In Sermon Illustrations: "Guarding Your Heart"

Why Don't They Let Him In?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WHY DON'T THEY LET HIM IN? A picture of the Lord Jesus knocking at the door of a heart was taken one day by a parish visitor to a house where a father and mother lived with their small son. Some impulse made the mother pin the picture up in their little kitchen, and when the small boy came in from ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Salvation Belongs To The Lord

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jun 6, 2011

SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD To say that we cooperate with God in any way in our salvation undermines the doctrine of salvation, robs our confidence in God, and tempts us to pride. It is like the man who collapses from a massive heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. The doctor doesn’t ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Lutheran

The Law And The Gospel

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL John Wesley: "There is no [conflict] at all between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away, in order to the establishing of the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Joy And Peace From A Child

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Dr. Bryant Kirkland, pastor of 5th Ave. Pres. Church in NY was traveling to do a series of sermons on the west coast. He needed time on that 3 hour flight to study and prepare, so he buckled down and let everyone near me feel the tension. His body language said, "Don't bother me, I'm a busy man ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Tags: Peace, Joy, Christ Child

Denomination: Methodist

7 Ways To Pray For Lost Loved Ones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

Praying for Unsaved Loved Ones “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16) 1. Pray that God will draw them to himself. “No one can come to me unless the Father … draws him.” (John 6:44) 2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, John 20:21

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Burden, Lost, Unsaved, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Gospel, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Membership Vows  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 28, 2003

Church Membership Vows Will you ___________, take your church to be your church; to live together in the holy covenant of membership? Will you love, comfort, honor, and keep your church and be faithful to your church as long as you live? Do you ___________, take your church to be your church, from ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Church Of God

The Best-Selling Book Among All Christian Books ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Apr 28, 2003

The best-selling book among all Christian books right now is The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Warren begins his book with these words… “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just When I Think I Got Everything Covered

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 16, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder I like to have an organized life. I must confess that my idea of organization is not The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s idea. We may share many things, but not planning and organization. When she begins a project, it is well planned and organized down to the tiniest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40

Tags: Organization, Planning, Crafts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Now I'm A Fisherman And The First Rule Of Fishing ...  PRO

Contributed by Ken Schlenker on Aug 7, 2002

Now I’m a fisherman and the first rule of fishing is to stay afloat in your boat. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I would wake up and walk outside to take a deep breath and smell the air to catch an understanding of the humidity. I’d then look up at the horizon and I see how many clouds ...read more

Tags: Help

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Fellow Heard A Preacher From The Olden ...  PRO

Contributed by George Bannister on Jun 4, 2003

A young fellow heard a preacher from the olden days, and was greatly moved, and the preacher said: "When you have a religious impression, the time to act upon it is right then. The time when you hear God’s call, in which you ought to respond is right then." And the young fellow walked down the ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Thomas Edison Invented The Microphone, The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2005

Thomas Edison invented the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, talking movies, and more than 1000 other things. December 1914 he had worked for 10 years on a storage battery. This had greatly strained his finances. This particular evening spontaneous combustion ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Jesus Christ Is About To Leave His Disciples. He ...

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on Feb 4, 2007

Jesus Christ is about to leave his disciples. He is about to go. He tells them in 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; I am going to leave you to prepare a place for you. I will come again to receive you unto myself.” I have to go right now, though. The disciples had been walking with Jesus for ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Contractor

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Contractor There was once a contractor who built homes in a small town somewhere in Europe. He built most of the homes for the people who lived in the village and was a gifted carpenter. Unfortunately, he was never able to afford a home of his own. One day, the wealthiest man in town came to the ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

From The Book "A Love Worth Giving" By Max ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 18, 2008

From the book "A Love Worth Giving" by Max Lucado chapter 5- Harold suffered from cerebral palsy. The condition left him unable to walk, dress, feed himself, or go to the rest room. My job was to help him with this. And I didn’t like it. I had moved to St. Louis for spiritual training. Fresh ...read more

Fathers, Serve With Intensity  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Fathers, Serve With Intensity" The Bible gives four Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. The second is to live a life that serves with intensity. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Service, Father, Father's Day, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Confidence Of God  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God Self-existent Christians can walk in confidence because this God is self-existent: John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Elizabeth Taylor On ...

Contributed by Tim Harlow on May 13, 2009

ELIZABETH TAYLOR ON MARRIAGE Following her wedding to CONRAD HILTON in 1950, ELIZABETH TAYLOR said, "Your heart knows when you meet the right man. There is no doubt that Nicky is the one I want to spend my life with." Following her wedding to MICHAEL WILDING in 1952, she said, "I just want to be ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Marriage And Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham Awarded Golden Congressional Medal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

BILLY GRAHAM AWARDED GOLDEN CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL On Thursday May 2, 1996, Dr. Billy Graham was awarded the Golden Congressional Medal, the highest honor this country can bestow upon an individual - only 263 individuals had ever received this in the history of the United States of America. In his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Attitude General

Frenzied Pace Of Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

FRENZIED PACE OF LIFE A lot of these same gods are still worshipped in America today, aren't they? Our culture also seems to bow down to the idol of busyness. In her book called, "Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families," Ann Kroeker writes this: "America, the land of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:41-42

Tags: Culture

Mr. And Mrs. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

"Mr. and Mrs. Thing" John MacArthur, in his book titled Overcoming Materialism, offers this analysis: Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a very pleasant and successful couple. At least, that’s the verdict of most people, who tend to measure success with a “thingometer.” And when the “thingometer” is put to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Materialism