In Sermon Illustrations: "Dual Meaning"

What Does Revelation Mean?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 14, 2011

WHAT DOES REVELATION MEAN? A group of kids were playing basketball in the high school gym. An elderly janitor was reading the Bible while waiting patiently for the game to end. After the game, one of the kids said “What are you reading?” The janitor said “I’m reading the book of Revelation.” ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 11:15-17

Tags: Revelation

Forgive Means "Let Go"  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 14, 2011

Forgive Means "Let Go" In the last few days there was an item on the news about residents in a local neighborhood finding a bobcat in their yard. A story we sometimes hear is about an alligator being found in a drainage ditch. We haven’t heard that this year, with the drought, but sometimes we ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25

Tags: Forgiveness, Stand, Grievances, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

What Does "All" Mean?

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2013

WHAT DOES "ALL" MEAN? I know people who are carrying around a load of guilt over the past and they're loaded down with this extra weight God doesn't want them to have. I remember a lady in my church in Wiesbaden I'll call Jill. Jill had rebelled against her parents, had been on drugs, had had ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

What The Lost Coin Means

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 18, 2019

Ann Punton writes, “Although everyone dressed more or less alike according to social standing, each village had some distinguishing feature. Bethlehem women wore a conical cap. When they married, their husband gave them a number of silver coins which they fixed to their hat. The coins were their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Search, Found, Parable Of The Lost Coin

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Does It Mean To Be Real?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

Excerpt from the Story of the Skin Horse “The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Love, Children, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Real, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fear Does Not Mean Cowardice

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 21, 2025

FEAR DOES NOT MEAN COWARDICE My Father in Heaven, I feel sinful, sometimes I get angry because I'm accused of being a coward. Honestly, I sometimes feel afraid to fight back, but deep in my heart, I want peace and friendship, not conflict and hostility. Forgive me, forgive me, O Lord. In the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:33

Tags: Fear, Cowardice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Be God's Property Mean That We Are Owned By ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 26, 2002

To be God’s property mean that we are owned by God. There is a powerful story about an English missionary whose house was being looted. "An English missionary died in the early part of this century [the 20th century]. Immediately after his death his former neighbors broke into his house and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: United Methodist

His Birth Was Not By Natural Means. This Cannot ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2002

His birth was not by natural means. This cannot be said of Mohammed, Krishna, or Buddha. Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: The ...read more

The Word ‘christian' Means Different Things To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2002

“The word ‘Christian’ means different things to different people. To one person, it means a stiff, uptight, inflexible way of life—colorless and unbending. To another, it means a risky, surprised-filled venture, lived on tiptoe at the edge of expectation. Either of these pictures can be ...read more

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit' Means: ‘blessed ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 23, 2002

“‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ means: ‘Blessed is the man who has realized his own utter helplessness, and who has put his whole trust in God.’ If a man has realized his own utter helplessness, and has put his whole trust in God, there will enter into his life two things which are opposite sides ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, God's Provision

Denomination: Pentecostal

Earthly Fathers Understand What It Means To Be ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jul 11, 2002

Earthly fathers understand what it means to be human. In an article entitled “Imperfect Dads Expect Perfect Sons,” Archie Wortham wrote of his struggle to not “over do” his fathering and said this, “Maybe it’s because I realized how hard it was for ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Church Of God

Humility Was A Hebrew Word Meaning The Lowering ...  PRO

Contributed by Ken Schlenker on Aug 7, 2002

Humility was a Hebrew word meaning the lowering of the Nile River. Now I know a lot of Egyptians friends that use to come through Galilee and we would talk and they would tell me that the Nile River meant everything to them. They were totally dependent upon it. When the Nile River went down so ...read more

Tags: Humility, Diligence, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Flag Folding & The Meaning Of Each Fold!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 9, 2002

Flag Folding & The Meaning of Each Fold! Unknown I guess this settles the "One Nation Under God" debate once and for all. Do you know that at military funerals, the 21 gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776? Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention ...read more

Tags: Funeral, Appearance, Motives, Holidays Civic

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The Nt, The Word For Peace Means "To ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Winter on Jan 18, 2003

In the NT, the word for peace means “to reconcile or join.” Some missionary Bible translators were working very hard to find a word for peace in a particular tribal language. At last, a native who was working with them found a combination of words that captured the concept—“a heart that ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Confession Of Sin, Peace

Denomination: Methodist

True Meaning Of Repentance, Citation: Lesslie ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 27, 2003

[True Meaning of Repentance, Citation: Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ’s Way, pp. 2-3] In Mission in Christ’s Way Lesslie Newbigin (d. 1996), long-time missionary to India, writes about the true meaning of repentance: I remember once visiting a village in the Madras diocese. There was no road ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Soul Could Mean Many  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Yandris on Mar 2, 2003

(One soul could mean many) Andrew brought Simon- just one. But that was many, for under God, Simon brought three thousand souls in one day! It has been estimated that probably 95% of church members have never lead anyone to Christ. I like what Paul say’s in 1 Cor 9:19 " I made myself a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27

Tags: Evangelism How To, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Pentecostal

Aromatherapy Means "Treatment Using Scents". It ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 30, 2004

Aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It is a treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling oils. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Greek Word For Meekness Literally Means ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004

The Greek word for meekness literally means “strength under control.” Meekness describes a wild stallion who was tamed and taught to be ridden. That stallion still has all the strength it had when it was wild but now it ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At The Spiritual Level, Planning Means Taking The ...

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

At the spiritual level, planning means taking the initiative. It’s not about sitting around until you are absolutely certain God is calling you to a particular task, direction, country, or ministry. Nor is it waiting for the doors to open so you can go there easily. Planning is an act of faith. ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist