In Sermon Illustrations: "Effort"

In The Beginning Of The Twentieth Century A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the beginning of the twentieth century a young graduate of Cornell University was engaged in a most amazing effort to win the entire world to Jesus Christ. His name was John R. Mott. During his years as secretary of the World Student Volunteer Movement, Mott’s travels took him everywhere: to ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Poem: Love For Others By Anonymous

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Poem: Love For Others by Anonymous Lord, let me live from day to day In such a self-forgetful way, That, even when I kneel to pray, My prayer shall be for others. Help me, in all the work I do, Ever to be sincere and true, And know that all I’d do for Thee, Must needs be done for Others. Let “self” ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Years Ago, I Heard A Story About A Preacher Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Years ago, I heard a story about a preacher who went to a small town to preach a series of gospel sermons. His attempt was to evangelize that little town. He preached for two weeks. During the whole time, only one little girl responded to the invitation at the end of one of his sermons. She ...read more

Tags: Doubt

With Regard To Daneil,i Thought It Strange That ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Aug 22, 2007

With regard to Daneil,I thought it strange that an official of a conquered nation would become an official in the conquering nation. However, I remembered the end of World War II. Germany was working feverishly with V-1 and V-2 buzz bombs and rockets. They were advanced their capability at that ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Women Sleep Deprived A National Sleep Foundation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Women Sleep Deprived A National Sleep Foundation study finds the majority of American women are continually sleep deprived, either because of young children, biological changes (pregnancy and menopause), stress or pets. The impact on families, personal and professional lives, and society is ...read more

Tags: Stress

The Power Of Love

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

THE POWER OF LOVE An old fable tells how different instruments tried to master a piece of iron. The blows of the ax fell heavily, but its edge became more and more blunt. The saw’s relentless teeth worked until they were worn down or broken The hammer’s head flew off at the first stroke. Despite ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-11

Tags: Church General

Support Your Leadership

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008

SUPPORT YOUR LEADERSHIP Doing what is right means that we give our leaders support. This does not mean we have to agree with them all the time. In our governmental structure, it also does not mean that we should not criticize their decisions if they are bad ones. We are allowed that freedom. ...read more

Tags: Election

Denomination: Church Of God

Dead Man Bleeding  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 5, 2009

DEAD MAN BLEEDING The question about impossibilities applied to God's sovereignty is a display of foolish unbelief. A lady brought her husband to the psychiatrist as a last ditch effort; the man thought he was dead. The shrink did everything he could to convince the man otherwise, but the crazy ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

Why Stick With Milk?

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Feb 10, 2009

WHY STICK WITH MILK? Why would someone continue with a staple diet of milk only? Simple. Milk is easily and quickly swallowed. Meat, on the other hand, is much more substantial. It needs to be chewed, savored and broken down before it can be swallowed. Usually, we have to wait for it to cook. ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

The Uss Astoria (C-34) Was The First U.s. Cruiser ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Dashner on Dec 22, 2001

The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 August. About 0200 hours a ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Honest Day's Work  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2002

AN HONEST DAY'S WORK The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

There Is A Wonderful Park Located In North ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Lundy on Mar 19, 2005

There is a wonderful park located in North Carolina called the Fields of the Wood. It is just the other side of the Great Smokey Moutains from Gatlinburg, TN. It is owned and maintained by the Church’s of God. Inside the park is the largest Ten Commandments in the world. They are laid out on a ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Life Vest

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

THE LIFE VEST The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 August. About ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Action

This Great Nation Will Endure As It Has Endured, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Harrison on Oct 27, 2008

This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself——nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Save It For The Funeral  PRO

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 19, 2008

Don't Save It For The Funeral An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was At A Mongolian Grill Once With Three Other ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Mar 15, 2002

I was at a Mongolian grill once with three other pastors, one of whom wasn’t eating. Another of the pastors was asking him why he wasn’t eating, wondering if he didn’t have money or wasn’t feeling well. The pastor did not offer that he was fasting and I appreciate this pastor’s effort not to make ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Fasting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Forty Years Of Involvement In His Church, Wilt ...  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Apr 9, 2002

In forty years of involvement in his church, Wilt Durant had led one person to Christ. You know what they say, if only one person comes to Christ its worth all the effort, right? When he retired in 1992, he moved to Rogers, AR and joined Immanuel Baptist Church. One Sunday, his pastor preached on ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Father And Son Were Raking Leaves When They ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 10, 2002

“A father and son were raking leaves when they noticed something darting in and out of the piles. After careful effort they uncovered a chameleon . It was difficult to see among the brown leaves. It had blended with them by turning brown, too. After catching the little creature, they put it in a ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: United Methodist

In An Article In Time Magazine On Global Poverty, ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

In an article in Time Magazine on global poverty, specifically on the efforts of rock star Bono of the group U2, March 4, 2002: The model for a new approach is Jubilee 2000, which campaigned with great success to reduce developing world debt. Jubilee 2000 was based in Europe, not the U.S., and ...read more

Tags: Poverty, Compassion, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

One Day A Gentleman Walked Into One Of Ben ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 13, 2002

One day a gentleman walked into one of Ben Franklin’s book stores. As one of the clerks went to assist him, the gentleman asked the clerk the price of the book he wished to purchase. The young clerk looked at the price posted on the book and said, "That book is one dollar, sir." The gentleman ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Workplace, Money