In Sermon Illustrations: "Heaven"

In A Cemetery In Hanover, Germany, Is A Grave On ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her grave be made so ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

B. We Can Be Thankful Even During The Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 22, 2004

B. We can be thankful even during the most difficult circumstances in life. We see an especially inspiring example of a brave and thankful heart in the story behind one of the church’s thanksgiving songs #788 in our hymnal, Now Thank WE All Our God. This hymn was written during the 30 years war ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Each Football Season The Texas Longhorns Play The ...

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Jan 15, 2005

Each football season the Texas Longhorns play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shoot Out. It is played in the neutral city of Dallas. Thousands of fans from each team invade the city to witness the clash between these archrivals. Sometimes the clash extends beyond the playing field. One year a ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Oh My Friends, What If Those Who Recently ...  PRO

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jan 16, 2005

Oh my friends, what if those who recently perished in that giant wave knew that those in church often spend more time praying for each other’s sicknesses than they do for lost people’s salvation? Years ago, a farmer in Asia stood outside his hut and down the hill toward the sea. There in the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Every Time You Make A Choice  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Feb 10, 2005

C. S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal

Half A Cloak  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

HALF A CLOAK There is a legend about Martin of Tours who is said to be the first military chaplain. He followed the Roman Army from place to place ministering to the soldiers, and to people in the places they conquered. One cold winter day he was following the Roman Army into a city. There was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-43

Tags: Jesus Teachings

If Two People Want To Be Married, They Go Through ...  PRO

Contributed by Nathan Eyland on Mar 10, 2005

If two people want to be married, they go through a number of rites or ceremonies as part of a larger ceremony of marriage. They might exchange rings, they take a vow, the sign papers, and they publicly kiss. Depending on the faith tradition in which they get married, they do all things to be ...read more

Tags: Change, Baptism

Denomination: Baptist

Suzanne Guthrie, Writing In Christian Century ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 3, 2005

Suzanne Guthrie, writing in Christian Century (May2, 2001), tells this story: “A friend of mine who served in the military during World War II (and is now a nun) was once at a conference with two men, a German and an American. As they wiped dishes one evening after dinner they exchanged stories ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Jesus Himself Said To His Disciples, "[l]et Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Lin Smalec on Dec 8, 2005

Jesus himself said to his disciples, “[L]et your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) This is a concept that is sometimes a challenge for us. In fact I recently read about a little girl who came home from ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Friend Of Mine Visited Portugal Some Years Ago ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

A friend of mine visited Portugal some years ago on an evangelistic tour. He was delighted to find many believers who were “spiritual giants,” among them a missionary from Great Britain named Eric Barker. He had spent over 50 years in Portugal preaching the gospel, often under adverse conditions. ...read more

Tags: Death

This Past January The Pastors Were At A Retreat ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Perryman on May 10, 2006

This past January the pastors were at a retreat in Duluth and the speaker told of a missionary friend who was trying to reach this group of people in Mexico. They had a difficult time because these villagers had what he phrased “a scarcity mentality.” The missionary said their belief affected ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Young Child Was Diagnosed With A Terminal ...  PRO

Contributed by Anthony Craver on May 18, 2006

A young child was diagnosed with a terminal disease. The parents knew that he would die soon. The child as well knew that his death would be soon. One night he was sitting in his mother’s lap watching television with her. He looked up into her eyes and said, “Mommy does it hurt to die?” The ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Pastor Thought God Gave Him An Idea, And He ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 25, 2006

A pastor thought God gave Him an idea, and he presented it in the monthly elders meeting. After giving his most impassioned plea and really “selling” the idea to the elder board, the board voted and voted down the pastors proposed changes 12-1. The head elder looked at the pastor and said, “Well ...read more

Tags: God Answers Prayer, Change, Church General, Vision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Harry Ironside Was Pastor Of Moody Church In ...

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Dec 11, 2006

Harry Ironside was pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. An elderly man once came to him and said, “I will not go on unless I know I’m saved, or else know it’s hopeless to seek to be sure of it. I want a definite witness, something I can’t be mistaken about!” Ironside replied, “Suppose you had a ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mary Had A Little Lamb By Mary And Marbeth ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 11, 2006

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Mary and Marbeth Rosenthal Mary had the little Lamb, who lived before His birth; Self-existent Son of God, from Heaven He came to Earth. (Micah 5:2) Mary had the little Lamb; see Him in yonder stall — Virgin-born Son of God, to save man from the Fall. (Isaiah 7:14) Mary ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sinner's Prayer

Contributed by James Chandler on Mar 19, 2007

I once visited the practice of a College basketball coach who coached for Bobby Knight, Coach K from Duke. At the end of his practice he “shared” Christ. He led them in the Sinners prayer. The problem that I have with the Sinner’s ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Can't Take It With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Ann Landers had an interesting letter in one of her columns. She wrote about a man who earned a very good living, but refused to spend the money on anything. When he was dying, he said to his wife, "I want you to promise me one thing. Promise me that when I’m dead you’ll ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:7

Tags: Stewardship

Knowing The Father's Love

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 19, 2009

KNOWING THE FATHER'S LOVE Consider an illustration of two children and two fathers. One child feels like he’s just a tenant in the house, a servant doing what he’s commanded to do. He doesn’t know his father very well or his father’s love. He just knows what he’s been commanded to do. The other ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: *other

Claiming ...

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jan 18, 2010

Claiming Forgiveness How do we know our sins are gone in God’s sight? Most of us know we have been born again. We see the difference. But how do we know we are forgiven? We know it only by taking God at His word and claiming it by faith. Emperor Napoleon, riding through his ranks fell ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Build Me A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Build Me A Bridge A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Tags: Marriage General