In Sermon Illustrations: "Great Commandment"

Difficulty Praying

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 10, 2010

And I don't think that I'm alone in this struggle to pray. Even a great church leader like Martin Luther has said this about prayer, "At times I, who teach this and prescribe it to others, have learned from my own example that praying comes close to being the most difficult of all works" ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Lutheran

No Roads Required  PRO

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Nov 9, 2010

NO ROADS REQUIRED David Livingstone charted great paths for mission in Africa. One time a missionary society wrote him a letter saying, "We have some people who would like to join you. Do you have some easy access roads to get where you are?" Dr. Livingstone wrote back, "If you have men who will ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

They Said It Couldn't Be Done

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE They experts said it was physically impossible for a human being to run a mile in four minutes. Our bone structure was all wrong, the wind resistance was too great, our lung power was inadequate. There appeared to be a 101 reasons why it could not be done! Then one ...read more

Tags: Tenacity

Denomination: Brethren

Man Has Yet To Conquer Himself  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2011

MAN HAS YET TO CONQUER HIMSELF Ravi Zacharias put it well when he said, "In an attempt to be reasonable, man has become irrational. In an attempt to deify himself, he has defaced himself. In an attempt to be free, he has made himself a slave. And like Alexander the Great, he has conquered the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:23

Tags: Pride

Fire Of Discipleship

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 26, 2011

FIRE OF DISCIPLESHIP I love to make a campfire. Many years ago I remember going on a fishing trip in the mountains of Arizona. There were about 10 men from our church and it was a great time of fellowship. It was my duty to get the fire going. Well get it going I did. I had it so hot in that cabin ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Using Our Ability

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2011

USING OUR ABILITY S. D. Gordon said, "We have nothing to do with how much ability we’ve got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

Am I Still Your Child?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 6, 2011

AM I STILL YOUR CHILD? What if Lynne and I adopted a child and brought him/her into our home. That child might be so thankful that every day they might ask, "Can I mow the lawn today, can I do the dishes for you, do you need a foot massage?" That would be great, but it would break my heart to ...read more

Tags: Adoption

Not Enough Chapels

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 16, 2012

NOT ENOUGH CHAPELS An elderly woman was being conducted through a great cathedral in Europe. The guide spoke of its beauty of design, calling attention to the statues and painting. The woman was unimpressed. At the conclusion of the tour she asked the guide, "How many souls have been saved here ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wonder Of The Hummingbird

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

A few weeks ago, a hummingbird came and fluttered in front of my face. I was stunned. I've never seen one up that close and personal. It was so close I counted the number of times it flapped its wings - 25 beats per second - or 1500 flaps per minute! (No I looked it up!) It is the only bird ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:19

Tags: Creation, Wonder

Denomination: Christian Church

Confidence

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 12, 2015

2 Corinthians 5:6 says "Therefore we are always confident." Confidence is something that comes from believing. Success or failure is often a result of either our confidence or lack thereof. The Apostle Paul was a person of confidence. He wasn’t always right, but he was sure about his experience ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 6:1

Tags: Teamwork, Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom Is The Best Preacher In The Family!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had 4 sons and they were all preachers. Someone once came into the living room when all the family was there. They thought they would see what Howard, one of the sons, was made of so they asked him this question: "Howard, who is the greatest preacher in your ...read more

Tags: Children, Mother's Day, Mother, Pastors, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fig Tree Jesus Cursed

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

An acted-out parable: most of Israel was like a fig tree out of SEASON. “The early figs, appearing in March or April and ripening in June, are called ‘bikkurah.’ …The early fig was considered a great delicacy by the Hebrews. The late or green figs, which sometimes ripen after the fall of the leaf, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:12-25, Matthew 21:18-22

Tags: Curse, Fig Tree

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Coronation Of The Queen

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 25, 2025

CONCLUSION: What kind of offering will we give? I read years ago it was CORONATION DAY in Great Britain. A new queen was going to be set in order. There were invitations sent out. There was a little note attached to the invitations: ALL EXCUSES CEASE. I ponder what might happen if we couldn’t give ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-23

Tags: Excuses, Challenge

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Puppy Story Concerning Martin Luther

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

The Great theologian Martin Luther ... had visitors for dinner one day. His puppy ... happened to be at the table, ... looking for just a morsel ... from his master hand. The puppy watched motionless with open mouth and eyes widened in anticipation. Martin Luther said, "Oh, if I could ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:19-20, Luke 14:7-14, Matthew 15:36

Tags: Hope, Christ, Anticipation

Denomination: Anglican

[112]. A Message From A Poem – Has Warmth Of Nearness Changed To Coolness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[112]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAS WARMTH OF NEARNESS CHANGED TO COOLNESS? INTRODUCING THE POEM: Our walk with the Lord is not always one on a smooth, sinless road. There is joy; there are times of peace, times of praise, times of contentment, but there are also times of hardship, times of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-4, Psalm 42:5-8, Psalm 42:9-11

Tags: Forgotten, Despair, Faith, Failure, Cast Down, Backsliding, Christian Poetry, Cold, Christian Poems, Waning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Water ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

WATER SOURCE The story is told about an Englishman living in Cairo who visited an Arab Chief in Arabia. The Englishman was treated with such kindness and royalty that he invited the Chief to visit him in Cairo, Egypt. He promised to show him the great sights of the city. The Arab Chief made the ...read more

Tags: Power

A Share In The Treasure  PRO

Contributed by Robert Sickler on Dec 26, 2011

A SHARE IN THE TREASURE A great European king was so enraged at the report of Muslim victories that he immediately joined the crusade to drive Islam out of Palestine. This great king took his army and spent many years fighting in a crusade to free Palestine from Islamic domination. When he left ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Christian Church

Impact Of Scripture Memorization: Psalm 119

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2012

IMPACT OF SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION: PSALM 119 Scripture memorization is a great challenge to a modern day saints. But in the old days, many of the saints of God would memorize large portions of Scripture because they were devoted to God. One such man was John Ruskin. He lived in the nineteenth ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:1-176

Tags: Bible Influence

[166]. A Message From A Poem – Know Jesus – Know Comfort And Peace

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 15, 2025

[166]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – KNOW JESUS – KNOW COMFORT AND PEACE Obviously, the connection here is a vital one, and it’s an eternal one. Those who know Jesus should be living in comfort and peace. That needs defining. Comfort is not the comfort of materialism by having a great home with ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1, Romans 3:17, Isaiah 48:22, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Acts 9:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, God Of All Comfort, Christian Poems, Comfort, Peace With God, Peace, Wicked  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Two Faces Of Change!" 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 9, 2005

“The Two Faces of Change!” 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key verse(s): 2-3:“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.” On June 4, 1783 at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 12:1-8

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran