In Sermon Illustrations: "Focused Living"

Ignatius Of Loyola Advocated A 28 Day Retreat ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 17, 2007

Ignatius of Loyola advocated a 28 day retreat and examination (he lived hundreds of years ago). Most of us can’t get away for 28 days but we can take a weekend retreat or just ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Sound Of Silence Can Be Troubling And ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 7, 2008

The sound of silence can be troubling and unnerving. But the sound of silence is also necessary for our faith and confidence in Christ to grow and help us truly live for the Lord despite our circumstances. Let ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

If You Can't Beat ‘em?" Philippians 1: 12-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 5, 2005

“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em?” Philippians 1: 12-14 Key verse(s): 14:“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! We’ve all said it at times when it just seemed hopeless and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:12-14

Tags: Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

Like A Bird In The Hand!" Matthew 8:14-17 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 8, 2005

“Like A Bird in the Hand!” Matthew 8:14-17 Key verse(s): 16-17:“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:14-17

Tags: God's Provision, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

[010] A Message From A Poem - A Tribute To Our Mothers - Mothers' Day

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 6, 2024

[010] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHERS - MOTHERS' DAY I was asked to write a poem for Mothers’ Day and this is it. I forget the context of it now but it had something to do with a children’s group in a church. ORIGINS AND IMPLICATIONS OF MOTHERS’ DAY The origins, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7, Matthew 19:13, Luke 18:15-16, 2 Timothy 1:5

Tags: Timothy, Honor Mothers, Ann Reeves Jarvis, Honour Mothers, Jesus Blesses Children, Mothers Day, Mothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What It Was, Was A Cookie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 11, 2025

At least once a month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community. I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping. This past week was one of those days. As she was backing out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:2

Tags: Desire, Cookie

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Great Thing In This World Is Not So Much ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 17, 2002

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Pompous-Looking Deacon Was Trying To Impress ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Oct 29, 2002

A pompous-looking deacon was trying to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment’s ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For The Sake Of Each Of Us He Laid Down His ...

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Jun 29, 2005

For the sake of each of us he laid down his life—worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other. - St. Clement of Alexandria. [Galaxie ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

George Barna Says, "As Long As Churches Measure ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

George Barna says, “As long as churches measure success on the basis of popularity and efficiency, we will continue to see a nation filled with people who can recite Bible stories but fail to live ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Ah! If Our Likeness To God Does Not Show Itself ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Ah! If our likeness to God does not show itself in trifles, what is there left for it to show itself in? For our lives are all made up of trifles. The great things come three or four of them in the seventy ...read more

Tags: Character

In The Din And Roar Of This Busy Worlds Call ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In the din and roar of this busy worlds call for attention, will we, like the innkeeper of old, be too busy to see the star and hear the chorus of angels, and worship the Christ Child?True Christmas comes to all who amid the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

In His Book I Surrender, Patrick Morley Writes ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Apr 1, 2009

In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception “that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior.” ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Wesleyan

Warren Wiersbe Said, "Do Not Say, Why Were The ...

Contributed by David Rumley on Apr 16, 2009

Warren Wiersbe said, "Do not say, Why were the former days better than these? You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Losing Your Breath

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 22, 2009

LOSING YOUR BREATH Have you ever lost your breath? Anyone who has asthma or knows someone with Asthma knows how scary it can be to lose your breath. We have the same ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Atonement In Jesus Christ's Blood Is ...  PRO

Contributed by David Tack on Nov 24, 2011

"The atonement in Jesus Christ’s blood is perfect; there isn’t anything that can be added to it. It is spotless, impeccable, flawless. It is perfect as God is perfect." Ref: Tozer, A.W. The Radical ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:1-7

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Drifting

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

DRIFTING On the river there is a place near rapids of waterfalls called the point of no return let’s take an imaginary journey down a seemingly peaceful river where you are lulled almost to the point of being asleep. We are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:28

Tags: Drifting, Asleep

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Sacrifice Too Great

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A famous missionary by the name of C. T. Studd said; “If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” Mother Teresa once said, “if ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Why We Hide

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

Think about a little boy who breaks a lamp in the living room. What does he do? He hides under the bed. Mom still knows. The lamp is still broken. But shame ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8, Psalm 32:3

Tags: Shame, Hiding

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Cape Of Good Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 21, 2001

THE CAPE OF GOOD HEAVEN I can still recall a geography lesson from elementary school in which we learned that the southernmost point of Africa is a point, which for centuries has experienced tremendous storms. For many years no one even knew what lay beyond that cape, for no ship attempting to ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ