In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Fruit"

Online Fraud ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

ONLINE FRAUD STATS Americans reported $240 million in online fraud losses in ’07 to the FBI (an increase of $40 million from ’06). Median dollar loss in ’07 per complaint was $680. Men lost on average $1.67 to every dollar women lost. Men accounted for 75.2% of reported perpetrators and 57.6% of ...read more

Tags: Technology

Meliorism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

MELIORISM Have you ever heard of Meliorism? Here is what one person said about it. "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I am a Meliorist. Meliorism cancels out optimism as being too bright, too airy; and rejects pessimism as being too dull, too heavy. Take life as it is, says the meliorist, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Author, God Brings Purpose

A Number Of Years Ago Jim Carry Stared In A Movie ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 20, 2009

A number of years ago Jim Carry stared in a movie that considered this very idea. In the movie “Liar, Liar”, Jim Carry plays a lawyer who is particularly good at stretching the truth. After promising, and then breaking his promise, to show up at his five-year-old son’s birthday party, the son ...read more

Tags: Lies

Denomination: Baptist

Biblical Truth

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 3, 2009

BIBLICAL TRUTH Both George Gallup and George Barna, eminent pollsters and close church observers, have noted declining biblical literacy in the church. The majority of born-again Christian do not believe in absolute truth. 60% of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments. 50% of high ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The Fulness Of Time, God Sent His Son

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 19, 2022

•When God sent His Son into the world, the ancient world benefited from several conditions that made it far easier to spread the news of the good new of salvation. Some of those conditions were: • Roman Law - This protected Paul and others as they traveled the Roman world and preached the ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Bethlehem, Rome, Prophecy, History, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before You Yield To Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Dr Warren Wiersbe has some excellent words we all need to keep on the "front burner" of our mind so that we have our loins (minds) girded for action (before) the next time we are tempted to commit some flagrant, presumptive, abominable sin against our Holy, Holy, Holy God. BEFORE you ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tribulation, Yield, Trials, Lust, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Lies, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Swift To Hear

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2024

Ropes suggests that the phrase “swift to hear,” used in James 1:19 (tachus eis to akousai), relates primarily to the hearing of or the ready obedience to the Word (referring to 1:18). It is not just an imperative concerning normal social interaction or communication. It is, in fact, ...read more

Tags: Listening, Worship, Discipleship, Obedience, Prayer, Word Of God, Hearing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eat Twinkies Together

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 23, 2019

A Harvard study of 7,000 people found that the most isolated people were 3 times more likely to die than those with strong relationships. Reporting on the study, John Ortberg writes that “people who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, or alcohol use) but strong social ties ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:15

Tags: Church, Relationships, Synergy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Flu

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 21, 2020

After one of our members came down with the flu, was in intensive care for 10 days, we became very aware of how easily it is passed, especially to our elderly members. Which brought about these thoughts. 1) You are 70% Less likely to get the flu (or pass it) if you wash your hands properly. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 40:30-32, Leviticus 14:8-9, Matthew 15:17-20

Tags: Wash, Avoiding Sin, Coronavirus, Covid19, Influenza A, Spreading The Gospel, Wash Hands  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

10 Reasons To Study The Scriptures

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

TEN REASONS TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES 1. Will strengthen your personal life (1 John 2:14). 2. Will strengthen your assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13). 3. Will strengthen your confidence in your relationship with God (1 John 5:14). 4. Will undergird the effectiveness of your prayers (John 15:7). 5. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Scripture, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wise Heart

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 15, 2021

Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. KJV This does not mean you sugar coat the Word, but rather choose words or actions that do not offend in such a way no one wants to listen. Too many times Christians are rude and crude not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:21

Tags: Speech, Lips, Sweetness, Prudent, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Funny Story About Complaining

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

A FUNNY STORY ABOUT COMPLAINING As per his oath of silence, a monk is only allowed to say two words every year. After his first year, he comes before the head abbot to speak his two words: “Better food.” The head abbot understands and obliges the monk, hiring a new chef and improving the food ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Complaining, Murmuring, Griping, Than Ksgiving

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

April 21, 2005 "Give Me A Shrub With Character!" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 19, 2005

April 21, 2005 “Give Me A Shrub With Character!” Proverbs 12:3 Key verse(s) 3:“A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.” There are some plants that you can’t kill! I have long been fascinated by the differences exhibited in hardiness among the many ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:3, Proverbs 6:18

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me To ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 26, 2005

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Colossians 1:9) Does god ever weary of hearing our prayers? I mean, it’s the same old, same old–day in and day out. Does He really need to hear the same things over and over again? Being a “broken record,” the one that just can’t get over the rut in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Seen The Movie Antwone Fisher? It's The ...

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Oct 9, 2006

Have you seen the movie Antwone Fisher? It’s the true story of a young man abandoned at birth by his mother and then raised in abusive orphanages, foster homes, and reform schools. Denzel Washington adapted the story into a movie that was released a few years ago. After his 18th birthday, Antwone ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: United Methodist

[234]. A Message From A Poem - Rigid Trees Are Our Example

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 24, 2025

[234]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RIGID TREES ARE OUR EXAMPLE Trees are a wonderful aspect of God’s creation and they are the mightiest organic structures on earth, discounting the great coral reefs. This poem is not about trees in general, but specific trees. Those are the ones that are often ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Melaleuca Trees, Paperbarks, Rigid Trees, Gales, Strong Tree Trunks, Character, Wind, Stand Strong, Trees, Deep Roots  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want To Tell You About A Practicing Christian, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 22, 2007

I want to tell you about a practicing Christian, a public figure who lives out his faith in Jesus Christ. Here is a behind-the-scenes story. There was a lot of excitement in watching the Indianapolis Colts, led by Head Coach Tony Dungy, win their trip to the Super Bowl this past January. A TV ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1

Tags: Peace, Heaven, Chance, Hope, Assurance, Forget, Expectancy, Renew  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Michael Is The Kind Of Guy You Love To Hate. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jan 16, 2003

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was ...read more

Tags: Learning, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Wesleyan

Here Is A Story By An Unknown Author. In The ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 8, 2009

Here is a story by an unknown author. In the mountains of Virginia years ago there was a boys’ school class which no teacher could handle. The boys were so rough that the teachers resigned. A young but gray-haired teacher applied for the job. The old school director scanned him up and down, then ...read more

Tags: Sin Punishment Of

Denomination: Pentecostal

Cargo Cults

Contributed by Craig Sully on Apr 7, 2010

CARGO CULTS First noticed in the late 19th century, the concept of the cargo cult came to prominence in the years immediately following WWII. As the Japanese and American armies began to island hop their way to victory and defeat across the Pacific, they literally took over these small territories ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

Denomination: Pentecostal