In Sermon Illustrations: "Good News"

When I Was About 27 Years Old I Developed An ...

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

When I was about 27 years old I developed an abscess in a rather embarrassing area of the body. Consequently I tried to keep quiet about it hoping it would go away by natural means. Eventually the abscess got to such a size that the pain was intense and I was finding it difficult to walk. So I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

As Clayton J. Schmit Put It In His Commentary On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text, “The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost of baby food and diapers, sleepless ...read more

In The Hands Of Ordinary Christians, Small Social ...

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on May 11, 2008

In the hands of ordinary Christians, small social groups are a big spiritual deal. This is because "ordinary Christians" have more credibility than the ordained clergy. A guy named Herb Miller did some great research: * When first-time visitors to a local church receive a "glad you came" visit ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Free Methodist

There Was A Preacher At A Small Church. He Had ...

Contributed by Batsell Spivy on Jul 1, 2008

There was a preacher at a small church. He had been preaching there for some time and was discouraged by how disinterested the church was. Finally he had had enough of the unenthusiastic Sundays so he decided to write a sermon that would surely fire the members up. He began his sermon by saying, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dumb Crooks

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jul 3, 2008

DUMB CROOKS 1.) A Circle-K convenience store was patronized by man requesting change for a twenty dollar bill. As soon as the register drawer was opened, the man pulled a gun and demanded it contents. He fled with all dollars of it, but left his original twenty lying on the counter. 2.) A guy ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Feelings Of Injustice Increases Heart Risk

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

FEELINGS OF INJUSTICE INCREASES HEART RISK A new study found that people who thought they were treated unfairly were more likely to suffer a heart attack or chest pain. Those who thought they had experienced the worst injustice were 55% more likely to experience a coronary event than people who ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Not-So-Blessings  PRO

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jul 23, 2008

NOT-SO-BLESSINGS Recently I was taking another turn teaching the children on Wednesday night. After opening with some conversation with the kids about what was going on in their lives I asked for any prayer requests. One girl asked that we pray for her because school would soon start and she was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

Lazarus Rises From The Bondage Of Death, But He ...  PRO

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Aug 23, 2007

Lazarus rises from the bondage of death, but he still not totally free. Do you understand that? He still has bandages... God freed him from the grave; others will free him from bandages. That’s the way it is, my friends. Go and see big cities, New York, LA, Chicago... Go in poor countries also. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Jesus Said In John 13: 35, "Your Love For One ...

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Aug 3, 2008

Jesus said in John 13: 35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” A great New Testament example of this being done is in the early church. As Jews began to put their faith in Christ as the Messiah, they began to feel the effects of hostility toward them. They ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist

Some Of You Remember That Once Upon A Time I Was ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

Some of you remember that once upon a time I was -- sort of a hippie. It was during college -- Patty and I both attended K-State. My second Summer in college I left conservative K-State and went to a Navigator summer program in Boulder, CO. If you’ve been to Boulder you’ve seen the remnants of ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Impossible To Rightly Govern The World ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Catt on Sep 16, 2008

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." --George Washington "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason peoples ...read more

Tags: Faith, America

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

BE INTENTIONAL A guy stopped at a local gas station and, after filling his tank, he paid the bill and bought a soft drink. He stood by his car to drink his cola and watched a couple of men working along the roadside. One man would dig a hole two or three feet deep and then move on. The other man ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Have Any Of You Read The Book, The Worst-Case ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 19, 2008

Have any of you read the book, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht? It’s a great little yellow book that describes all sorts of ways to get out of even life-threatening situations. Here’s how they describe getting free from an alligator: How to Wrestle ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Wesleyan

God Summons Us To Seek Our Best Creative Selves. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

"God summons us to seek our best creative selves. He calls us to become artists of life, seers of truth, creators of new possibilities, and innovative problem solvers. Perhaps by looking at Jesus' life and seeing His creative spirit at work, we can begin to awaken to the creative possibilities of ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Responsibility Comes With The Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH THE GIFT As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text: The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Following Story From Foxnews.com ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

The following story from FoxNews.com 7-6-04: A Mississippi woman is lucky to be alive after being picked up and nearly crushed by a garbage truck. The unnamed woman was looking for her keys Wednesday morning in a dumpster behind her Ridgeland, MS apartment complex, reports the Clarion-Ledger of ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Abundant Life  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

ABUNDANT LIFE In December 1990, the threat of war with Iraq was looming. Many reserves and National Guard troops were mobilized. There were some homes where father and mother were both deployed. Recognizing this situation (that both father and mother would be gone overseas), a civic organization ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Tags: Joy

Discipleship Is Intentional Maintenance

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 22, 2009

DISCIPLESHIP IS INTENTIONAL MAINTENANCE Discipleship requires maintenance, which you find true in so many areas of life. Seventeen years ago we bought our present car. At the time I was working with the Rev. John Bomar on the American Family Asso. Committee. He noticed I had a new Volvo. They ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Joy Is Black

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 10, 2009

JOY IS BLACK I recently read the following letter that was sent to Dr. Michael Youssef, pastor of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. The letter was sent by Mrs. Lane, who has been a primary school teacher for 38 years: Dear Michael, One day I was trying to teach my students the difference ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How To Get To Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN In 1997 there was survey taken by U. S. News and World Report, "Who do you think is mostly likely to get into heaven?" Mother Teresa had a 79%, Oprah Winfrey 66%, Michael Jordon 65%, Colin Powell 61%, Dennis Rodman 28% and O. J. Simpson 19%. The person completing the survey ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3

Tags: Heaven