In Sermon Illustrations: "Focused Living"

When You First Met "J.e.", You Could Tell He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

When you first met “J.E.”, you could tell he was a very angry man. In fact, at age 54 he’d been an angry person for many years. In a Bible study that night, many questions had been raised in his mind. Talking with the leader afterward, J.E. said, “I asked Jesus to be my Savior when I was 9 years ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-7, Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Mind

Denomination: Baptist

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It's "A Hard-Knock ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 23, 2002

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It’s "a hard-knock life" for her and her friends. All the hard chores, the abuse, and the neglect only add insult to injury to these poor little girls already carrying the weight of abandonment. But if you’ve seen the musical "Annie," either on stage or screen, you know ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Confidence Of God  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God "Personal God" Christians can walk in confidence because the Lord is a personal God: Psalm 147:11 says, "the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." Song of Solomon 7:10 presents a wonderful truth in regard to our ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:10

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Get A Whole Bunch

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

We Get a Whole Bunch Pastor John R Ramsey once wrote, "For some time I have had a person provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that I appreciated, but ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Igdaliah, A Man Of God

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 21, 2020

Text: Jeremiah. 35:4, KJV: And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which (was) by the chamber of the princes, which (was) above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: Thoughts: Igdaliah ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:4

Tags: Man Of God, Men Of God, Igdaliah

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Bigger Than Our Box

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 20, 2023

(Have 4 boxes of different sizes for illustration) Here is a box. Its a small one. For some people, what they think of God could fit in this box. They have few expectations and limited knowledge of who God is. Here is another box. It is a little larger. Many people would be comfortable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Tags: God Is Able, Power Of God, Limiting God, Bigness Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

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

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

That's Why I Think We Should All Subscribe To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Kory Wilcoxson on Feb 19, 2005

That’s why I think we should all subscribe to the Southerner’s version of the Gospel. You see, there’s no such thing as a singular pronoun in the South. They don’t say you. They say y’all. Even if they’re talking to one person. “Y’all think Wal-Mart’s still open?” “Y’all going to the pig roast ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ