In Sermon Illustrations: "Following Christ"

Dallas Willard, Professor At The University Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Bordelon on Sep 21, 2002

Dallas Willard, professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Philosophy, offers this observation about the church - "By the middle of this [twentieth] century, [the church] had lost any recognized, reasonable, theologically and pychologically sound approach to ...read more

Tags: Church General, Discipleship, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Was Jesus' Habit Was To Go To "Church" ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Mills on Oct 13, 2002

It was Jesus’ habit was to go to "church" (synagogue) on Sabbath (Sunday). What makes us think that we are any better than Jesus, so ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Church Body Of Christ

I Have Never Met A Soul Who Has Set Out To ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 17, 2002

I have never met a soul who has set out to satisfy the Lord and has not been ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Growth In Christ, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Mennonite

Charlie Brown And Linus  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 25, 2002

Charlie Brown and Linus. Charlie brown asks Linus "What would you do if you felt that nobody liked you?" Linus responds "Well Charlie Brown I guess I would take a real hard look at myself, ask if I am doing anything that turns people off, How can I improve myself? Do I need to ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Mennonite

Accepting The Marginal  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002

ACCEPTING THE MARGINAL In speaking to church leaders Dallas Willard says “The leading assumption in the American church today – and the Australian one I’ll add – is that you can be a Christian but not a disciple. That has placed a tremendous burden on a mass of Christians who are not disciples. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Church General, Discipleship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The New Life Is An Uncomfortable Fit (At First)

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 19, 2002

The New Life Is An Uncomfortable Fit (at first) YOU SEE - we are like Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn - the young and wild hillbilly boy – who the widow Douglas took into her home and tried to civilize… Got him to bath, dressed him in nice clothes, sent him to school… Huck can’t take it – so ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General, Discipleship, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mary Had A Little Lamb  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth; Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2) Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall— Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14) Mary had the little Lamb, obedient ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus, Humanity Of Christ

We've Got A Guy Name Mark Batelle That Comes To ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Dec 27, 2002

We’ve got a guy name Mark Batelle that comes to our church. Mark is an excellent musician and a solid Christian. But Mark also has the “F” word tattooed on the back of his bald head. A few months ago the president of Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary came to visit our church. And I looked ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Modern Medical Miracle

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Aug 23, 2007

*Jesus worked medical miracles yesterday, and He can do the same thing today! Sometimes we have the privilege of seeing Him do it. When I worked for the Air Force in the late 70’s, one of my best friends was a Captain named Bill. *We got a call from Bill out of the blue, in the Fall of 1993. He ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Tags: Miracle Of Christ, Modern Day Miracles

Denomination: Baptist

Bat Infestation  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Sep 19, 2007

Illus.: “Bat Infestation” Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat-infestation problems. “I got so mad,” said one, “I took a shotgun and fired at them. I missed and it made holes in the ceiling. The trustees are still upset with me.” Another pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:19-25

Tags: Baptism, Church Discipline, Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

Story: One Of My Heroes Of The Faith Is The Late ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 17, 2007

Story: One of my heroes of the faith is the late Richard Wurmbrand (1909 – 2001) Wurmbrand was born in Rumania in 1909 as a Jew and became a Christian when he encountered Christ at an early age. He shared his faith with the occupying troops in the 1940’s and the Germans threw him in prison for ...read more

Tags: Witness, Suffering, Testimony, Live For Christ

Denomination: Anglican

I Recently Read The Story Of A Man Who, In 2006, ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Surber on Sep 9, 2008

I recently read the story of a man who, in 2006, was driving along a road in Pune India, a city located in the Maharashtra province of central India. The man was driving a common mode of transportation in India, his motorcycle with its mighty 2 stroke engine, through torrential rains on a road that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12

Tags: Gospel Of John, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian Church

The Only One Pulling  PRO

Contributed by Guy Glass on Nov 2, 2009

THE ONLY ONE PULLING A guy drives into a ditch, but luckily, a farmer is there to help. He hitches his horse, Buddy, up to the car and yells, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy doesn’t move. "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy doesn’t budge. "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing. Then the farmer says, "Pull, Buddy, ...read more

Tags: Fathers Day, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

It's Not About Repentance

Contributed by Cameron Conway on Aug 2, 2010

IT'S NOT ABOUT REPENTANCE Today it's not about repentance; it's about our feelings. It's not about prayer; it's about going out for coffee. It's not about revolution; it's about the status quo. It's not about sanctification and righteousness; it's about making money. It's not about ...read more

Tags: Discouragement, Disappointment, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Foursquare

Savior Or Judge?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 14, 2014

A young man was drinking heavily and decided to go for a swim at a California beach. Fortunately, an older man was watching the young man as he entered the water and did not come back up for air. The older man ran to the struggling young man and saved his life. A few years later, that same ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Evangelism, Christ, Decision, Judgment Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trading Places

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 7, 2014

Several years ago, a Baptist camp in Texas was having the annual softball game between counselors and campers on the last day of church camp. The teams divided up and went at each other. After the game started, a teenager in center field chased a long fly ball and hurt his ankle. His pastor was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tags: Atonement, Forgiveness, Cross, Blood Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Son Of God  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 2, 2014

THE SON OF GOD "The SON OF GOD became a Man..........so that Men may become the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Jesus, Son Of God, Deity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Severe Trial Of Affliction

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 18, 2014

In his novel The Source, James Michener described a period in Jewish history around 170 BC when the Jews in Palestine faced severe persecution. Greek officials came to Jerusalem and read an edict that forbade any Jew from worshipping Yahweh, and ordered them to lay their hands on an unclean pig ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-38

Tags: Persecution, Great Commandment, Loyalty To Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Atheism To Ben Hur

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 19, 2016

FROM ATHEISM TO BEN HUR "After six years given to the impartial investigation of Christianity as to its truth or falsity, I have come to the deliberate conclusion that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the world and my own personal Redeemer." -- General Lew Wallace, one-time ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1

Tags: Conversion, Testimony, Jesus Christ, Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let's Go Fishing

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Nov 3, 2016

Let’s Go Fishing Luke 5: 1-11 As you all know I am a fisherman. It is in my blood. My father taught me and my two brothers to fish when we were very young. I remember one time we were fishing from a dock in the Little Sandy River. Dad had just bought a new rod and reel and my brother Mike being ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Jesus, Christ's Sufficiency, Obeying Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed