In Sermon Illustrations: "Focused Living"

Little Things - Big Blessings  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 5, 2009

LITTLE THINGS - BIG BLESSINGS When we lived in Houston, Texas, our oldest Spencer was born. Spencer was placed in one of the vast Texas-sized nurseries at this hospital. There in that nursery, I met a group of volunteers who were all from a nearby church. The job of these volunteers in the nursery ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Obedience, Security, Success

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 22, 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." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance." ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Christian Values

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Church--A Hospital For Sinners (The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

The Church--A Hospital for Sinners (The Ragamuffin Gospel) "The Ragamuffin Gospel was written with a specific reading audience in mind. This book is not for the super-spiritual...It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls to rules rather than run the risk of living ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Poem On Risk

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 28, 2009

POEM ON RISK This is a poem on risk from a classroom wall: To laugh is to risk appearing the fool To weep is to risk appearing sentimental To reach out for another is to risk involvement To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastor: Like Ezekiel, I Have Been Told:

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jan 13, 2010

Pastor: Like Ezekiel, I have been told: "...son of man, you are living among rebellious people." People: With God’s help, out of rebellion comes an enthusiasm to do what is right! Pastor: Like Ezekiel, I have been told: "...son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 12:2

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: *other

Clinker Bricks  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2010

CLINKER BRICKS Although at times it seems as though the church is in ruin and rubble, God sees it as a beautiful building. Clinker bricks are bricks that did not quite make it. For some reason or another, they come out of the kiln misshapen or deformed. I read about a Presbyterian Church in New ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-21

Tags: Atonement, Redemption, New Life, Born Again, Church Body Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Charles Stanley On The Difference Between ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Charles Stanley on the Difference Between Decision and Commitment Charles Stanley says in his book, Confronting Casual Christianity, in answer to that question, “because these couples made a decision but did not make a commitment. Every person who married made a decision! They stood before the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:4

Tags: Commitment, Marriage Commitment

Truth Of Resurrection Grips 19th Century ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 30, 2010

Truth of Resurrection Grips 19th Century Preacher R. W. Dale preached in England in the late 1800s. One day, as he was writing an Easter sermon, a light went on for him as it did for John here in verse 8. He described the event: “‘Christ is alive,’ I said to myself; ‘alive!’ and then I ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Tags: Easter Resurrection

The Holy Spirit Compared To Hydroelectric ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2012

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPARED TO HYDROELECTRIC POWER As Christians we may be compared with a reservoir for producing electrical power, like one of those you see when you drive to Niagara Falls. When we accept Christ, construction of our reservoir is complete. We now have the potential to be useful and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

When We All Get To Heaven (Quotes By David Platt)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 8, 2016

WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN... “I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, ’I wish you would have kept more for yourself.’ I’m confident that God will take care of me.” ¯ David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream “We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism, Heaven, Witnessing, Great Commission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Snake With A Flat Head

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

Main Idea: Jesus defeated the devil and all the devil’s power is gone. Verse: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19 NKJV). Illustration: A snake came into my living room. ...read more

Tags: Power And Authority, Power Over Satan, Satan Defeated

Denomination: Charismatic

Romans 1:22

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Romans 1:22 Life is so much vanity. We live on the brink of insanity. This is so very, very odd For creation is in the image of God. We plod along in our sin Knowing that we cannot win. Our souls so easily we sell To that pawnbroker of Hell. Instead of singing, "How Great Thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22

Tags: Sin, Vanity, Hypocrisy, Religion, Traditions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Wise Generosity, Benevolance, Help, Success

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Am More Alive Than Ever - D. James Kennedy

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

D. James Kennedy wrote a book called "Skeptics Answered" and in this book, he made this observation that has always stuck with me. It reminds me of a quote from D.L. Moody many years before. Kennedy wrote, "There will, in fact, come a time when some of you will probably be standing ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Eternal Life, Death, Easter, Resurrection, Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Excellent Congregations: Excellent Protestant ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Excellent Congregations: Excellent Protestant Congregations, by Paul Wilkes and published by Westminster John Knox Press identified the following 26 common traits among the "excellent" protestant congregations. 1. A vibrancy about living a Christian life...living on the creative and holy edge of ...read more

Tags: Church General

Blessed Are The Persecuted  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Persecuted Matthew 5:10-12 says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Chrysostom On Ecclesiastes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011

CHRYSOSTOM ON ECCLESIASTES Eutropius had fallen into disgrace. As the highest-ranking official in the Byzantine Empire (late fourth century), he served as the closest adviser to the emperor Arcadius, then ruling in Constantinople. But Eutropius abused his imperial power and aroused the anger of ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2 Kings 16:10-16

Tags: Evangelism How To

[192]. Message From A Poem – No Contradiction Found Here

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 8, 2025

[192]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NO CONTRADICTION FOUND HERE I am not sure if I should explain each of these or let you work them out for yourselves. I was going to explain what seems to be contradictions, then I changed my mind. I will decide on that tomorrow! Well, I have decided to let you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:3, Titus 2:13

Tags: The Blessed Hope, Paradoxes, Contradictions, Christian Poems, Born Again  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[255]. A Message From A Poem – The Blue Dragonfly

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[255]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE BLUE DRAGONFLY Forget about man-made complexities of life, and the intrusion of humanism into people’s lives. Forget about the complications of life that western, and developed societies have made things to be. The Lord does not want us to be burdened by all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Matthew 6:25-30

Tags: Photography, Insects, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Dragonfly, Anxiety, Contentment, Care, Lilies, God Created  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Usa Weekend Recently Surveyed 272,400 Students ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

USA Weekend recently surveyed 272,400 students grades 6-12. When asked about the most important influence in their lives, parents ranked first, religion second. 36% of the kids polled said they ...read more

Tags: Children