In Sermon Illustrations: "He Strives With God"

Lesson Of The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Darian Hybl on Aug 21, 2013

Recently I read an article that convicted me of my ‘blind spots’ where I have not wanted to ‘cross the road’ or enter deeper into relationship. Alex Early penned an article entitled, “A Pastor Walked into a Gay Bar And…” At first I avoided the article because I thought this article was more a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:23-37

Tags: God As Judge, Real Friend, Parable Good Samaritan

Denomination: Lutheran

On A Wall Near The Main Entrance To The Alamo In ...  PRO

Contributed by David Browne on Dec 9, 2000

On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by his family so that ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Listen To This Song Of Praise About The ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Walker on Dec 21, 2000

Listen to this song of praise about the incarnation written by Graham Kendrick: Meekness and majesty, human and deity, in perfect harmony the one who is God. Lord of eternity dwells in humanity, kneels in humility and washes our feet. Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible, love indestructible ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Humanity Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

In The Years Of Communist Domination Of East ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

In the years of Communist domination of East Germany there was a symbol which brought hope and comfort to believers in Jesus. A huge TV tower had been erected to broadcast atheistic propaganda. Near the top of the building was a globe-shaped structure housing a restaurant. The remarkable thing ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Forgiveness In Jesus, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You Believe?  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 15, 2001

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? 6 out of 10 Americans believe Satan is only a symbol and not real 47 % of Christians believe the same thing 1 out of 4 Christians believe it doesn’t matter what religion you are because all of them are the same and they all lead to God 31% of Christians believe Heaven can be ...read more

Tags: God, Heaven, Paranormal, Salvation, Satan, Universalism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When We Became Adults, Even Though We Gained ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Shrewsberry on Jan 16, 2001

When we became adults, even though we gained more knowledge in many things, we still struggle with that one question, "Why?" The only difference, is our questions ...read more

Tags: Faith, Faith General, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: *other

Fred Smith, In His Book Learning To Lead Wrote ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 23, 2000

Fred Smith, in his book Learning to Lead wrote “The shepherd or pastor’s ultimate goal is not to please the sheep but to please God.” Cecil Paul the Author of Passages of a Pastor says that pastors need to free themselves from and I quote “The Tyranny of Evaluation.” Tim Hansel writing in his ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Doing God's Will, Gifts Leadership

Denomination: Wesleyan

One New Year’s Day, In The Tournament Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Misconceptions, Holy Spirit General, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: *other

There Was A Commercial Years Ago On Tv By The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

There was a commercial years ago on TV by the Peace Corp: "It doesn’t matter how long you live if ...read more

Tags: Death, God Brings Purpose, Finding Fulfillment

I Came Across Some Interesting Statistics A ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

ILL. I came across some interesting statistics a few years ago. Someone went to the trouble to research what people do with their time, & came up with these results: If we live to be 75, most of us will have spent 3 solid years, 24 hours a day, acquiring an education - grade school, high school & ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

M. Scott Peck Writes In His Book The Road ...  PRO

Contributed by Rob Culler on Mar 21, 2001

1. M. Scott Peck writes in his book THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED, “I spent much of my ninth summer on a bicycle. About a mile from our house the road went down a steep hill and turned sharply at the bottom. Coasting down the hill one morning, I felt my gathering speed to be ecstatic. To give up this ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Doing God's Will, Workplace Balance

Denomination: Assembly Of God

It Looked Like Saturday Morning Tv Time At The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Mar 27, 2001

It looked like saturday morning TV time at the Van Pelt household. Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, "Go get me a glass of water." Linus looked surprised, "Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me." "On you 75th birthday," ...read more

Tags: Faith, God Brings Hope, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The World Cannot Satisfy  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 30, 2001

C.S. Lewis, in “Mere Christianity”: “Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Finding Fulfillment, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Baptist

A Christian Man Is The Most Free Lord Of All, ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 3, 2001

"A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one." ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Love Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Even Our Foundational Beliefs In This Country ...  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Major on Apr 23, 2001

Even our foundational beliefs in this country see the “pursuit of happiness” as a basic right of all individuals. Yet with all our pursuit, happiness seems to elude many of us for much of our lives. Nathaniel Hawthorne said, “Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond ...read more

Tags: Joy, God Brings Hope, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Methodist

George Barna Reports That Over 70 Million ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 30, 2001

George Barna reports that over 70 million Americans today are struggling to find some meaning in life. And that over 50% of ...read more

Tags: Joy, God Brings Hope, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Help Me To Realize That It Was Not The Healthy ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 7, 2001

Help me to realize that it was not the healthy who reached out to you. They bunched up in crowds, but it was those who suffered greatly who reached out to grasp you. It was the people in the streets, not in the sitting rooms of society that groped for your garment. It was needy people. People ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Disciplines General, Disciplines Meditation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Philip Yancey In Leadership States, "Like ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 10, 2001

Philip Yancey in Leadership states, “Like a victorious locker room, church is a place to exult, to give thanks, to celebrate the great news that all is ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Joy, God's Provision

Our Prayers Lay The Track Down On Which ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 10, 2001

Our prayers lay the track down on which God’s power can come. Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer General, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Baptist

If You Were To Sit Down In Your Living Room, Hit ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

If you were to sit down in your living room, hit the remote control and nothing happened, what’s the first thing you’d do? Call the cable company? Call KDKA and ask what happened to their signal? Call ABC & CBS & NBC & Fox? Probably most of you would check the batteries in the remote. Or you’d see ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God's Provision, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist