In Sermon Illustrations: "Follower"

Bill Hybels: Why People Are Lonely

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

BILL HYBELS: WHY PEOPLE ARE LONELY Why do we have a sense of loneliness today? Bill Hybels explains it this way: "It is a "me-first” mind-set. This mind-set says indulge yourself, fulfill your desires, satiate your appetites, pursue pleasure, take off all restraints. As much as we might want to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

Excuses, Excuses

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 24, 2011

EXCUSES, EXCUSES We live in a word of excuses. Here are some complied by the Readers Digest that have been offered for not showing up for work: "I dreamed I was fired, so I didn't want to get out of bed." "I was up all night arguing with God." "A raccoon stole my work shoe off my porch." "I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:12, Genesis 3:7-17

Tags: Faults

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hostile Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

HOSTILE HEART Beware the hostile heart. That's the warning of Dr. Redford Williams from Duke University's Behavioral Medicine Research Center. He has been saying for years that having a hostile personalities can kill us--most often by heart disease but also by injuries and accidents. Anger speeds ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Heart

Stabilizing The Leaning Tower Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2012

STABILIZING THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA In the early nineties, the leaning Tower of Pisa began to lean too far. Seeing that the 180-foot-high tower would soon become dangerous, engineers designed a system to salvage the twelfth-century landmark by holding the lean constant. First the engineers ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-7

Tags: Government

Love Your Enemies  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES An Armenian nurse had been held captive along with her brother by the Turks. Her brother was slain by a Turkish soldier before her eyes. Somehow she escaped and later became a nurse in a military hospital. One day she was stunned to find that the same man who had killed her ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Tags: Christian Witness

The Lamp Under The Bed  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 25, 2013

THE LAMP UNDER THE BED I heard about a couple who received a set of two horrible bedside table lamps as a wedding present from a distant aunt. Since the lamps were so ugly, this couple didn't want to actually use them, so they put them in storage and bought a nicer set themselves. That worked for ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Need Help To Get Out

Contributed by Bret Toman on Mar 14, 2013

We Need Help to Get Out Follow the example of the Chilean miners. Trapped beneath two thousand feet of solid rock, the thirty-three men were desperate. The collapse of a main tunnel had sealed their exit and thrust them into survival mode. They ate two spoonfuls of tuna, a sip of milk, and a ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Baptist

A Funnnnnnnnny Thanksgiving Story!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an angry old bull who wanted them out of his pasture. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit and it was soon apparent that they wouldn't make it. Terrified, one man shouted to ...read more

Tags: Fear, Thanksgiving, Prayer, Humor, Gratitude  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Census At The Birth Of Jesus

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

Historians have been puzzled about the census. The one taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. While all this begins to explain why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, Luke is making a point. The birth of this little boy is the beginning of a confrontation between the kingdom of God - in all its ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-2

Tags: Mary And Joseph, Quirinus, Caeser Agustus, Bethlehem, Birth, Census  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Close Call -- For Real!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 3, 2024

The Arms Race was on; we no longer feared atomic bombs, but the H-bomb. Bomb shelters would not protect against that greater level of destruction. At one point, we were a button away from a nuclear holocaust. According to wikipedia.com, “Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov…. was a lieutenant colonel of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:15, Matthew 24:6-14, Acts 4:28, Colossians 1:16, Psalm 2:1-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: History, Wars, End Times, Sovereignty, Danger, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unconditional Love In Marriage-Tertullian

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 15, 2024

If the marriage is healthy, unconditional love moves the spouses to forgive each other and help one another overcome ingrained habits and difficult behavioural patterns. Church Father Tertullian wrote of this sort of marriage, “How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Marriage, One Flesh, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Devoting Yourself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 21, 2014

DEVOTING YOURSELF When it says they "devoted themselves" it means they were steadfast or single minded in purpose or desire. They wanted it and they were going after it, so to speak. In 2008 Sanya Richards-Ross competed in the 400 Meter in Beijing. She started the race strong and built a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Devotion, Church Body Of Christ, Spiritual Discipline

Stripped Pride

Contributed by John Scott on Aug 16, 2014

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad marches — or runs — to the beat of a different drummer. The 29-year-old French athlete was up to his old tricks Thursday. The two-time Olympic silver medalist was on the verge of winning his third straight title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the European ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Tags: Pride, Pride Before A Fall

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Matt Mikalatos Has Identified Several Imagina...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Matt Mikalatos has identified several Imaginary Jesus’ we hold. There’s TV Jesus, who says: "If you follow me, you will have the life you always wanted. Money! Wealth! Big house! Fancy plane! Unending health!" There’s Hollywood Jesus who is mild and kind and never asks for anything difficult. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-35

Tags: Barriers To Growth, Potholes

Denomination: Methodist

Rejected On Earth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 23, 2016

REJECTED ON EARTH... Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Tags: Moses, Acceptance, Rejection, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Relaxing Our Grip On Troubles

Contributed by Jerry Stephens on Mar 18, 2017

Recently I was praying at bedtime. I felt overwhelmed by the things I didn’t get done that day; things that would be facing me the moment I opened my eyes the following morning. As I recited my litany of woes, I sensed the Holy Spirit asking me which among them I thought he couldn’t handle. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Prayer General, Trouble, Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Vineyard

Never Despair (What A Hilarious Story!)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Robert Morgan has the following humorous illustration to encourage us to emulate Paul and "never despair". I read about a man whose route to work every day took him through a particular park in the city, and every day he saw an old fellow sitting on the park bench. This fellow was an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Depression, Despair, Humor, Discouragement

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pilgrims Who Arrived On The Mayflower Were ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 24, 2008

The Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower were not the first to celebrate Thanksgiving in the New World. Several groups before them had done similar things. But the Plymouth Rock Thanksgiving is the one we model our celebration after; for one thing, it included turkey: Governor William Bradford ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Many Years Ago, A Scottish Jesuit Priest ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Many years ago, a Scottish Jesuit priest expressed to John Knox, his great frustration and confusion over the inconsistencies of his life. The following was Knox’s suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and put an end at Thy good pleasure to this my miserable life; for justice and ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Says In His Book "Life ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says in his book "Life Together": "God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother/sister, in the mouth of a man/ woman. Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's Word to him/her. He/she needs him again and again ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ