In Sermon Illustrations: "Hard Heart"

The French Philosopher Voltaire Once Said: ...

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Apr 14, 2011

The French philosopher Voltaire once said: "Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe." Voltaire spoke of a form of faith that lives, breathes, and moves beyond the ordinary, to the extraordinary. In like manner, Dale Carnegie spoke of a form of living that ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Lutheran

We're Supposed To Be Surrounded

Contributed by Michael Walther on May 25, 2011

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SURROUNDED The television series "Band of Brothers" follows the experiences of a company of paratroopers as they participate in the invasion of Europe. In one scene Lt. Richard Winters is leading his men into the heart of the Battle of the Bulge. Another Lt. is pulling back ...read more

Tags: Tenacity

Denomination: Lutheran

Colors Of Storms

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2011

COLORS OF STORMS As I was watching the weather warnings run across the TV screen, I began to think about how we go through life's storms without any warnings. Each one of the storms we go through are painted a different color of severity, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. It could be that a Green ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12, Psalm 34:17-19

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

Poem: Ozymandias By Shelley

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 23, 2011

Poem: Ozymandias by Shelley I met a traveler from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Tags: Power

It

Contributed by Brad Henry on Dec 9, 2011

IT Each of us has an "IT" that is keeping us from joy and being free from worry. It isn't until we let go of that "IT" that we will be free. We can talk about all the steps to get out of addictions, the steps to curtail anger, animosity, jealousy, fear of death and a host of other worries and ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

How Did You Become A Christian?  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 21, 2011

HOW DID YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN? A couple of years ago a 22-year-old woman spent the night at our house before flying out of San Antonio to return to her country of China. She was a Chinese Christian who had come to America to translate some Christian literature into Chinese for the house churches ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Prayer Isn't All You Need

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

WHEN PRAYER ISN’T ALL YOU NEED Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 63. In my late twenties, a bunch of my friends and I decided to sail around the world. I have to admit, though, at the time I was a bit worried. I hadn’t even sailed before. I was uneasy and anxious. So I spent a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Peace

Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, Has Decided To Leave ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 27, 2012

Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, has decided to leave Victoria’s Secret because it clashes with her Christian beliefs. “I just became so convicted of honoring the Lord and my body and wanting to be a role model for other women out there who look up to me,” Bisutti said today on “Good Morning ...read more

Tags: Conscience

Denomination: Baptist

Francis Chan's Servant Witness

Contributed by Bret Toman on Oct 31, 2012

FRANCIS CHAN'S SERVANT WITNESS Francis Chan was flying to Africa and seated next to him was a man who happened to be a Muslim. So they were talking about what they believed and the man said "Ya, I know some Christians and I hear their message and it turns me off. I’m not interested." So the ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist

Fallen World

Contributed by Tim White on Feb 15, 2013

FALLEN WORLD Crime rate, growth in atrocities of crime, world tension, wars (and as the Bible predicted, rumors of wars), growth and mutation of illnesses, viruses and diseases. Our great grandparents had not concept of Aids. Our nation’s founders never heart of Ebola, the flesh eating disease. ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Sin Fall Of Man

Denomination: Baptist

Too Wicked For Ministry

Contributed by Keith Foskey on Apr 16, 2014

Paul Washer is a powerful preacher and evangelist. He once had a seminary student send him a message. He was afraid that he was too bad to enter the ministry. He sent him a message that simply said, "I think I am too wicked to be in the ministry." And Paul Washer wrote him back and said, "You are ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:19-26

Tags: Assurance, Confidence, Reliance On God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why God?

Contributed by Larry Turner on Feb 8, 2016

Why God? God, why did this happen, Questions my soul needs to know. If you really love me Why am I hurting so? Why did you let it happen? The power is in your hand. Why did you not stop it? Please help me understand. I know it’s for a purpose. I have to figure out What is your reason. Please help ...read more

Scripture: Job 10:1-3

Tags: Struggles, Life Struggles, Questioning God, Reason For Suffering, Understanding God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

Once There Was A Man

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 25, 2016

ONCE THERE WAS A MAN... Once there was a man who dared God to speak. Burn the bush like you did for Moses, God. And I will follow. Collapse the walls like you did for Joshua, God. And I will fight. Still the waves like you did on Galilee, God. And I will listen. And so the man sat by a bush, near ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-28

Tags: Waiting On God, Hearing God's Voice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Help, Success, Wise Generosity, Benevolance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sexual Sins

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

Greek & Roman religions taught very little about personal holiness. A person could bring sacrifices to an idol, say a few prayers & go away from the altar and commit sin freely. No one would ever think he was inconsistent in his faith. This is not so with the life of a follower of ...read more

Tags: Lust, Uncleanness, Sexual Sins

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Quotes On Suffering For Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

There is a certain kind of maturity that can be attained only through the discipline of suffering. - D. A. Carson Do not kick against suffering, for in so doing you may be fighting against God. - Spurgeon Life without struggle and difficulty is thin and tasteless. How can a noble life be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10-12

Tags: Pain, Spiritual Warfare, Discipleship, Suffering, Take Up Your Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Had Something To Look Forward ...

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on May 1, 2007

ILLUSTRATION - "I had something to look forward to." The story is told of a muti-millionaire businessman who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in a poor downtrodden township. This was an area where most of the students would not finish formal schooling. He had been asked to ...read more

Denomination: Charismatic

When Martin Luther Was Printing His Translation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When Martin Luther was printing his translation of the Bible in Germany, pieces of the printed Scripture fell to the floor. A young girl picked one of them up and read the phrase of our text, “For God so loved the world that he gave”. The rest of the sentence was missing. That moment for her was a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

A Small Child, Not Even Old Enough For School, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A small child, not even old enough for school, went into one of those mirrored mazes at an amusement park. When her father discovered that she had slipped away he saw her trying to find her way out and beginning to cry in fear. She became increasingly con. fused by all the paths, until she heard ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Hope Needs A Foundation – A Reasonable Grounds ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Hope needs a foundation – a reasonable grounds for confidence in its fulfillment. There’s a story From Parade magazine about a self-made millionaire, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. This man had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he ...read more

Tags: Character