In Sermon Illustrations: "Gentleness"

Healthy Shame

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Sep 22, 2008

Healthy Shame Healthy shame is that inner compass—-the gentle voice of God-—that tells me something is amiss in my life, and it motivates me to change or make amends so that I can be true to myself. My first year of college was a bit of an exercise of 'livin la vida loca.' I didn't do well in ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: United Methodist

The Black And White Boxes

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 24, 2012

THE BLACK AND WHITE BOXES I have in my hands two boxes which God gave me to hold. He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black, and all your joys in the white." I heeded His words, and in the two box both my joys and sorrows I stored. But though the white became heavier each day, the black ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Respond Like Jesus

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 20, 2025

I think that God expects us to respond (not react) when the world pushes back like Jesus responded to the folks who were unable to see what He was doing. It won’t make sense. Here’s an example of what Peter’s teaching would look like in his day: “Peter is telling the Christian merchant in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15-16

Tags: Anger, Blessing Others

Denomination: Methodist

Stuart Holden Was In Egypt And Met A Sergeant In ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Francis on Sep 5, 2006

Stuart Holden was in Egypt and met a sergeant in a Highland regiment. “How were you brought to Christ?” he asked this bright Christian. “There was a private in the same company as myself who had been converted in Malta , and I gave him a terrible time. I remember one night in particular when it was ...read more

Tags: Matthew

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

People Do Judge You By What You Wear

Contributed by James Chandler on Feb 26, 2007

People do judge you by what you wear. A young man came into our worship service a few weeks ago. He was wearing lots of leather and chains. His hair was spiked blue. He wore black eye liner and had a ring in his lip. I could tell what lots of people were thinking when he strolled down the aisle ...read more

Scripture: James 2:9-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wife God Made For Adam

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 3, 2007

The wife God made for Adam: God could have been jealous and desired that Adam would only relate to Him, but he lovingly realized that Adam was incomplete by himself. His aloneness was short of perfection, so God formed a special partner to compliment and complete Adam. God did not make a carbon ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Henry Moorhouse Preached One Evening On The Love ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Henry Moorhouse preached one evening on the love of God. In the meeting was a rough, wicked coal miner who had a vile temper, was a heavy drinker, and mistreated his wife and children when he’d been drinking. His name was Ike Miller. Moorhouse was told that Ike Miller was at the meeting and that ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

But When The Holy Spirit Controls Our Lives He ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Francis on Jun 23, 2007

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:16-17 & 23 TLB). Is living like this really possible? Yes, but you must do four things: 1) understand that ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Magic Mirror, On The Wall, Who's The Fairest Of ...

Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Feb 11, 2008

“Magic mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” These words are familiar to children of all ages. These are the words spoken by the queen in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, as she gazes into her enchanted mirror. “Magic mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” The ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

During My Undergraduate Studies Some Years Ago, I ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 26, 2009

During my undergraduate studies some years ago, I interviewed a lady whose religious belief was a hybrid of different religions. She spoke of trying to climb to a higher consciousness as her spiritual guide (which was an apparition that looked like an embryo with thousands of tentacles protruding ...read more

Tags: Peace, God's Peace

Denomination: Salvation Army

Authentic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2009

Authentic Christianity A small child, sitting in church asked his father, “Dad, what is a Christian?” The father replied, “A Christian is a person who loves and obeys God. He loves his friends and neighbours, and even his enemies. He prays often, is kind, gentle, and holy, and is more interested ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:34-40

Tags: Christian Witness

If I Wanted To Communicate And Influence People ...

Contributed by Peter Amerman on May 25, 2005

If I wanted to communicate and influence people into consider the philosophy of atheism, I could do that by teaching in the classrooms of our colleges and universities; but, I doubt it would have much effect. But, if I wanted to introduce it and market it for the culture in general, I would enlist ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Way Is Up?

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 20, 2006

Which Way Is Up? Some years ago I read about a speedboat driver who had recently survived a racing accident. He said that he had been at near top speeds when his boat veered slightly and hit a wave at a dangerous angle. The combined force of his speed and the size and angle of the wave sent the ...read more

Tags: Confusion

Denomination: Wesleyan

Sent From Heaven  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Oct 30, 2002

SENT FROM HEAVEN One of the most moving passages in English literature comes towards the end of Charles Dickens’s Tale of Two Cities, a story of the French revolution. Each day, a grim procession of prisoners made its way on the streets of Paris to the guillotine. One prisoner, Sidney Carton, a ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Holy Spirit Attributes, Trinity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Most Everyone Knows Of The Newspaper Comic Strip ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 17, 2003

"Most everyone knows of the newspaper comic strip called “Family Circus”. It pokes fun in a gentle way at the typical family life in a home with several very young children. I remember one that started out with the mother giving the oldest boy, who appears to be about 6, something to take to the ...read more

Tags: Manifesting, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Orthodox

One Of The Most Moving Passages In English ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on May 17, 2001

One of the most moving passages in English literature comes toward the end of Charles Dickens’ "Tale of Two Cities", a story of the French revolution. Each day there was a grim procession through the streets of Paris of prisoners on their way to the guillotine. In one of the processions was ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Holy Spirit Attributes, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

When Jesus Said These Words Later In Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 26, 2007

When Jesus said these words later in Matthew (11:28-30), we see grace, “All you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Practice Of ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Aug 6, 2009

The Practice of Restitution. Do those lofty ideals ever get put into practice? Yes, by specific individuals. Years ago we had in this church a man who had been saved after beginning to attend here. He was serious about Christ and had a strong desire to witness for Christ. The apostle Peter gave a ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Pentecostal

Running With A Stopwatch

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

RUNNING WITH A STOPWATCH Long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland was an Olympic champion, winning twelve medals (nine of them gold) in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games. Nurmi was famous not only for his achievements, but also for running with a stopwatch in his hand to check his performance. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13

Tags: Disciplines General

We Need Christ In Good Times And Bad

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2011

WE NEED CHRIST IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD Presbyterian minister of the 19th century, J. R. Miller, once wrote that "We need Christ just as much in our bright, prosperous, exalted hours as in the days of darkness, adversity, and depression. We are quite in danger of thinking that religion is only for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Tags: Jesus Christ