In Sermon Illustrations: "Ephesians 5"

Alexander Solzhenitsyn  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Dec 22, 2000

Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a prisoner in Russia. he was on a program of hard labour and slow salvation. One day he felt like giving up. He felt his life could not make a difference. He sat down on a bench knowing that when he was spotted by a guard he would be ordered back to work when he failed ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, Ephesians 5:4-7, Job 2:9, 1 Kings 19:4

Tags: God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

One New Year’s Day, In The Tournament Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Misconceptions, Holy Spirit General, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: *other

A Large Family Sat Around The Breakfast Table One ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

A large family sat around the breakfast table one morning. As the custom, the father returned thanks, blessing God for the food. Immediately after, however, as was his bad habit, he began to grumble about hard times, the poor quality of the food he was forced to eat, the way it was cooked, and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20, Ephesians 2:8-10, Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Prayer General, Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday, Thanksgiving

Jack Benny Was Rather Shy When He Was Young. One ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 21, 2001

Jack Benny was rather shy when he was young. One day at work he saw a young lady that greatly attracted his attention. But he was too shy to speak to her. So he went to the florist & ordered one red rose to be sent to her without any card enclosed. And every day he repeated that order. Well, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:5-13, Genesis 2:18-27, Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Power, Marriage Commitment, Marriage Obligations, Romantic Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Was Reading An Article This Week About Some Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on May 14, 2001

I was reading an article this week about some of the dangers that face our young people simply because they imitate what they see. The article told about the Reebok company pulling an ad which showed an athlete jumping over an oncoming car—because some teenagers in Kentucky were trying to do the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

If A Man Is Filled With Anger, Than Anger ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

If a man is filled with anger, than anger controls his life. If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life. If a man is filled with lust, then lust governs his life. If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does. And if a man is filled with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Tags: Emotions, Dominate, Anger, Control, Love Of The Disciples, Greed, Holy Spirit In Believers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

Born To Lose, Citation: Norman Vincent Peale In ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 3, 2001

[Born to Lose, Citation: Norman Vincent Peale in Power of the Plus Factor, in Christianity Today.] Once walking through the twisted little streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong, I came upon a tattoo studio. In the window were displayed samples of the tattoos available. On the chest or arms you could ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Tags: Strong Together, Faith, Fulfillment, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Concert In Chicago, Harry Lauder, Scottish ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Oct 9, 2001

In a concert in Chicago, Harry Lauder, Scottish singer and songwriter, sang to an overflowing audience. At the conclusion, the audience stood en masse, and applauded uproariously. After the applause subsided, the audience said in unison, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Showing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Tags: Humility, God's Provision, Parable Talents, Thank God

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Saying That Wives, If You Really Want To ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Apr 25, 2002

God is saying that wives, if you really want to serve Christ every day, then submit to your husbands in everything. Everything?! That goes against the grain of the American ideal of what a woman should be! It shouldn’t surprise us. The feminist movement in America goes against the very core of what ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22, Ephesians 5:22-24

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Unity, Divorce

Denomination: Lutheran

No Secrets Here  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 3, 2002

NO SECRETS HERE A young couple decided to wed. As the big day approached, they grew apprehensive. Each had a problem they had never before shared with anyone, not even each other. The Groom-to-be, overcoming his fear, decided to ask his father for advice. "Father," he said, "I am deeply concerned ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31, Ecclesiastes 4:1-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General, Oneness, Weddings, Unity, Conflict, Commitment  (view more)  (view less)

It Shocks Us When We Realize That Great Men And ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 22, 2002

It shocks us when we realize that great men and women go through periods of deep, dark depression. For instance, Winston Churchill said, "Depression followed me around like a black dog all of my life." A young lawyer in the 1800’s suffered such a deep depression that his friends did everything they ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:20

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

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: Communication General, Communication, Marriage 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

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

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

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

A Young Girl Once Consulted With Her Minister. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sean Smuts on Aug 4, 2003

1.A young girl once consulted with her minister. “I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign.” “Will you tell me,” asked the minister, “where lights are placed?” “What ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Philippians 2:14-15, Ephesians 5:8-14

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Testimony, No Lord, Not Now, Light, Yes Lord, Deny, Depend, Decide, Despair, Grumbling, Holiness, Evangelism Fear Of  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Mennonite

There Is A Great Scene In The 1975 Movie ‘jaws'. ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 12, 2003

"There is a great scene in the 1975 movie ‘Jaws’. The Constable, played by Roy Scheider is at the dining room table lost in thought over this problem with the killer shark that’s terrorizing the water ways. Suddenly he looks out the corner of his eye and realizes his small boy is copying his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2

Tags: Faith, Imitation, Children, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Orthodox

The Love Of My Life  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 2, 2004

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE Rick Warren’s wife Kay has cancer. [He wrote "The Purpose Driven Life] Rick sends out a letter every week through his web site, and this is what a recent one said: “So many of you have asked about Kay’s progress in her treatment for cancer, so we wanted to give you an update. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24, Proverbs 18:22, Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Perseverance, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ