In Sermon Illustrations: "Following Christ"

Kyle Idleman On Waiting Until Later

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 19, 2013

I suspect there are a lot of fans who feel okay about a half-hearted relationship with Jesus, because they have every intention of one day going all in and being completely committed. They don’t feel convicted about not following Jesus because in their minds they know that one day they will. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:59-60

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For Decades, Iran Has Been A Hotbed For Terrorist ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 24, 2006

For decades, Iran has been a hotbed for terrorist activity. Little do most people know that Iran also houses the fastest-growing Muslim movement in the world: Muslims converting to Christianity. In IRAN: Desperate for God, seven Iranian Christian converts from Islam unveil their testimonies of ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Several Years Ago I Read A Fictional Novel ...

Contributed by Timothy Dolan on May 10, 2008

Several years ago I read a fictional novel called, A Skeleton in God’s Closet. It was about an archeologists’ that claimed that he had found the skeleton of Jesus. The chaos that followed was amazing as churches closed and the earth began to tear itself apart. What if I could convince you that ...read more

Tags: Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Savior, Not An Example

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 12, 2011

A SAVIOR, NOT AN EXAMPLE D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don’t like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Tags: Jesus Christ

The Two Adversaries

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2012

THE TWO ADVERSARIES Robert Biggs, 69, who often hikes in the Whisky Flats area, came across a mother bear and her cubs, which were about 40 feet from where he was standing. After watching the bear family for a few minutes he decided to leave them alone and turned to walk back up the trail. As he ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Un Amigo

Contributed by Rolando Delgado on Sep 22, 2010

Un amigo (Translation follows) Un amigo nos es dado, un amigo incomparable que siempre esta a nuestro lado, con amor insuperable El comprende nuestras penas, Alivia nuestro dolor Y nos hace estar felices con la fuerza del amor Amigo frase sencilla que involucra sentimientos No de los que ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Angels And Demons

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Sep 24, 2010

ANGELS AND DEMONS Talk about SUSPENSE AND INTRIGUE! Subatomic anti-matter threatens the existence of Vatican city in Rome. Key Cardinals from the Roman Catholic church vanish. And it all points to the ILLUMINATI, a secret society that has re-emerged from history. I watched the movie by Dan Brown ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Your God Bleed?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

DOES YOUR GOD BLEED? A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in a pagan country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Listen, does your God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:19-20, 1 Peter 3:1-12

Tags: Blood Of Christ

I've Been In Long Caravans Before Where Anywhere ...

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Oct 1, 2002

I’ve been in long caravans before where anywhere from 5 to 25 vehicles are making the same trek together - as a tree planting and a youth pastor. You know what my rule always was for the drivers? Keep up with the guy ahead of you. That was my rule. It seemed natural because you’re always ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tags: Following, Guidance, Apprenticeship, Discipleship, Leading, Leadership, Mentoring  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good Intentions

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 29, 2021

In our younger days, my husband and I sign up for a “boot camp” fitness class. This class costs $300 per person for ten classes. At the start of the first class, our instructor. Tara, does a quick roll-call. She frowns and comments: “Hmm, Susie isn’t here. That’s a shame; attending the first ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33

Tags: Unrealized Intentions, Excuses, Discipline, Follow Through, Explanations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The (Unwise) Wisdom Of The World

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2025

The world in its wisdom may tell us that there is no such thing as truth. That there is no such thing as that which is right and that which wrong. But our experience, of even the simplest of human experiences, will cause us to question that. If you were to ask a gas station attendant for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Tags: Better, Follow Jesus, Unwise, Directions, Wisdom Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Risks And Expectations

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

RISKS AND EXPECTATIONS Sohio, the Alaskan subsidiary of Standard Oil of Ohio, drilled a well in the Beaufort Sea in 1983, hoping to tap a geological formation holding several billion barrels of oil. Instead, they hit water, and $120 million went a glimmering. The oil companies know the risk. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Tags: Commitment To Christ

What's Up With Jesus?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT’S UP WITH JESUS? Renowned theologian Karl Barth was lecturing to a group of students at Princeton when a student asked him, "Sir, don’t you think that God has revealed himself in other religions and not only in Christianity?" With a modest thunder he stunned the crowd, replying, "No, God has ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Tags: Jesus Christ

Pacific Fleet New Testament Stained With Blood Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

Pacific Fleet New Testament Stained with Blood of Son Christ gives salvation when we meet the terms of pardon listed in His will, just as those under Jewish law were purified when they obeyed the laws and institutions sealed by animal blood. Thus one receives the benefits of Christ’s blood when he ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:22-28

Tags: Blood Of Christ

I Am

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2010

"I AM" In the book Life of Christ, the author on page 32 states the following about "The Great I Am": We can see that John's aim is two-fold. On one-hand, he seeks to demonstrate that Jesus is "The Messiah, the Son of God." On the other, he wants people to know the true identity of Jesus, so that ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Shepherd's Blood

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

THE SHEPHERD'S BLOOD In 1972, a shepherd had brought his sheep into a walled-off, enclosed area for the night, and he had just gone to sleep when he heard a commotion. He quickly rushed over to where the sound was coming from and to his horror he discovered that a wolf was in the process of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:11-14

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Many Today Try To Explain Away Their Sin By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Many today try to explain away their sin by denial. "I live a good moral life" they say or "I’m just as good as the next guy". They over estimate themselves with too high a view of their condition. Muhammad Ali, who is one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century and maybe the best boxer of ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

A Farmer Plants Sour Apples Near Edge Of Orchard ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 3, 2009

A Farmer Plants Sour Apples Near Edge of Orchard To Camouflage The Sweet Ones in the Middle A farmer repeatedly invited his neighbor to come over to his orchard and pick some apples and make fresh, sweet apple cider. The neighbor kept turning down the offer. Finally, the farmer asked why the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Why Don't They Let Him In?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WHY DON'T THEY LET HIM IN? A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door of a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen, and when the small boy came in from ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Real Comfort  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

REAL COMFORT “When life caves in, you do not need reasons -- you need comfort. You do not need some answers -- you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation -- ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ