In Sermon Illustrations: "Following Christs Example"

The Easy Yoke

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

A yoke was a wooden frame which was put on the backs of animals and around their necks joining the two animals for a common task, such as plowing or pulling a load. If you were yoked with Jesus Christ, who do you think would "pull the load"? Obviously the Lord. And so in order to manifest ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Discipleship, Beatitudes, Christian Life, Surrender, Yoke, Following Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Moravian Brethren, 200 Years Ago, Formed One ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

The Moravian Brethren, 200 years ago, formed one of the greatest missionary movements. Two of their members heard of a leper colony in Africa where no missionary was allowed to enter and then return home for fear that the disease might spread in Germany. They volunteered to go into that leper ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Descriptions Of God, Follower

Denomination: Baptist

Trials

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Sam Dixon was the General Secretary of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. He died under the rubble in the Montana Hotel of Haiti, serving God while meeting with other relief agencies to work together to better help the Haitian people. When one serves God so faithfully and suddenly is killed, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-16

Tags: God's Sovereignty, Serving, Choices, The Price To Follow

Denomination: Methodist

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Popularity

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 4, 2023

Great multitudes will follow as long as there is no price to be paid, no contract to sign, no commands to obey, no orders to follow, no sacrifices to surrender, no gifts to offer, no commitments to keep, no burdens to bear, no suffering to share, no hardship to handle, no effort to exert, no pills ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28-33, John 6:60, Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Discipleship, Cost, Entertainment, Popularity, Crowd, Followers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Can't Have Christ And Evolution. You Can't ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 12, 2008

You can’t have Christ and evolution. You can’t have Christ and secular philosophy or psychiatry. You can’t have Christ and Mohammed or Christ and Joseph Smith or Christ and anything. You may only have Christ alone, or no Christ – and anything else you want because none of it will lead you ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Great Outline On The Hope We Have In Christ's Return

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

The Hope (literally, the "certainty") of Christ's Return and His Glorious Appearance is a… * living hope (1Pe 1:3) * blessed hope (Titus 2:13) * joyful hope (1Th 2:19) * comforting hope (1Th 4:13-18) * hope of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Heaven, Hope, Second Coming, Rapture, Assurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Albert Einstein Dreamed Of Finding A Single ...

Contributed by Richard Burkey on May 19, 2005

Albert Einstein dreamed of finding a single theory that would embrace all of nature’s laws. But in his quest for this unified theory, Einstein came up empty-handed. Others followed and pursued what has come to be known as the Theory of Everything, seeking to define all the laws of the universe in ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

When Lewis And Clark Traveled Across America, It ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 3, 2001

When Lewis and Clark traveled across America, it took two years, four months, and nine days. They had traveled about 6,000 miles. They brought back much new material for map makers and specimens of previously unknown wildlife. American settlers and traders soon began to travel over the route they ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Why Bad Things Happen

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

So, what should we say then when bad things happen? Some may say God is still all powerful and all knowing so it seems like it’s still God’s plan that this bad thing happened isn’t it? Kinda, sort of or maybe. There is a difference between what God allows and what God wants. I know that sounds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:4-5

Tags: Dont Ignore Gods Instructions, Follow Gods Instructions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fsu Has A Section Of Campus That Is Called ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Jun 29, 2008

FSU has a section of campus that is called "Legacy Walk", and at one point in it stands a statue of three figures - the Integration Statue - which shows three different example students whose started legacies for their people. University Lutheran has a monument erected ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not All Quotations About Life Have Been ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Not all quotations about life have been negative, for example: Norman Thomas (1884-1968), “The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.” Oswald Spengler, a German historian and philosopher (1880-1936), “This is our purpose: to make as ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Nicodemus Was Ready To Take His Relationship With ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Feb 18, 2013

Nicodemus was ready to take his relationship with Jesus to another level, but it wasn’t that easy. It never is. There would be much to lose if he went public as a follower of Jesus. What would people think if they found out that Nicodemus was an admirer of this homeless-carpenter-turned-rabbi ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-18

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Footsteps Of My Savior I Would Walk Each ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"In the footsteps of my Savior I would walk each day, Following ever where they'd ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Jennifer M. Ginn Shares A Similar Experience, In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Jennifer M. Ginn shares a similar experience, in her article “Living by the Word,” published in Christian Century [February, 2004]. She begins by quoting the words of a song that was popular when she was at camp. “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

No Picture Exists  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

NO PICTURE EXISTS On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait of a man with this inscription underneath. "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-8

Tags: Jesus Christ

Now That I Know Christ, I'm Happier When I'm ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Now that I know Christ, I'm happier when I'm sad than I was ...read more

Tags: Joy

[152]. A Message From A Poem – Jesus Christ Is All In All In All Matters

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

[152]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL IN ALL MATTERS This is the only poem I have written this way. It is quite unusual as you see with scattered words that rhyme, and play on words. I think of it as one long thread with all these points hanging from it. I don’t expect ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:28

Tags: Friend, Christian Poetry, Christian Poem, All In All, Pain, Believe, Gift, Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Movie Classic - National Lampoon's Vacation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

In a movie classic - National Lampoon’s Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. After several wrong turns, the houses ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ