In Sermon Illustrations: "Dead Churches"

Phil Sheldrake's Story

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Apr 10, 2011

PHIL SHELDRAKE'S STORY At the age of 14 Phil Sheldrake was invited by a school friend to attend an event called Festival ’89. The event was being held on Sun Corner in Billericay and hosted by the preacher J. John. That night, Phil came to find a personal faith in Jesus. With his best friend, ...read more

Tags: Youth

Denomination: Anglican

The Story Of Martin Luther

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 17, 2011

THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER In 1517, an obscure Catholic priest named Martin Luther placed his life in God's hands when he nailed his 95 theses, his 95 arguments against the Catholic church, on the door of the Wittenberg Church. There was nothing wrong with nailing pages to the door. Everything was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

The Holy Spirit In The Movies—the Apostle

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2012

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE MOVIES--THE APOSTLE In 1983 Robert Duvall wanted to make The Apostle because he felt that the motion picture industry had mostly ignored the work of the Holy Spirit. According to Duvall, filmmakers hardly ever made a movie that would actually show the truth about the Holy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Undefiled Eyes

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Undefiled Eyes The church that continues the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ has Christians who long to have undefiled eyes. The first thought that comes to mind regarding undefiled eyes is a child of God who refrains from watching pornography or movies that are full of violence. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-4

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED? Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Christians were routinely persecuted for their faith by the Communist regime. We have many inspiring stories of courageous Christians behind the Iron Curtain who were willing to die for their faith during this difficult period in world ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Hospitality To Strangers  PRO

Contributed by Susan Babb, Osl on Oct 9, 2008

A. Friend – some years ago B. Sunday worship service, church like ours C. Service begun – member of congregation began worship, no pastor yet D. Man dressed shabbily in a heavy overcoat and wild hair and who could of used a bath came into service 1. Trouble finding a seat, pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45, Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Love, Acceptance, Compassion, Hospitality, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

A Woman Was Attending A Membership Seminar In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Fred Mueller on Oct 25, 2001

A woman was attending a membership seminar in a Baptist Church. On the questionnaire she wrote, "I was baptized in High School, but want to be - and she had ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Good Newspaper And Bible In Every House, A Good ...

Contributed by David Insell on Jul 23, 2003

A good newspaper and Bible in every house, a good schoolhouse in every district, and a church in every neighborhood, all appreciated as they deserve, are the chief support ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom, Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastors Preferred Bible Versions

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Pastors Preferred Bible Versions NIV 34% KJV 24% NRSV 17% NKJV 10% NAS 9% (Ellison Research, Church ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Only 60% Of Christian Deaths Result In Funeral ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Only 60% of Christian deaths result in funeral visits and a church or chapel service, compared with 90% 10 years ago. ...read more

Tags: Death

An Estimated 22 Million Adults Have Been Added To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

An estimated 22 million adults have been added to the numbers of churched individuals in the U.S. during the past decade. ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

The Historic Glory Of America Lies In The Fact ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"The historic glory of America lies in the fact that it is the one nation that was founded like a church. That is, it was founded on a faith that was not merely summed ...read more

Tags: America

Vance Havner, A Great Old Saint Of God, Who Is ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 30, 2009

Vance Havner, a great old saint of God, who is now with the Lord, defined revival simply, when he said, “Revival is the church ...read more

Tags: Revival

Denomination: Baptist

I Remember The Tears I Shed At The Psalmody Of ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 13, 2010

I remember the tears I shed at the Psalmody of Thy Church, in the beginning of my recovered faith; and how at this time, I am moved, not with the singing, ...read more

Tags: Music

Denomination: Catholic

"lord, Lord."

Contributed by Darrell Campbell on Sep 19, 2022

The famous evangelist Billy Sunday once was quoted as saying, "Going to church by itself will not make you a Christian, no more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21

Tags: Discipleship, False Profession

Denomination: Baptist

Ticket When Going To Train Station-Going 60 In 40 ...

Contributed by Myriam Salcedo-Gonzalez on Dec 2, 2006

Ticket when going to train station-going 60 in 40 zone. I wanted to fight it! The radar was wrong. When was the last time they checked it? I had just come out from a stop sign and the road was uphill, how could I be going 60? Impossible! Good thing I was not close to the my church! Can you imagine, ...read more

Denomination: Adventist

A Pastor In Disguise

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2013

A Pastor in Disguise A few years ago at a Methodist Church in North Wales, as worshippers arrived at the church, they were distressed to see a dirty, drunk, smelly homeless man on the front steps. They didn't realize this bum was actually their pastor, Derek Rigby, who had disguised himself as a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Compassion, Homeless

Clean Conscience

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Aug 2, 2017

Martin Luther who brought the protestant reformation out of the Catholic church questioned the doctrine and practices of the Catholic church in a thesis called ‘The Ninety-Five Theses’ in October of 1517. The Roman Catholic church wanted Martin Luther to recant his view. The Diet of Worms of 1521 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11

Tags: Conscience, Clean Conscience, Pure Conscience

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Wrong Reasons For Study Of Bible

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 21, 2018

At the village church in Kalonovka, Russia, attendance at Sunday school picked up after the priest started handing out candy to the peasant children. One of the most faithful was a pug-nosed, lad who recited his Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Holy, Sanctification

Perpetual Babyhood

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 18, 2018

WE HAVE AN IMPERATIVE COMMAND: 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. PERPETUAL OR ETERNAL BABYHOOD… From LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY by Juan Carlos Orte We have a phenomenon in the church today which I ...read more

Tags: Babyhood, Diaper Changes

Denomination: Assembly Of God