In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 1:1-6:23"

Haddon Robinson Says It Best, "With Him The Calf ...  PRO

Contributed by Lisa Degrenia on Oct 7, 2002

Haddon Robinson says it best, "With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is always unspeakable; and the peace passes understanding. There is no grudging in God’s goodness. He does not measure His goodness by drops like a druggist filling a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7, Psalm 31:19, Luke 11:13

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Filling Up With The Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 11, 2002

FILLING UP WITH THE SPIRIT Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody held up a glass and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Faith, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Wrote This About Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2002

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote this about our spiritual battle: A man who does not understand the nature of the problem he is confronting is a man who is already doomed to failure. Christian people are like first-year college students—they think at first that every subject is quite simple, there is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18, James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:10

Tags: Supernatural, Holy Spirit In Believers, Christian Values

Sodium Is An Extremely Active Element Found ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Platt on Nov 1, 2002

Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride - common table salt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Apologetics General, Christian Values, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Judge Was Interviewing A Woman Regarding Her ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Semon on Nov 1, 2002

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by." "No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33, Mark 10:2-12, Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:18-24

Tags: Marriage General, Communication, Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

May Your Saturday Mornings Be Special  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Nov 11, 2002

May your Saturday mornings be special. The author is unknown. The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:10-12, Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 4:5

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Giving Yourself, Priorities

Denomination: Lutheran

Gratitude—a Necessary Attitude  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

GRATITUDE- A NECESSARY ATTITUDE A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project" Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:8

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Malcolm, A Man With A Terrible Temper, Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2002

Malcolm, a man with a terrible temper, was playing a round of golf with his pastor. After leaving three straight putts on the edge of the cup, Malcolm exploded. "I missed!" he screamed. "How could I miss?" With that he heaved his putter into a nearby lake, kicked a wheel on the golf cart and drove ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:26-27, Ephesians 4:26-27, Ephesians 3:19

Tags: Adoption, God's Omniscience, God's Judgment

A Present  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2002

Jeff Calendar’s three year old daugh- ter along with the rest of her family was observed opening Christmas packages. As is often the case, Jeff’s wife had recycled some bows from previous times, and their daughter grabbed one and then placed it on top of her head. The old tape left on it caused it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5, Ephesians 1:3-5, John 17:6

Tags: Christmas Advent

Unity  PRO

Contributed by Tony Dicostanzo on Dec 4, 2002

Unity Illustration: There can be union without unity: tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline. There you will have union, but certainly ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fellowship Of The Church  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCH Calvin, who saw that the Devil’s chief device was disunity and division and who preached that there should be friendly fellowship for all ministers of Christ, made a similar point in a letter to a trusted colleague: "Among Christians there ought to be so great a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3-6, James 3:1-12

Tags: Leadership General, Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Getting Past Your Past  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 23, 2002

GETTING PAST YOUR PAST Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As as a result of his experience as a convicted felon, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16, Jeremiah 29:11

Tags: New Year's Day, God's Sovereign Will

If I Can't Be Good Enough...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 3, 2003

IF I CAN'T BE GOOD ENOUGH... Little Billy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother, "How do you expect to get into heaven?" He thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I’ll just run in and out and keep slamming the door until ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 32:16-17, Isaiah 32:16-17, Acts 17:29-31, Ephesians 3:8-13, Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 6:10-11, 1 John 3:18-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Concept Of Grace  PRO

Contributed by Rick Labate on Feb 19, 2003

THE CONCEPT OF GRACE There is a great article that illustrates the concept of grace written by Charles Stanley. “One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating to his students the concept of grace. At the end of his evangelism course he would distribute the exam ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 13:1-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness In Jesus, Two Or Three, Surrender

Denomination: Adventist

I'm Standing For My Marriage  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Mar 7, 2003

I'M STANDING FOR MY MARRIAGE A former Pastor in Seattle, WA wrote a power statement about marriage… I am standing for the healing of my marriage! I won’t give up, give in, give out, or give over till that healing takes place. I made a vow; I said the words; I gave the pledge; I gave a ring; I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Mark 10:2-12, 1 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:11, Malachi 2:13-16, Jeremiah 31:31-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faithfulness, Conflict, Commitment, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Instrument Of Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2003

AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15

Tags: War

When I Went To A Crossways Conference The ...  PRO

Contributed by Curt Cizek on Apr 19, 2003

When I went to a Crossways conference the presenter spoke about his tour of the Holy Lands in 1998. The tour gude got on the bus, introduced himself as Amnon. He said that he was named after one of King David’s sons. The presenter said, "You mean the one that assaulted his half-sister Tamar?" ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Ways To Know Your Church Is Unfriendly  PRO

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

Ways to know your church is unfriendly. When the sign out front says – For members only When the parking lot has a sign that says – unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners expense. When the church lobby has a sign that says – no loitering When you say “Praise the Lord” and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12

Tags: Funny, Church Purpose Of, Church General, Church, Quotes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Easter Parable: Edith Easter  PRO

Contributed by Harvie Neatherlin on Jun 17, 2003

AN EASTER PARABLE: EDITH EASTER Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-7

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Easter Resurrection, Cross, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Emptied Out And Filled Up  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 28, 2003

EMPTIED OUT AND FILLED UP D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Hosea 5:4

Tags: Law, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist