In Sermon Illustrations: "Darkness Falls"

I Am Among The Minority Who Had Little Interest ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

I am among the minority who had little interest in the original Star Wars movie but has a liking for the prequel story of Anakin Skywalker in Episode I and II. Anakin, who later evolved into the sinister Darth Vader, was a cute, helpful, and sacrificial 9-year-old boy in Episode I. In Episode II, ...read more

Tags: Envy, Christian Disciplines, Faith

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Perfect Salvation—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Robert Tatum on Sep 4, 2002

A PERFECT SALVATION-COMMUNION MEDITATION Near Mobile, Alabama there was a railroad bridge that spanned a big bayou. The date was September 22, 1993. It was a foggy morning just before daybreak when a tugboat accidentally pushed a barge into the bayou. The drifting barge slammed into the bridge. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-10

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Christian Disciplines, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Baptist

Keep The Lower Lights Burning

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

KEEP THE LOWER LIGHTS BURNING We must live as children of the light, not as children of the darkness. If we are dark and sorrowful, how is the world to know that we are children of peace, and joy, and gladness? Our determination must be to keep our lights burning. A few years ago, at the mouth of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Christian Witness

Good For Goodness' Sake

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 26, 2010

GOOD FOR GOODNESS' SAKE “You better watch out, you better not cry Better not pout I'm telling you why - Santa Claus is coming to town He's making a list and checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice Santa Claus is coming to town He sees you when you're sleeping - He knows when ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Emmanuel. God With Us.

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 12, 2025

Before the angels broke their silence, Before the star began to shine, Before the virgin's womb held heaven, Before God crossed that boundary line— We waited in the darkness, heavy, With prophets' voices growing dim, Four hundred years of heaven's quiet, No burning bush, no ...read more

Tags: Joy, Poem

Denomination: Methodist

Life Is War. That's Not All It Is. But It Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Adam Cruse on Jul 18, 2001

“Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Colossians 1:9-18

Tags: Demons, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

I Like The Story Of The 4 Year Old Boy From ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 19, 2000

I like the story of the 4 year old boy from Nashville who went with his grandfather into the woods to select a Christmas tree. They tramped all over, but the boy couldn’t find a tree that suited him. Finally, it began to get dark and cold, and the grandfather said they would have to quit looking. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 4:8-11

Tags: Worthy, Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Another Movie I Saw Recently Was The Fellowship ...  PRO

Contributed by Amanda Wilson on May 3, 2004

Another movie I saw recently was the Fellowship of the Ring. It too is about the use of power, in particular a magic ring that gives its wearer the power to control all living things. “One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” ...read more

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Power, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Independent/Bible

From 1986 To 1990, Frank Reed Was Held Hostage ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 22, 2004

From 1986 to 1990, Frank Reed was held hostage in a Lebanon cell. For months at a time, Reed was blindfolded, living in complete darkness or chained to a wall and kept in absolute silence. On one occasion, he was moved to another room, and, although blindfolded, he could sense others in the room. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Can't Get Out Of Here!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

YOU CAN’T GET OUT OF HERE! A man often walked through a cemetery on his way home. One night, though, unaware that a new grave had been dug in his path, he tumbled in. For some time he struggled to get out of the 7 foot deep grave, but finally gave up and settled down for the night. An hour later, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Tags: Supernatural

Rude Awakening: "People Have No Tolerance Or ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Rude Awakening: “People have no tolerance or compassion anymore,” says Lori Vitto, USAirways. Service industry customer complaints are way up and road rage is common. Incivility is on the rise and almost the norm in some parts of the culture. Some see all this as the dark side of the New Economy. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

An Industrial Titan Remembered His Farm Boyhood. ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Mar 23, 2006

An industrial titan remembered his farm boyhood. It was his chore to go to the barn in the dark to secure the farm animals before the family bedtime. He dreaded what lurked in the shadows on the way to the distant barn. His father gave him unforgettable advice. The lantern from the farmhouse ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Methodist

I Heard A Story About A Train Traveling Through ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jun 25, 2006

I heard a story about a train traveling through the night in a very violent rainstorm. The lightning flashes were almost blinding, the rain hitting the windows was deafening and the strong gust winds rocked the train from side to side. When the lightening flashed and lighted up the darkness, the ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Christian Church

Let's Be Honest. In A Culture That Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Let’s be honest. In a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christians and their faith, it’s not always easy to confess Jesus. April 20 will be the 8th anniversary of the day Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold gunned down a dozen students and one teacher at Columbine High School. Although it was not ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Pride Seems To Be A Characteristic Of People Who ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 12, 2007

Pride seems to be a characteristic of people who gain power. Nicolae [nee-kaw-lahy] Ceausescu [chou-shes-koo] came to power in Romania in the early 60s. By 1967 contacts with foreigners were monitored, mail was screened, telephones tapped, and homes and offices broken into. Those suspected of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:28

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ten Commandments: Statutes Of Liberty  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

TEN COMMANDMENTS: STATUTES OF LIBERTY In The Gospel and the American Dream, historian Bruce Shelley writes, "In one hand Liberty holds the torch of freedom and in the other the tablet of law. The torch challenges the forces of darkness and tyranny. The tablet of law reminds us that liberty ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

I Heard A Story About A Train Traveling Through ...

Contributed by Randy Brooks on Jun 6, 2007

I heard a story about a train traveling through the night in a very violent rainstorm. The lightning flashes were almost blinding, the rain hitting the windows was deafening and the strong gust winds rocked the train from side to side. When the lightening flashed and lighted up the darkness, the ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Lantern In A Porthole Saves Man Over ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 3, 2009

Lantern in a Porthole Saves Man Over Board There is a story of an Atlantic passenger lying in his bunk in a storm, deathly sick—seasick. A cry of “Man overboard!” was heard. The passenger thought, “God help the poor fellow. There is nothing I can do.” Then he thought at least he could put his ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Tags: Attitude General

The Harp String Of Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

THE HARP STRING OF HOPE G.F. Watt has a famous painting entitled Hope. It pictures a poor woman against the world. Her eyes are bandaged so that she cannot see ahead. In her hands is a harp, but all the strings are broken save one. Those broken strings represent her shattered expectations, her ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Tags: God Brings Hope

The "Going Out"

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Feb 26, 2012

THE "GOING OUT" We read in John 15:26, "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." The "sending" the "going out" which Jesus refers to here is not like a king sending a servant. It is an extending ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed