In Sermon Illustrations: "Deeper"

Old Testament Scholar Christopher Wright States ...

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 26, 2009

Old Testament scholar Christopher Wright states in his book Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament, "I find myself aware that in reading the Hebrew Scriptures, I am handling something that gives me a closer link with Jesus than any archaeological artifact could do...Above all, this is where he ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Methodist

Recovery Is Connection

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

RECOVERY IS CONNECTION Henry Cloud in How People Grow writes, "Virtually every emotional and psychological problem, from addictions to depression, has alienation or emotional isolation at its core or close to it. Recovery from these problems involves helping people get more connected to each other ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Make The First Move

Contributed by Dr. Zachary Sizemore on May 17, 2011

MAKE THE FIRST MOVE Many years ago I was preaching in a little mountain church in a close community. There was a division between two men in the church over a cow. Their families had been at odds, and they had brought the argument into the church. One of the men bought a cow and the other man ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Bible Church

Good Without God

Contributed by John Sears on Jul 20, 2011

GOOD WITHOUT GOD An atheist organization recently got into hot water when it put up a billboard that crossed over onto church property. The message on the billboard read, "I can be good without God." What do you think? The funny thing is I agree, I think they are right! They have hit something ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus

Denomination: Christian Church

During The Reign Of Oliver Cromwell, There Was A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dixon Olu. David on Apr 26, 2004

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. “We have searched the empire in vain seeking to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Foursquare

When A Child Doesn't Get His Or Her Own Way The ...  PRO

Contributed by W F on Sep 20, 2004

When a child doesn’t get his or her own way the common response to the parent is, “You don’t love me.” Of course this isn’t true. The parent’s love hasn’t changed. It’s just that at that moment their love is expressing itself differently than how the child wants it. God’s love is like that. ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: *other

Neil Orchard Was Talking With A Farmer About His ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

Neil Orchard was talking with a farmer about his soy bean and corn crops. Rain had been abundant, and the results were evident. So his comment surprised him: "My crops are especially vulnerable. Even a short drought could have a devastating effect." "Why?" Orchard asked. He explained that ...read more

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed, Bible Study, Disciplines General

Denomination: Baptist

A Small Boy Was In His Sand Box Playing And ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Feb 23, 2003

A small boy was in his sand box playing and digging in the sand. He finally struck a rock as he dug in deeper. He kept on digging and found it to be a huge rock that he could barely move. He struggled and fought to get the rock out of the box. With one final effort he used all his strength to ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Pentecostal

Forgiveness Is To Release, To Let Go, Relinquish, ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Feb 19, 2004

Forgiveness is to release, to let go, relinquish, get rid of sin—ours and those we’ve been victimized by. Dr. Lewis Smedes, one of my professors at Fuller wrote about what forgiveness is not. · When you forgive a person, this does not mean you are immediately healed. · When you forgive a person, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:13

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

C. H. Spurgeon Told About The Deep Love And ...

Contributed by Ray Searan on Feb 21, 2007

C. H. Spurgeon told about the deep love and devotion French soldiers had for their leader Napoleon. He noted that it was not at all unusual for a mortally wounded soldier to raise himself up on one elbow and give a final cheer to his revered General. In addition, if by chance the dying man saw ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Cover Story Of Time Magazine Once Featured ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The cover story of Time magazine once featured actor Peter Sellers (Mar 3, 1980). Appearing on The Muppet Show, he was told by Kermit the Frog that it was all right to "just relax and be yourself.’ To which Sellers replied, "I could never be myself. You see, there is no me. I do not exist." ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

I'm Not Talking About Perfection, But I Am ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2008

I’m not talking about perfection, but I am talking about a desire for perfection. “Let me explain with an example from marriage. Let’s suppose my wife asks me to go to the store and buy some things, but I deliberately buy a number of other things instead. It is not a mistake on my part; rather, I ...read more

Edward Scissorhands: Get Sculpting!

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 4, 2008

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS: GET SCULPTING! Edward Scissorhands – A 1990 film about a man created by a scientist. Edward has scissors and shears for hands. He was certainly a misfit in the colorful portrayal of a typical suburban community. He stood out, his scars ran deeper than his face, and he was ...read more

Tags: Stewardship

Denomination: Salvation Army

Being Wanted  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

BEING WANTED I heard of a story this week that really moved me deep. It’s a story of a black girl who had cleft palate (bungi). She was the butt of jokes and was very unhappy. They called her names – ugly names that just drove her deeper into despair. Most people made no attention to her except ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Mary Begins By Telling God That She Praises Him ...

Contributed by Bob Gillchrest on Dec 1, 2008

Mary begins by telling God that she praises Him from the depths of her soul. I learned a long time ago, when I was minoring in music in college, that there are different ways that we can sing with our voices. A person can sing in their throats. That’s not recommended because it tends to be a ...read more

Tags: Soul

Denomination: Baptist

Hans The Tailor

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2009

HANS THE TAILOR Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve twisted that way and the other this way; one shoulder bulged out and ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-29

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

There Is A Commercial For A Television Service ...

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 16, 2012

There is a commercial for a television service provider that states, if you don’t get good programs, you feel bad about yourself. When you feel bad about yourself you go to self-improvement seminars. When you go to self-improvement seminars, you feel like a winner. When you feel like a winner, you ...read more

Tags: Human Life

Denomination: Baptist

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Why Jesus Used Parables

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 16, 2013

WHY JESUS USED PARABLES The following thoughts reveal why Jesus used the parabolic method (They are adapted from - All the Parables of The Bible by Herbert Lockyer). • Parables attract attention and when fully understood are sure to be remembered. They are a great help for our short-term ...read more

Tags: Parables, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Hildebrand Who Has Lived In The Artesian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

John Hildebrand who has lived in the Artesian Valley, near Fowler, Kansas, since he was two years old, remembers why the valley has the name it does. "There were hundreds of natural springs in this valley. If you drilled a well for your house, the natural water pressure was enough to go through ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith