In Sermon Illustrations: "Doer Of The Word"

Comedian And Actor Chris Farley, Of Saturday ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 20, 2009

Comedian and actor Chris Farley, of Saturday Night Live fame, was found dead in his downtown Chicago apartment on December 18, 1997. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later reported that he died of an opiate and cocaine overdose (James Barron, “Chris Farley, 33, a Versatile Comedian-Actor,” ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Other

Take Time To By Holy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

TAKE TIME TO BY HOLY Let me begin with what little I could glean concerning this hymn and its author: For many years, the only information known about this gospel song was what Ira D. Sankey wrote in his autobiography. Sankey (1840-1908) was the well-known gospel singer and hymn writer who ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Holiness

Several Years Ago, The Leadership Of A Fairly ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 10, 2009

Several years ago, the leadership of a fairly large English church became tired of the ‘worship wars.’ They were tired of different people getting mad and getting upset when the worship leader didn’t embrace their particular way or mode of worship. Some wanted hymns. Some wanted both. Some wanted ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Church Of God

J.c. Penney Born Again

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

J.C. PENNEY BORN AGAIN The late great business man and entrepreneur, James Cash Penney (1875 - 1971), founder of the J.C. Penney stores, in his autobiography entitled "Fifty Years with the Golden Rule," tells of his being in the Battle Creek Sanitarium one night when he thought he was dying. He ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 10:12, Hosea 10:12-13

Tags: Born Again

Pastor Li De Xian (Shee-An) Was Arrested 13 Times ...

Contributed by Rick George on Oct 29, 2009

Pastor Li De Xian (Shee-an) was arrested 13 times in six months for "illegal preaching" to his congregation of 100. During his first arrest he was drug outside, brutally beaten, repeatedly kicked in the stomach and groin before his congregation. Upon arrival at the police station, he was beaten ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boy Survives In Wilderness By Obeying Father's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Boy Survives in Wilderness by Obeying Father’s Instructions More than ninety people conducted an ALL-NIGHT SEARCH for an eight-year-old boy named Dominic. While on a skiing trip with his father, this little boy apparently had ridden a new lift and skied off the run without realizing it. They hoped ...read more

Scripture: John 15:7-11

Tags: Obedience

No Peace In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2009

No Peace in World The weekend of December 7, 1941, started out to be another routine weekend. The aircraft carriers were at dockside and the crews were enjoying the day with rest and relaxation. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. This was a perfect picture of ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: War

We Can Love Him With Our Mind By Reading All The ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

We can love him with our mind by reading all the great things he has done for us, we can have warm loving feelings toward him because of these things, but may I suggest that this is where many Christians are stuck. The part that is lacking is an experience of Him that makes the thoughts and ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Years Ago I Was Invited Out To A Farm In West ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 25, 2009

Years ago I was invited out to a farm in West Wyalong, in NSW. It was night when we arrived and after eating, the farmer invited us out to the barn. He had a large torch and shone it around the floor. At first I didn’t realize what I was looking at. The floor seemed to be moving in waves. The waves ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Each Night When I Turn Off The Study Light And ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 25, 2009

Each night when I turn off the study light and stumble blindly towards the bedroom, trying not to wake Julie, who often goes to bed before me, I realize how helpless I am in the darkness. My night vision is hopeless. Kitchen benches, edge of the Pantry and doors seem to deliberately thwart my ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cinderella Man Tells The True Story Of Boxing ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 4, 2010

Cinderella Man tells the true story of boxing legend James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), who made an incredible comeback during the Great Depression. Injured and arthritic, Braddock’s promising career was cut short, and he had to go on public assistance when he couldn’t get work at the docks in New ...read more

Tags: Strength

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Following God Ordained Passions, Like Wilson ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Following God Ordained Passions, like Wilson Bentley the Snowflake Photographer I want to die the same way Wilson Bentley died. Wilson grew up on a farm in Jericho, Vermont, and as a young boy he developed a fascination with snowflakes. Obsession might be a better word for it. Most people go ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Tags: Zeal

Answered Prayer Helps Persuade Agnostic While ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

Answered Prayer Helps Persuade Agnostic While F.B. Meyer on Oceanliner While crossing the Atlantic on an oceanliner, F.B. Meyer was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain’s request he spoke on "Answered Prayer." An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Prayer Persistence

I Was Speaking To Someone About New Zealand A ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 15, 2010

I was speaking to someone about New Zealand a couple of days ago and how when we went there we had explored the colourful natural volcanic areas of Rotorua - bubbling mud, steaming ground and geysers, huge volcanic craters and weird and wonderful rock formations. Although it was beautiful the smell ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Eternal Hell

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First And Last "All"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

THE FIRST AND LAST "ALL" After a mission service, the preacher of the evening was hurrying away to a late train. He had just three minutes to catch it when he saw a man running after him. "Oh, sir," he said breathlessly as he came up, "Can you help me? I am very anxious about my salvation." ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:6

Tags: Evangelism How To

Strange Yet Sufficient Answered Prayer

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

"STRANGE YET SUFFICIENT" ANSWERED PRAYER James Gilmour, a missionary to Mongolia, was once asked to treat some wounded soldiers. Although he was not a doctor, he did have some knowledge of first aid, so he felt he could not refuse the request. He dressed the wounds of two of the men, but a ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: *other

Get Up Stronger

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

GET UP STRONGER By the beginning of the nineteenth century, about three million African slaves had been transported to the Americas on British ships. People being stolen from their homes, ripped from their families, robbed of their dignity, transported on ships 3 decks deep, squalid conditions, ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Radical Faith  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 24, 2011

RADICAL FAITH I want to read to you the opening story from David Platt's book "The Radical Question" (Multnomah Press). Imagine a scene that took place in Asia not so long ago: A room in an ordinary house, dimly lit, all the blinds on the windows closed. Twenty leaders from churches in the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:10-17

Tags: Persecution, Better Together

Denomination: Nazarene

The Unexpected King

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

THE UNEXPECTED KING Just a year ago (on September 16, 2009), an article in The Washington Post began with these words: "The king folds her own laundry, chauffeurs herself around Washington in a 1992 Honda, and answers her own phone. Her boss's phone, too." The article was about Peggielene Bartels, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-8

Tags: Election

Leaders Are Born And Made

Contributed by Tim White on May 7, 2011

LEADERS ARE BORN AND MADE J. Oswald Sanders in his classic “Spiritual Leadership” believes that leaders are both born and made. “While conversion does not normally make leaders of people who would never become such otherwise, Church history teaches that in the hour of full surrender the Holy ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist