In Sermon Illustrations: "Dead Churches"

The Bell Ringer  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 12, 2001

<<ILL>> A 200-year-old church was being readied for an anniversary celebration when calamity struck: the bell ringer was called out of town. The priest immediately advertised for another. When the replacement arrived, the priest took him to the steps leading to the bell tower, some 150 feet ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Pentecostal

If A Person Gets His Attitude Toward Money ...  PRO

Contributed by Glenn Teal on Nov 20, 2001

“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Money

Denomination: Free Methodist

C. S. Lewis Recounts That When He First Started ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

C. S. Lewis recounts that when he first started going to church he disliked the hymns, which he considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as he continued, he said, "I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and ...read more

Tags: Humility, Church Practices

Tug Of War

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 5, 2005

TUG OF WAR We play tug of war. The team that is able to pull the other team over their side wins. Each member must pull with his or her strength and body weight. We are all different - some stronger, some weaker; some fat some thin; but all must put their strength and weight in. It doesn’t ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Unity

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Minister Should Have Access To A Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The minister should have access to a good personal library or to a convenient source for good study materials. There are those who object to commentaries or information available from sources other than the Bible. It was Spurgeon who appropriately said, "Me thinks it rather ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Six Hundred Students At A University Were Asked ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

"Six hundred students at a university were asked to write on a piece of paper the most beautiful word in the English language: 112 wrote the word home." Probably the most popular place for families to gather is the table. One thing you learn very quickly from Italians is that sitting around the ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Powerhouse

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“The memory of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been cherished among evangelical Christians for over the past 100 years. Many Christian leaders consider him to be the greatest preacher England ever produced. He is commonly hailed as the "Prince of Preachers". Over 63 volumes of published sermons still ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Dr. Vance Havner Used To Tell The Story About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. DR. VANCE HAVNER USED TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE OLD GEORGIA FARMER WHO, AS HE SLEPT ONE EVENING, HEARD HIS GRANDFATHER CLOCK STRIKE MIDNIGHT. C. THE GONG SOUNDED 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 TIMES, BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE MECHANISM AND IT KEPT ON STRIKING 13, 14, 15 TIMES ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

I Remember As A Boy Going With My Grand Dad To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. I REMEMBER AS A BOY GOING WITH MY GRAND DAD TO AN OLD GRIST MILL ON THEN SALADO CREEK, WITH A BIG WATERWHEEL THAT TURNED WITH THE WATER FROM THE CREEK. I. GRAND DAD WENT THERE TO HAVE HIS CORN GROUND INTO CORN MEAL AND ONE MORNING WE DROVE TO THE MILL AND THE WATERWHEEL WAS NOT TURNING BECAUSE ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

When A Surgeon Enters An Operating Theater, He ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

WHEN A SURGEON ENTERS AN OPERATING THEATER, HE IS CAREFUL TO WORK IN A STERILE ENVIRONMENT, BY SCRUBBING HIS HANDS; WEARING A STERILIZED GOWN AND MASK TO PROTECT THE PATIENT AND HIMSELF, FROM ANY GERMS OR BACTERIA. L. THE THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATION IS THAT WE SHOULD HATE SIN, BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

I Close A Letter Emailed To Me. It Is From A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. I CLOSE A LETTER EMAILED TO ME. IT IS FROM A SOLDIER IN IRAQ, WHO WROTE HIS MOTHER ABOUT HIS SEARCH FOR SALVATION: “DEAR MOM, I AM FINE, BUT I LOST MY BEST FRIEND TODAY IN AN AMBUSH AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, IS TO TELL YOU THIS STORY: IMAGINE YOU ARE CRAWLING, ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

There Are Those That You Can Count On To Attend ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There are those that you can count on to attend every service they are called “the Core”. One choir director was upset because the choir members were not dedicated to choir practice but the piano player had attended every practice. So he bragged on him in front of the choir for being their every ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Have You Ever Gone To Some Of The Older Members ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Have you ever gone to some of the OLDER MEMBERS and ask them why TRADITION is so important to them? Have you ever asked what is of UTMOST important to them in their WORSHIP? Have you ever asked them why they so enjoy some of the OLDER SONGS that you can hardly bear singing? Ask one of the WIDOWS ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Because I Have Been Given Much

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Because I Have Been Given Much By Grace Nowell Crowell Because I have been given much, I too must give Because of Thy great bounty Lord, each day I live. I shall divide my gifts from Thee With every brother that I see Who has need of help from me. Because I have been sheltered, fed, by Thy good ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Does Anybody Know Who Has Won The Most Ncaa ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Does anybody know who has won the most NCAA national championships in men’s basketball? It was John Wooden - the coach of the UCLA Bruins. He won all those championships because he focused on. He created TEAMS. If you watch many basketball matchups, you’ll see that many teams have a “go-to” guy who ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

C.s. Lewis Once Said, "I Do Not Believe One Can ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

C.S. Lewis once said, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

A Preacher That Came To The Breakfast Table With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A preacher that came to the breakfast table with a cut on his cheek. His wife asked him what had happened. He told her that he was concentrating on his sermon while shaving and had cut himself. His wife ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

One Day A Young Minister Was Being Escorted ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One day a young minister was being escorted through a coalmine. At the entrance of one of the dim passageways, he spied a beautiful white flower growing out of the black earth. "How can it blossom in such purity and radiance in this dirty mine? The preacher asked. "Throw some coal dust on it and ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

In One Of His Powerful Writings R. C. Sproul ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In one of his powerful writings R. C. Sproul observed that unbelievers often feel uneasy in the presence of an obedient Christian. The holiness of God reflected in a believer’s life makes the non-Christian uncomfortable. Sproul then told the following true incident to illustrate his point: A ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

This Week I Came Across This Tongue Firmly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

This week I came across this tongue firmly implanted in cheek article titled “Pastor Quits Sports”. Here is why this pastor quit going to sporting events: 1. Every time I went they asked me for money. 2. The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly. 3. The seats were too hard and ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ