In Sermon Illustrations: "Give Of Self"

That's Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

THAT’S GRACE Spurgeon illustrated grace with this story in his book, All of Grace. A man visited a woman he knew to be in great financial need. He visited with a generous gift to help her with her expenses. He knocked at the door. She heard the knock, panicked and hid so no one would know she was ...read more

Tags: Grace

Letting Children Free To ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2008

Letting Children Free to Develop? I’ve used this illustration before, but I think it speaks so well as to the nature of guidance and children: A Gentleman was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving little children any moral instruction whatsoever. His theory was ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Other

The Hotel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOTEL TEST A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Persecution

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue Symbolism Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.” It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor. The brevity of life is a strong argument for making the best use of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Opportunity

The Church's Identity And Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

THE CHURCH'S IDENTITY AND PURPOSE In his book, The Family of God, Batsell Barrett Baxter says the following: "There are some who think of the church as an organization like other organizations. It is true that the church is an organization, but it is not primarily an organization. Rather, it is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 1:21-23

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Spurgeon On The Final Preservation Of The Saints

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

SPURGEON ON THE FINAL PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS In the words of Charles Spurgeon: When I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, --that Christ had said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25

Tags: Calvinism

Why Should I Let You Into Heaven?

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 5, 2011

WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO HEAVEN? If you were to die today and God were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' what would you say?" Over the years I would have to say that 85% of the answers I get are "I have tried to be a good person, I have tried to be a good parent, I have tried to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Persistent Sowers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

PERSISTENT SOWERS During a particular drought several years ago, much of the seed that had been planted did not come up. The seed that did produced runty plants that promised a scanty yield, if any at all. Grass burned up in the intense heat, and the cattle nearly starved. Many farmers were forced ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

J. C. Ryle On Zeal  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

J. C. RYLE ON ZEAL Recently I found a book by Bishop J.C. Ryle, the first bishop of Liverpool, England on the subject of zeal. He wrote: "Zeal is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. A zealous man is preeminently a man of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Zeal

Alistair Maclean Quotes A Story From Tauler, The ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Alistair MacLean quotes a story from Tauler, the German mystic. One day Tauler met a beggar. “God give you a good day, my friend.” He said. The beggar answered. “I thank God I never had a bad one.” Then Tauler said, “God give you a happy life, my friend.” “I thank God,” said the beggar, “I am never ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Master's Hand

Contributed by James Kelly on Aug 11, 2012

THE MASTER'S HAND An auctioneer was taking bids on household items. He was tired and wanted to go home. There was only one item left an old violin. It wasn’t much to look at and no sound came from it. It was a seemingly worthless instrument. The auctioneer started the bid who will give me one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Persuaded By The Mail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

"I GIVE UP!" In the early 1960s, the publishers of Time Magazine were concerned about their declining circulation, so they designed a campaign to send out thousands of letters making an emotional appeal to potential subscribers. In the past, such mailings had been done manually, at a great cost in ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Tags: God's Love, Surrender, Persuasion

Power For Holy Living

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 30, 2014

Ludwig Nommensen traveled to begin mission work with a tribe in southeast Asia. The village chief welcomed Ludwig and said, "You have 2 years to learn our customs and convince us you have a message worth hearing." After 2 years, the tribal leader asked the missionary how Christianity differs from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Tags: Holy Spirit, Law, Holy Living

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Larry Norman Funeral Was A Going Away Party

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

What a gathering! Over 500 poured into a church this morning to pay our respects to Larry Norman. As we entered, we were handed ‘circus programs’ (instead of a boring pamphlet) that read: "Larry Norman Presents: A Going Away Party." It was a gathering of friends, family and fans ...read more

Tags: Funerals, Christian Music, Death, Celebration, Heaven, Mourning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unintended Hero

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

A rich millionaire decides to throw a massive party for his 50th birthday, so during this party he grabs the microphone 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. 'I will give anything they desire of mine, to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16, Judges 4:8, Judges 6:11-39, 1 Samuel 10:22, Exodus 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Unlikely, Heroes, Cowards, Hesitancy, Fear, Weakness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Story From Eastern Europe

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: I would like to leave you with a story from Eastern Europe A man came into Court to give evidence, but he considered the Bible too holy to swear an oath on and so refused to do so. The lawyer for the defence approached the bench and asked for the man to be excused that formality, because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Judge, Piety, Lawyer

Denomination: Anglican

A Story From Eastern Europe

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 27, 2025

Story: I would like to leave you with a story from Eastern Europe A man came into Court to give evidence, but he considered the Bible too holy to swear an oath on and so refused to do so. The lawyer for the defence approached the bench and asked for the man to be excused that formality, because ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Holy, Rumor

Denomination: Anglican

Quaker Philospher Elton Trueblood Described ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 10, 2002

"Quaker philospher Elton Trueblood described our society as a "cut- flower" civilization. The basic Christian truths have built it, but if we are disconnected from our roots, our ideals and ethics eventually fade and die. If we successfully give Christ to the next generation, we must hand his ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Children

Denomination: United Methodist

A Four-Year-Old And A Six-Year-Old Presented ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 9, 2002

A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their mom with a houseplant. They had used their own money to buy it and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, "There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you. It was real pretty but it was too expensive. It had ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting, Mother's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power That Is In The Gospel Does Not Lie In ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 21, 2004

“The power that is in the Gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher, otherwise men would be the converters of souls, nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning, otherwise it would consist in the wisdom of men. We might preach until our tongues rotted, till we would exhaust our lungs and ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Orthodox