In Sermon Illustrations: "Genesis 1 4 1"

How To Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

HOW TO BE RENEWED William Hinson, Sr. retired pastor of First United Methodist Church in Houston, the largest church in American Methodism tells the story about a time when he was going to Columbia, South Carolina to preach in a revival. He had not slept well the night before and had gotten up ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Restoration

God Wants To Live In Your House

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

GOD WANTS TO LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity: "Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-5

Tags: Sanctification

The Choice: Build Up Or Tear Down  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2009

THE CHOICE: BUILD UP OR TEAR DOWN Years ago I picked up a poem named "The Choice." I do not know where I got it nor the author, but it illustrates the importance of building others up. This poem raises the question of whether we will "tear down or build up." "I watched some men tearing a building ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Tags: Encouragement

Slavery Today

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 16, 2025

“Of the 27.6 million people trapped in forced labor, 17.3 million are exploited in the private economy, 6.3 million are in commercial sexual exploitation, and nearly 4 million are in forced labor imposed by state authorities” (Global ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Tags: Slavery, Forced Labor

Denomination: Methodist

How's Your Faith?  PRO

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Jan 29, 2005

"How’s Your Faith?" by Victor Knowles-- Paul was concerned about their faith. Five times in ten verses he mentions their faith. How is yours? Notice the different degrees of faith. Which is yours? I. Dead Faith (James 2:17,20,26), II. Little Faith (Matthew 6:30), III. Weak Faith (Rom. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Church Of God

Not Encouraging

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2011

NOT ENCOURAGING A young couple, very much in love, were getting married in church. However, the bride was very nervous about the big occasion and so the preacher chose one verse that he felt would be a great encouragement to them. The verse was 1 John 4:18 which says: "There is no fear in love. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Weddings

What Is Secret Of Spiritual Success?

Contributed by Usman Raza on Mar 15, 2015

We all have questions in our mind, and the Lord Jesus put these key factors in my heart: 1- Faith in God and in His presence (Romans 3:22), (Psalm 42:5) 2- Walking with Him in His Fear (Deuteronomy 6:13,Proverbs 14:2) 3- Continuous Prayers not just for yourself but for your ministry, the people ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:18-19

Tags: Spiritual Success, Spiritual Life

Denomination: Evangelical Free

When To Pray For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 13, 2012

WHEN TO PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT I think about the pastor of the church that I went to couple of years in California, Pastor Chuck. A man came to him and said he wanted to make a large donation - one million dollar donation. The pastor said to that, “Wow – that is a lot of money. Let me go first and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Relationships

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8 Quotes about friends. A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. (Unknown) Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. (Eleanor Roosevelt) Relationships ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8

Tags: Friendships, People In And Out Of Life

Denomination: Independent/Bible

[258]. A Message From A Poem – The Christian’s Life The Christian’s Hope

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 8, 2026

[258]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE THE CHRISTIAN’S HOPE Nothing is more meaningful than being a Christian who knows he/she has passed from death into life. It is a precious position that those in the world do not know; nor do they care. {{1 John 3:14 “We know that we have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 4:1, 1 John 3:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Tags: Expectation, Life In Jesus, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, World, Hope, Difficult, Church Members  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Impact Of Optimism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

THE IMPACT OF OPTIMISM Just a few years ago (2004), Fox News reported on a study that came from the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers studied 1,000 people aged 65-85 trying to determine the importance of a positive attitude in dealing with life. After almost 10 years of follow-up, these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Attitude General

Great Outline On The Hope We Have In Christ's Return

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 4, 2023

The Hope (literally, the "certainty") of Christ's Return and His Glorious Appearance is a… * living hope (1Pe 1:3) * blessed hope (Titus 2:13) * joyful hope (1Th 2:19) * comforting hope (1Th 4:13-18) * hope of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Heaven, Hope, Second Coming, Rapture, Assurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Greater Gift To The Church

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 31, 2010

NO GREATER GIFT TO THE CHURCH Andrew Murray once said, "God has no more precious gift to a church or an age than a man who lives as an embodiment of His will, and inspires those around him with the faith of what grace can do (Andrew Murray, Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 4). Dear friends, by God's ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Character

Satanic Counterfeits

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 14, 2024

SATANIC COUNTERFEITS Satan has his own trinity – devil, beast, false prophet (Rev. 16:13). Satan has his own church – “the synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9). Satan has his own ministers (II Cor.. 11:4). Satan has his own doctrine – “the doctrines of devils” (I Timothy 4:1). Satan has his own ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:13, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Corinthians 10:20

Tags: Evil, Satan, Devil, Demons, False Teachers, Spirits, Counterfeits  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

David Trueblood On Discipline

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

DAVID TRUEBLOOD ON DISCIPLINE David Trueblood: "The one who wants to be an accomplished athlete must discipline his body by regular exercise and a strict diet. Otherwise, he or she will not be free to excel on the playing field or the tracks. The athlete who fails to train rigorously denies ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Disciplines General

Steve Atkerson States This About Water Baptism: ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 3, 2007

Steve Atkerson states this about Water Baptism: The OT is replete with examples of ceremonial cleansings accomplished through the use of water (Nu 19:11-21; 31:21-24). Thus, the Jews were not surprised that John the Baptist used water graphically to portray repentance and forgiveness of sins (Mk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Firestorms

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2011

FIRESTORMS I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp, I discovered that the camp fire looked as if it had gone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22, 1 Samuel 11:3-7

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Why Are Children Aborted? The Alan Guttmacher ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2002

Why are children aborted? The Alan Guttmacher Institute (the research arm of Planned Parenthood) states: • 1% are victims of incest or rape • 1% had fetal abnormalities • 4% had a doctor who said their health would worsen if they continued the pregnancy • 50% said they didn’t want to be a single ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:2-15

Closed For Alterations  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

CLOSED FOR ALTERATIONS Billy Graham tells a story--a simple illustration--that I want to borrow. A preacher once passed a shop which was no longer open for business. A sign hung in the window that said, "Closed for Alterations." The owner had closed shop for a while in order to remodel the store. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Tags: Rapture

What Is Your Biggest Spiritual Challenge??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 14, 2023

Discipleship Journal asked its readers to rank the areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them. The results came back in this order: 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness and Sexual lust 6. Envy 7. Gluttony 8. Lying The respondents also noted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Tests, Trials, Temptations  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational