In Sermon Illustrations: "First Fruits"

Lillie Mae And The Rookie

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 18, 2019

Lillie Mae and the Rookie (Fruit of the Spirit) Gal 5:21-25 Do you all remember Bubba and Billy Bob; I called ole Bubba down in Hazel Green this week to check on Billy Bob, Daisy and the rest of the family. I ask him how everyone was doing. He said everything is fine with everyone; but they had ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:21-25

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Lying

Denomination: Pentecostal

My Family Owned An Apple Orchard With Over 20 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 27, 2007

My family owned an apple orchard with over 20 different varieties of apples. Early season apples, that came ripe in late summer, were very welcome from the store bought apples that had been kept in Controlled Atmosphere storage for months. However the later season apple varieties are far superior ...read more

Why Cain Refused To Bring A Blood Offering

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

God's having made for man coats of skin presupposes the slaying of animals; and doubtless implies that Abel's sacrifice of an animal life was an act of faith which rested on God's command (though not expressly recorded) that such were the sacrifices He required. If it had not been ...read more

Tags: Blood Atonement, Sacrifices, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Jesus, Blood Covenant, Offerings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Study Of Impatience

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

A STUDY OF IMPATIENCE In March of 2006, the Associated Press and Ipsos surveyed 1,003 adults concerning Americans’ attitudes and behavior regarding impatience. Some of the findings included: • While waiting in line at an office or store, it takes an average of 17 minutes for most people to lose ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit

No Hope

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 17, 2012

A group of students visited a psychiatric institution to observe a variety of mental illnesses. One of the individuals was a tragic case. He was referred to as “No hope Carter.” He was a victim of a venereal disease and was going through its final stages when the brain is affected. Before he ...read more

Tags: Desperation, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Longsuffering  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Longsuffering Galatians 5:22 tells us that longsuffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for longsuffering means, "patience, forbearing, perseverance, being constant, steadfast, and enduring." The practical application of this fruit is that God's Holy Spirit gives obedient ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Longsuffering, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mowing Your Yard In The Midst Of A Flood!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Glen and Jo Ann live in Orange County, California in a low lying area. It flooded one year and the local newspaper sent a reporter in a boat out to Glen and Jo Ann’s neighborhood. The reporter found Jo Ann, sitting on their roof watching large objects floating by, so he climbed up on the roof to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: Humor, Priorities, Seeking The Kingdom First

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Pay On Friday

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on May 24, 2020

I am often asked by those with whom I study: “How often is the often?” How often do believers in Christ take communion? The bible does not say: “every Sunday.” Where does it state: “every first day of the week?” I explain it this way. I share with them one of my job interviews, for a training ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Communion, Contribution, First Day Of The Week

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith Is Resting My Whole Weight On God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2023

When missionary John Paton was translating the Scripture for the South Sea islanders, he was unable to find a word in their vocabulary for the concept of believing, trusting, or having faith. He had no idea how he would convey that to them. One day while he was in his hut translating, a native came ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Faith, Revival, Faithfulness, Spiritual Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jackie Robinson Was The First African American To ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 29, 2000

JACKIE ROBINSON was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him. He stood ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Tags: Friendship General, Love, Christian Love, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Wesleyan

When They First Manufactured Golf Balls, They ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jan 3, 2001

When they first manufactured golf balls, they made the covers smooth. Then they discovered that after a ball had been roughed up one could get more distance out of it. So they started manufacturing them with dimpled ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Growth In Christ, Trials Mature Us

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Pastor Was Called To A New Church. The First ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Heartsill on Oct 25, 2000

A pastor was called to a new church. The first Sunday the pastor was there, his message was taken from John 3:16. The message was entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made. The second Sunday, the pastor’s message was taken from John 3:16 and was ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Lordship Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Martin Luther Put It This Way In The First Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

Martin Luther put it this way in the first of the 95 theses he nailed to the door of the Wittenberg church: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ’repent,’ He ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Forgiveness For Others, Repentance

Denomination: *other

It Is Said Of Miss Reside, The First Woman ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Lucas on Jun 14, 2001

It is said of Miss Reside, the first woman missionary to Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma, that after she had been with the Indians long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian they gave her a new name. They called her “Aim-day-co.” Chief Bigtree, in explaining this name, said, “When we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:16-17

Tags: Repentance, Sharing My Testimony, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

Habits Are First Cobwebs, Then Cables". "The ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Jul 11, 2001

"Habits are first cobwebs, then cables". "The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too ...read more

Tags: Character, Discipleship, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Pentecostal

Perseverance Is The First Thing A Child Should ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

"Perseverance is the first thing a child should learn...It is what he will have most need to ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Leadership General

If People Were True To The First Commandment, ...

Contributed by Eric Peloquin on Jun 7, 2005

If people were true to the first commandment, obedience to the remaining nine would follow naturally. It is because they are unsound ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Bible Study

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In One Of His First Attempts To Run For ...

Contributed by Tim Richards on Jul 3, 2005

In one of his first attempts to run for political office Lincoln was given $200 by the Whig Party to cover his election expenses. He won the election and then promptly returned all the money he had not spent on the election, $199.25. He explained, that he had traveled on his own horse, and stayed ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17-18

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

On The First Day Of College, The Dean Addressed ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 1, 2005

On the first day of college, the Dean addressed the students, pointing out some of the rules: “The female dormitory will be out-of-bounds for all male students, and the male dormitory to the female students. Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time.” He continued: ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Baptist

David Peterson, Former Pastor At The First ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Clark on Nov 29, 2005

David Peterson, former pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Spokane, Washington, told about a time when he was preparing his sermon. His little daughter came in and said, "Daddy, can we play?" He answered, "I’m awfully sorry, Sweetheart, but I’m right in the middle of preparing this sermon. ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Methodist