In Sermon Illustrations: "Critical Spirit" showing 1-20 of 3,131

The Imagination Imitates. It Is The Critical ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The imagination imitates. It is the critical ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

The Holy Spirit Had A Monopoly On Moody

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

Dwight L. Moody was a shoe salesman from Chicago who fell in love with Jesus and started sharing his faith with everyone he met. Even though he was never ordained or had formal training, God used him to reach thousands for Christ as an evangelist. There was a group of British pastors who were ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, Revival, Jealousy, Moody, Critical Spirit, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abraham Lincoln And Criticism

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2013

ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND CRITICISM A practicing lawyer loved to attack his opponents through scathing letters printed in newspapers. In 1842, he ridiculed the wrong man. James Shields did not take kindly to the anonymous writer who lampooned him in the Springfield Journal. Mr. Shields tracked down ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Criticism, Tongue

Criticism

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 16, 2012

A church member, noted for his "kickative mood and objective case," was challenged to construct a workable program rather than always finding fault with the attempts of others. "No," he replied, "you go ahead and make the plans, I will tell you what is wrong with them." This is essentially how ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

A Critic Is A Necessary Evil, And Criticism Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A critic is a necessary evil, and criticism is ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Critical Thinking With Being Critical!" Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 12, 2004

“Critical Thinking With Being Critical!” Matthew 7: 1-5 Key verse(s): 1-2 “‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’” Chuck Swindoll tells a humorous but rather sobering tale of the other side of the coin, the flip side that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Motives Are Critical!  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Sep 2, 2003

Motives are critical! An elderly man on the beach found a magic lamp. He picked it up and a genie appeared. "Because you have freed me," the genie said, "I will grant you a wish." The man thought for a moment and then responded, "My brother and I had a fight 30 years ago and he hasn’t spoken to ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Vineyard

Criticism And Praise

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 27, 2007

Charles Schwab - In 1921 the first person to make one million dollars a year, when a person making $50. A week was well off, was Charles Schwab. He had been picked by Andrew Carnegie to become the first president of U.S. Steel Company. Why did Andrew Carnegie pay him so much? Because he was a ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Wesley And Criticism  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

WESLEY AND CRITICISM John Wesley was a great English preacher of the 1700’s. He was considered a rather spiffy dresser. One Sunday morning he wore a bow tie that had long ribbons that hung downward. After the sermon was over a lady walked up to him and said, "Brother Wesley, are you open to some ...read more

Tags: Complaining

No Statues To Critics

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

NO STATUES TO CRITICS A young musician’s concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have a statue to a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:9, Psalm 8:5-10

Tags: Encouragement

Critical Personality

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 11, 2020

My cousin was in love and wanted to introduce his bride-to-be to his hypercritical mother. But in order to get an unbiased opinion, he invited over three other female friends as well and didn’t tell his mom which one he intended to marry. After the four women left, he asked his mother, "Can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:1-25

Tags: Acceptance, Criticism

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Gossipping Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 5, 2021

Three preachers from the same small town in Texas were out fishing together, just getting away from the busy pace of a minister's schedule. All alone in a boat together, they began to open up and confess things in their lives. The first preacher said, "Well, I hate to admit it, but I ...read more

Tags: Gossip, Critical Spirit, Rumors, Preachers, Backbiting, Tale Bearing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pretty Good Preaching For A Dollar!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

A man and his ten year-old son were on a fishing trip miles from home. At the boy’s insistence, they decided to attend the Sunday worship service at a small rural church. The father forgot to bring any cash, so he reached in his pocket and gave his son a dollar to drop into the offering plate as ...read more

Tags: Giving, Stewardship, Complaining, Tithing, Critical Spirit, Cheating God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit Of Christ Is The Spirit Of Missions, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him the more ...read more

Tags: Great Commission

The Spirit Of God Is Always The Spirit Of ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Apr 17, 2008

The Spirit of God is always the spirit of liberty; the spirit that is not of God is the spirit of bondage, the spirit of oppression and depression. The Spirit of God convicts vividly and tensely, but He is always the Spirit of liberty. God who made the birds never made birdcages; it is men who make ...read more

Tags: Grace

This Is The Beginning Of Lent. Most People Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 24, 2004

This is the beginning of Lent. Most people are looking for things to give up for Lent. It you haven’t made up your mind maybe these will help. GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, "In everything give thanks." Constructive criticism is OK, but "moaning, groaning, and complaining" are not ...read more

Tags: Criticism

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

Not Much Help

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

In his Peanuts strip, Charles Schulz had an amazing talent for communicating truths like this in humorous, memorable ways. In one strip Charlie Brown rests his head in his hands while leaning on the wall and looking miserable. His friend, Lucy, approaches. “Discouraged again, eh, Charlie Brown?” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Criticism, Critical, Judging

Denomination: Charismatic

The Spirit Of Fear

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She has been called “America’s greatest miser.” When she died in 1916, her estate was valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Tags: Fear, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Spirit Of Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational