In Sermon Illustrations: "Four Horsemen"

How The Mighty Fall

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 12, 2013

HOW THE MIGHTY FALL Jim Collins has written a book called "How the Mighty Fall" about businesses who at one time were strong and effective and yet went from hero to zero during the last decade. Motorola was number one in cell phones in the world in 2004 and today they are on the edge of ...read more

Tags: Pride, Attitude General, Temptation General

Denomination: Methodist

Feasts In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 11, 2014

There are seven feasts in the Bible and they help us to tell the time. In fact, the Hebrew word for "feast" is moadim, used 223 times in Scripture and means "appointed times". The feasts represent the calendar of God’s plan for the ages. Four of the feasts were historically fulfilled in Christ’s ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:1-13

Tags: Second Coming, Passover, Feast

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgetting What Is Past And Straining Toward The Future

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Commentator Gordon Fee recalls the famous “miracle mile,” the first time two milers ran under four minutes in the same race. Roger Bannister and John Landy competed in Vancouver, B.C. in 1954. Landy had led all the way, but coming off the final turn toward the finish line he looked over his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Forgetting The Past, Heavenward Calling, Future Oriented

Denomination: Baptist

Assumptions And Arrogance

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 12, 2019

Four people—a pilot, a professor, a pastor, and a hiker—were flying in a small plane when the engines died. The pilot said, “There are only three parachutes. Since this is my plane, I’m taking one of them.” He put it on and jumped out. The professor said, “I’m brilliant and the world needs me, so ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:13-20

Tags: Mistakes, Arrogance, Assumptions, Snob, False Confidence, Errors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Wrong Target

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 31, 2021

Emmons loses gold medal after aiming at wrong target! 2004 Washington Post: Matt Emmons of the United States shoots at wrong target, finishes eighth. (Douglas C. Pizac -- AP) Matthew Emmons is an elite athlete ! He was an accounting major from Browns Mill, New Jersey. He was a four-year ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:26-30, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Purpose, Priorities, Idolatry

Denomination: Pentecostal

In Miami, Two Brothers Aged 15 And 17 Celebrated ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

In Miami, two brothers aged 15 and 17 celebrated their parents’ weekend absence by cruising the family car into a poor section of town and shooting six-inch spear darts into the backs of people walking down the sidewalk – mostly elderly African-Americans. When they were arrested, the oldest boy ...read more

Consumers Don't Spend Any More Time Standing In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Consumers don’t spend any more time standing in line to examine your product than their grandparents did, but they have a lot more lines to choose from. So if one line isn’t moving at a speed they like, they move to another one. Today marketers have to give their customers more than the traditional ...read more

Tags: Business And Marketplace

William Colgate

Contributed by Willem Nel on Feb 4, 2009

WILLIAM COLGATE His family was poor and at the age of 16 he left home to seek his fortune. The only thing he knew was how to make soap and candles. He met an old canal-boat captain, who gave him this advice: "Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: *other

Commitment Or Contentment?

Contributed by Don Jones on Mar 10, 2009

COMMITMENT OR CONTENTMENT? Four masked men came in with assault rifles screaming at the preacher and members during the worship service. They said that anyone who would deny their faith could leave safely, but the pastor had to stay and face the outcome. Silence fill the church, and finally, ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

You Might Be In A Country Church If.......  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

You might be in a country church if....... 1. The doors are never locked. 2. The Call to Worship is "Y’all come on in!" 3. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the Ark. 4. The Preacher says, "I’d like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering" and five guys stand up. 5. The ...read more

Tags: Country Church, Church General, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Story In The Denver Post Came Out In 1958 That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 22, 2002

A story in the Denver Post came out in 1958 that illustrates self-less love. June 7, 1958 the Air National Guard’s jet precision team was performing outside of Dayton, Ohio. Five precision flyers made up the Minute Men team. Colonel Walt Williams was the leader of the Denver-based F-86 Sabre-jet ...read more

Tags: Love, Compassion, Christian Disciplines, Healing, Forgiveness In Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Nothing But Prayer And Worship  PRO

Contributed by Ray Pritchard on Aug 28, 2003

Nothing But Prayer and Worship This week I chance to stop and worship God in an extended way for the first time in the last seven years. I spent four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor’s Prayer Summit at a place called Wonderland Camp in Wisconsin. In my time I’ve been to many camps, ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Confession

Denomination: Independent/Bible

If I Survive, I'll Be Ok

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 27, 2010

IF I SURVIVE, I'LL BE OK John Ortberg tells the story of going to a dude ranch in Arizona at the instance of his wife who felt the vacation was not complete without "the exhilaration of a truly challenging horseback ride." (His exact words.) The first time he went out at the ranch, he did so with ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Church Of God

Life Of Pi

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Mar 28, 2013

LIFE OF PI The movie "Life of Pi" is a deeply religious film. The story opens with a discussion between a writer and a man from India who shares a fascinating story. The man has come to Pi because a friend told him that "Pi has a story that will make you believe in God." Pi tells the story of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-42

Tags: Apologetics Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Chairs Of Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2008

Six Chairs of Prayer Chair One: My attitude towards prayer is that it is not important. I have no motivation to pray and no desire to pray. Nothing is happening in my life in regards to prayer. Chair Two: My attitude towards prayer is that it is optional. I have a motivation and a desire to pray ...read more

Tags: Life

A Thanks Offering

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering 1 Chronicles 29:16, "O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." Christians are the temple that God cares about today, for 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 17 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:16

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Health Checks  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (Devoted to Prayer) There are four signs that show that the child of God is a healthy Christian. One is a heart hungry for God's Word, second is his desire to be involved in Christian fellowship, third he observes "Communion," and four he is devoted to prayer. (Acts ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Church Discipline

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alexander Whyte Said, “ It Would Change ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Jan 23, 2001

Alexander Whyte said, “ It would change your whole heart and life this very (day) if you would take Peter and Cornelius home with you and lay them both to heart. If you would take a four cornered napkin when you get home, and a…. Pen and ink and write the names of the nations, and the churches, and ...read more

Tags: Holiness, God's Provision, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

F.b. Meyer Wrote About Two Germans Who Wanted To ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

F.B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7

Tags: God's Provision, Lordship Of Christ, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: *other

That Question Went Through The Minds Of Daryl And ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Mar 6, 2002

That question went through the minds of Daryl and Clarita Gusstafson? This God loving, dedicated Christian couple was infertile for many years, despite exhaustive medical tests and procedures. They prayed consistently for God to grant them the privilege of bringing a child into the world, but the ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Emotions, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ