In Sermon Illustrations: "First Things"

Bad Experiences With Christians

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Apr 4, 2009

BAD EXPERIENCES WITH CHRISTIANS A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with the Rt. Hon. Adam Ingram MP. I dared to ask him about something I had heard to see if it was true. I had been told that Adam Ingram as a young man had attended the BTI (Bible Training Institute) Bible College in Glasgow. ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Baptist

The Wondrous Cross  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 18, 2009

THE WONDROUS CROSS Gal. 6:14 inspired Isaac Watts to compose one of modern Christendom’s favorite hymns. While preparing for a communion service in 1707, Isaac Watts wrote this deeply moving and very personal expression of gratitude for the amazing love that the death of Christ on the cross ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Other

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

Lincoln: Keep Trying

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 13, 2009

LINCOLN: KEEP TRYING Let me tell you about a man who made a disastrous first attempt in the world of business. He switched to politics but within only one year that did not work out either. He tried his hand for a second time at business, but failed again. That meant 3 failures in 3 years, (time ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Anglican

Remember The Duck

Contributed by C Jordan on Nov 1, 2009

REMEMBER THE DUCK A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: *other

Gullible Eve  PRO

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 14, 2009

GULLIBLE EVE My sister was a great story teller. She still is. She would tell a story so convincingly that I would believe it. A number of times her stories would trick me into giving her my pocket money, and at other times she would bring me to the edge of tears with a story that was just pure ...read more

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Tells You "No"

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 25, 2010

WHEN GOD TELLS YOU "NO" Has God ever told me "No"? Yes, many times. Was it easy? Never! The hardest time was a long time ago. My first son, James Daniel, was born with severe heart defects. I knew that God could heal him and prayed daily for my son's healing. A year later, after open heart ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Salvation: It Really Is ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 11, 2010

SALVATION: IT REALLY IS FREE Reader's Digest wrote of the late Harvey Penick: "For 90-year-old golf pro Harvey Penick, success has come late. His first golf book, Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, has sold more than a million copies, which his publisher believes makes it one of the biggest ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Hard To Be Humble

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 16, 2011

HARD TO BE HUMBLE Have you ever noticed how things that look easy, never are? For years, I've alpine skied; but, I've always wanted to snowboard. I thought, boarding can't be all that different. How hard can it be? After all -- if my daughters could learn, so could I. They picked up the sport ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:23

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Lutheran

The Conversion Of George Whitefield

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 29, 2011

THE CONVERSION OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD In the 1730's in England, a young man named George Whitefield desperately wanted to be right before God. As a student at Oxford, he was part of the Holy Club, along with John and Charles Wesley. The members of that club rose early every day for lengthy ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

How Not To Achieve Virtue

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 4, 2011

HOW NOT TO ACHIEVE VIRTUE How do we move from vice to virtue? Let me tell you first of all how not to... Even ancient pagans, those who never heard the Bible, recognized that living in vice was deadly and destructive. They were far ahead of our modern culture that is foolishly accepting vices ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Lutheran

For The Life Of An Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Feb 14, 2012

FOR THE LIFE OF AN ENEMY A Baptist pastor named Peter Miller was from a small town in Pennsylvania who lived during the American Revolution. And there was another man who lived there named Michael Wittmann, an evil-minded sort who did all that he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. He made ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lee Dye On New Year's Resolutions

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

LEE DYE ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS Lee Dye writes, “It’s that time of year again when we resolve to get off our duffs and run around the block more often, maybe even cut back on tall of those things which we know we aren’t supposed to eat, or drink or smoke. Ah yes, New Year’s Resolutions which for ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

Feed Them

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 12, 2016

The thing is that Jesus did perform the miracle, but he didn’t feed the five thousand. You may be thinking here; Andrew you’re just being a bit silly about this. But for Jesus disciples this was one of those great learning moments. The disciples rock up with a problem and Jesus says we'll solve it, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:35-44

Tags: Equipped For Service, Miracle, Hands On, Service, Feeding 5000  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Do All Roads Lead To God?

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Jesus is the only one way to heaven. Verse: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV). Illustration: I once heard someone say, “All religions ultimately lead to God.” But, think about this question logically. ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Religious Beliefs, Evangelism

Denomination: Charismatic

A Word Of Encouragement For Discouraged Pastors

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

A great evangelist, Dr. Chapman, has often told an amazing story about himself. He had been in business and became minister of a great church in Philadelphia. One Monday he was more than usually dispirited. (Mondays are hard on pastors!). The Sunday had been a poor one, and he felt, as ministers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Faith, Ministry, Hope, Encouragement, Anointing, Discouragement, Pastors, Calling, Quitting, Resigning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Serenity Prayer – Written By Reinhold ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on May 31, 2005

The Serenity Prayer – written by Reinhold Niebuhr God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Methodist

That Is Why We Must Realize That There Is No ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Dec 11, 2007

“That is why we must realize that there is no need to denounce people who are not living the holy life. The New Testament seems to me to be sorry for them. There is no need to denounce Christians who are not doing their utmost to live the Christian life, because, poor things, they are suffering ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Two Young Boys Were Out In A Large Field Playing ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 6, 2002

Two young boys were out in a large field playing hide and seek. As the first boy leaned against a tree covering his eyes and counting to 100, the other boy ran across the field and climbed up into another tree to hide. Just then the first boy reached 100 and he yelled out, “ready or not here I ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Shedding Light On Thanksgiving  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 18, 2003

SHEDDING LIGHT ON THANKSGIVING The Associated Press, New York, carried this short piece on the first Thanksgiving: "This time of year, classrooms across the United States are filled with tales of the first Thanksgiving feast. But children might not be getting the whole story, says Kenneth C. ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday