In Sermon Illustrations: "Do It"

How Do You Recognize An Idol In Your Life?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

Jacob was told to lay down his idols and come back home to Bethel to serve God. Is there an idol in your life that you need to forsake. How do you know if something is an idol in your life? Here are 3 ways we can we identify or recognize the idols in our lives: 1. The feeling of: If I have ...read more

Tags: Idols, Revival, Repent, Idolatry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Often Do You Preach On The Resurrection Of Christ?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Peter spent one verse on Jesus' life/incarnation (Acts 2:22) and one verse on His death/crucifixion (Acts 2:23), but now proceeds to spend 9 verses on His resurrection. In fact, the resurrection of Christ could well be called the main theme of the apostolic preaching in Acts. In fact, notice ...read more

Tags: Pentecost, Preaching, Word Of God, Simon Peter, Book Of Acts, Resurrection, Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Talking About Evangelism And Just Do It!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2022

While D. L. Moody was attending a convention in Indianapolis on mass evangelism, he asked his song leader, Ira Sankey, to meet him at six o'clock one evening at a certain street corner. When Sankey arrived, Mr. Moody asked him to stand on a box and sing. Once a crowd had gathered, Moody spoke ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy, Good Samaritan, Evangelism, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do We Know That Jesus Is The Son Of God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we approach the last of the last days, we see an alarming trend among many pastors to drift away from the basic truths of Scripture. We should not be surprised. Jesus promised this day would come (Matthew 24, II Timothy 3). So, how do we know for sure from Scripture that Jesus is the very ...read more

Tags: Deity, Son Of God, Apostasy, Jesus, Truth, Last Days, Heresy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Do So Few Christians Share Their Faith?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to me: "I am afraid I might do more harm than good." "I don't know what to say." "I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions." "I may ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Fear Of Man, Great Supper, Man Pleasing, Evangelism, Fear, Gospel, Parables, Excuses, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom, Why Do You Have White Hair???

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 5, 2022

One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast to her brunette hair. She looks at her mother and inquisitively asks: “Why are some of your hairs white, ...read more

Tags: Sermon Introductions, Aging, Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Grandmothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Really Believe What You Are Preaching?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

When Charles Peace (a convicted thief and murderer) was being escorted to the gallows, he was accompanied by a clergyman reading from The Consolations of Religion about the “flames never quenched.” Peace was a known criminal for whom the public had no sympathy; no one can say with confidence the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Scripture, Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Witnessing, Last Words, Unbelievers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do I Need To File A Missing Persons Report?

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 10, 2022

Every week comes and goes, and some go faster than others. Such was last week. It started pretty well, but then everything went downhill. I had my semiannual doctor's visit. After all, he has kids that need to go to college. After his complete examination of me, he said, "You're ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10

Tags: Police, Thrift Store

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Do You Have Enough Points To Get To Heaven?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

I heard a story the other day about a guy who died and stood before the gates of heaven. An angel met him and said, “We have a new plan for getting into heaven. We’re now using a point system and you need 1,000 to enter.” The man told the angel that this would be no problem as he started rattling ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Justification, Sinners, Evangelism, Grace, Forgiveness, Sin, Heaven, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things You Do When You Are Obsessed With Prophecy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2023

Things you do when you are obsessed with biblical prophecy: 1. You always leave the top down on your convertible in case the Rapture happens while you are driving! 2. You never buy green bananas. 3. Bar code scanners make you nervous. 4. You refuse a tax refund check because the amount comes ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:12-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Return Of Christ, Prophecy, Second Coming, Antichrist, Parousia, Rapture, Tribulation, Revelation, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Asked C.s. Lewis, "Why Do The Righteous ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They’re ...read more

Scripture: Micah 7:8, Micah 7:7-9

Tags: Endurance, Apologetics General, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Feel About People? A Pastor Arranged ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 2, 2001

How do you feel about people? A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary. It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak. At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list. The parson ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Prayer Answered, Grace

Denomination: United Methodist

Woman Asked, ’if You Had It To Do All Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 17, 2001

Woman asked, ’If you had it to do all over again would you have children? ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting, Mother's Day

The Bible Says, "Today, If You Hear His Voice, Do ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Feb 10, 2001

The Bible says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." How do I know if I am hearing his voice you say? One time, I made a homemade kite. I used about a thousand yards of my grandmothers crochet thread for the string. I let that kite out as far as I could on that string. So ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Holy Spirit Attributes, Trinity

Denomination: Baptist

It¡¦s So Easy To Criticize What Others Are Doing. ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Aug 20, 2001

It¡¦s so easy to criticize what others are doing. If you look diligently enough you can find something wrong with everything. A farmer¡¦s neighbor was so negative, criticizing everything and anything. The farmer bought a new plow, the neighbor said it would rust soon. The farmer remarked how it ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Friend

Denomination: United Methodist

We Should Make Work What We Live To Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Oct 28, 2001

“We should make work what we live to do for the Lord, not ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Baptist

George Whitefield Asked A Man, ‘sir What Do You ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Nov 27, 2001

George Whitefield asked a man, ‘Sir what do you believe? I believe what my church believes.’ What does your church believe? It believes what I believe. And what ...read more

Tags: Bible Study, Bible Influence

It's Easy To Avoid Criticism: All You Have To Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

It’s easy to avoid criticism: all you have to do is say nothing, do ...read more

Tags: Criticism, Fear And Worry, Endurance

Why Do You Hasten To Remove Anything Which Hurts ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Jesus Teachings

Do Good To Thy Friend To Keep Him, To Thy Enemy ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Compassion, Christian Love