In Sermon Illustrations: "Divine Direction"

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Aug 16, 2008

Metamorphosis In a world filled with sweet scents and blue sky, Lives the gentle, uplifting butterfly, Whose metamorphosis has this truth to teach: Our aspirations are within our reach. For this fluttering flyer of soaring worth Was at one time a creature that crawled the earth. When she climbed ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

When Church Is Miraculously Moved (Illustration: ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2009

When Church Is Miraculously Moved (Illustration: 7606) The faith that moves mountains is borne out by the church that was moved by the Hand of God. Such a church stands to this day in the village of Swan Quarter, North Carolina. Before it was built in 1874 the congregation eyed with longing a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20-21

Tags: Miracles General

Suburban Outreach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

SUBURBAN OUTREACH Calvin Miller teaches in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Beeson Divinity School. He recently wrote a provocative article entitled, "Rethinking Suburban Evangelism," on the challenge taking the gospel to people who sense no need: "Suburbia: the push-button Zion of those who have made ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Church: A Model Home  PRO

Contributed by Ciprian Luca on Jun 19, 2010

THE CHURCH: A MODEL HOME "Perhaps the best analogy to describe all this is that of a model home. We are God's demonstration community of the rule of Christ in the (unbelieving) city. On a tract of earth's land, purchased with the blood of Christ, Jesus the kingdom developer has begun building new ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Thoughts On Discipleship By Willard, Stott, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

THOUGHTS ON DISCIPLESHIP by Willard, Stott, and Warren Dallas Willard in his book "Divine Conspiracy" states: "....discipleship is real-life apprenticeship to Jesus." If we are students of Jesus then we must be with him. If I am an apprentice, a disciple, that means I must be with him to learn ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Discipleship

The Gates Will Not Prevail

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 17, 2011

THE GATES WILL NOT PREVAIL Jesus said: "Upon this rock (of Peter's testimony that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18 Now the odd thing about Jesus' statement was this: Gates don't attack. ...read more

Tags: Hell

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Visit Of Some Of Our Church Members To A ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 30, 2011

Visit of some of our Church members to a Departmental store to buy gifts for orphans/widows during Christmas season... Last Christmas, the womenfolk of our Church went to a reasonably distant Departmental store to buy gifts for the widows/orphans/Sunday school children of our Church. When, they ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other

The Journey Of Jonathan Aitken

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Nov 5, 2012

THE JOURNEY OF JONATHAN AITKEN Jonathan Aitken was a British war correspondent in Viet Nam, Chief-Executive of TV-AM, and for 23 years an MP including time as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and a Defence Minister. Jonathan Aitken's life fell apart after he was caught telling a lie under oath in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Anglican

An Illustration About Ephesians 2:9

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 30, 2022

The author of this illustration is G. M. Landis. I have no idea who this person is or was. I had bought a Bible at a thrift store and the piece of paper with this illustration was inside the front cover (this was a hardcover Bible). The illustration itself appears to have been written for a daily ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:9

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Works, G M Landis

Denomination: Baptist

Famous Authors Who Mocked God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 9, 2023

Ernest Hemingway became famous for snubbing his nose at morality and at God, declaring that his own life proved a person could do anything he wanted without paying the consequences. Like many others before and after him, he considered the ideas of the Bible to be antiquated and outdated, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Truth, Judgment, Lost, Sowing, Infidels, Reaping, Spiritual Blindness, Irreverence, Mocking God, Unbelievers, Atheists  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eclipses Mentioned In The Bible

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

The Bible contains several references to eclipses, both solar and lunar. Let’s explore some of these passages: Isaiah 13:10: “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light.” This ...read more

Tags: Last Days, Rapture, Tribulation, Signs, Return Of Christ, Solar Eclipse, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Western Heavens Were Alight With The Soft ...

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

The western heavens were alight with the soft afterglow of the long summer day. The last stirrings of the afternoon sea wind murmured drowsily in the moss-hung maples along the drive. Inside the old house, a small fire burned slowly on the stone hearth, while above it, comfortably set on the wide ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Over The Edge

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 19, 2006

Over the Edge The Adirondack Mountains make a breathtaking backdrop for wilderness canoeing. Two friends and I had taken vacation time to get away from it all and live out of our canoes for a week. Each day we would take a new direction to explore the area. One day we took one of ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Over The Edge

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 27, 2006

Over the Edge The Adirondack Mountains make a breathtaking backdrop for wilderness canoeing. Two friends and I had taken vacation time to get away from it all and live out of our canoes for a week. Each day we would take a new direction to explore the area. One day we took one of the finger ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Many Are Trusting The Rope? (Unknown)  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 18, 2002

MANY ARE TRUSTING THE ROPE? (unknown) They tell the story of a mountain climber, who desired to conquer the Aconcagua Mountain in Argentina, near the Chilean border. The Aconcagua Mountain is the highest mountain in the Andes, and the highest mountain in the western hemisphere. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:18-35

Tags: Doing God's Will, Doubt, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Strike First, Strike Fast, Strike Hard

Contributed by Jeffrey Kellum on May 8, 2003

strike first, strike fast, strike hard - Illustration: For years many Karate schools taught this philosophy. In competition these opponents are the easiest to read. They become proficient at initiating a number of specific combinations that lead to quick victories. But there are inherent ...read more

Tags: Hope, Christian Disciplines, Conflict, Wisdom, Struggles, Victory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Do You Have A Portable God?" Numbers 10: 11-21 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 7, 2005

“Do You Have A Portable God?” Numbers 10: 11-21 Key verse(s): 21:“Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.” Think about this! The only time that you will be through with change in this life is when your life is through. Life in an ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:11-21

Tags: God Brings Hope, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Lutheran

The Heart Of Mary: Submission To The Lord  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Heart of Mary: Submission to the Lord "I am the Lord's servant... May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) The first desire in the child of God who wants to enjoy the favor of God in his life is to die to self and surrender to the will of God in his life. The key word here "servant" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:38

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Views On Civil Disobedience By Believers

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 29, 2023

There are at least three general positions on the matter of civil disobedience. The anarchist view says that a person can choose to disobey the government whenever he likes and whenever he feels he is personally justified in doing so. Such a stance has no biblical support whatsoever, as evidenced ...read more

Tags: Leaders, Civil Disobedience, Patriotism, Persecution, America, Submission, Government, Authority  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Old Boatman Painted The Word "Faith" On One ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2001

An old boatman painted the word "faith" on one oar of his boat and "works" on the other. He was asked his reason for this. In answer, he slipped the oar with "faith" into the water and rowed. The boat, of course, made a very tight circle. Returning to the dock, the boatman then said, "Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26