In Sermon Illustrations: "Dark Side"

Meliorism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

MELIORISM Have you ever heard of Meliorism? Here is what one person said about it. "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I am a Meliorist. Meliorism cancels out optimism as being too bright, too airy; and rejects pessimism as being too dull, too heavy. Take life as it is, says the meliorist, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Author, God Brings Purpose

When I Was In Amsterdam, Working As A Missionary ...

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 19, 2009

When I was in Amsterdam, working as a missionary with YWAM, a Christian music group came to the city to play at a place called "The Last Watering Hole." A number of us went to hear them play and support them in their mission. While we were there, a who was not a Christian light up a joint. Out of ...read more

Tags: Purity

Denomination: Methodist

On Our Vacation One Year, We Borrowed My Dad's ...

Contributed by Tim White on Jun 19, 2009

On our vacation one year, we borrowed my dad’s boat and went up to a beautiful mountain lake in Western Arkansas. It was narrow with fingers reaching into the mountains and piny woods. It was beautiful. The problem arose when we decided to head back to the boat landing. We missed a turn and headed ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

Mother, Is The Moon God's ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 28, 2009

“Mother, Is the Moon God’s Light?” A mother and her little four-year-old daughter were preparing to retire for the night. The child was afraid of the night. The child was afraid of the dark, and the mother, alone with the child, felt fearful also. When the light was out, the child caught a ...read more

Tags: Trust, Trust God

Denomination: Christian Church

Saved And Saving - D. L. Moody Shared ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 14, 2009

SAVED AND SAVING - D. L. Moody shared this: One day I saw a steel engraving that I liked very much. I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen, at the time, and I bought it. It was a picture of a woman coming out of the water, and clinging with both arms to the cross. There she came out ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Lighthouse ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 15, 2009

“A Lighthouse Lesson” A friend told us that he was visiting a lighthouse lately, and he said to the keeper, “Are you not afraid to live here? It is a dreadful place to be in constantly.” “No,” replied the man, “I am not afraid; we never think of ourselves here.” “Never think of yourselves! How ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church

Twas The Night Of Thanksgiving, I Just Couldn't ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 27, 2009

‘Twas the night of Thanksgiving, I just couldn’t sleep.. I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep. The leftovers beckoned - the dark meat and white But I fought the temptation with all of my might Tossing and turning with anticipation The thought of a snack became infatuation. So, I raced ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Pentecostal

Working Late In The Cemetery  PRO

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 29, 2009

WORKING LATE IN THE CEMETERY Late one dark night, two men were walking home after a party. They were tired and desperate to get home, so they decided to take a shortcut through a cemetery. They got to about the middle of the graveyard, and they were startled and stopped moving. There was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Tags: Halloween

Denomination: Pentecostal

Continuing In Blindness

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 6, 2011

CONTINUING IN BLINDNESS One of the greatest tragedies for people would be to live in darkness when they could live in the light. Rose Crawford had been blind for 50 years. Then she had an operation in an Ontario hospital. She said, "I just can't believe it," as the doctor lifted the bandages from ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

The More Loving One

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 29, 2011

THE MORE LOVING ONE Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it if stars were to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lights For Our Path

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 10, 2011

LIGHTS FOR OUR PATH A couple of years ago, I went outside after dark to look at the stars in ways we couldn’t while back in Minnesota. I stepped from the porch, with the lights of course, and then I tripped on the water-hose. Down I went, taking my wife and daughter with me. Truth be known — ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Phobias Into Faith

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 5, 2011

PHOBIAS INTO FAITH As most of you have read in my past e mails I hate to camp. I hate the dark. I hate spiders and you show me a snake I am finished. But the Lord has used all these phobias for me to put my faith into practice. If we had everything we ever needed we wouldn’t need God. Left to ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

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

Two Farmers

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

Two Farmers One time there were two farmers who were going through a period of terrible drought, they were at a place of discouragement. One farmer went ahead and plowed his fields, trusting GOD to send the rain. The other farmer thought “What’s the Use. Planting time came, Still no rain. The first ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:1-41

Tags: Doubt, Believe

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loving One Another.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

There is a song where a woman with a flat tire on a cold wet and very dark night, has a man stop to help her change her flat tire. He won't take money for helping her but tells her to pass it on to someone else that she can help. She stops at a dinner and tips the pregnant waitress that looks ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Tags: Passing Love Along, Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Born To Trouble.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 30, 2021

Dietrich Bonhoeffer died in a German concentration camp right before it was liberated. This is what he wrote: In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with You there is peace. ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:1-10

Tags: Hope, Despair, Despair Can Have Help

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Seeing Can Be Rather Expensive

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 3, 2021

As I get older, and my goal is to get as old as I can, I begin to realize some of the things I haven't noticed in my life. You know how it is; things creep up little by little, and then all of a sudden, there it is. That happened to me recently with my eyes. Since I was in the ninth grade (I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1

Tags: Sight, Humor, Blessings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Bishop Lindsey's Story  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Sep 26, 2002

Bishop Lindsey’s Story I recently had the opportunity to hear our Bishop, Lindsey Davis, speak. He is an avid golfer, so much so in fact that when we went to Augusta for the North Ga Conference meeting they gave him a green jacket – I’m not sure why – I’m kidding I do know the significance of a ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: United Methodist

James Dobson On Halloween  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

JAMES DOBSON ON HALLOWEEN Mr. Dobson’s reply to the question: "What about Halloween?" "Halloween is a rather different story. Whereas it can be argued that Christmas is a Christian holiday with Christian origins that has suffered the effects of growing secularism, Halloween can be traced to ...read more

Tags: Supernatural, Satan