In Sermon Illustrations: "Experience"

The Party Is Over  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 20, 2002

THE PARTY IS OVER Americans experience presidential inaugurations in our nation’s capital every four years. They are gala events, expressions of national pride. All three branches of government are focused on the inauguration of an American president, and there are bands, banners, television ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Eugene Peterson In A Long Obedience In The Same ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2002

Eugene Peterson in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction writes, “It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:14-19

Tags: Holiness

What Is Your God?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

WHAT IS YOUR GOD? "Whatever you love most, serve most, seek out most, give to the most, worship the most, and care about the most is your god. Your “god” can be your career, your bank account, the way you look, a particular position or degree, influence, power, or physical pleasure. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Idolatry, Materialism, World

Are You For Real?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

ARE YOU FOR REAL? The misuse of God’s name for personal profit is easily applied to certain televangelists who use the name of God to make a buck off of overly trusting people, or politicians who mention God’s name in the right places and the right times in order to gain a certain constituency of ...read more

They Need A Father  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

THEY NEED A FATHER ... “almost 75 percent of American children living in fatherless households will experience poverty before the age of eleven, compared to only 20 percent of those raised by two parents. Children living in homes where fathers are absent are far more likely to be expelled from or ...read more

A Number Of Years Ago Researchers Performed An ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were ...read more

Tags: Faith, Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stolen Billfold  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jul 21, 2002

Stolen Billfold John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker. As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger. John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn’t there! So he slammed on the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37, Matthew 7:1

Tags: Grace, Compassion

Denomination: Baptist

To Introduce God To Our Specific Jobs, We Need To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2002

To introduce God to our specific jobs, we need to think deeply about questions like these: • What does it mean to both be a Christian and hold this job? • How would I do my job differently if I were not a Christian? • What biblical principles most apply to my daily responsibilities? • How should ...read more

Sometime Ago Time Magazine Ran An Article That ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 1, 2003

Sometime ago Time Magazine ran an article that reported on the benefits of religion and the church, and some of the observations included: 1. Heart-surgery patients who draw comfort from their religious faith have a significantly higher survival rate than those who do not. 2. The blood pressure of ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: *other

They Need A Father  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 31, 2003

THEY NEED A FATHER ... “almost 75 percent of American children living in fatherless households will experience poverty before the age of eleven, compared to only 20 percent of those raised by two parents. Children living in homes where fathers are absent are far more likely to be expelled from or ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Children, Parenting, Men

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When The Small Daughter Of The Distinguished ...  PRO

Contributed by Douglas Batchelor on Nov 27, 2003

When the small daughter of the distinguished sculptress, Sally Farnham, was once asked which child was her mother’s favorite, the little girl, according to Francis Newton in "This Week," promptly replied: "She loves Jimmy best because he’s the oldest; and she loves Johnny best because he’s the ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Adventist

Recently Kgo Talk Radio In San Francisco ...  PRO

Contributed by Randy Croft on Jul 5, 2004

Recently KGO talk radio in San Francisco conducted a call-in poll. Ronn Owens invited listeners to express their opinion. Thirty-five percent said yes, 33 percent said no and 32 percent were undecided. One listener, aghast at the large number of undecideds, protested, "It’s this sort of apathy ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Regier, The Founder Of A Ministry Called ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Kim on Sep 21, 2004

John Regier, the founder of a ministry called Biblical Concepts in Counseling is a very successful marriage counselor. His whole ministry is based on using Bible truths. Over his years of counseling, he has discovered that there are 12 consequences to premarital sex. Now what I am about to share ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:9

Tags: Hindrance, Roadblock, Sexuality

Denomination: Adventist

76-Year-Old Bill Baker Of London Recently Wed ...  PRO

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Nov 16, 2004

76-year-old Bill Baker of London recently wed Edna Harvey. She happened to be his granddaughter’s husband’s mother. That’s where the confusion began, according to Baker’s granddaughter, Lynn. She said, "My mother-in-law is now my step-grandmother. My grandfather is now my step-father-in-law. My mom ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

In His Book Dare To Believe, Dan Baumann ...

Contributed by Rev. Roberto D. Abella on Nov 21, 2004

In his book Dare to Believe, Dan Baumann illustrates the unique experience of knowing that something is ours, yet longing to enjoy it more fully. He explained that at Christmas time he would always do a lot of snooping, trying to find the gift --wrapped presents and figure out what was in them. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A.w. Tozer Writes In The Pursuit Of God: "Why Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Dec 3, 2004

A.W. Tozer writes in the Pursuit of God: "Why do some persons find God in a way that others do not? Why does God manifest His presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience? Of course the will of God is the same for all. He has no ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Baptist

A Number Of Years Ago Researchers Performed An ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 28, 2004

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the affect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water, and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Hope, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Baptist

Cowboy Joe Was Had Just Come Back From Going To ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Oct 24, 2005

Cowboy Joe was had just come back from going to church for the first time, and was in the bunkhouse telling the other cowhands about his experience. He said, “When I got there, I parked my pick-me-up in the corral. Charlie, a worldly cowboy said, “That would be the parking lot, Joe.” Joe ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: *other

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart Of Louisville, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here’s how he recalls the experience: “They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Consumer Trends: Two Major Trends Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Consumer Trends: Two major trends of paradigm-shifting proportions are changing the face of the entire consumer retail market today. Every consumer business is going to feel the effects. Trend #1: Connecting replaces cocooning as dominant consumer trend. The cocooning and nesting trend that is at ...read more

Tags: Church General