In Sermon Illustrations: "Giving Yourself"

If You Have Ever Prayed In The Dawn You Will Ask ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

If you have ever prayed in the dawn you will ask yourself why you were so foolish as not to do it always: it is difficult to get into communion ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

Jean-Paul Sarte Said, "You Will Never Find Peace ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Clark on Apr 12, 2001

Jean-Paul Sarte said, "You will never find peace and happiness until you are ready to commit yourself to something worth dying ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

To Dream Anything That You Want To Dream, That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"To dream anything that you want to dream, That is the beauty of the human mind. To do anything that you want to do, That is the strength of the human will. To trust ...read more

Tags: Dreams

We Have Absolutely No Right To Annoy Others By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"We have absolutely no right to annoy others by our various moods. Let the prevailing mood be cheerful and serene; keep your other moods ...read more

Tags: Emotions

If You Want To Be Miserable Think About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you want to be miserable think about yourself, about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Develop An Interest In Life As You See It; The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music-the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, ...read more

Tags: Learning

There Are Amazingly Wonderful People In All ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

There are amazingly wonderful people in all walks of life; some familiar to us and others not. Stretch yourself and really get to know people. ...read more

Tags: Human Life

Watch Against All Fretful And Discontented ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Watch against all fretful and discontented thoughts, which do but chafe and wound the mind to no purpose. To harbor these is to do yourself more injury than ...read more

Tags: Thought

If You Really Want To Earn The Respect Of Others, ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Mar 17, 2009

If you really want to earn the respect of others, you begin by respecting yourself. This means doing what is right in God’s eyes. Not cutting corners. Not engaging in lifestyles and activities that you know would be wrong in God’s eyes. Lying, cheating, stealing, being selfish, outbursts of rage ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Church Of God

Love And Service--Mark Dever And J.c. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 1, 2010

Love and Service--Mark Dever and J.C. Ryle JC Ryle: “True greatness does not consist in being an admiral or a celebrity. It consists of devoting yourself, body, soul and spirit to the blessed work of making the people around you more happy and holy.” Mark Dever, at 9Marks Conference. This quote ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:6

Tags: Servanthood

Freedom

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 11, 2020

Freedom: “You feel you were hedged in you dream of escape; but beware of mirages. Do not run or fly away in order to get free: rather dig in the narrow place which has been given you; you will find God there and everything. God does not float on your horizon, he sleeps in your substance. Vanity ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:39

Tags: Freedom, Future, Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book Mere Christianity, C.s. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration:In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Chekhov's Advice

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 6, 2023

The great Russian playwright Anton Chekhov wrote to his younger brother in 1879 responding to a letter in which the brother had signed himself as “your insignificant and obscure little brother.” Chekhov’s answer to this false humility is classic. “Do you know,” Chekhov asked in reply, “before whom ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-11

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Ten Rules For Improving The Church

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 3, 2022

TEN RULES FOR IMPROVING THE CHURCH 1. Tell yourself over and over that since you are not perfect you would not fit into a perfect congregation, if one existed. 2. Instead of picking out the worldly members to point to, pick out the sincere, dedicated, spiritual members and thank God for them. You ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Peter 4:8, Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Church, Encouragement, Judgementalism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Just Listen Please!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Could You Just Listen? When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me advice, you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, James 1:19

Tags: Quietness, Listening, Grieving

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Whether Your Faith Is That There Is A God Or That ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 3, 2002

Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Doubt

Have Patience With All Things, But Chiefly Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set ...read more

Tags: Peace

You Don't Grow Old Gradually, Or On Purpose, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"You don't grow old gradually, or on purpose, the way you go downtown on a subway. It's more like finding yourself standing in ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Integrity Is Not A Conditional Word. It Doesnt ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesnt blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

You Need Only Reflect That One Of The Best Ways ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom