was always perplexed by Psalm 126 until I went to the Sahel, that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:6

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Transformed Lives Should Drive Us To Want To ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 5, 2004

Our transformed lives should drive us to want to do what is good in our lives. Christianity Today / Sports Spectrum an Article by Rick Weber notes: Bob McNair the man responsible for Super Bowl 38 being hosted in Houston has this to say about his faith in Jesus Christ and unfinished ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Direction, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is A Pretty Cool Illustration. The ...

Contributed by Robert Fox on Dec 18, 2006

(this is a pretty cool illustration. The materials cost less than $3, and, though it was originally intended more for a junior high audience, it actually is pretty fascinating for all ages, including senior high and adults. Everyone likes to blow things up!) Let me give you a visual. Another ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

Denomination: Baptist

Marbles Of Love ...

Contributed by Joe Fain on Apr 6, 2009

Marbles of love ministry (As presented to Bible Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon, KY 40456) 1151 s. dogwood drive berea, KY 40403 859-302-2622 cjf3309@windstream.net Greetings in Christ Name: We would like to introduce you to a ministry that we feel God has laid upon our hearts to ...read more

Tags: Outreach

Denomination: Baptist

Some Thoughts About Veteran’s Day

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 14, 2022

Text, James 1:12, KJV: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Thoughts: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day. This was because on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Veteran's Day, Veterans, Crown Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

[034] A Message From A Poem – Beneath His Wings – My Prayer

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 22, 2025

[034] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BENEATH HIS WINGS – MY PRAYER In this poem there is a little word interplay in each stanza. It is simple to see. The reason for this poem is to express a prayer for personal concerns. I tried to cover a number of points I thought were important. These are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:29-31, Luke 18:10-11, Nehemiah 2:4, Luke 18:13-14, Romans 12:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Devoted To Prayer, Silent Prayer, Prayer, Sincerity, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[086]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Rs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 22, 2025

[086]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Rs There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the second one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:17-18, Romans 5:10-11, Luke 1:68, Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Righteousness, Poetry, Relationship, Poems, Reconciliation, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[206]. A Message From A Poem – Opposition Is Here So Be Committed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 20, 2025

[206]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OPPOSITION IS HERE SO BE COMMITTED There are two things I say over and over, that are expected from a Christian in these last days. One is FAITHFULNESS, and the other is COMMITMENT. In this poem the emphasis is on both. Too many Christians are “fair weather ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:10, Matthew 16:24

Tags: Commitment, Faithful, Faithfulness, Opposition, Dark Days, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hudson Taylor Learns About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

Hudson Taylor Learns About Giving One wonderful testimony of faith from church history is that of Hudson Taylor, the first missionary to the interior of China (in the mid-1800s). He was a great evangelist because he learn “to move man, through God, by prayer alone.” To prepare for the loneliness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Giving Yourself