In Sermon Illustrations: "Growth In Christ"

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Incredible Power Of Aspen Tree Seeds (Facing Trials)

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 21, 2023

Last winter while visiting a natural history museum in Colorado, I learned some remarkable facts about the aspen tree. An entire grove of slender, white-trunked aspens can grow from a single seed and share the same root system. These root systems can exist for thousands of years whether or not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 16:33

Tags: Faith, Trials, Problems, Tests Of Faith, Joy, Temptation, Tribulation, Difficulties, Spiritual Growth, Perserverance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

Excerpts From Saturday Evening Post Magazine article on Jack La Lanne: Fit for Life. At 86, Jack La Lanne has dipped, chinned, pushed, pulled, and lifted more often than anyone in recorded history. His present training regimen is tailor-made for only superheroes. While many of his contemporaries ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Christian Disciplines, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crucifixion  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2001

Consider this: Jesus was nailed to a cross with heavy, square wrought-iron nails through His wrists and through His feet. He hung there for several hours. When His body slumped, excruciating, fiery pain would shoot along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-43

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Forgive, Cross, Humanity Of Christ

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dr. W.a. Criswell Tells Of A Small New Testament ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Richardson on May 19, 2001

Dr. W.A. Criswell tells of a small New Testament that was taken from the breast-pocket of a fallen American soldier in Vietnam, a young boy from Georgia. When Mr. Pat Zondervan held up that New Testament before the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Dr. Criswell could see the light ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Forgiveness In Jesus, Lordship Of Christ, Integrity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Have A Word In Africa - ‘ubuntu’ ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

We have a word in Africa - ‘ubuntu’ - ubuntu says that I can only know myself as I see myself through your eyes - so the closer you stand to me, the better I can ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups, Compassion

Denomination: *other

Story: A Korean Pastor Told Me This Story Some ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Sep 1, 2001

Story: A Korean Pastor told me this story some years ago, when he came to Switzerland. In the 4th century AD in Korea a man had two sons. The elder rose to become Chief Justice in the land and the younger became an infamous bandit. The elder brother loved his younger brother but was unable to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:18

Tags: Substitute, Peace, God's Forgiveness, Justice, Lordship Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

There Is A Story Of A Young Hippie Who Gave His ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 16, 2001

There is a story of a young hippie who gave his life to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the late sixties and early seventies. One Sunday he went to a church, not knowing it was one of the more “upper class” churches in the area. He was late to the service, and the pastor was about to begin ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-4

Tags: Jesus' Ministry, Christian Love, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Is A Tale Told Of That Great English Actor ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Dec 9, 2001

There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain to me something." "Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher." "What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Apologetics The Bible, Acting, Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

You Cannot Go On Being A Good Egg Forever. You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2001

You cannot go on being a good egg forever. You must either hatch or ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Apologetics General, Commitment To Christ

Samuel Colgate, The Founder Of The Colgate ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Samuel Colgate, the founder of the Colgate business empire, was a devout Christian, and he told of an incident that took place in the church he attended. During an evangelistic service, an invitation was given at the close of the sermon for all those who wished to turn their lives over to Christ ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus, Church Body Of Christ

God Gave Me A Gift  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 19, 2001

“God gave me a gift, not for me but for you, and God gave you a gift, not for you but for me. If you don’t use your gift, you’re depriving me; if ...read more

Tags: Gifts General, Giving General, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Millard Erickson Says, "Next To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Dec 29, 2001

Millard Erickson says, “Next to the resurrection, the most debated and controversial event of ...read more

Tags: Messianic Prophecies, Mary Jesus Mother, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Like Filthy Rags  PRO

Contributed by Richard White on Jan 3, 2002

LIKE FILTHY RAGS Jeff Bridges says, "Christians can never in themselves merit salvation through their personal holiness." Our Righteousness is like a filthy rag before a holy God. One of the early church fathers ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Holiness, God's Holiness, Filthy Rags

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

H.b. London, Jr. And Neil B. Wiseman, In Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

H.B. London, Jr. and Neil B. Wiseman, in their book Pastors at Risk, present some statistics on risk factors related to ministers today. Some of these statistics are as follows: Ninety percent of pastors work more than forty-six hours a week. Eighty percent believed that pastoral ministry ...read more

Tags: Gifts General, Church Body Of Christ, Leadership General

Crosses Are Heavy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2002

CROSSES ARE HEAVY In March of 1997, Scott Mathews wanted the young people of Carthage, Missouri to understand the love of God. The theme for youth group that month was, “The Cross.” So they built a 500 lb, 8 by 14 foot redwood cross. It took ten students to move it. Crosses are heavy, you ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Easter Good Friday, Jesus Christ

Make Yourself At Home  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 20, 2002

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME Becky Pippert, is a Christian author from Naperville, Illinois. While doing campus ministry she met a student named Bill on a college campus in Portland, Oregon. Bill was brilliant, and always looked like he was pondering something deep. He had messy hair, and the entire ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stopping To Focus  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on Aug 9, 2002

STOPPING TO FOCUS Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Lordship Of Christ, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember An Old "Dragnet” ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 6, 2002

I remember an old “Dragnet” television episode back in the mid ‘60s, when the arguments about the dangers or relative safeties of marijuana use were in full bloom. The main character, Sgt Joe Friday, was expounding to a young suspect the harmful effects and results of heroine sale and use, and how ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Church Body Of Christ, Apologetics General

Denomination: Orthodox