In Sermon Illustrations: "God Is Working"

The Past Is Just The Beginning

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

THE PAST IS JUST THE BEGINNING There is in Washington D.C., a sign over the entrance to the U.S. Patent Office -- where new things are the order of the day. The sign proclaims: "The Past is but Prologue." One day a tourist asked a cab driver what the sign meant. Said the cabbie: "It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9

Tags: God Brings Hope

When Dr. Stephen Olford Was Pastor Of The ...

Contributed by Tony Klinedinst on Mar 16, 2009

ILLUS: When Dr. Stephen Olford was pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City he had the opportunity of leading his brother who had been an agnostic most of his life to the Lord, as he lay in the hospital desperately ill. One day Dr. Olford was called to come to the hospital quickly and ...read more

Tags: Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Baptist

Phil Vischer's Fresh ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

PHIL VISCHER’S FRESH START Phil Vischer is the creator of Veggie Tales. He is the voice of Bob the Tomato and other various characters. In 2004, Phil was one of the guest speakers at my minister’s convention that I attend each year. Phil told about his dream coming to an end. He told about Big ...read more

Tags: Mistakes, Trust God

A. He's Closer Than You Think. Gen. 1:1 "In ...

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on May 26, 2007

A. He’s Closer Than You Think. Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning GOD!” That is a wow statement. God began us, created us. In the days of creation he waited until the last thing to create was mankind. God created Adam and Eve and it was like these two chairs right next to each other. But then Eve ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Baseball Player Who Made It To The Hall Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One baseball player who made it to the hall of fame was asked what he wished someone would have told him when he first started playing baseball, he relied, ”I wish someone had ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

During The Us Civil War Abraham Lincoln Met With ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the US civil war Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. Lincoln was a man of deep, if at times unorthodox, faith. At one point one of the ministers said, "Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side". Lincoln’s response showed far greater insight, "No, ...read more

Tags: Faith, Knowing God's Will

Years Ago On A Tv Show, A Guest Appeared That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Years ago on a TV show, a guest appeared that was a body builder. As he entered the stage with his huge muscular body the crowd went crazy as the body builder began to flex his muscles and show his power. The first question asked of him was this: “What do you use all those muscles for?” Without ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

The Cover Story Of Time Magazine Once Featured ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The cover story of Time magazine once featured actor Peter Sellers (Mar 3, 1980). Appearing on The Muppet Show, he was told by Kermit the Frog that it was all right to "just relax and be yourself.’ To which Sellers replied, "I could never be myself. You see, there is no me. I do not exist." ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Listen To Dietrich Bonhoeffer, A German ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Listen to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian minister who opposed the Nazis and was killed in a concentration camp just weeks before the end of World War II. Cheap Grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Ralph Waldo Emerson Said, "Make The Most Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Make the most of yourself, for that ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

There Is A Story About A Family Who Had A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There is a story about a family who had a treasure. It had been handed down through several generations. It was a genuine antique vase. It was kept on the mantel in the living room as a special object of enjoyment. One day when the lady of the house came home, she was greeted by her daughter. The ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

There Were Two Young Men Who Were Toying With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There were two young men who were toying with doing something wrong that would be disapproved of by their fathers. One of them finally decided he could not go along. The other young man asked sarcastically, "Are you afraid your dad will find out and hurt ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

One Day Charlie Brown Was Talking To His Friend, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One day Charlie Brown was talking to his friend, Linus, about the pervasive sense of inadequacy he feels all the time. Charlie moaned, "You see, Linus, it goes all the way back to the beginning. The moment I was born and set foot on ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Once A Man Attended A Fair And Saw Another Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Once a man attended a fair and saw another man leading a fine, well-groomed horse. He inquired, "Is that a saddle horse?" The man replied, "No, sir. This horse will buck off a saddle. Nothing can stay on his back." So the man asked again, "Is he a driving horse?" The answer came back from the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

When Lord Nelson Reported To The British ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When Lord Nelson reported to the British admiralty his great victory over the French fleet in the Battle of the Nile, he said that "victory" was not a large enough word to ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

An Article In The Associated Press This Past ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An article in the associated press this past week illustrates the concept of rejecting mediocrity. Coach Tubby Smith left Kentucky and is moving to become the coach of Minnesota. The article in the associated press read… “In Tubby Smith’s 10 seasons at Kentucky, the Wildcats never missed the NCAA ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

We Have A Dog Named Buster. Buster ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: We have a dog named Buster. Buster loves to play ball. He will chase a ball as long as you will throw it for him. This should be the picture of a ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Several Years Ago Notre Dame Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: Several years ago Notre Dame was the number 1 ranked football team in America. They were upset. A sports analyst said “The Notre Dame players have ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Louis Albert Banks, In His Book ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: Louis Albert Banks, in his book Windows for Sermons, tells of a father who had to punish his little daughter. Later that day the youngster, who was upset at first, came to her daddy and climbed up onto his lap. Hugging him tightly around the neck, she said, “Daddy, I do love ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

All Your Strength

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: One day a small boy was trying to lift a heavy stone, but he couldn’t budge it. His father, passing by, stopped to watch his efforts. Finally he said to his son: “Are you using all your strength?’ “Yes, I am,” the boy cried, exasperated. “No,” the father said calmly, “You’re not. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: God Brings Purpose