In Sermon Illustrations: "Go Forth Meeting Christ"

Christmas Traditions Around The World

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 19, 2022

As Americans, we pride ourselves in "doing Christmas up big." Tons of gifts, big holiday feasts, huge trees, Lights on the houses. Here are some of the other ways people prepare for the celebration of Christmas: * In Italy they have no Christmas trees, instead they decorate small ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Customs, Traditions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parallels Between Jesus And The Manna In The Wilderness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 18, 2024

The manna that fell in the Wilderness can be compared to Christ in 5 specific ways: CAME FROM HEAVEN: Manna, as described in the Old Testament, serves as a symbolic representation of Christ. Let me explain further. Heavenly Origin: Manna was a miraculous food provided by God to sustain the ...read more

Tags: Christ, Bread Of Life, Manna, Typology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Barb’s Life Is A Mess. Her Drinking Problem ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

Barb’s life is a mess. Her drinking problem is out of control, and her husband Ken refuses to cover for her anymore. Everyone around her sees Barb’s problem, but they all pretend like everything’s just fine, a classic case of denial. Every Sunday Barb and her family dress in their Sunday best and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-2

Tags: Growth In Christ, Leadership General, Authenticity, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Back In 1995 In Christianity Today - Harold ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 8, 2001

Back in 1995 in Christianity Today - Harold Miller told of the change that God brought to the natives in the Peruvian Amazon. He wrote: “Just one generation ago these were fearful, aggressive, and animistic people; all their contacts with outsiders were marked by violence. But now they’ve been ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Call Of The Disciples, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Devoting Yourself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 21, 2014

DEVOTING YOURSELF When it says they "devoted themselves" it means they were steadfast or single minded in purpose or desire. They wanted it and they were going after it, so to speak. In 2008 Sanya Richards-Ross competed in the 400 Meter in Beijing. She started the race strong and built a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Devotion, Church Body Of Christ, Spiritual Discipline

Through The Valley Of Death  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2003

THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DEATH Philip Crosby, in his book "March Till They Die," gives an account of a forced march that American and European soldiers who had been captured had to endure in Korea. It was November of 1950, and the North Koreans were being pushed north. As they went, they forced the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:34

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Jesus Christ, People In Acts

Dl Moody Was A Great Evangelist From Chicago. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Cox on Nov 4, 2000

DL Moody was a great evangelist from Chicago. He went to England once and met a young man there that wanted to preach in his church. Moody agreed thinking that he would never see him again. To his dismay he recieved a letter that said the young man would be in his town shorlty and wanted to take ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Jesus Teachings, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The Virgin Birth

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 17, 2014

M.R. DeHaan- From a beginningless eternity Jesus was the infinite Son of God, one of the three persons of the trinity, equal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. And then when the time for the payment of redemption’s price came, Jesus left the glories of the Father’s house, laid aside the form ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8

Tags: Incarnation, Virgin Birth, Christ's Incarnation, Christmas Meaning

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Communion In Your ‘civvies'  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2002

COMMUNION IN YOUR ‘CIVVIES’ Janet Daley writes in the UK Telegraph about a “movement among Church of England clergy in favour of going into civvies.” One of the things that the Church of England Synod is debating is the agitation some are having for dress-down Sundays, which would allow the vicar ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:6-7, Hebrews 13:1-16

Tags: Christmas, Hope, Humanity Of Christ, Lord's Supper

Charles Haddon Spurgeon Had This Type Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 16, 2001

Charles Haddon Spurgeon had this type of experience. Even as a young lad he was conscious of sin, but couldn’t find peace. It so happened under the providential over-ruling of God that one Sunday morning he was prevented from attending his usual place of worship because of a snowstorm. He was ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Cross Agony, Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

I Believe That A Picture Of Jesus' Birth Has Been ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Dec 3, 2001

I believe that a picture of Jesus’ birth has been painted throughout the years of a quiet and calm night in which everything was still and hushed. I don’t think so. Let’s think about if for a moment. What if every man in this country had to go back to his hometown on January 31, 2010 and register ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas Eve, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Church Of God

Preaching Fluff Versus Quality

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 8, 2017

I once lived in a town where there were two preachers who were polar opposites. The one was very charismatic and enthusiastic. But, he did not preach the Bible. I asked him one day why he didn't preach the Bible. His answer was that the people could read their Bibles at home. He preached ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Great Commission, Preach Christ, Teach Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroes: The Servants At The Wedding In Cana

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 12, 2020

Introduction: Wedding feasts were happy times, especially in the days of the Bible. This story describes how a handful of people kept a disaster from taking place! Text (John 2:1-11, KJV): 1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Tags: Weddings And Marriages, Miracles, Jesus Christ, Servants, Cana Of Galilee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Max Lucado, In His Book, Six Hours One Friday, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 5, 2001

MAX LUCADO, in his book, Six Hours One Friday, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:3

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Wesleyan

Gene A. Getz, In His Book, The Measure Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 7, 2003

Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity: 1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs) 2. A giving church (supporting the church and ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:12-14

Tags: Church General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: *other

Life Is Like A Jar Of Rocks  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2002

Life Is Like A Jar Of Rocks A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Giving Yourself, Disciplines General

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

The Touch of the Masters Hand Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:16-17

Tags: Salvation, New Creation In Christ, The Master, Anointing Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Word About Bread And Stones:

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 18, 2024

Text: Luke 4:1-4, KJV: 1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-4

Tags: Bread, Jesus Christ, Temptations, Stones, The Devil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Tweeners!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

"Too many Christians are “’tweeners”: they live between Egypt and Canaan, saved but never satisfied; they live between Good Friday and Easter, believing in the Cross but not entering into the power and glory of the Resurrection. It is clear, then, that the believer cannot deliberately be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-8

Tags: Canaan, Crucified Life, Identification With Christ, Sin, Egypt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2023

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, Philippians 2:1-11, John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Book Of Life, Return Of Christ, Preachers, Poems, Jesus, Church, Children, Advent, Second Coming, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational