In Sermon Illustrations: "Focus"

We Know Our Future Includes A Promise. But We Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Lu on Nov 26, 2011

We know our future includes a promise. But we do not know how to transition into that promise. Maybe ’not knowing’ is just an excuse – we just straight out refuse to take that next step. That’s because while we are in the present, we often permit the past to occupy and govern our emotions. We drag ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:17-21, 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Eat, Drink And Be Merry...?

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 11, 2012

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY...? After the "Cold War" was over, a squadron of Russian pilots was invited to participate in tactical war games at a U.S. Air Force base. A gala dinner was planned by the Base Commander. Thinking to relax the guests, he offered a WW II toast to open the meal. Smiling, he ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Christian's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“A Christian’s Prayer” “Statesmen Who Fear God” The children of God can most certainly desire godly leaders and call out to the Lord for those who walk in the fear of the Lord. The last words of King David in 2 Samuel give us this truth, “The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:21-23

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Do Savages Do For Christmas?  PRO

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Dec 6, 2008

WHAT DO SAVAGES DO FOR CHRISTMAS? I’m not talking about some 3rd world nation now. Jdimytai Damour, 34, had been hired by an employment agency as a temporary worker at the Wal-Mart store in Valley Stream and had been on the job about a week when he died. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound man died of ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: Baptist

Live Churches Verse Dead Churches! (Adapted, ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 10, 2003

LIVE CHURCHES VERSE DEAD CHURCHES! (adapted, WRITER UNKNOWN) Live churches constantly change, --- dead churches resist and refuse change... Live churches love to try, dead churches feel they don’t have to... Live churches have youth that are noisy and can’t be still, dead churches are very ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Church General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The Movie "Shawshank Redemption," An Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 10, 2005

In the movie “Shawshank Redemption,” an old prisoner, Brooks Handlin, acts unreasonable and threatens to take another prisoner’s life. They find out that the reason Brooks has reacted this way is that he’s scared. Scared because his parole has been approved. You see those outside of Shawshank see ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-3

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian Church

Megachurch Marketing: 30,000 People Attend ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Megachurch Marketing: 30,000 people attend Houston’s Lakewood Church every weekend to hear Pastor Joel Osteen. 7 million more catch his Sunday sermons on TV, which costs $15 million a year. Osteen’s book, Your Best Life Now, has sold 2.5 million copies. The flourishing Lakewood enterprise brought ...read more

Tags: Lazarus, Dead, Church General

Fishing With A Net

Contributed by John Bright on May 12, 2023

Dr. Daniel B. Wallace has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate school level since 1979. He wrote about this idea based on Matthew 4 “19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” 20 They left their nets immediately and followed him.” “It’s strange ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:19

Tags: Fishing, Evangelism, Hell

Denomination: Methodist

Seven Ways To Test The Spirits

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

The late A. W. Tozer had some wise counsel on how to test the spirits” from I John 4:1. He posed seven tests to apply to any teaching: (1) How does the teaching affect my relationship with God? Is He magnified and glorified, or diminished? (2) How does the teaching affect my attitude toward ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Holy Spirit, Spirits, Spirit Of Error, Teaching, Satan, Truth, False Teachers, Will Of God, Teachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was An Interesting Story Some Time Ago In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was an interesting story some time ago in an issue of Focus on the Family magazine about a man who bought one of those cars that had replaced warning lights with spoken instructions in a female voice. In a soft voice, his "little woman"—as he called her—would say, "Your door isn’t closed ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends

Any Pie à La Mode Is My Kind Of Pie

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 3, 2021

Choices are a very important part of our everyday life. I am what I am today because of choices I made yesterday. I would like to blame someone else, but the truth of the matter is, I am what I am because of my choices. I must confess that there are a lot of bad choices I have made throughout my ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Marriage, Choices

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Keeping The Last Note

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 21, 2011

KEEPING THE LAST NOTE When little Elena was diagnosed with the rare and terminal form of pediatric brain cancer in 2006, her parents were told she had just 135 days to live. The distraught couple vowed to make each moment special for Elena and her sister Gracie, then four. "We wanted to protect ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Sacrifices

[193]. Message From A Poem– No One Else Is Worthy Of Such Praise

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 9, 2025

[193]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM– NO ONE ELSE IS WORTHY OF SUCH PRAISE This poem is the focus on the worthiness of the Lord for no one else is worthy. Jesus is the One who died, and was raised again for our sins. There is so much these days of showmanship that is not worship. We hear song people ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24, Revelation 5:12-13, Revelation 4:9-11

Tags: Worthy, Spirit And Truth, Christ Alone, Honor, Glory, Worship, Praise  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Worship: It Takes Time To Warm Up

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WORSHIP: IT TAKES TIME TO WARM UP When I was a kid in Kansas City, we lived next door to a family who owned a publishing company. They had an old 4 door Mercedes that they would let their son drive to school. He was 3 years older than me and also named Tim. On those winter mornings when the ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Dr Cephas Mashiyach

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 28, 2016

Dr Cephas Mashiyach Suppose I were to tell you about a fabulous preacher that I encountered by the name of Dr Cephas Mashiyach? The power of his preaching and his dynamic sermons is unsurpassed. People come from miles around everywhere he goes. Then I told you that Dr Mashiyach was available to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-26

Tags: Rejection, Rejection Of Jesus, Acceptence

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas Significance

Contributed by Sourav Dasgupta on Dec 30, 2021

*Josiah and Jesus* (Significance of Christmas) At 8 yrs. he became King - Josiah and reigned for 31 years @Major Changes @One of the best Kings of Israel @Similarities with Jesus Christ 2Kings22,23 His father was Manasseh and was a bad example but Mother was a good example **(my nature is ...read more

Tags: King's Responsibility, Reference To Christ

For Those Of You Who Weren't Here A Couple Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

For those of you who weren’t here a couple of weeks ago - before he became a preacher John Newton was a wicked man. If there was something evil he could do... and he could figure out a way to do it… he did it. In fact, his wickedness was so obvious, that when his ship, the Greyhound, was caught in ...read more

Fathers, Serve With Intensity  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Fathers, Serve With Intensity" The Bible gives four Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. The second is to live a life that serves with intensity. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Service, Father, Father's Day, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Truth And Perspective

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Truth and Perspective I want to share with you the true story of Dr. Bernard Nathanson. Dr. Bernard Nathanson was a leading abortion doctor in the United States in the 1970’s. He had actually performed an abortion on a woman he had gotten pregnant during this time. This physician had campaigned ...read more

Tags: Abortion

The Empty Gift  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

THE EMPTY GIFT "I was enjoying 1st grade to the fullest until one day in December when the little girl behind me set "it" on her desk. It was the tiniest Christmas present imaginable, less than an inch on each side with white glossy paper tied up with a sliver of red cellophane. Immediately I was ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Christmas