In Sermon Illustrations: "Critical Spirit"

The Spirit Of The Law

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW I knew a woman who stopped for a few drinks every night after work to let traffic die down, then drove home, about a 45 minute drive in lower mainland traffic. She would say, "I'm fine, I've never had an accident and there are never any roadblocks on my route home. It's not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:1

Tags: Alcohol

Depressions Of Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 7, 2012

DEPRESSIONS OF SPIRIT One Sunday morning in 1866, the famous preacher C. H. Spurgeon shocked 5,000 listeners from the pulpit of London's Metropolitan Tabernacle he announced, "I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever gets to such extremes of wretchedness as ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

The Spirit Of Poverty

Contributed by Charles Jones on Jun 30, 2012

THE SPIRIT OF POVERTY If: You justify your lack and make excuses. You are afraid to give under the direction of the Holy Spirit. You govern your finances with a lack of trust and don't believe God is your source. Your are suspicious that those around you may take your money. When things ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Pentecostal

Symbol Of The Spirit

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 29, 2012

SYMBOL OF THE SPIRIT Jim Cymbala: "The Bible has other symbols for the Holy Spirit besides water. One is wind, which in the original Greek in the New Testament is the same word as breath. Wind helps us to visualize the invisible and mysterious movement of the Spirit" (John 3: 8). [Cymbala, Jim ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spirit Of Gradualism

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 10, 2025

I lived in Lee County, Virginia and we would travel 68 from our house through Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to Middlesboro, Ky. We traveled through the national park. Linda and I would see a ground hog. The ground hog would stand on his hind legs to watch the traffic go by. We developed a love watching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3, Revelation 3:14-19

Tags: Gradual, Slow

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Walking In The Spirit

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 23, 2026

Their problem was this: if it hasn’t already happened, we don’t believe it is coming. Maybe they were all from Missouri – the “Show Me” state. Some folks have to see it to believe it. That’s not how faith in these promises works. Instead, we who believe are promised to see it. In these verses, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-4, Jude 1:18-19

Tags: Faith, Holy Spirit, Last Days, Walk In The Spirit

Denomination: Methodist

The Most Beneficial Criticism In The World Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The most beneficial criticism in the world ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Writing Criticism Is To Writing Fiction And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Writing criticism is to writing fiction and poetry as hugging the shore is ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

The Critic Is The Only Independent Source Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The critic is the only independent source of information. ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

The Critic Is Like A Midwife A Tyrannical ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The critic is like a midwife a ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Temper Is A Quality That At A Critical Moment ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in ...read more

Tags: Anger

Do Not Regard The Critics As Questionable ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Do not regard the critics as questionable patriots. What were Washington and Jefferson and Adams but ...read more

Tags: Patriotism

The Most Beneficial Criticism In The World Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The most beneficial criticism in the world ...read more

Tags: Self

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit Seldom in history have so few words been spoken with so much meaning. The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before believers and unbelievers alike a descriptive picture of the true disciple of Christ. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and are a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Is Not The Critic Who Counts: Not The Man Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

It Is Not The Critic Who Counts: Not The Man Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

If We Are Not Heedful Of The Way The Spirit Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"If we are not heedful of the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other folks are failing, and we turn our discernment into the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

A Bruise Is Better Than A Bite!" 1 Samuel 1:1-8 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 13, 2005

“A Bruise Is Better than A Bite!” 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Key verse(s): 8:“Elkanah here husband would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’” “Constructive criticism is when I criticize you. Destructive criticism is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-8, John 12:4-8, John 12:4-8

Tags: Emotions, Criticism

Denomination: Lutheran

The Spirit Within Us  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on Oct 14, 2001

THE SPIRIT WITHIN US I was driving one day when I saw a hitchhiker by the side of the road, loaded down with a couple of large carrying bags. Now, I make it a practice normally not to pick up hitchhikers, which may in itself be a refusal to hear the cry of those needy of transportation. But in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Mercy, Leadership General

Denomination: Methodist

The Spirit Shines On The Savior  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

THE SPIRIT SHINES ON THE SAVIOR The Holy Spirit’s distinctive role is to fulfill what we may call a floodlight ministry in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. When floodlighting is well done, the floodlights are placed so that you do not see them; in fact, you are not supposed to see where the ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist