In Sermon Illustrations: "Fruit"

Once There Was This Man Who Was The "Picture ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Feb 5, 2004

Once there was this man who was the "picture perfect Christian". Tithes, attendance, participation in activities you name it, he was it! One day as he was praying, he asked the Lord, "Lord I wonder if I have been an obedient enough child that I might ask one favor when I die?" Well the Lord thought ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical Free

When I Was Young Boy, My Brother Planted Brussels ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2004

When I was young boy, my brother planted brussels sprouts in his garden. We lived in a climate where the Brussels sprouts did not grow and so they just came up and never produced fruit. However a big leafy weed grew in the midst of the sickly Brussel sprouts row. Since the Brussel Sprouts row was ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Assurance Of Salvation

My Dad Used To Tell A Story About A Guy Who Went ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

My dad used to tell a story about a guy who went into the ministry, but his preaching wasn’t very good and his ministry wasn’t very successful. He finally was called on the carpet to examine the "fruits of his ministry" (as John Wesley would have called it). They pastoral review committee inquired ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Lunchbox Worship  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 2, 2008

LUNCHBOX WORSHIP Have you ever been sitting in the break room at work or somewhere during lunchtime with your friend or coworker, and begin to eat your lunch that you brought from home? Your friend or coworkers lunch is made from homemade fluffly bread, that’s a two-hander meal, stacked with fresh ...read more

Tags: Preparation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Can't Take Another's Medicine To Make Him Or ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2009

We can’t take another’s medicine to make him or her well A little girl, whom we will call Ellen, was some time ago helping to nurse a sick gentleman whom she loved very dearly. One day he said to her, “Ellen, it is time for me to take my medicine, I think. Will you pour it out for me? You must ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Faith

Myths And Truths Of Happiness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 5, 2010

MYTHS AND TRUTHS OF HAPPINESS In David G. Myers book The Pursuit Of Happiness (1993), he addresses the truth about what genuinely brings happiness and contentment to people’s lives. In his epilogue after going through many studies, he sums up his findings: By scrutinizing the fruits of hundreds ...read more

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Grain Alone Or With Many ...

Contributed by Mark Pierce on May 25, 2010

A grain alone or with many others? STORY OF ONE GRAIN OF WHEAT: Farmer plows soil, digs shallow trenches, but must drop only one grain of seed at a time. Still true. Farmers pull a “grain drill.” Notched wheel drops seed through tube exactly one grain at a time. Single grain gathers moisture ...read more

Tags: Death, Sowing And Reaping

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Kudzu Vine

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 4, 2010

THE KUDZU VINE Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Countries were invited to build exhibits to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. The Japanese government constructed a beautiful garden filled with plants from their ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Bridal Suite

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 27, 2011

THE BRIDAL SUITE Cynthia Thomas tells a story about her "brother and his new wife who were escorted to their bridal suite in an elegant hotel in the wee hours of the morning. They were tired from the many hours at their wedding reception and from mingling with their guests. They took a look around ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Tags: Change

Under Authority

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

UNDER AUTHORITY I used to be a substitute teacher. Most of the time, I had good classes. Sometimes I had bad classes. But one day, I had a horrible class. Kids were running around the room, throwing paper wads, screaming and yelling. One kid ran out the side door into the courtyard and came back ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-22

Tags: Authority

A Lesson From A Light Bulb  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 5, 2012

A LESSON FROM A LIGHT BULB A missionary in Africa lived in his central mission which had a small generator to supply current for his church and a small rectory. Some natives from an outlying mission came to visit the pastor. They noticed the electric light hanging from the ceiling of his living ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Power

We Always Hear "The Rules" From The Feminine ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 22, 2002

We always hear "the rules" from the feminine side. Now you get to hear the guys’ point of view. These are our rules! Please note...these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE. 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. 1. Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Romantic Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evidences Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Evidences of Salvation Repentance The truths relating to man’s acceptance of God’s great salvation are reflected through repentance, faith and obedience. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church in Colosse was, “…That [they] live a life ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:10

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Guys' ...

Contributed by Ken Hubbard on Feb 3, 2010

The Guys’ Rules We always hear "The Rules" from the female point of view...Now here are the rules from the male side. Please note...these are all numbered “1” on purpose! 1. Men ARE NOT mind readers. 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. We need it up, ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Have Been Amazed At The Story Coming Out About ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 8, 2005

I have been amazed at the story coming out about the BTK killer. BTK stands for Bind, Torture and Kill, an acronym that 60-year-old Dennis Rader gave to himself after killing 10 people, starting in the 1970’s. (PPT:Here is how he looked in his arrest photo, and here is how he looked in his ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

Road Rage

Contributed by Tom Burkholder on Sep 2, 2005

Illustration: “Road Rage” By Dan Betzer It happened just a couple of blocks from my study yesterday afternoon; it was about 4 o’clock with rush hour traffic. Iti our burgeoning county, it sometimes seems like every car on earth is in my lane. A young fellow kept weaving in and out of traffic, ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Pentecostal

Twas The Month After Christmas, And All ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Prater on Jan 3, 2001

‘Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house, nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I’d nibbled, the fudge I did taste, all the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a ...read more

Tags: New Year's Day, Pentecost, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

An Overwhelming Thirst  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

AN OVERWHELMING THIRST During the liberation of Palestine in WWI, a combined force of British, Australian, and New Zealand soldiers was closely pursuing the Turks as they retreated from the desert. As the allied troops moved northward past Beersheba they began to outdistance their water-carrying ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-38

Tags: Discipleship, Lordship Of Christ, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Month After Christmas  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

The Month After Christmas Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d tasted At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist

First Harvest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2002

FIRST HARVEST In 1621, Edward Winslow, one of the fifty or so members of the Plymouth colony, wrote these words, describing the first harvest festival: "Our harvest of corn came in well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian Corn, and our Barley crop was also good, but our crop of ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday