In Sermon Illustrations: "False Christmas"

Napoleon Bonaparte Is Quoted As Having Said, "It ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as having said, “It is the cause, not the death, which makes the martyr.” So, I ask you, what is the difference between the martyrdom in the early church and these would-be martyrs to false causes? First of all, the early Christians were not deliberately seeking their ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: *other

Samson Confused With ...

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 28, 2009

Samson confused with He-man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snufwP5SO-Y&NR=1 He-Man is a heroic fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is the alter ego of Prince Adam and also the twin brother of She-Ra. He-Man and his friends defend Eternia and the secrets of Castle ...read more

Tags: Ot Judges

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Faith In The Colombian Jungle

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Aug 10, 2011

FAITH IN THE COLOMBIAN JUNGLE A man named Bruce Olson went to Colombia many years ago as a missionary to the headhunters in the far southern jungle, near the border with Brazil. The book that tells his story is Bruchko, the name the Indians called him since they couldn't wrap their tongues around ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nathan Barlow--Missionary ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

NATHAN BARLOW--MISSIONARY DOCTOR Nathan Barlow was a missionary Doctor to Ethiopia. He served there for over 60 years primarily helping people with an affliction called Mossy Foot. This caused swelling and ulcers in the feet and lower legs and caused people to become social outcasts. When Nathan’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Tags: Missions

Father, Forgive Them

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

The word ‘forgive’ in this passage is in the imperfect tense. We tend to think it is in the present tense and that Jesus prayed this prayer once and then moved on. The imperfect tense in Greek means that the prayer is not said once but continuously, through the scourging and the crucifixion as he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-38

Tags: Forgive, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

What Are The Five Solas Of The Reformation?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 11, 2024

What are the 5 Solas of the Reformation? The 5 “Solas” of the Reformation (“solas,” meaning, “alones”) are five principles that are foundational to the doctrine of salvation that were the focus of the Protestant Reformation. These five "solas" led to the rejection of the false teachings ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Faith, Grace, Scripture, Sin, Salvation, Theology, Glory Of God, Reformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give A Birthday Present To Jesus

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 29, 2007

Give A Birthday Present To Jesus. One year our church celebrated Christmas by giving a birthday present to Jesus. On the first Sunday in December, I asked the congregation to think about what Jesus Christ really meant to them, and to offer a gift on the altar to symbolize their love for Him and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Our Guide  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Jun 5, 2003

OUR GUIDE Steven Simala Grant tells this story: I remember Christmas, 1980, when I was 9. My mom, who was a secretary in a small 3-person company, got a Christmas bonus – a trip for her and my brother and me to Disneyland. Plane and hotel, all covered – and even some cash. Her boss was not a ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13

Tags: Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

What God Can Do For Us  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR US A young pastor in another church told about an experience he had with a family who tended to be the "Easter and Christmas" variety of church attendees. A young woman in the family became critically ill. The prognosis was bad. In fact, doctors expected she might die within ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Quotes On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

QUOTES ON HUMILITY Recently a pastor received a Christmas card with a note in it from a lady who attended a Christmas Eve service at the church. She was very complimentary about his preaching, comparing him with Billy Graham, saying, “I think you are one of the really great preachers of all time.” ...read more

Tags: Humility

Happiness Vs. Joy

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

HAPPINESS VS. JOY There is a pretty common belief that differentiates between happiness and joy. This is one that I believe. Happiness is based on circumstances. Expensive gifts and good food and parties and celebrations and Christmas lights can bring happiness. But they are only temporary. They ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Church Of God

Diverse Gifts  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 16, 2003

[illustration] On Christmas morning, the children in a family do not usually all receive the same gifts. One gets a football, one a puzzle, another receives a doll house, and another a table game. Yet, although each child does not receive the same gifts as the others, the parents intend the gifts ...read more

Tags: Gifts General, God's Provision, God The Father

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe" The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Waite on Nov 25, 2005

“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” the citizens of Narnia have lived under what seems to be an endless winter in discouragement and fear. However, there are rumors, coupled with hopes that “Aslan is on the move” and when He arrives He will right all wrongs. ("Wrong will be right,/When Aslan ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Man Came To The Church I Was Serving. He ...

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jun 25, 2009

A man came to the church I was serving. He needed help on Christmas Eve. After giving him some food I asked him where he goes to church. He never goes. I told him he was welcome here. He said, “I know I need God; He’s the only one who will never turn His back on you.” The man was ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: United Methodist

And We Were Afraid  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2002

AND WE WERE AFRAID Writer and naturalist Anne Dillard tells of a cold Christmas Eve when she, then a young girl, and her family had come home from a late dinner out. Ginger ale and a plate of cookies sat on a special table. Dillard had taken off her winter coat and was warming herself on the ...read more

It Was A Chilly December Evening In Downtown ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Hickman on Dec 16, 2002

It was a chilly December evening in downtown Chicago, and about a dozen people from a suburban Christian college were Christmas caroling. A few people stopped to listen. A black man edged closer as they sang. His head nodded in rhythm with the melody. He was probably in his 20s, but his tired and ...read more

Tags: Humility, Poverty, Giving General

Denomination: Church Of God

Unopened Gifts  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 16, 2003

[illustration] Imagine how a parent would feel if on Christmas day when the gifts for their children were handed out, the children just took them, said “Thank you,” and laid them aside with no attempt to open the gifts not even to find out what they were! Imagine how the Lord must feel when he has ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Played Santa This Week At The Nursing Home - ...

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

I played Santa this week at the nursing home - The outfit was fine but the beard was rank, so I had to spray it with something. - I hugged - asked if they were good little boys and girls, passed out gifts and even danced with some of the ladies. I couldn’t tell who really believed in Santa and ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Recent Newsweek Poll Found That "84 Percent Of ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 9, 2005

A recent Newsweek poll found that “84 percent of American adults consider themselves Christians, and 82 percent see Jesus as God or the son of God. Seventy-nine percent say they believe in the virgin birth, and 67 percent think the Christmas story — from the angels’ appearance to the Star of ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Methodist

When Orville And Wilbur Wright Finally Succeeded ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When Orville and Wilbur Wright finally succeeded in flying the first airplane for fifty-nine seconds on December 17, 1903, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of their amazing accomplishment. The telegram read, "First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts