In Sermon Illustrations: "Giving Spirit"

God Communicates Through Dreams

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

God still speaks in dreams today. In the second year of serving at Gretna, I had a dream that the 2 acres next door where a pediatrician’s office was located was going to be sold and become townhouses. The owner Dr. Jerry Fortino attended the WestBank Rotary Club which met at the church every ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dreams, God's Leading

Denomination: Methodist

Revival Begins In The Prayer Closet

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

E.M. Bounds, who was born in 1835, began his three-hour prayer routine at 4am. To him, prayer was not a prelude; it was a priority. Edward Payson, who ministered during the Second Great Awakening, was said to have worn grooves into his hardwood floors as a result of prayer. Adoniram Judson ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Prayer, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing Power Of The Church

Contributed by Mark Mitchell on Jan 22, 2023

A YOUNG couple got married and was on their way home from the honeymoon. A tractor-trailer pulled out in front of them suddenly and the young groom swerved to avoid it. The car went into a tailspin and crashed. The groom was okay, but his new bride was bleeding profusely. He knew if he didn’t get ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Healing, Gospel

Denomination: Baptist

Make Sure Your Ax Is Sharpen

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Feb 16, 2023

When we were young we did not have central heating and air. As a matter of fact I do not remember us having a window unit. What we had was a fireplace in the winter time and a screen door in the summer. I remember that old fire place. If it was real cold we would put a blanket over the door ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sharpening Your Ax

Denomination: Church Of God

Unsung Heroes: They Helped A Desperate Father

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 14, 2023

Introduction: True friends are those willing to help. These unsung heroes helped a desperate father bring his son to Jesus. Text, Mark 9:17-20a, KJV: 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-20

Tags: Jesus, Evil Spirits, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

God's Judgement

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

I don’t believe that God’s Judgement should be our main focus, but I also believe it’s wrong to never mention the Judgement of God. Remember, God must judge humanity because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our God is a Holy God who also wants us to be holy. (1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:5, Romans 3:23, 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Grace, Holy Spirit, Judgment, Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Christian Author And Speaker Joni Eareckson Tada ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2001

Christian author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada writes: I’m a quadriplegic, yet I can drive a van (my hand is secured to a big joystick so I can steer, accelerate, and brake). I enjoy being independent, so if there’s something I can do, I will - even if it means tackling the drive-thru at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:19-20, Ephesians 2:11-22

Tags: Patience, Peace, Lord, Giving General, Give Thanks, Forgiveness, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

The Shanty Remodel  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Feb 26, 2002

THE SHANTY REMODEL "In the upper portion of New York City, many citizens may often have noticed, especially in the past years, a great number of miserable shanties, standing on the choicest sites. Though perhaps on the corner of a splendid new avenue or looking out on a magnificent prospect, the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Holiness, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patience With Those Who Reject Our Savior

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2023

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Endurance, Patience, Forbearance, Fruit Of The Spirit, Waiting On God, Evangelism, Grace, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can't Stick Your Tongue Out At God's Children!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

A busy young father came home late from work and his two young daughters ran to the car to meet him. The oldest daughter got their first and jumped into Daddy's arms telling him how much she loved him while the youngest watched. As they walked into the house, the oldest daughter looked back ...read more

Tags: Bitterness, Hate, Critical Spirit, Division, Kids, Love, Father, Holy Spirit, Anger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Solar Powered

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 27, 2021

The other day I was sitting on my back porch. On my porch is a bird bath with a small solar-powered fountain. The fountain only works when the sun is directly on it and, since that day was a clear day, the fountain was operating at full steam. As I was sitting enjoying the day a brief passing ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Spirit, John, Light, Power, Life, Darkness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Revivals In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 20, 2023

A revival is a return to spiritual health after a long period of sin, darkness and apathy. It is a restoration of the soul of an individual, family, church or nation back to right relationship with the Lord. Some of these recorded revivals listed by the author are more evangelism than revival, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance, Return, Awakenings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unwanted  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Oct 30, 2000

Mother Teresea “We have drugs for people with diseases like leprosy. But these drugs do not treat the main problem, the disease of being unwanted. That’s what my sisters hope to provide. The sick and poor suffer even more from rejection than ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Church, Giving General, Poverty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was A Young Boy Living In Paris At The End ...  PRO

Contributed by Kyle Meador on Jan 15, 2001

There was a young boy living in Paris at the end of the World War II. He had been orphaned by the atrocities committed within his city by the occupying German forces. He scrounged around the ruined city as best as he could to find food, clothes and shelter. But everyone was living in desperate ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Giving General, Compassion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It¡¦s Been Said, "When A Man With Money Meets A ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

It¡¦s been said, "When a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with the experience ends up with the money and the ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Money, Giving General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Marquis De Lafayette Was A French General And ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Nov 3, 2000

- Marquis de Lafayette was a French general and politician who helped George Washington in the American Revolution. After the war was over, he returned to France and resumed his life as a farmer of many estates. In 1783, the harvest was a terrible one, and there were many who suffered as a ...read more

Scripture: John 4:35-42

Tags: Giving General, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Average Church(Gallup) 17% Say They Tithe But ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 30, 2001

Average church(Gallup) 17% say they tithe but only 3% actually do. 40% will give nothing in a year. 91% say they make more money than they ever have in their life. 71% of pastors ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Money, Giving General, Church Practices

Spurgeon Was Once Invited By A Wealthy Man To ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 2, 2001

SPURGEON was once invited by a wealthy man to come down and preach in a country church in order to help them raise funds to pay a debt. The man told Spurgeon he was free to use his country house, his town house, or his seaside home. Spurgeon wrote ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Money, Church Practices

Katie Fisher, 17, Entered The Madison County ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Feb 4, 2001

Katie Fisher, 17, entered the Madison County Ohio Junior Livestock Sale hoping the lamb she had for sale would get a good price. For months Katie had been battling cancer. She had endured hospital stays and been through chemotherapy a number of times. Before the lamb went on the block, the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 49:22-24

Tags: Giving General, Compassion, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Church Of God

In An Article In Campus Life A Young Nurse Writes ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 9, 2001

In an article in Campus Life a young nurse writes of her pilgrimage in learning to see in a patient the image of God beneath a very “distressing disguise.” Eileen was one of her first patients, a person who was totally helpless. “A cerebral aneurysm (broken blood vessels in the brain) had left her ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Christian Disciplines, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ