In Sermon Illustrations: "Disciplines Meditation"

Self-Righteous Service Comes Through Human ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 19, 2007

Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside. Self-righteous service is impressed with the “big deal.” True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service. Self-righteous service ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Is The Answer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Krister Sairsingh, a former Hindu from Trinidad who is now the Chaplain to international students at Harvard. Let me read you some excerpts from his story. After making great progress in the Hindu spiritual disciplines something happened that unsettled him deeply. During my final year of high ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-32

Tags: Evangelism, Conversion, Jesus Is The Answer

Denomination: Methodist

Undefiled Ears  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Undefiled Ears" The church that prolongs the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ has Christians who long to have undefiled ears. Isaiah 50:4-5 says, "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, wakens my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-5, Isaiah 50:4-10

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walter Payton Played 13 Seasons Of Football For ...

Contributed by John Shearhart on Jul 1, 2006

Walter Payton played 13 seasons of football for the Chicago Bears. His weight-training regimen in the off-season became legendary. Besides lifting, his daily routine included runs along the obstacles near the Pearl River in Mississippi. He ran through "The Sand" (65 yards ...read more

Tags: Character

Modern-Day Pharisees

Contributed by Tim Spear on Sep 6, 2011

MODERN-DAY PHARISEES These Pharisees were not true shepherds, but actually thieves and robbers. Killing the sheep, leading them to their destruction. How many so-called shepherds today are leading their flocks to destruction by giving them religion instead of relationship? By leading them in ...read more

Tags: Pastors

Denomination: Baptist

We Can't Be A Servant If We Think We're In ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

We can’t be a servant if we think we’re in charge. There’s an old blues song by B.B. King called, “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss.” Jesus is calling us to something different when we carry the cross and follow him. We’re “paying the cost to not be the boss.” Being a ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Christaholics

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Author Calvin Miller writes: “Many Christians are only “Christaholics” and not disciples at all. Disciples are cross-bearers; they seek Christ. Christaholics seek happiness. Disciples dare to discipline themselves, and the demands they place on themselves leave them enjoying the happiness of their ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Creche And The Second Coming

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Marques Silva writes, “In college I was surprised when a close friend explained her family crèche. It wasn’t the style or the model that caused me to pause. It was the addition of a figurine that I had neither seen nor considered before. This particular set included not only the baby Jesus but an ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Second Coming, Creche

Denomination: Methodist

You Gotta Look At It!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

YOU GOTTA LOOK AT IT! A man was seated on a park bench when a little chap of about five sat down beside him and started winding what appeared to be a most prized possession--a watch. "My, what a pretty watch," remarked the man. "Does it tell you the time?" "No sir," replied the boy; "you gotta ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Tags: Hold, Bible Truth

Worship Is Giving God The Best That He Has ...

Contributed by Ned Bartlebaugh on Oct 21, 2007

“Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard a thing ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Read The Instructions

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 25, 2009

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS Debbie's laptop broke several months ago, causing some frustration. We couldn't afford right now to put it in the shop, so we decided to attempt repair. We found a hard drive for really a great price, so we purchased and installed it into the drive bay. Suppose I failed to ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

A Test For Delinquency  PRO

Contributed by Martin Wiles on May 9, 2002

A TEST FOR DELINQUENCY Harvard University sociologists developed a test with a 90% accuracy reading to determine whether or not a five and six-year-old would be delinquent. They discovered four factors necessary to prevent delinquency: ’the father’s firm, fair, and consistent discipline; the ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Baptist

To Prepare Our Children For Life We Must Teach ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Oct 10, 2005

To prepare our children for life we must teach them choices have consequences everywhere. If we really care about them and want what is best we will prepare them for life by controlling and disciplining them. Bill Gates, speaking at a graduation ceremony gave some life rules ...read more

Tags: Workplace Integrity, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Baptist

The Graduate School Of Ministry Management (Gsmm) ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

The Graduate School of Ministry Management (GSMM) has launched a graduate program designed to support top level Christian ministry and marketplace executives. Modeled after Executive MBA programs established by major universities, GSMM’s mandate is to empower and equip Christian leaders with ...read more

Tags: Church General

What Is "Daily Bread"?

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 18, 2011

WHAT IS "DAILY BREAD"? Martin Luther wrote in 1529: "What does daily bread mean? Everything that nourishes our body and meets its needs, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, yard, fields, cattle, money, possessions, a devout spouse, devout children, devout employees, devout and faithful ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sabina Was An Art Student Who Had Been Raised A ...

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 25, 2002

Sabina was an art student who had been raised a Catholic. While at college she decided to explore magic and witchcraft and got involved with a form of mysticism known as Kabala. From there she moved into a hippie community, which embraced those things and many more. She travelled through various ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Becoming A Christian, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Way Of The ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Way of the Righteous What They Are Like? “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Richard Foster: To Pray Is To Change

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2011

RICHARD FOSTER: TO PRAY IS TO CHANGE Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, says, "To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-14

Tags: Growth In Christ

A Man Who Loves Wisdom Brings Joy To His ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Aug 1, 2008

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father The rod of correction imparts wisdom So remember kids, when mom or dad is disciplining you with the “rod of correction” Also known as the belt or maybe the fly swatter If mom had come after me with a fly swatter I probably would have laughed She ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

Listen For What God May Be Saying To You About ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 11, 2008

Listen for what God may be saying to you about this. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” To help you pray and listen. I have a prayer station set up. Take a ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Church Of God