In Sermon Illustrations: "Despair Can Have Help"

Confusing Messages

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 19, 2009

CONFUSING MESSAGES PARIS (AFP) – Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times per week cut their risk of dying from heart disease about threefold compared to those who never touch the stuff, scientists have reported. ...the new study, led by Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How To Use A Gospel Tract

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 20, 2025

How to use a Gospel Tract You are all receiving an envelope with a variety of gospel tracts from a ministry, Moments With The Book – www.mwtb.org You can go to their website and see all the different tracts and order any of them you like. Today, look over the ones that are in your envelope. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Prayer, Gospel Tract

Denomination: Methodist

In God's Economy, Ownership Is Very Different. ...

Contributed by Darryl Klassen on Jul 27, 2007

“In God’s economy, ownership is very different. The Bible tells us that we are here for but a moment, that our lives are a puff of smoke. I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. Mother Theresa is merciless on this theme. She said that “if you have two jackets, one belongs to the poor.” This ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Driven By Hurt

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 11, 2022

DRIVEN BY HURT! MIGHT I ADD A PREACHER’S PERSPECTIVE TO START THIS LESSON? BE KIND TO EVERY PERSON. PERHAPS YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND THE BATTLES OTHERS ARE FACING. A preacher friend of mine was having some self-doubts and fears he was facing. There was a rather large family that had ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:3, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Bitter, Hurt, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Some Years Ago A Christmas Card Pictured A World ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 19, 2002

Some years ago a Christmas card pictured a world into which You had not come. A minister fell asleep in his study on Christmas morn. In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but no little stockings hung by the chimney. No Christmas wreaths nor holly decorated the house. He walked ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Wesleyan

When Dr. W.a. Criswell, Pastor Of The Largest ...  PRO

Contributed by David Rogers on Nov 16, 2004

When Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist Church in North America, was preaching I the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago, he was entertained at the home of deacon James L. Kraft who was the superintendent of the Sunday School and founder of Kraft foods. Kraft said that as ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Earliest And The Most Outstanding ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of the earliest and the most outstanding intellectuals, leaders and defenders of the Christian faith was Augustine, the fourth century writer of the “Confessions of Saint Augustine,” one of the most famous tell-all autobiographies written. Young Augustine was a hedonist, a philosopher, an ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11

Tags: Servanthood

Identifies With Our Suffering

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 28, 2008

IDENTIFIES WITH OUR SUFFERING His name was Joseph Damien, and you’ve probably heard his story before, but it bears repeating. A Belgian priest, he was sent in 1873 to minister to lepers in Hawaii. As soon as he arrived on Molokai, he began trying to build friendships with the residents of the ...read more

Tags: Suffering, Submit, Why Suffering, Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Blood Of Lambs

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

THE BLOOD OF LAMBS I just finished a very moving book called, "The Blood of Lambs" by Kamal Saleem (Howard Books, 2009). He describes his life as a terrorist and how he hated Israel and America. He also couldn't stand Christians--that is, until God brought some Christian men into his life after he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Islam

A Recipe For A Turkey

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Nov 25, 2008

A RECIPE FOR A TURKEY How many of you are planning to cook a turkey? Well, I'm going to help you out. Sometimes it's hard to know when a big bird like a turkey is cooked to perfection. I came across a recipe that might help. You'll need --- 10-15 lb. turkey 2 cup melted butter 2 cup ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loving The Outcasts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

LOVING THE OUTCASTS One of the more remarkable movements of modern times is Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they might solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. Although it is ...read more

Scripture: John 4:9

Tags: Action, Thirst, Common Ground, Christian Love

Lordship Is Like "Leader" Or "Director." I Think ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Powers on May 3, 2003

Lordship is like "leader" or "director." I think of it like a personal piano teacher. Your teacher knows your skills and knows how to get you to the next level because they’ve been there before. They may have you do drills or exercises that will help you get stronger or more dexterity in your ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Junk Is A Matter Of Personal Definition

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 10, 2020

I thought I had everything organized and in order. It just shows how useless my thinking is these days. There are many piles in my office and on my desk, and I know what is in each pile. Everything is organized to my specifications. My rule is: if I can't find something, I don't need it. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Tags: Work, Humor, Planning, Office Space

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Prejudice Comes From An Unclean ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Prejudice Comes from an Unclean Heart I like this thought posted by Mike Atkinson in his daily email humor list some time ago. If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-15

Tags: Racism

Quoting The English Preacher John Daniel Jones: ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 11, 2005

Quoting the English preacher John Daniel Jones: He lived from 1865-1942, this is from his sermon The Sovereignty of God In our absorption in the thought of God as Father, we have almost lost sight of the fact that He is the Holy Sovereign, ruling the world in righteousness. The result has been ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence, God's Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Has Ever Heard Of Harriet Tubman Before? Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Feb 25, 2003

Who has ever heard of Harriet Tubman before? Her story is an exciting one. She was a runaway slave who was able to get to the north with the help of some sympathetic people both white and black. She was so thankful for the help that she had received that she decided to risk her own life to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Underground Railroad

Denomination: Lutheran

The Story Is Told Of A Woman Involved In Bitter ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 31, 2006

The story is told of a woman involved in bitter fighting with her husband. Seeking professional help she was asked by the counselor, "Have you tried heaping coals of fire on his head?" to ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Salvation Army

Obedience

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Jan 2, 2021

There was a boy who went trekking on the mountain. He reached a great height when he realized that it was getting dark and he had to reach the bottom soon. He began climbing down. It was getting darker and darker, so dark that he could barely see. He was somehow managing to get down the mountain ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22

Tags: Obedience, Listening To God

The Key To Life Is Forgetting The Right Things

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 27, 2024

The thing that has concerned me as I have aged was about forgetting things. How could I remember everything when I was crowding my brain with all kinds of new things? In this regard, there is no comparison between The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I have a problem remembering, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Tags: Remember, Forget

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Men's Thesaurus  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 10, 2001

THE MEN’S THESAURUS (men don’t always say what they mean) – excerpts: When a man says: "IT’S A GUY THING" He means: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical" When a man says "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER" He means: "Why isn’t it ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Dealing With Conflicts, Father's Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ