In Sermon Illustrations: "Doing"

We Are Not Just Ants

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 20, 2011

WE ARE NOT JUST ANTS Broadway play: Spider Man Green Goblin has Spider Man in his grip as they fight atop the Chrysler Building in NYC. It is hundreds of feet to the ground. The Goblin says to Spider Man, "Look down there Spider Man. What do you see? Look at all those people. They look like ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

Buy Less, Love More

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

BUY LESS, LOVE MORE Shane Claiborne writes: I am incredibly hopeful this Advent, because there are so many signs of Christians who are longing for new ways to celebrate our Savior that are not cluttered with the noise of shopping and infected with the myth that happiness must be purchased. On the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Methodist

When We Are Together

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 3, 2011

WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER Mary Saunders, a missionary’s helper in Africa, described a regular meeting she had with a new Christian in Somalia. The regular appointment was secret because the area was Muslim and did not tolerate other religions. On this particular evening, Mary reviewed the memory verse ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Makes Your Face Shine?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

WHAT MAKES YOUR FACE SHINE? A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, "What do you put on your face to make it shine?" With surprise the man of God answered, "I don’t put anything on it!" His questioner began to lose patience and said emphatically, "Yes, you do! All of you who believe in ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Love's Old-Fashioned Notion

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Sep 4, 2011

LOVE'S OLD-FASHIONED NOTION Tina Turner once asked a powerful question, one that became a hit song of the early-eighties. She asked, "What does love have to do with it?" Her song is replete with two, rhetorical questions: "What's love but a second hand emotion" and "Who needs a heart, when a ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

The Gradual Road To Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2011

THE GRADUAL ROAD TO HELL In C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters, we read the story of an older demon counseling a younger demon. At one point in the book, we read these words: "You will say that these are very small sins, and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Sin Deceptive, Risk Of Sin

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Can't Take His Eyes Off Of Me!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

There were 2 boys playing one day when they got bored. Little Johnny turned to his buddy, Billy, and said, "You know something, I'm bored. Let's go to the store and steal some candy!" Billy says: "Oh no! I can't do that! God is watching me!“ Little Johnny replies: ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Dishonesty, Heavenly Father, God's Providence, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reveal Your True Colors

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 10, 2023

TO SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS DATES BACK TO THE 1700s. Ships were required to fly flags at sea. These flags would identify where the ship was from and the type of cargo. PIRATES OFTEN HID THEIR REAL IDENTY BY FLYING FALSE FLAGS. By doing doing this the PIRATES WOULD DECEIVE OTHER SHIPS TO NOT RAISE ...read more

Scripture: James 1:3

Tags: Faith, Flag

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Jesus Is Coming --- Get Busy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 22, 2024

During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. On May 19th, 1780 the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, ...read more

Tags: Return Of Christ, Prophecy, Faithfulness, Second Coming, Rapture, Laziness, Time, Work, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gang Member's Turf

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

We learned that the belt of truth is a belt of truthfulness. It is “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). It is avoiding all forms of lies, hypocrisy, deception, and manipulation because that is the devil’s turf. Gang members in these big cities understand the value of staying on your own turf. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Safety, Spiritual Warfare, Truthfulness, Lies, Turf  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Fire Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 17, 2024

The New Testament church (during Pentecost) did not have good instruments, equipment’s, music, and large buildings, but they had the fire of the Holy Spirit. This fire produced many miracles and wonders. When the shadow of disciples fell on people, they were healed. There was fire in the preachers, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:4

Tags: Holy Spirit, Fire

I Have A Religion!" 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 27, 2005

“I Have a Religion!” 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key verse(s): 11-12:“. . . and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.” In a world where we seek only peace and kindness there is, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Several Months Back As I Was Traveling Along One ...

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 20, 2008

Several months back as I was traveling along one of the interstate routes I noticed a sign that was kind of a play off of an older advertisement scheme of the dairy industry. It was nothing more than a solid black background with a two word question in bold white lettering: “Got Prayer?” This ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: *other

We Are Much Like The Little Boy Who Was Given An ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Belcher on Nov 19, 2001

We are much like the little boy who was given an orange by a man. The boy’s mother asked, “What do you say to the nice man?” The little boy ...read more

Tags: Joy, Children, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Baptist

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale Often Said, "The Only ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 19, 2002

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale often said, "The only people who do not have problems are those in the cemeteries." (Then with a twinkle in his eye ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We All Want Progress, But If You're On The Wrong ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Uriah The Hittite Was In The Hottest Part Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Affleck on Jan 23, 2001

Uriah the Hittite was in the hottest part of the battle and his fellow soldiers withdrew from him on the command of King David - We do the same thing to our ...read more

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Adoration, Friendship General

Denomination: Brethren

I Am Reminded Of The Witty Line That A Senior ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2001

I am reminded of the witty line that a Senior Pastor used on me when he mentioned I was about to receive a pay raise. He said, "Now remember, this ...read more

Tags: Workplace, Money

How Little Chance The Holy Ghost Has Nowadays. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2006

"How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches and missionary societies have so bound Him in red tape that they practically ask Him to sit in a ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General