In Sermon Illustrations: "Doubt And Fear"

Earl Palmer, In A Fine Little Book Entitled The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Earl Palmer, in a fine little book entitled The Enormous Exception, tells the story of a pre-med student at the University of California, Berkeley "who became a Christian after a long journey through doubts and questions." When Palmer asked the young man why he had chosen Jesus Christ, he answered ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Poem: Don't Quit

Contributed by Steve Smith on Jul 16, 2007

POEM: DON’T QUIT When things go wrong as they sometime will, when the road your trudging seems all up hill, When funds are low and debts are high, and you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit rest if you must but please don’t quit. Life is queer with it’s twist ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

After Studying About John Patton On Line I ...

Contributed by Mark Clarke on Sep 6, 2007

After studying about John Patton on line I discovered that his steadfastness & success can be traced back to his home life where he lived with ten brothers & sisters in a 3-room cottage under the love & care of his mother and the faithful leadership of his father. Let him tell you in his own ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-31

Tags: Faithful

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Pastor Friend Was Telling Me About Two Men In ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 8, 2010

A pastor friend was telling me about two men in his church who are stricken with Alzheimer’s. One man is a retired pastor. He and his wife still attend church. Sometimes it takes this retired pastor longer than usual to say something. My friend spoke of being patient with him as they ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Drawn To Realize That I Must Make Room And ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 4, 2008

I am drawn to realize that I must make room and give careful attention to the witness of the Scriptures. It is my attention to the Scriptures as the challenged, but undefeated Word of God that I will overcome the flood of doubts and opposition to my faith that will come in 2008. I need an anchor ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

He Died For Everyone—including Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

HE DIED FOR EVERYONE--INCLUDING ME The famed congregational preacher, Dwight L. Moody, once said, "The great trouble is that people take everything in general, and do not take it to themselves. Suppose a man should say to me, 'Moody, there was a man in Europe who died last week, and left five ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Longing

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 15, 2012

LONGING In his book The Spiritual Life of Children, the famous Harvard psychiatrist Robert Coles tells the story of Alice, a ten-year-old girl who came from a family that did not believe in God. She expressed her doubts to him with these words: "I remember... I saw the people next door coming ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Methodist

The Unreligion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2013

THE UNRELIGION When Jesus hung on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished!” Jesus did all the work. All that remains for us to do is depend on Him. You see, not only our salvation, but our success in this life is all up to Him. I like the way Dane Ortlund put it in his book, Defiant Grace. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: World Religions

A School Teacher Lost Her Life Savings In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 2, 2000

A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. "Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?" the official asked. "Didn’t you know about ...read more

Tags: Faith, God's Omniscience, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ann Landers Had This To Say About The Letters ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 2, 2000

Ann Landers had this to say about the letters that she has received over the years. "I’ve learned plenty-including, most meaningfully, what Leo Rosten had in mind when he said, ’Each of us is a little lonely, deep inside, and cries to be understood.’ I have learned how it is with stumbling, ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, God Brings Hope, Promises Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

In Our Native Church In India, We Have A System ...  PRO

Contributed by Mathews Itty on Mar 28, 2001

In our native church in India, we have a system of giving testimonies on Sundays. Any believer could stand up and say what God has done for them in the past week. There was an old lady, who used to give her testimony almost every Sunday. Whenever she stood, she had one particular song to sing ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, God's Provision

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Body Of Christ, Especially In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2001

"The body of Christ, especially in well-functioning, small, intimate groups, is the most healing body in the world; yet we do not treat it as such. We wouldn’t think of relating to a medical doctor with the same reserve as we have in the healing body of Christ. Would we say to a doctor, "I have ...read more

Throughout History, Women Have Been Treated By ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Apr 25, 2002

Throughout history, women have been treated by men as lesser humans. Athenian women were of inferior status, often guarded by dogs, treated as fickle, contentious, and uncultured in comedy. In Jesus’ day, there was a prayer said by Jewish men thanking God in this manner, “Thank you for not making ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Lutheran

A Religious Assumption  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2002

A RELIGIOUS ASSUMPTION In America, unlike any other country of the time, the Founders envisioned a land where people of all faiths could worship God without fear of persecution. The freedom to worship would, in turn, cultivate the piety and virtue necessary for the success of ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Political Freedom, Character

Ann Landers Had This To Say About The Letters ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

Ann Landers had this to say about the letters that she has received over the years. "I’ve learned plenty-including, most meaningfully, what Leo Rosten had in mind when he said, ’Each of us is a little lonely, deep inside, and cries to be understood.’ I have learned how it is with stumbling, ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Compassion

Denomination: Mennonite

Her Response  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Oct 30, 2002

HER RESPONSE Frederick Buechner’s little book of character sketches of people from the Bible has this to say about the angel Gabriel as he encounters Mary: "She struck him as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child. But he had been entrusted with a message to give her, and ...read more

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother, Christmas

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Francesca's Husband Franz Went On A Business ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Dec 14, 2002

Francesca’s husband Franz went on a business journey. She had no idea when he would return after his business. Two days later, she had a knock on the door in the night. She did not know who it was and what the person wanted. Anxiety, fear and suspicion surfaced. She gripped the revolver, which she ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Catholic

A Matter Of Building  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A MATTER OF BUILDING Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something -- a secure family, a good reputation, a career, a relationship to God. But some of those things can disappear almost overnight due to financial losses, natural disasters and other unforeseen ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Finding Fulfillment, Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes We Are Lured In Very Easily. Two ...  PRO

Contributed by S Henriques on Jan 27, 2003

Sometimes we are lured in very easily. Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter. "I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one. "Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!" Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

If We Believe We Are The Product Of Atoms, Time ...

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jun 5, 2003

If we believe we are the product of atoms, time and chance, we will conclude as Bertrand Russell: "That Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: *other