In Sermon Illustrations: "Ever"

I've Been Reading A Book By A Pastor Named Erwin ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

I've been reading a book by a pastor named Erwin Rafael McManus. He tells about a conversation he had with his daughter, Mariah. He was explaining that Christians often face danger and even death. His daughter asked, "Has anyone ever tried to kill you, Daddy?" And he answered, "Sort of." She ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I ...

Contributed by Elijah Stepp on May 11, 2008

Illustration: (From Speaker’s Sourcebook II by Glenn Ven Eckeren) Perhaps you heard about the church that planned to have the “No Excuse” Sunday Service…. Their advertisement for their “No Excuse Sunday” read as follows…. Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say "Sunday is my only day ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Under New ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT I am reminded of a story where a salesman was driving through town and became hungry. He saw a sign for a restaurant and parked his car and went in. The first thing he noticed was how dirty the windows were, and then he saw how dirty the table tops were. The waitresses were ...read more

Tags: Dead To Sin

A Few Weeks Ago I Went To Make Myself A Cup Of ...

Contributed by Amy Bickel on Aug 6, 2008

A few weeks ago I went to make myself a cup of coffee and ended up with one of the strongest cups of coffee I’ve ever had. It was so strong I could only drink about half of it and that was after doctoring it up with sweetener and flavored creamer. The rest I had to dump out. What made my coffee ...read more

Tags: Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Baptist

Crime And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT At the foot of the gallows, the condemned man recited Psalm 51 and added a word of personal repentance. A shroud was placed over his head, and he climbed the ladder, which the executioner then pulled away, leaving him to “dance upon nothing,” as the vernacular put it. ...read more

Tags: Sin Punishment Of

Where Are The Heavens? Can We Reach Them?  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Oct 20, 2008

Where are the Heavens? Can We Reach Them? It is difficult to say. If we take an elevator to the top of the Sears tower, or climb a mountain we may find ourselves engulfed by clouds. Have we reached the heavens? We still have a fundamental attachment to the earth. We feel the height we have ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Mennonite

Calms The Storm

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Dec 2, 2008

CALMS THE STORM God is greater than any problem we will ever face, and Jesus is able to calm any storm. In 1993, I had the privilege of preaching the funeral for Bro. Moses Lee. Bro. Lee served for many years as a pastor in Franklin, Tensas and Winn Parishes, later on he served in the Mobile area. ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

Father Forgive Them

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

FATHER FORGIVE THEM There was once a man who was born in a little town back east. He grew up and took on the family business. The only earthly father he had ever known died sometime in his teen years and as the oldest son he took on the responsibility of caring for his mother. He had a good ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Whirpool Galaxy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 12, 2009

WHIRPOOL GALAXY God breathed out our sun. His word put the earth in its orbit around the sun. But this is really nothing. Our sun is one of between 200 and 400 billion other suns in our galaxy. What is our galaxy called? Milky way. Now I want to show you a picture. [This picture can be found ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Church Of God

In The City Of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, A Muslim ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

In the city of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, a Muslim convert was hung for his faith in Christ. His assistant took over the leadership of the church. The assistant was arrested and released, but each week was interrogated by the authorities. The pressure was intense, and his wife feared he might break. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-39

Tags: Persecution

Spiritual Millionaires

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Feb 5, 2009

SPIRITUAL MILLIONAIRES Obeying the law justifies no one, Jew or Gentile, because no one obeys the law. There is no one righteous, not even one, Romans 3:10 says. Therefore, the law can only condemn us, not declare us righteous. For example, the law is very clear: "Do not write a check for more ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:2-4

Tags: Justification

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Would You Look At That...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 10, 2009

"WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT..." The story is told of an old man whose grandson rode a donkey while they were traveling from one city to another. The old man heard some people mumbling, "Would you look at that old man walking, suffering on his feet, while that strong young boy is totally capable of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Baptist

So Be Careful How You Live. Don't Live Like ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 3, 2009

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Eph. 5:15-17). To ignore that is to court disaster. The Winter 1991 issue of the ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Is A Jealous God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 12, 2009

GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD A few years ago, I was working in Qatar installing a newsroom set for Al-Jazeera TV. I’d been there for nearly a month and was ready to go home. I can’t describe for you how badly I missed my family. We were nearly finished with the set, and the last thing to be done was to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:5

Tags: Idolatry, Generation

Sin ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

SIN DEFINITIONS What is sin? Here are some suggestions: "Sin is like a kidney stone. No one likes a kidney stone, nor should anyone like sin." "Sin is like a rotten egg we try to cover up with spices." "Sin is like a cancer with a 0% survival rate." "Sin is like weeds in a garden; if not ...read more

Tags: Sin General

The Most Important Gift

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 16, 2009

THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT Rob Parsons, the founder of "Care for the Family," asks the question, "What is the most important gift a father can give to his child?" He always gives the same answer: it is his unconditional love and acceptance. The key to a child’s heart is to let him or her know that ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Time

Denomination: Baptist

Forgotten How To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

FORGOTTEN HOW TO FISH? I read an interesting story about a group of pelicans in California. If you’ve ever seen pelicans in action, you know they’re great fishermen, or fisher-birds. These pelicans were hanging out near a fleet of fishing boats. The fishermen on the boats would pull into the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:7-14

Tags: Servanthood, God's Direction

Security

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 28, 2009

SECURITY Consider this story in relying upon God: The 3-year-old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, “Deeper and deeper and deeper,” as the water rose higher and higher on the child. ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Other

Discipleship Is Intentional Maintenance

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 22, 2009

DISCIPLESHIP IS INTENTIONAL MAINTENANCE Discipleship requires maintenance, which you find true in so many areas of life. Seventeen years ago we bought our present car. At the time I was working with the Rev. John Bomar on the American Family Asso. Committee. He noticed I had a new Volvo. They ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Joy Is Black

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 10, 2009

JOY IS BLACK I recently read the following letter that was sent to Dr. Michael Youssef, pastor of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. The letter was sent by Mrs. Lane, who has been a primary school teacher for 38 years: Dear Michael, One day I was trying to teach my students the difference ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed