In Sermon Illustrations: "Focus"

A Brief History Of The Jewish People And Israel.

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 22, 2018

1. Introduction Ephesians 2 verse 19, it says … “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints, and also members of the household of God”. There is a lot in that verse … but I will start by focusing on the phrase, “members of the household of God” … so ...read more

Tags: The Jews, The History Of The Jews, The History Of Israel

Denomination: Episcopal

A Wonderful, Imaginative Short Story By Nathaniel ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

A wonderful, imaginative short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the necessity of having the right focus. It is entitled “The Great Stone Face.” The tale centers around a man named Ernest who grew up in a village renowned for a natural wonder that rested just outside its boundaries. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 11:16-23

Tags: Humor, Mother's Day, Story, Devotional

Giving It All Away—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 3, 2002

GIVING IT ALL AWAY-- Communion Mediation "In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, "Through the Valley of the Kwai," there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Take One Down And Pass It Around!" Acts 14:21-25 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 11, 2005

“Take One Down and Pass It Around!” Acts 14:21-25 Key verse(s) 21a:“They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples . . .” “Take one down and pass it around, ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall.” Although this wasn’t one of those endearing songs to dads on vacation ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:21-25

Tags: Gifts Encouragement, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Compassion–acts Of Kindness Showing God's Love

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Sep 10, 2006

Compassion –Acts of kindness showing God’s love. A Hospice physician living in Denver, Colorado wrote about his experience of showing God’s kindness to a desperate mother. I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Car Trouble Opens An Opportunity To Be A Good ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Car Trouble Opens an Opportunity to be a Good Samaritan This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die. I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29-37

Tags: Compassion, Angels Unaware

Revealing The Spectrum Of God’s Love

Contributed by Fred Parker on Oct 23, 2014

Written by Pastor Fred Parker Sat, 4th June, 2011 Matthew 5:16 “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” NIV Early one morning not long ago, I was reminded that the aura of God is revealed in the beauty of His light. The clouds were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Love, Light Of Truth, Spectrum, Jesus Loves

Denomination: Pentecostal

Ouch And Thanks A Lot!" 1 Samuel 5:6-10 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 3, 2005

“Ouch and Thanks A Lot!” 1 Samuel 5:6-10 Key verse(s): 6:“The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.” What good is pain anyway! Couldn’t God accomplish a whole lot more in our lives if we were tuned into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 5:6-10

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

If My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IF MY PEOPLE... Our nation is in trouble: Abortion i. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. ii. In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Delete Or Repeat

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

Delete or Repeat Scripture: Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Tags: Future, Goals, New Year, Tomorrow, Commitments, Starting The Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Your Bucket Is Filled!" Philippians 2: 1-11: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 21, 2004

“Your Bucket is Filled!” Philippians 2: 1-11: Key verse(s): 4 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Consider Your Neighbor!) On a recent Saturday, awakening to a beautifully sunrise and cool breezes, I lazed in bed putting tasks upon the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

Divine Laws Sow-Reap, The King

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 14, 2022

THERE ARE SOME DIVINE LAWS: Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. This mighty king invites all the young men from his kingdom to gather at the gate of the castle. The King has a challenge to all that would like to be the next ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7, Isaiah 40:29-30

Tags: Work, Honesty

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hurricane Victims' Suffering Lead Them To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2010

Hurricane Victims’ Suffering Lead Them to Christ 38-year-old Carlotta Bennett was riding out Hurricane Katrina in her attic with her family. The winds had blown her house way off its foundation, and the rising water was threatening to flood the house to the roof and drown the five people in the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Suffering Joy In

What God Told Me At 4 A.m. In Guangzhou, China

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2018

Note: this story is told by me - Jim Butcher of Madison WV. I want to tell you a story about an insight that God gave me into John 14:1-4, the passage where Jesus speaks of going to prepare a place for us. This is the story of something that happened to me several years ago while I was in ...read more

Tags: China, Adoption, New Jerusalem, Eternity, Father, Family, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Search Committee Report  PRO

Contributed by David Gant on Feb 14, 2004

SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist

The Inevitability Of Gradualness!" Hebrews ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 16, 2005

“The Inevitability of Gradualness!” Hebrews 13:20-22 Key verse(s): 21:“(He) equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and every. Amen.” “I was doing the right thing; but it seemed the harder I ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30, Hebrews 13:20-22

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

My Wife And I Recently Saw A Television Show On ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ferris on Aug 26, 2006

My wife and I recently saw a television show on The History Channel titled, “The Man Who Predicted 911.” We were both moved by this hour presentation and its focus on one man by the name of Rick Rescorla. Long before September 11th, Rick Rescorla, the 62-year-old head of security at the Morgan ...read more

Scripture: James 5:19-20, Mark 13:1-2

Tags: Lost, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord Gave Me This Message This Past Tuesday, ...

Contributed by William Noel on Dec 31, 2006

The Lord gave me this message this past Tuesday, while at a home school choir concert. · I have to admit, the style of music that they sing is not what I normally listen to. · Also, since Sis. Noel takes the kids to their weekly rehearsals, I didn’t know anyone there. · And to top it off, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Denomination: Baptist

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An Ancient Jewish ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 8, 2008

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An ancient Jewish parable: One night a poor farmer was awakened by an angel of the Lord who said: "You've found favor in the eyes of your Maker. He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham. He wants to bless you. Therefore, make any three requests of ...read more

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational