In Sermon Illustrations: "Gain"

Church History Is Replete Of Individuals Who Saw ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 21, 2008

Church history is replete of individuals who saw the importance of fearing God and not other individuals. Following in the footsteps of Paul, John Chrysostom had a period of isolation in the mountains near Antioch in A.D. 373. Although his time of isolation was cut short by illness, he learned that ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Other

Be Successful—serve God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

BE SUCCESSFUL--SERVE GOD Our commitment in the service of Lord in very important in building the body of Christ. And I challenge you to commit your life in the ministry: Confidently, wholeheartedly and absolutely for the glory of God. In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were ...read more

Tags: Endurance

I Was At Calvary 2000 Years Ago

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Once during a trip to Israel, Dr. R.G. Lee visited the site where many believe Jesus Christ was crucified. He told his Arab guide that he wanted to walk to the top of the hill, but the guide tried to discourage him. The preacher was determined to climb the hill, so the guide accompanied him. When ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 5:8

Tags: Cross, Calvary, Golgotha, Identification With Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Audience With The President  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 12, 2002

AUDIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT Following the Civil War, a dejected confederate soldier was sitting outside the grounds of the White House. A young boy approached him and inquired why he was so sad. The solider related how he had repeatedly tried to see President Lincoln to tell him why he was ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Cross Agony

Denomination: United Methodist

Where's The Faith?  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003

Blow the trump and ring the bell; Dress it up and make it sell; Fill it with the rich and well; And count the heads. We’re doing well! But where’s the faith? Read the creed and get it right; Hold it fast with all your might; Close the door and bolt it tight; We’ve no need for further light! ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

A Guide To Knowing You Are Middle Aged  PRO

Contributed by Alan Tison on Jun 22, 2006

A GUIDE TO KNOWING YOU ARE MIDDLE AGED: By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere. Middle age is when you have stopped growing at both ends and have begun to grow in the middle. A man has reached middle age when he is cautioned to slow down by his doctor ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Choice

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Would Think That Selling One's Soul, As ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 3, 2009

One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university instructor succeeded in ...read more

Tags: Soul

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cruel Grace  PRO

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 4, 2011

CRUEL GRACE "Thirty years ago, many people chose churches based on whether the church believed and taught the truth. Today, many choose churches based on whether the church makes them feel comfortable. If a church tells the truth, it will gain some people but lose others. One out of five women ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:6

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Power And "King Of The Hill"

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jun 17, 2011

POWER AND "KING OF THE HILL" When I was a kid, we used to play a game called "King of the Hill." Everyone would get together and choose some place to be the "hill." Sometimes we were lucky enough to have a dirt mound to play on, but not very often. It might be a bed or a sofa, unless, of course, ...read more

Tags: Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Eckerd: On The Hook With God

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 23, 2012

ECKERD: ON THE HOOK WITH GOD JACK ECKERD founded the chain of drug stores that bear his name. Eckerd gave his employees Eckerd's shares from his personal stock. By taking advantage of the stock option program offered by Eckerd, his employees benefitted financially in the success of the new ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Baptist

Don Fuller, 67 Years Old,a Good Friend Of Mine, ...  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Owens on Jan 10, 2008

Don Fuller, 67 years old,a good friend of mine, just had a 4 by-pass heart surgery about 4 months ago. My wife and I visited him at the hospital in Indianapolis. I greeted Don in my usual fashion, “How ya doin’, Brother?”, and he replied as he always did; “Sittin’ on top of the mountain looking ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Evil Rasputin

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 2, 2008

Evil Rasputin Gregory Rasputin, the “Mad Monk of Russia” managed to get a strong hold on the royal family of his day. Some believe the corrupting power he exerted was a contributing factor in the takeover of communism. By currying the favor of the court he was able to influence many decisions ...read more

Denomination: Other

Generaton Gap Danger

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

GENERATON GAP DANGER In America adolescence is taken for granted, but until recently, the idea of adolescence was unknown in many parts of the world, says Cynthia B. Lloyd, author of Growing Up Global, a National Research Council and Institute of Medicine report. International demographers are ...read more

Tags: Youth, Puberty

Status Spheres: A Variety Of Lifestyles, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

Status Spheres: a variety of lifestyles, activities and persuasions, which can be mixed and matched by consumers looking for recognition from various crowds and scenes. Contrast this with traditional consumption that is about buying more and/or better stuff than fellow consumers. Trend-Watching.com ...read more

Tags: Internet

Swimming With The Sharks

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2024

A millionaire decides to throw a massive party for his fiftieth birthday. During the party he grabs the mic and he announces to his guests that down in the garden of his mansion he has a swimming pool with two great white sharks in it. “The man who dares to swim across that pool gets 1 MILLION ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-8

Tags: Spiritual Battles, Abraham, Spiritual Maturity, Trials, Problems, Temptations, Tests Of Faith, Faith, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Prayers

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

I found this collection of funny prayers on-line: • Lord, I ask that you give me the superpower to eat as much pizza as I want without gaining any weight. It would truly be a miracle and make my life complete. Amen. • Lord, I ask that you make all the calories in donuts and ice cream disappear, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Food, Prayer, Flesh

Denomination: Methodist

Six Humans Trapped By Happenstance In Bleak And ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 13, 2001

Six humans trapped by happenstance in bleak and bitter cold, Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story goes. Their dying fire in need of logs, The first man held his back, For on the faces around the fire He noticed one was black. The next man looking across the way Saw one not of his ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cold Within  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 24, 2002

THE COLD WITHIN Six humans trapped by happenstance in bleak and bitter cold, Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story goes. Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back, for on the faces around the fire he noticed one was black. The next man looking across the way saw ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is That Superman Or ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 15, 2002

IS THAT SUPERMAN OR ... Remember some years ago when you used to hear on TV, "Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s Superman"? On our televisions, we would watch a super human perform amazing feats as the people stood in awe. The third book of the best selling series, "Left ...read more

Tags: Antichrist

It Beats Hell!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

IT BEATS HELL! It is said that Abe Mulky, who became the Texas Evangelist, went to an old-fashioned revival and was under deep conviction. He went home and said to his wife, "Mandy, what shall I do? I am lost. I am miserable. But you know we have gained our possessions crookedly and if I get ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Parable Lazarus, Jesus Teachings, Hell