In Sermon Illustrations: "Fire"

The Late Erma Bombeck In Her Book, "If Life ...

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 28, 2006

ILL. The late Erma Bombeck in her book, "If Life is a bowl of Cherries, Why Am I Always in the Pits?", recalled the legend of a church where the chimes rang miraculously whenever someone gave a generous gift. But the chimes hadn’t rung for a long time, even though kings & potentates had come ...read more

Tags: Antichrist

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Neither A Liberal Theologian Nor A Feminist ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jan 22, 2007

I am neither a liberal theologian nor a feminist believing that God is both Father and Mother to us, but many of the finest traits of motherhood we find in Him who is our Everlasting Father. Jesus, our Everlasting Father, uses the imagery of a mother hen in describing his desire to care for the ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Price They Paid – From Illustrations ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 5, 2007

THE PRICE THEY PAID – From Illustrations Unlimited:Have you ever wondered what happened to those fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Price

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Book Of Revelation, Jesus Himself Speaks ...

Contributed by John Cuddeford on Nov 1, 2007

In the book of Revelation, Jesus himself speaks to them. He commends them for many things. But then he adds this sobering rebuke. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ” (Rev. 2:4) WHO is your FIRST LOVE? Over the years, have the pursuits, the distractions, the ...read more

Denomination: *other

From The Dining Room We Walked Into The Living ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

“From the dining room we walked into the living room. This room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He said, ‘This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 38:15-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Recently Met A New Friend We'll Call Mike

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Apr 12, 2008

I recently met a new friend we’ll call Mike Mike told me his testimony Mike believed he was saved Was going through life as a saved man, but not really on fire for God Things that should have negatively affected him, his friends behavior, his environment , didn’t He just ignored those things and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Good Soldiers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2008

GOOD SOLDIERS I am told as a young man Winston Churchhill was in a heated battle. The war planes were dropping bombs all around the soldiers assignments. Several died, but many were running away and hiding and not following commands. One soldier ran past Winston Churchhill. The soldier asked if ...read more

Tags: Endurance

All Out War At Work - - ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Aug 12, 2008

ALL OUT WAR AT WORK - - - Years ago I worked in a large store with over 300 employees. Truly, there were only a handful of us who were Christians at this store. One of the few Christians was April. April was very open about her Christianity and would tell others about Christ at every ...read more

Tags: Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Armor That Holds Up

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2011

ARMOR THAT HOLDS UP I came across what I thought was a rather interesting story this week as I was preparing for this message. It was a story detailing a class action law suit aimed at a company called Second Chance Body Armor. Second Chance manufactures bullet proof vests for police officers and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Security

The Disease Of "Me"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

THE DISEASE OF "ME" Basketball coach Pat Riley in his book The Winner Within tells about the 1980 World Championship Los Angeles Lakers. They won the NBA Championship that year, and they were recognized as the best basketball team in the world. They began their 1980-1981 season considered likely ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Pride

Mama's Prayers  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

MAMA'S PRAYERS E. V. (Ed) Hill, who pastored Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, tells the story of how "Mama’s" love and prayers changed his life. During the height of the Depression, Hill’s real mother, who had five children of her own, didn’t have enough food to go around, so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Tags: Mother's Day

The Circle Maker

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Dec 4, 2011

THE CIRCLE MAKER Pastor Mark Batterson wrote a book called "The Circle Maker". He tells the following. The Book of Legends, is a collection of stories from the Jewish Talmud, when I discovered the true legend of Honi the Circle Maker. It forever changed the way I pray. I pray more. I pray with ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

The Mark Of Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 17, 2012

THE MARK OF JESUS When I was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Levelland, there was a man in our church, the owner of a local business and a highly intentional Christian. The apostle Paul once said of himself that he bore "on [his] body the marks of Jesus" (Gal. 6:17). Well, this man bore ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Give Up—the Case Of Mrs. Ruth Ertel

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

DON’T GIVE UP--THE CASE OF MRS. RUTH ERTEL In 1965 a divorced mother of two, found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris’s steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Endurance

I Worry Too Much

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 31, 2012

"I WORRY TOO MUCH" I was perusing the Internet this week and found ExperienceProject.com that has an entire section of the website called "I worry too much." Worry must be one of those universal emotions and conditions that all of us deal with. These are some of the comments left by ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:22-34, Philippians 4:6-8

Tags: Worry, Ready

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Not But I Shall Be

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 22, 2021

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) The one thing about getting older is that you get to look back on more things each year and have more to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2

Tags: Forgiveness, Change, Transformation, Failure

Denomination: Baptist

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

One Man's Life Provides A Dramatic Answer To The ...  PRO

Contributed by James Dunn on Mar 12, 2002

One man’s life provides a dramatic answer to the question, can God indeed bring positives out of troubled times? This young man’s name is David, and he is an awesome picture of God’s using difficulties for good. For years he viewed trials as something that affected only his external world, and any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 2:6, 2 Samuel 6:6

Tags: Growth In Christ, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

The Following Story Was Written By A Missionary ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 26, 2009

The following story was written by a missionary doctor who worked in Africa. "One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-The Widow Of Zarephath

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 4, 2022

Introduction: this widow woman probably wasn’t even an Israelite but she believed the words of Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, God of Israel. She received much more than she gave Elijah! Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16, KJV: 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Elijah, Widow Of Zarephath, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist