In Sermon Illustrations: "Gods Call"

John Piper Wrote A Paper--Written Years Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 28, 2006

-John Piper wrote a paper--written years ago (1995)--on how Christian leaders should avoid sexual sin. Piper lists ten potential pitfalls and proposes ten protections against them: • PITFALL: Falling in love with the present world. PROTECTION: Think long and hard about the deadly poison of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: Love For God, Obedience, Glory Of God, Relationships

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Story Is Told In Which An Accountant Answered ...

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Sep 27, 2007

A story is told in which an accountant answered an advertisement for a top job with a large firm. At the end of the interview, the chairman asked, "One last question—what is three times seven?" The accountant thought for a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Knowing God's Will, Workplace Unemployment

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of Water  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 21, 2012

The Parable of Water There are a lot of things I could compare when it comes to living in the world, sexual sin, the lust we have for objects that are shiny; but, I’ve decided that I’m not going to. I’ve decided to discuss two different liquids. One of them is water and the other is Coca Cola. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:1-12, James 1:16-19

Tags: God's Goodness, Kingdom Of God, Temptation General

Denomination: Salvation Army

A Keen Eye For Stray Coins

Contributed by Manny Salva Cruz on May 29, 2015

A KEEN EYE FOR STRAY COINS There was a story from the Week magazine regarding a 67 year man by the name of Roger Pasquier. He was a retired ornithologist who has a keen eye for spotting stray coins. In fact, he had found almost two thousand dollars’ worth of coins dropped onto New York City’s ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:29

Tags: Seeker, Passion For God, God's Accessibility, Earnestly

Denomination: Nazarene

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psalm 119 - The Testimonies Of The Lord

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Psalm 119 repeatedly refers to the testimonies of the Lord (Meditate on these uses [Ps 119:99] - Especially ask how does the psalmist respond to God's testimonies?) 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your ...read more

Tags: Testimony, Lovingkindness, Faithfulness Of God, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Couldn't You Endure Him?

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 15, 2008

Couldn't You Endure Him? According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave ...read more

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dear God, So Far Today I've Done All Right. I ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 17, 2004

Dear God, So far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper, I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. I’m very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Tells Us In Ii Co 6:14-16a "Do Not Be Yoked ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 13, 2006

God tells us in II Co 6:14-16a "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” Did He mean it? "Yes, but I’m going to date him and marry him and lead him to the Lord." Tell me one person for whom that has happened and I’ll find you 20 where it didn’t. "Yes, but I know someone who did it and he ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Can't Say I Have Ever Felt Afraid Of God, But I ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

I can’t say I have ever felt afraid of God, but I have felt the awe of His presence, and I have been overcome by a sense of His majesty. I remember standing out on a mound of earth out on a property and looking up at the stars. Away from the city, the stars seem so much brighter, and I cried out to ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062b]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 2 SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Hurt, Pain, Love, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[062c]. A Message From A Poem – Does Suffering Cancel Out A God Of Love?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[062C]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE? THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HAD TO SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE THIRD PART. THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1. PART 3 SECTION C - PART 1 (GOD ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 45:6-7, John 3:16, Exodus 34:6-7

Tags: Tragedy, God Of Comfort, God Of Love, Pain, Love, Christ, Compassion, Comfort, Suffering, Hurt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Once Was A Man Who Very Adamantly Believed ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 20, 2001

There once was a man who very adamantly believed in living by faith. He believed that, so long as he prayed in Jesus’ name, believing in faith that God would provide his need, he would receive whatever he asked for. One day he stood up in church and declared that from that day forward, he was ...read more

Tags: Faith, Money, Poverty, Provision, God's Provision, God's Will  (view more)  (view less)

I'd Like To Finish By Reading This Little Excerpt ...  PRO

Contributed by Vanita George on Apr 20, 2005

I’d like to finish by reading this little excerpt I picked from TD Jakes’ book called “God’s Leading Ladies” and it goes as below:- To become a leading lady, you must raise the curtain and step forward. You must extend yourself beyond the self-imposed limits, external pressures, and patriarchal ...read more

Tags: Glorification, Glorify, Women

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The More Excellent Way

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 22, 2011

THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY I remember a sermon – years ago, in fact I think I may have preached it during my time here as an intern – where my opening illustration was the difference between the way my father chopped wood and the way I chopped it. You may remember the scene – me as a skinny 18 ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You Share Christ By Imitating Christ. A Story Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Oct 27, 2000

You share Christ by imitating Christ. A story is told – by Fredrick Beuchner I believe – called “The Happy Hypocrite." It is a story about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity. He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. ...read more

Tags: Hypocrite, Image Of Christ, Influence, Great, Accomplishment, Call Of The Disciples, Change, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who's Your Daddy?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2010

WHO'S YOUR DADDY? "A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One morning they were eating breakfast in a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white haired man moving from ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Calvin And Hobbes: House Flooded

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 19, 2002

From a Calvin and Hobbes comic strip); CALVIN (Calling father at work): Hi Dad, it’s me Calvin. How’s Work Going? Uh-huh. Pretty out isn’t it? Yup. Are you bringing me any presents home tonight?..No? Well I just thought I’d ask. Listen, I suppose you’re wondering why I ...read more

Tags: Parenting, God The Father, Children

Denomination: Methodist

He Knows Your Need

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2003

HE KNOWS YOUR NEED There was a popular religious movement around the time of the founding of our country called Deism. Deism was opposed to Christianity’s personal idea of God. They believed that God created the world, but that he wound it up like a clock and then left it to attend to other ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, God's Provision

C.s. Lewis Certainly Recognized This, And In His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

C.S. Lewis certainly recognized this, and in his essay "The Law of Human Nature", he built and established a very strong and incontrovertible argument for the case. In the middle of this short piece he says, "Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity