In Sermon Illustrations: "Forsaken Things"

When To Begin Influencing One's Child For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2010

When to Begin Influencing One’s Child For Christ In a mothers’ meeting there was a big discussion on the theme: “How early in a child’s life ought one to begin to influence him toward God?” After a much spirited debate, a visiting grandmother was asked to make a comment. In essence, she said: “I ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Tags: Parenting

Too Important Not To Share

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 14, 2010

TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO SHARE Mercedes Benz was the company who first produced a car body design that absorbed the force of a collision on impact. One Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows their car colliding with a cement wall during a safety test. Since then of course many other car companies have ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Brethren

No Good Christians

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 26, 2011

NO GOOD CHRISTIANS Have you ever been on a vacation and then felt like you need another vacation because you were so tired? That is this life. A lot of times we do things that we think will bring us peace and contentment but in the end they just make us more worn out. The more you TRY to be a ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

A Positive Stillness

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2011

A POSITIVE STILLNESS "The greater mystery, surpassing all words, summons us to silence. It must, of course, be a silence with content, not just the absence of speech and action. We should expect the liturgy to give us a positive stillness that will restore us. Such stillness will not be just a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:4

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Catholic

Tongue Is Like A Fire

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 9, 2011

TONGUE IS LIKE A FIRE When we were children, my brother and started a small fire in the field across from our home. We just wanted to burn off some briars and things so that we could clear the field to play. Wow, did we ever clear that field. The wind picked up and before long the fire was ...read more

Tags: Tongue

Denomination: Baptist

Oops...

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Aug 13, 2011

OOPS... A secretary was leaving the office one Friday evening when she encountered one of the bosses, Mr. Jones. He was standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand. "Listen," said Mr. Jones, "This is important, and my secretary has already left. Can you make this thing ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: Brethren

The Meaning Of Bitterness

Contributed by David Tack on Dec 23, 2011

THE MEANING OF BITTERNESS "Eadie [A Scottish Theologian 1810-1876] says that Pikria [bitterness] is 'a figurative term denoting that fretted and irritable state of mind that keeps a man in perpetual [constant] animosity--that inclines him to harsh and uncharitable opinions of men and things--that ...read more

Tags: Bitterness

Denomination: Baptist

On The Obedience Of A Dog

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2012

ON THE OBEDIENCE OF A DOG It's been said that it is not the dog's keen smell or hearing that has endeared him to modern man, it's his uncomplaining readiness to obey and lavish affection on his human friends. A dog is loyal, loving, and lovable, even if his master can boast none of these ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Tags: Obedience

George Mueller On Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

GEORGE MUELLER ON PRAYER George Mueller: "I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Comfort, Believe, Security, Saved, Prayer How To  (view more)  (view less)

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Ft. Knox guards $13 billion in gold. During WWII, the original Declaration of Independence, the original copy of the U.S. Constitution, the first printing of the copy of the Guttenberg Bible, and the original copy of Magna Carta were all moved to Ft. Knox. The security is updated constantly. Not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

Superstition

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2020

“The number 13, black cats, breaking mirrors, or walking under ladders, may all be things you actively avoid – if you’re anything like the 25% of people in the US who consider themselves superstitious. “…Superstition also explains why many buildings do not have a 13th floor … some airlines such as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 19:11-20

Tags: Superstition, Occult, Magic

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Honesty

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 7, 2022

Blaise Pascal observed that human life is nothing but perpetual delusion; human relationships are based on mutual deception. Martin Buber wrote of the uncanny game of hide and seek we play - in which the soul seeks to hide from itself. Thomas Merton - our minds are deformed with a contempt for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Ephesians 4:15, Matthew 5:33-37

Tags: Deception, Truth, Integrity, Misinformation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revenge, Justice And Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

Someone has offered this penetrating comparison of the difference between revenge, justice, and grace. If someone brutally murders your son and you take things into your own hands, that's revenge. If you're content to allow the law and the courts to arrest and punish the offender, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, Salvation, Redemption, Justification, Revenge, Adoption, Justice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Evans Talks About God's Providence

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 21, 2023

Tony Evans described God's providence this way: “There are many times in our lives when God is nowhere to be found. There are many times when we look for God, but He cannot be located. There are many times when it seems like God is letting things happen to you and me that He wouldn’t ...read more

Tags: Esther, God, Trust, God's Will, God's Providence, Faith, Protection  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Throw Yourself On The Mercy Of The Court

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 1, 2025

Imagine you were in a courtroom standing before a judge and you are being charged with a crime that carries the death penalty. Every person is born a sinner. The penalty of that sin is eternal death without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus’ blood. Back to the courtroom – the judge reads the verdict ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-12, Romans 3:23

Tags: Mercy, Blood, Guilty, Courtroom

Denomination: Methodist

Bring Back The Rotary Phone?" Acts 13:42-52 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 11, 2005

“Bring Back the Rotary Phone?” Acts 13:42-52 Key verse(s): 50:“But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” There are three things you can do in life when ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Don't Give Pain The Short Shrift!" Luke 13:10-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 9, 2005

“Don’t Give Pain the Short Shrift!” Luke 13:10-17 Key verse(s): 16:“‘Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’.” Many things in this life get short shrift. Perhaps its the lot of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Creation

Denomination: Lutheran

Plots, Plans, Villains And Fools!" Ezra 6:13-18 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 10, 2005

“Plots, Plans, Villains and Fools!” Ezra 6:13-18 Key verse(s): 14:“So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 6:13-18

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Merely Mode!" Job 38:1-41 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 15, 2005

“Merely Mode!” Job 38:1-41 Key verse(s): 1ff:“Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm.” When tragedies happen, do you marvel at their randomness? Seven people are gunned down in a church on a Saturday evening. A young boy of 15 and an old man of 74. The newspaper headline called it ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:1-41

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Please Don't Mess With My Peanut Butter

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 18, 2020

Normally, I'm a rather calm, cool and collected person. Actually, my creditors trying to collect things from me, mostly money, are responsible for this and I have been officially collected. If I could only collect my thoughts, but the pieces are too small and too few. Anybody who knows me ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Tags: Comfort, Happiness

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance