In Sermon Illustrations: "Fools For Christ"

He Must Increase And I Must Decrease

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. When you need assurance of Eternity and answer the Gospel call- He must increase and I must decrease! When He bids you take up your cross and be willing then to give all- He must increase and I must decrease! When the storms of life threaten, and you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36, John 20:30, John 1:29

Tags: God First, John The Baptist, Jesus First, Preeminence Of Christ, Exalt Christ, Premience Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Kyle Idleman On Carrying Your Cross

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Carrying Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Because He Came

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

Here are six blessings Paul mentions in Galatians 4:4-7 that flow to us because Christ came. We are redeemed (Gal 4:5a). We are adopted into God’s family (Gal 4:5b). The Holy Spirit now lives within us (Gal 4:6a). We call God Father (Gal ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7

Tags: Galatians, The Birth Of Christ, The Virgin Birth, Why Christ Came

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Who He Says You Are

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 18, 2020

Because you are in Christ, EVERY ONE of these statements is true of you. • I am loved. 1 John 3:3 • I am accepted. Ephesians 1:6 • I am a child of God. John 1:12 • I am Jesus' friend. John 15:14 • I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him. Romans 8:17 • I am united with ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12, John 15:14

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Identity, New Creation, Position In Christ, In Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus In An Age Of Higher Learning  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Feb 24, 2005

Jesus In an Age of Higher Learning Simon Peter answered, “Lord you are the Messianic parousia, the pre-existent Logos, the eschatological anticipation of the cosmos, the epistemological problem of the ages, the Christological manifestation, and the antitheses of the Adamic quandary. I Cor. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:16

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Man Lost His Job And A Sizeable Fortune During ...

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Mar 13, 2005

A man lost his job and a sizeable fortune during a recession. To add to his sorrow, his precious wife died; yet he tenaciously held to his faith - the only thing he had left. One day when he was out searching for employment, he stopped to watch some men who were doing stonework on a large church ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Remember Me!" Luke 23:32-43 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 22, 2005

“Remember Me!” Luke 23:32-43 Key verse(s): 42-43:“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’.” Did you ever notice that there are some problems that no matter how long you work with them or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Jesus, Paradise, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Well, Let Me Tell You A True Story About A Young ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Mar 28, 2005

Well, let me tell you a true story about a young fireman. In the midst of a blaze he stepped forward and volunteered to go rescue a little baby, even though the chief had said that the flames were too strong and the building too unstable. As soon as that young fireman was able to get that little ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Methodist

25 Years Ago A Baby Was Born In A Hospital. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 23, 2005

25 years ago a baby was born in a hospital. He weighed only a few pounds. He had to be pampered and coddled to enable him to live. Now he is 6’2" tall and weighs 200 pounds. There is a vast difference in the baby and the man. Yet the life he now has is the same life he had 25 years ago. Our ...read more

Tags: Bible Study, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

What If Porcupines Could Dance? They Are God's ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Aug 2, 2005

What if porcupines could dance? They are God’s idea of the animal kingdom’s version of a cactus. Imagine a cactus gliding, twirling around the ballroom as the orchestra plays a waltz. Or look at that cactus in an embrace of the tango - striding, dipping, heads bobbing to the music. Cheek-to-cheek. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Blind Songwriter, Ken Medema, Wrote The Cry ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 23, 2005

The blind songwriter, Ken Medema, wrote the cry of our hearts when he wrote these words: "If this is not a place where tears are understood, Then where shall I go to cry? And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings, Then where shall I go to fly? I don’t need another place for tryin’ ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Charismatic

The Movie "Thirteen" Retells The Life Story Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bumble Ho on Sep 26, 2005

The movie “Thirteen” retells the life story of a typical thirteen-years-old girl in LA. In one scene, the girl was depressed, so she got into a bathroom and start getting a razor and cut her arms with it and inflicted pain on herself so that she could feel better. “What!” I was shocked and could ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

One Of My Favorite Songs Is By The Legendary ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 13, 2005

One of my favorite songs is by the legendary Contemporary Christian Artist Larry Norman. Norman is one of a handful of pioneers of contemporary Christian music that paved the way for the ministry (and industry) that it is today. I have played the song before and it is entitled, ‘The Outlaw.’ It ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Church Of God

The Town Was Being Overcome With Drought. The ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard White on Sep 25, 2002

The town was being overcome with drought. The crops were dying, the livestock was thinning out, fresh water supplies were severely diminished. The town decided to gather at the church house and pray for rain. That night as the preached entered the church building he was pleased to see so many ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Kierkegaard Once Said "To Become An ‘admirer Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002

Kierkegaard once said “To become an ‘admirer of Jesus’ is much easier ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Historically Profound Moral Understanding  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2002

HISTORICALLY PROFOUND MORAL UNDERSTANDING COMMUNION MEDITATION Dallas Willard writes: "What Jesus had to say about human good and evil was of sufficient depth, power, and justification to dominate European culture and its offshoots for two millennia. Nobody even has an idea of what 'Europe' and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, James 1:18

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ

Song: Steven Curtis Chapman If The Truth ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Preston on Nov 13, 2002

Song: Steven Curtis Chapman If the truth were known, and a light were shown, On every hidden part of my soul, Most would turn away, shake their heads and say, He’s still got such a long way to go. If the truth ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Lordship Of Christ, Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

I Knelt To Pray When Day Was Done  PRO

Contributed by Eric Muldoon on Nov 18, 2002

I knelt to pray when day was done, And prayed, "Lord, bless everyone; Lift from each heart the pain, And let the sick be well again." And then I woke again one day, And carelessly went on my way; The whole day long I did not try To wipe a tear from any eye. I did not ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Holiness

In The Movie, The Secret Garden, The Young Boy ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 19, 2002

In the movie, The Secret Garden, the young boy Colin thinks he’s an invalid. He can’t bear the strong light of day, the clean open air. He believes those things will infect his lungs and snatch his life. he believes he’s destined to be everlastingly bedridden or, in the few struggling moments ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Disciplines General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ