In Sermon Illustrations: "Glorified Body"

Larry Crabb Writes, "A Central Task Of Community ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 21, 2002

Larry Crabb writes, “A central task of community is to create a place that is safe enough for the walls to be torn down, safe enough for each of us to reveal our ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Missionary Was Seated On A Plane Next To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 17, 2002

A missionary was seated on a plane next to a well-dressed young man and they soon began conversing. The missionary asked him what he did for a living. He answered, “I’m in big business.” “So am I,” replied the missionary. With that the young man remarked, “I cover the entire U.S. with my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Great Commission, Church Body Of Christ, Kingdom Of God, Matthew

Denomination: Wesleyan

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Human Body, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Christian Church

I Would Like To Bring In Here The Story Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Nov 18, 2002

I would like to bring in here the story of the film “Chocolate” directed by Lasse Hallström [Heinrich Jacob, Der Prediger und Katechet, 6/2002. pages. 849-851]. A small, sleepy, and quiet french city. The inhabitants are lower-middle class, strictly moralistic, tied to tradtion, scrupulous and ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Church Body Of Christ, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Catholic

Staying Warm Together  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2003

STAYING WARM TOGETHER In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group." The 55 degree (Fahrenheit) water threatened to kill them slowly by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:24

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love

Annie Johnson Flint's Life On Earth Could Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 6, 2004

Annie Johnson Flint’s life on earth could never be measured in any degree by comfort and ease; quite the contrary, from childhood her body endured the onslaught of Rheumatoid Arthritis until she could no longer rise from bed. Over the years the affliction took a great toll, leaving her with no ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Human Body, Perseverance, Mercy, Affliction, Struggles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Snowflakes Are One Of Nature’s Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jun 7, 2001

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Warmth Rather Than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Warmth Rather than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van Ens, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3.] People join churches more because they want warmth than light. We like to think it’s our stunning proclamation of the truth that keeps them in the pews. Sermons may get them into church the ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups, Friendship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Linked At The Roots, Citation: Blair F. ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Linked at the Roots, Citation: Blair F. Rorabaugh, Uniontown, Ohio. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 2] The article "What Good Is a Tree?" in Reader’s Digest explained that when the roots of trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown fungus helps link roots ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Time To Time, Lobsters Have To Leave Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

From time to time, lobsters have to leave their shells in order to grow. They need the shell to protect them from being torn apart, yet when they grow, the old shell must be abandoned. If they did not abandon it, the old shell would soon become their prison--and finally their casket. The tricky ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Tolerance, Change, Distractions, Condoning, Church Body Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Drug Problem  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2003

DRUG PROBLEM A little old lady was amazed at how nice the young man was next door. Every day he would help her gather things from her car or help her in her yard. One day, the old lady finally ask the young man, "Son, how did you become such a fine young man?" The young man replied, "Well, when ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:6-8, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Body Of Christ, Attendance, Disciplines, Commitment, Church Purpose Of, Goodbye  (view more)  (view less)

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

But One Time About Six Years Ago I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 17, 2001

But one time about six years ago I was complaining to someone about the Christian church, when suddenly an image flashed in my mind of a bride and a groom on their wedding day. In that mental image I walked up to the groom and said to him, "Your bride sure is ugly." Now no one would ever do that ...read more

Tags: Gift, Divinity Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Christians Spend The First Six Days Of Each ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

"Some Christians spend the first six days of each week sowing their wild oats, then they go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure." There is a myth that exists that says we can live comfortably in our world ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Holiness, Faith, Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples, Body, Attendance, Apologetics General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

John Bisagno Former Pastor Of Houston’s ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 31, 2001

John Bisagno former Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church tells the story of his coming there to candidate for the position of pastor many years ago. He said that as he entered the auditorium it was dimly lit, with just a few people huddled together. They were singing some old slow funeral type ...read more

Tags: Celebration, Church General, Church Body Of Christ, Excitement, Love Of The Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Welcome And Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Welcome and Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy Silverthorne in Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 4]. "And now here’s the point in our service where I’d like you all to rise, turn to the person on your right, shake hands, turn ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Christians Have Been Infected With The Most ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 21, 2001

Many Christians have been infected with the most virulent virus of modern American life, what sociologist Robert Bellah calls "radical individualism." They concentrate on personal obedience to Christ as if all that matters is "Jesus and me," but in doing so, miss the point altogether. For ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Church Small Groups, Renewal

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are We To Do? Daniel Webster Offered ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Snyder on Oct 22, 2001

What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, "If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:11-17

Tags: Workplace Evangelism, Christian Values, Building, Body, Character, Foundation, Temple  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Clinker Bricks  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2010

CLINKER BRICKS Although at times it seems as though the church is in ruin and rubble, God sees it as a beautiful building. Clinker bricks are bricks that did not quite make it. For some reason or another, they come out of the kiln misshapen or deformed. I read about a Presbyterian Church in New ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-21

Tags: Atonement, Redemption, New Life, Born Again, Church Body Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)