In Sermon Illustrations: "Following Christ"

Foul Spirit To Freedom

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Mar 25, 2010

FOUL SPIRIT TO FREEDOM Several years ago, I used to visit a nursing home near central El Paso. There was one ornery lady who would growl like a tiger. She was mean! It was clear that she was sick in her mind. Along with others, I would constantly pray for her deliverance. But she would push our ...read more

Tags: Demons

Denomination: Wesleyan

Pows In Vietnam Recall Memorized Scripture To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

POWs in Vietnam Recall Memorized Scripture to Help Themselves Survive In the prison camps which were opened up following the terrible years of the Vietnam war, a story came out about how men endured six, seven, eight years of prison under the most terrible of conditions: rotten food, isolation, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105

Tags: Scripture, War

Catherine Lawes: A Story Of Compassion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 8, 2011

CATHERINE LAWES: A STORY OF COMPASSION Max Lucado relates this story. When Catherine Lawes’ husband, Lewis, became the warden on Sing Sing prison in 1921, she was a young mother of three daughters. Everybody warned her never to step foot inside the walls. But she didn’t listen to them. When the ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Compassion

Bob Johnson From: ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 25, 2011

Bob Johnson from: http://tabernacle-of-david.com/catechism.html states: The majority of the Psalms were originally sung as prophetic songs in David's Tabernacle. They account in detail the expressions of worship offered by the Israelites before the Ark of the Covenant. In addition, they describe ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is It Worth It?

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Jul 1, 2011

IS IT WORTH IT? I see a young soldier, he looks barely 18 to me, he has got fear in his eyes, but he has one goal... to get glory and honour... I see him, going through his training, a hard routine, 20 press-ups followed by 30 crunches, then an hour jogging, and then more push-ups, by the end of ...read more

Tags: Glory

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Who Understands

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Nov 6, 2011

SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. "Can I have a puppy?" "Sure," said the farmer. ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Baptist

Who Will Speak Out?

Contributed by David Parks on Feb 21, 2012

WHO WILL SPEAK OUT? Martin Niemoller was a decorated U-boat captain in the First World War but subsequently became a minister of religion and a relatively high profile opponent of the Nazis as they increasingly gained firm hold of the reins to power in Germany. Niemoeller was active as a leader ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Ownership Of The Gift  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 27, 2012

OWNERSHIP OF THE GIFT A humanitarian group in Africa, noticing the filthy water, sewage, and disease, built clean water and sewage system for a village. Months later, they visited the village, but it was back to square one with filthy water, sewage and disease. [from Pickthebrain.com] The chief ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:20

Tags: Stewardship

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kyle Idleman: I Cheapened The Gospel  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 15, 2012

KYLE IDLEMAN: I CHEAPENED THE GOSPEL "Many of the fans turn to go home. I was struck by the fact that Jesus doesn't chase after them. He doesn't soften his message to make it more appealing. He doesn't send the disciples chasing after them with a creative handout inviting them to come back for a ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-69

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Want To Walk On Water…  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 2, 2012

John Ortberg states: "The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus, you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life. And that’s sobering news to most of us, because we’re into comfort...but water walkers master ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:18-22, Romans 4:3

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

False Messiah—rev. Sun Myung Moon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2012

FALSE MESSIAH—REV. SUN MYUNG MOON It amazes me how many religions are in stark opposition to Christianity; and they do not even have God as their leader. In fact, they are just empty philosophies being advanced by empty followers. While members of Congress looked on, Rev. Sun Myung Moon declared ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-29

Tags: Antichrist

We Are The World Was A Benefit Single For Victims ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 23, 2012

We are the World was a benefit single for victims of famine in Africa. It raised over $63 million, which was distributed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and other impoverished countries. On the morning of April 5, 1985 (Good Friday of that year), "We Are the World" received worldwide coverage. At 10:25 am, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-58

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Your Cheatin’ Heart is a song written and recorded in 1952 by country music singer and songwriter Hank Williams. However, the song was released after his death in 1953. Your Cheatin’ Heart is considered one of the greatest songs of country music. The song is a slow ballad, telling an ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a ...read more

Tags: Persecution Of Christians, Cultural Warfare

Denomination: Lutheran

God Provides But We Personally Must Take Actions!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 10, 2022

Genesis 7 Was Noah righteous because he never sinned? - See Hebrews 11:7 What were God’s instructions to Noah? Go into the ark, you and your whole family Take in the ark animals (what were they?) “Clean” animals “unclean” animals Birds How many days did God give Noah to bring in the animals? – ...read more

Tags: Judgement, Love, Sin, God, Actions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Blessings And Curses

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 22, 2022

Genesis 9:20-28 Devotional Let’s look at this passage backwards! v28-29: How blessed was Noah? – he was blessed with a full long life, even after the flood (Noah is one of the oldest people who ever lived) v24-27: Who was the youngest son of Noah? – Ham, who was the father of Canaan This ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:20-28

Tags: Noah, Descendants, Blessings, Curses

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Word Pictures Of Biblical Forgiveness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

The importance of forgiveness is a constant theme of Scripture. There are no less than seventy-five different word pictures about forgiveness in the Bible. They help us grasp the importance, the nature, and the effects of forgiveness. • To Forgive Is to Turn The Key, Open the cell door, and let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Philemon, Lord's Prayer, Root Of Bitterness, Forgive Us Our Debts, Unforgivenes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Benefits Of Humble Leadership

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine published an article that highlighted the leadership style of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and served two terms as President of the United States. He was known for his humility. “Eisenhower’s humility was evident ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Humility, Leadership, Dwight D Eisenhower

Denomination: Methodist

Values Can Be Completely Reversed In Certain ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 7, 2001

Values can be completely reversed in certain circumstances. You may have heard the story of how when the "Titanic" was sinking, a rich lady was in her cabin when the order to abandon ship was given. There was no time for packing possessions. She noticed two things on her dressing table - her ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Is Told Of A Former World Chess ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on May 17, 2001

The story is told of a former world chess champion player who was taken by a friend to see a picture which had been hung in a famous art gallery, and which had attracted much interest. The artist had portrayed a young man sitting despairingly at a chessboard, while opposite him sat the devil with ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Forgiveness In Jesus, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist