In Sermon Illustrations: "Enduring Suffering"

Believers Happier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

BELIEVERS HAPPIER People who believe in God are happier than agnostics or atheists, claim British researchers. They become even happier the more they pray and go to church. The report found religious people were better able to cope with disappointments such as unemployment or divorce than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Tags: Happiness

Depressed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

DEPRESSED TEENS More than two million U.S. teens have suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, including nearly 13% of girls, finds a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report. On average, 8.5% of youth 12-17 admit to having a major depressive episode in the ...read more

Tags: Youth

Some Thoughts About Veteran’s Day

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 15, 2022

Text, James 1:12, KJV: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Thoughts: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day. This was because on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Veterans, Crown Of Life, Veteran's Day

Denomination: Baptist

John Piper Wrote A Paper--Written Years Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 28, 2006

-John Piper wrote a paper--written years ago (1995)--on how Christian leaders should avoid sexual sin. Piper lists ten potential pitfalls and proposes ten protections against them: • PITFALL: Falling in love with the present world. PROTECTION: Think long and hard about the deadly poison of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: Love For God, Obedience, Glory Of God, Relationships

Denomination: Pentecostal

Shelter Of Dreams  PRO

Contributed by Grant Van Boeschoten on Apr 22, 2008

SHELTER OF DREAMS But how can a dream realistically provide shelter? I give you the example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr whose dream for equality is still providing shelter today. His dream came to the forefront of American politics when the Montgomery Bus Boycott forced the Supreme Court to rule ...read more

Tags: Dreams

I Heard A Story Once About A Rebellious Little ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I heard a story once about a rebellious little boy in school. He was always causing trouble. He’d throw rocks on the playground. He’d disrupt class and just generally drive his teacher nuts. His biggest problem is that he would never sit down. Well, one day, the teacher couldn’t stand it any ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

With My Last ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WITH MY LAST SONG Louis Albert Banks tells of an elderly Christian man, a fine singer, who learned that he had cancer of the tongue and that surgery was required. In the hospital, after everything was ready for the operation, the man said to the doctor, "Are you sure I will never sing again?" The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Worship General

The Noahide Commands

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2009

THE NOAHIDE COMMANDS A Pagan could become > An Alien Believer > A God-fearer > A Jew (proselyte) A pagan would be an idolater or worship many gods, or one not serving the true God. An alien believer would be a gentile who wanted to be saved, repented from his sins and turned to the God of ...read more

Tags: Israel

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Boice On The Virgin Birth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

BOICE ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH One well-known Christian author, James Montgomery Boice, eloquently documents amazing things Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life and sacrificial death accomplished for mankind as an amazing sign of His love. Jesus endured a human birth to give us a new spiritual birth. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

A Christmas Story: Filling The Hole

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2009

A CHRISTMAS STORY: FILLING THE HOLE One of the most popular films [of this season] is a little vignette set in the 50s called A Christmas Story. In the plot, young Ralphie sets his heart on an air rifle for Christmas, enduring ridicule and scorn in his quest for this gift he believes will make him ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Catholic

A Bug's Life: Small Steps Of Faith

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 15, 2010

A BUG'S LIFE: SMALL STEPS OF FAITH A Bug’s Life, Start time 6:30 Overview from Belknapp: Dot complains to Flik about her underdeveloped wings. She wants to fly now! Flik encourages her, showing her that a seed that starts out small eventually grows into a towering tree-it only takes time and ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Running With A Stopwatch

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

RUNNING WITH A STOPWATCH Long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland was an Olympic champion, winning twelve medals (nine of them gold) in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games. Nurmi was famous not only for his achievements, but also for running with a stopwatch in his hand to check his performance. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13

Tags: Disciplines General

Some Of You Here Tonnight Will Be In That Same ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Dec 18, 2008

SOME OF YOU HERE TONNIGHT WILL BE IN THAT SAME PREDICAMENT - STILL IN YOUR TRESPASSES AND SINS, BUT THE WHY OF CHRISTMAS MEANS YOU CAN BE REDEEMED AND MADE A CHILD OF GOD. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A TRUE STORY TO DRIVE THIS TRUTH HOME TONIGHT. IT’S TOLD BY ERNEST GORDON INFACT THERE IS A FILM ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

Between You And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

BETWEEN YOU AND GOD I conclude with a story that I heard Pastor Larry Booker tell in a sermon he preached on August 4, 2007 at the First Pentecostal Church of North Little Rock, Arkansas. The title of the message was "Three Attitudes of Jewish Babylon." I understand just as you do that holiness ...read more

Tags: Obedience

True ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

True Thanksgiving Psalm 100 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-6

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph: The Portrait Of Christ (Bible Gateway)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 4, 2025

Joseph: the Portrait of CHRIST (Bible Gateway) The Life of Joseph Genesis 30:24 – Genesis 50:26 1. A shepherd. 2. Loved by his father. 3. Sent unto his brethren 4. Hated by his brothers. 5. Prophesied his coming glory. 6. Rejected by his brothers. 7. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. 8. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:24, Genesis 50:26

Tags: Jesus, Joseph, Comparison

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Addressing A National Seminar Of Southern Baptist ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2002

Addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders, George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Discipleship

Addressing A National Seminar Of Southern ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Nov 28, 2004

“Addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders, George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of True Greatness Is Humble, Selfless, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 12, 2006

“The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is ...read more

Tags: Self Denial, Humility, Discipleship, Criticism

Denomination: Baptist

If We Consider The Greatness And The Glory Of ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 29, 2007

“If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox