In Sermon Illustrations: "God Shows Up"

True Unity  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

TRUE UNITY Unity is not simply an intellectual exercise. We can believe the same things, recite the same creeds, belong to the same denomination, but that does not mean we have unity. In his book Soul Talk, Larry Crabb writes: "Which is worse? A church program to build community that doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16, Ephesians 4:1-22, 1 Samuel 25:14-35

Tags: Unity

Eyes Of A Doctor, Eyes Of A Judge

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 19, 2011

EYES OF A DOCTOR, EYES OF A JUDGE Let's suppose that on your way to work each morning, you usually stop at a Starbucks. You tend to get to the store at the same time each morning, and you usually see a young girl who gets there about the same time you do. On many mornings you find yourselves ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tough Love  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

TOUGH LOVE "Living in this house is like living in hell," screamed the young girl as she stamped her feet on the way upstairs to her room. The mother stood looking at her daughter, a hint of tears forming in her eyes. She wanted to run up the stairs and hug her daughter but she knew the timing ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:24

Tags: Parenting

An Old Feud And A New Bridge  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2013

AN OLD FEUD AND A NEW BRIDGE There were two old geezers living in the backwoods of the Ozarks: Rufus and Clarence. They lived on opposite sides of the river and they hated each other. Every morning, just after sunup, Rufus and Clarence would go down to their respective sides of the river and yell ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1-33

Tags: Fear And Worry

Jesus Is The Answer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Krister Sairsingh, a former Hindu from Trinidad who is now the Chaplain to international students at Harvard. Let me read you some excerpts from his story. After making great progress in the Hindu spiritual disciplines something happened that unsettled him deeply. During my final year of high ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-32

Tags: Evangelism, Conversion, Jesus Is The Answer

Denomination: Methodist

Unsung Heroes—barzillai The Gileadite, Part 1

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 2, 2020

Introduction: Barzillai is one of many in the Bible who is mentioned only a few times, but his deeds more than make up for any lack of coverage. When David fled for his life during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 15-18), he eventually crossed the Jordan River. Barzillai and some other people met the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 17:26-29

Tags: David, Barzillai, Gilead, Mahanaim

Denomination: Baptist

Charisma" Magazine Had An Article On Martyrs In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

"Charisma" magazine had an article on martyrs in the 1990s. For many contemporary Christians, the word "martyr" evokes images of ancient saints being torn apart by lions in a Roman coliseum. Yet martyrdom did not end with the fall of the Roman Empire, or with the collapse of Soviet Communism. The ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

The Year Was 1992. A Man Was On Parole For Child ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The year was 1992. A man was on parole for child molesting. His fellow apartment renters complained of odors and chainsaw noises. When the police searched his apartment, they found it full of skulls, headless torsos and body parts. He would murder, mutilate and sometimes cannibalized boys and men. ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

One Famous Business Man: About A 100 Plus Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

ONE FAMOUS BUSINESS MAN: ABOUT A 100 PLUS YEARS AGO A YOUNG MAN HAD TO LEAVE HOME BECAUSE HIS FAMILY COULD NOT AFFORD TO FEED AND HOUSE HIM. ON HIS WAY TO HIS FUTURE HE MEET AN OLD FRIEND WHO WAS CAPTAIN OF A CANAL BOAT. THE CAPTAIN ASKED WHERE HE WAS OFF TO. HE REPLIED, “I DON’T KNOW.” HE TOLD HIM ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-10

World Vs. U.s. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

WORLD VS. U.S. POVERTY A few centuries ago, four-fifths of the French spent 90 percent of their income for food. With only what you and I consider a marginal tip to a waitress, they had to provide for all of their other needs. Europe had been in that condition for thousands of years. Until recent ...read more

Tags: Poverty

My Little Light

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 26, 2021

I HAVE A COMPELLING FOCUS TO REACH MY GOD POTENTIAL… MY CANDLE? I FIND THE ROOM SO DARK… WILL MY LITTLE LIGHT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? WILL I CONSIDER MY SEEDS, MY LITTLE CANDLE, THE LIGHT… James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, James 3:5

Tags: Light, Consumed

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Two Angry Brothers?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 20, 2022

ACCIDENTLY, COINCIDENCE OR ON PURPOSE? There were two precious brothers. They loved each other. Their parents owned a huge farm. The brothers worked in harmony alongside their mom and dad for years. Suddenly and unexpectedly the father and mother died. One brother went to a lawyer about the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29

Tags: Anger, Forgive

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Unsung Heroines-They Helped Rebuild Jerusalem’s Wall

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 12, 2022

Introduction: The Book of Nehemiah is almost like a report or memoir of what Nehemiah did, and why. He led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, as these walls were in sad shape. Chapter 3 of his book lists a number of people and groups who did work on these walls. The word “repaired” is ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:12, Numbers 27:1-11

Tags: Nehemiah, Walls Of Jerusalem, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Leave Behind The Past, Reach For The Future

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

LEAVE BEHIND THE PAST, REACH FOR THE FUTURE Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me the opportunity to enter a new year. May I love and serve You diligently, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Future, Past

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Ortberg In His Book- If You Want To Walk On ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 11, 2004

John Ortberg in his book- If You Want To Walk On Water You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat notes this about fear: The single command in Scripture that occurs more often then any other-God’s most frequently repeated instruction-is formulated in two words: Fear Not. Do not be afraid. Be strong and ...read more

Tags: Fear, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Know Him?

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 1, 2009

DO YOU KNOW HIM? Do you know Jesus? I’m not asking if you know about Jesus. Some people know Jesus about as well as they know Stephen Harper (PM of Canada), Rick Warren (Pastor and best-selling author), Sara Palin (Governor of Alaska who ran for Vice President for Republican John McCain), or Carl ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Salvation Army

Gordan Macdonald States That All Calls Have ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 26, 2010

Gordan MacDonald states that all calls have similar commonalities and the following information is gleamed from his article “God’s Calling Plan” (Leadership, Vol. 24 page 25): 1. The call originates from the Godhead: a. God called Abraham b. God called Moses c. God called Isaiah d. God called ...read more

Tags: Ordination

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Longing

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 15, 2012

LONGING In his book The Spiritual Life of Children, the famous Harvard psychiatrist Robert Coles tells the story of Alice, a ten-year-old girl who came from a family that did not believe in God. She expressed her doubts to him with these words: "I remember... I saw the people next door coming ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Methodist

Discerning Prophecy

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 26, 2021

I was once in charge of a meeting where I was confronted with this situation. A lady gave forth a powerful and anointed utterance in an unknown tongue. We all waited for the interpretation. Quite soon a man began to give forth what he obviously wanted us to accept as the interpretation. It was, in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 1 Corinthians 14:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

Tags: Deception, Discernment, Prophecy, Charismatic, Tongues, False Prophet  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The Way In The Manger

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 14, 2022

THE WAY IN A MANGER To the tune of “Away in a Manger.” The Way in a manger, Was God’s only Son, He came down to save us From sin, we had done. The world was made ready, This child to receive. God’s Gift sent from heaven to all who believe. The Angels around Him looked down at His bed, The little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-12, Luke 2:1-2, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2, Galatians 4:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Nativity, Christmas, Christ's Birth, Carols, Hymns, Christmas Music, Christmas Poems, Poems About Christmas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist