In Sermon Illustrations: "Form Of Baptism"

Forgiveness: Like A Bell Tolling

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 18, 2011

FORGIVENESS: LIKE A BELL TOLLING Corrie ten Boom once told of being able to forget a wrong that had been done to her. She had forgiven the person, but she kept rehashing the incident and so couldn’t sleep. Finally, she cried out to God for help in putting the problem to rest. She wrote this about ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Have Inherited The Divine Nature, Says Peter ...(2 Peter 1:4)

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 16, 2012

You have inherited the Divine nature, says Peter (v.4), now turn your attention to add good habits. Be diligent and concentrate and work on your character. No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character, he has to make character. Nor are we born with habits; we have to form ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-20, 2 Peter 1:4

Tags: Service, Discipleship

Denomination: Anglican

The Miracle Of The Dead Sea Scrolls

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

In 1947, Muhammad adh-Dhib, a twelve-year-old Arab boy, made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. While looking for a lost goat in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, he threw a stone into a cave and heard the sound of shattering pottery. Curious about the noise, he entered the cave ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Peter 1:21, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Truth, Miracles, Dead Sea Scrolls  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kissing Frogs

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 31, 2023

Well ... This short discourse is called ... "Kissing Frogs" Ever feel like a Frog? Frogs feel slow, ... low, ... ugly, ... puffy, ... drooped, pooped. I know! ...... One told me. The Frog feeling comes when: You want to be bright... but you feel dull. You want to share...but you are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-5, Philemon 1:6

Tags: Friend, Kiss, Loving, Sharing

Denomination: Anglican

Protect The Purity Of Your Marriage

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

I admire Queen Vashti. In the midst of an unsavory "scene she was brave enough to say no to that which was blatantly wrong, and in resisting this insulting act of indignity, she took a stand against the greatest power in her universe. Good for her! Submission does not mean that a wife is a ...read more

Tags: Submission, Character, Purity, Husbands, Wives, Vashti, Beauty, Esther, Marriage  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misjudging The Composer

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

In a prestigious concert hall, a renowned pianist was scheduled to perform a masterpiece by a legendary composer. The audience, filled with anticipation, settled into their seats as the performance began. However, it quickly became apparent that something was amiss. The pianist, who had been ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-2

Tags: Perfection, Imperfection, Performance, Flaw, Faith, World, Message, Discernment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Fear And Division

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

A Simple Game Teaches Kids About Fear and Division One of my friends told me about a powerful lesson in her daughter's high school class recently. They're learning about the Salem Witch Trials, and their teacher told them they were going to play a game. "I'm going to come ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3

Tags: Fear, High School, Division, Salem Witch Trials

Denomination: Methodist

Giant Steps  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 10, 2002

Giant steps Marathon the latest goal in a life of challenges. Katie Lynch, 26, practicing for Monday’s Boston Marathon with a special Walker. (Globe Staff Photo / JohnTlumacki) By John Vellante, Globe Staff, 4/14/01 WAYLAND Her life -- all 26-plus years of it -- has been one challenge after ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Human Body

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

The History Of Wwjd

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 9, 2008

The History of WWJD Wikipedia encyclopedia states this about the common abbreviation WWJD: The phrase "What would Jesus do?" (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1890s and again in 1990s as a personal motto for thousands of Christians who used the phrase as a ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Prayer--Part ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

ON PRAYER--PART 2 Samuel Pepys was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament in the seventeenth century, who is now most famous for his diary. "Prayer is not a lazy substitute for work. It is not a shortcut to skill or knowledge. And sometimes God delays the answer to our prayer in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Worship Of Creation

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

WORSHIP OF CREATION How many of you watched the PBS series last month on the National Parks? Besides the fabulous visual images of some of America’s most beautiful scenery, the documentary gave a very interesting perspective on the history of our national parks. Did you know that Jim Grinnell’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:21-25

Tags: Idolatry

He Was Described As A Man Who "Dangled The Power ...  PRO

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 17, 2006

He was described as a man who “dangled the power of life and death over his fellow countrymen and murdered anyone who stood in his way...” By the end of the 1970s, Manuel Noriega had earned a reputation as the most feared man in Panama. In 1983 he promoted himself to general and gained control of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Puzzles And The Christian Life

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 28, 2011

PUZZLES AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE At our traditional family Christmas gathering with Jenny's side of the family, somebody always brings a puzzle (usually 1000 piece) to put together as part of the festivities. Later, Jenny's mom will frame it and put it on the wall in their family room where there ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Orphan Train

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

THE ORPHAN TRAIN In the history of the westward migration in the United States, part of the story has been largely passed over. From 1850 to 1930, tens of thousands of those who populated the west were orphans--children from eastern cities who were without parents because of disease or the death ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Adoption, Rebirth, Orphan, Train

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beginning Again  PRO

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 29, 2016

BEGINNING AGAIN The opening lines of a poem by Louisa Fletcher express this plaintive wish: I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the "Land of Beginning Again," Where all our mistakes, and all our heartaches, And all of our poor selfish grief Could be dropped like a shabby old coat ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-8

Tags: Resolution, Born Again, New Year, New Start

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Observation About Context

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 16, 2020

Context is very important, even in the little things. For example, people have done a lot of damage to Bible verses, stories, doctrines, etc., because they did not or do not consider the context. Someone once remarked that a Bible verse out of its context is like a diamond away from a necklace: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Context, Temptations And Testings

Denomination: Baptist

A Successful Beauty Product Company Asked The ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 22, 2001

A successful beauty product company asked the people in a large city to send pictures along with brief letters about the most beautiful women they knew. Within a few weeks thousands of letters were delivered to the company. One letter in particular caught the attention of the employees and soon it ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Those Of Us Who Had Anything To Do With The ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on May 18, 2005

Those of us who had anything to do with the Billy Graham Crusade here in St. Louis a few years ago know how well organized everything was. In fact, if you involved in any way shape or form, you know that practically every detail is planned. You might even be tempted to think that the well organized ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Baptist

E-Mail Marketing Tips: Local E-Mail Marketing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

E-mail Marketing Tips: Local E-Mail Marketing indicates 42% of small businesses will use e-mail for some form of marketing by ‘05, with promotional coupons being the most popular method. Because the economics of e-mail -- no paper, printing, postage, or design costs -- make it one of the few ...read more

Tags: Church General