In Sermon Illustrations: "Focused Living"

Resisting A False Culture

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In the late 1980s, the world witnessed the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. One of the central figures in the Velvet Revolution of Czechoslovakia was Václav Havel. Havel had been a playwright and dissident long before he became president. He spent years imprisoned because ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Culture, Scattered, Resisting, Gathered

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rust Frets Even Men Of Iron!" Judges 15: 11-20 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 22, 2004

“Rust Frets Even Men of Iron!” Judges 15: 11-20 Key verse(s): 18 “Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, ‘You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’” Though writing more than a hundred years ago, ...read more

Scripture: Judges 15:11-20

Tags: Disappointment, Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

The Disease Of "Me"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

THE DISEASE OF "ME" Basketball coach Pat Riley in his book The Winner Within tells about the 1980 World Championship Los Angeles Lakers. They won the NBA Championship that year, and they were recognized as the best basketball team in the world. They began their 1980-1981 season considered likely ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Pride

A. One Of The Pioneers In The Cellular Phone ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A. ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN THE CELLULAR PHONE BUSINESS IS A MAN VERY FEW OF US HAVE EVER HEARD OF: CRAIG MCCAW. B. HIS BIOGRAPHY IS ENTITLED: MONEY FROM THIN AIR AND HE TELLS ABOUT HOW HE STARTED, MCCAW CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS, IN 1976, JUST THREE YEARS OUT OF COLLEGE. C. EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1

Tags: Forgiveness General

About Nine Years Ago, They Found That Their ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 20, 2007

About nine years ago, they found that their worship service had lost its spark Senior minister Mike Pilavachi says, “We seemed to be going through the motions, but I noticed that although we were singing the songs, our hearts, were far from Him.” They became too focused on what they liked about the ...read more

Denomination: Other

Bug! Bug! Where’s The Bug?

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 14, 2020

As far back as I can remember, every time I would leave the house, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would say, "Be careful. Drive safely." It’s as though she doesn’t think I could drive carefully without giving me some instructions. I think it has become just a routine for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Harmony, Mistakes, Together

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Love My Imperfections

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 11, 2021

Dr. James L. Snyder Unlike most people, I love my imperfections; those imperfections of mine do not cause me much trouble. I know most people like to focus on their perfections so that they can impress other people. But what about people like me who have no perfections to boast about? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48

Tags: Maturity, Perfection

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Great Divide Between Brain And Tongue

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 12, 2022

As my Uncle Fred used to say, one of the great benefits of getting old is that you know everything. If you had ever met Uncle Fred, you would easily conclude that he certainly wasn’t getting old. Of course, there are things I have learned during my aging career that has been of great use to me. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:10

Tags: Temptation, Tongue, Brain

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The True Tomb Of The Dead Is The Heart Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The true tomb of the dead is the heart ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

The Establishment Of A Goal Is The Key To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The establishment of a goal is the key to ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

In The City Of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, A Muslim ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

In the city of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, a Muslim convert was hung for his faith in Christ. His assistant took over the leadership of the church. The assistant was arrested and released, but each week was interrogated by the authorities. The pressure was intense, and his wife feared he might break. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-39

Tags: Persecution

Why Fruit?  PRO

Contributed by John Tung on Feb 12, 2009

WHY FRUIT? Why are these character traits called fruit of the spirit? Why not other food groups: like meat of the spirit or bread of the spirit or dairy of the spirit? There are four reasons why it’s called fruit of the spirit: because fruit is healthy, sweet, living and whole. Fruit is healthy ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Spirit, Fruit, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Past Thursday, Alabama's Chief Justice Was ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Nov 17, 2003

This past Thursday, Alabama’s chief justice was fired for the stand he took in trying to protect a monument with the 10 Commandments on it. Now, I will not debate with you the rightness or the wrongness of his actions, but I will confess this. I am afraid there is a line being drawn in this ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Grandparents: The Census Bureau Reports That More ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Grandparents: The Census Bureau reports that more than 1/3 of the 2.4 million grandparents who are primary care-givers to a grandchild living in a home without the child’s parents. These grandparents were responsible for “most of the child’s basic needs.” This means 42% of all 5.8 ...read more

Tags: Family

While Driving Back From My Parents, I Listened ...

Contributed by Michael De Rosa on Nov 5, 2006

While driving back from my parents, I listened to a Christian Radio talk show. One of the guests described the relationship between faith and life. He told how the nominal Christians life was represented as a circle, with their faith being represented as a dot in the center of that circle. Then ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Ernest Hemingway, Said This About His Life: "I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Ernest Hemingway, said this about his life: “I live in a vacuum that is as lonely as a radio tube when the batteries are dead, and there is no current to plug into.” Hemingway lived his life in a way that would be the envy of any person who has bought in to the values of this world. But on a Sunday ...read more

Tags: Ot Kings

Healthy Benefits Of Friendship

Contributed by Daniel Harman on Mar 19, 2008

HEALTHY BENEFITS OF FRIENDSHIP A in depth study revealed that people with friends enjoy better health, live longer, are happier and find greater fulfilment in life. Time spent with friends will ENRICH our lives & make us healthier – it acts as medicine to help boost the immune system against both ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Year's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

New Year’s Resolutions The Christmas celebrations are over. Now comes that time of the year when many people make New Year’s resolutions. With fixed determination they try to achieve what they have announced at some party. However, they seldom keep those New Year’s resolutions. Why not? There ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: New Year's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am Inwardly Fashioned For Faith, Not For Fear. ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 10:35

Tags: Faith, Fear And Worry, Doubt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fashioned For Faith  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 16, 2002

FASHIONED FOR FAITH I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational