In Sermon Illustrations: "Helpfulness"

But We Must Focus On The ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on May 29, 2008

But we must focus on the good Reminds me of a story about a newlywed farmer and his wife Mother-in-law visit demanding an inspection Genuinely tried to be friendly Hoping for non-antagonistic relationship To no avail, nagged at every opportunity Demanding changes, offering unwanted advice and ...read more

Tags: Possibilities

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Named J. R. Illingworth Once Said, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

Someone named J. R. Illingworth once said, "Prayer has been defined to be a wish referred to God; and, if we could keep this thought before us, it would help us to acquire the habit of prayer by making us refer each wish, as it comes into our minds, to God, for His assistance in furtherance or ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

That's Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

THAT’S GRACE Spurgeon illustrated grace with this story in his book, All of Grace. A man visited a woman he knew to be in great financial need. He visited with a generous gift to help her with her expenses. He knocked at the door. She heard the knock, panicked and hid so no one would know she was ...read more

Tags: Grace

What If...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

WHAT IF... Some storms can't be avoided, no matter what we do. Sometimes we are in trouble because of somebody else's mistake. That's what happened here to Paul. But God's Word teaches us to take action. Strive to survive. Take stock in the storm. It may not be as bad as you think it is. Erma ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Slide 9) The First Conviction Is ‘there Are ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 4, 2008

(Slide 9) The first conviction is ‘there are things that are better than money.’ He names ‘good health, a cultivated intelligence, a clear conscience, and a sympathetic heart.’ He goes on to say, ‘There are some things that we can do without, and one of these is wealth. But there are some things we ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Church Of God

When Jesus Was Tortured, It Was The Torture That ...

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Oct 23, 2008

When Jesus was tortured, it was the torture that should have been ours. On a very small scale, we all understand this principle. Imagine a young boy at the store counter. He is buying a small piece of candy. The clerk rings it up and it comes to 20¢. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a pile ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Mennonite

Desperate, The Foolish Bridesmaids Asked Of The ...

Contributed by John Herrmann on Nov 7, 2008

Desperate, the foolish bridesmaids asked of the others, for some of their oil. But the wise replied: “No! There will not be enough for you and for us. . Go yourselves and buy some from the dealers.” Their action seems almost selfish for Christians who are taught to share and share alike, to ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Lutheran

Light Of The World

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 25, 2008

A boatman and a scholar were once travelling on a boat. During the journey, the scholar asked the boatman, "Do you know philosophy?" "No," he replied. "Do you know psychology?". "No." "What about geology?" "Nope!" "I suppose you don’t know accountancy, huh?" "No, not at all." "Hm... ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Light, Salvation, Pride

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is Looking For People With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH CONVICITON DEF: an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence In the events of the bridge collapse here in Minneapolis this past week, you have probably heard of countless examples of people acting with conviction. • Ed Nelson M.P.D. - when ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

You Are My Favorite ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

YOU ARE MY FAVORITE PART Dave Stone wrote in "If Jesus Lived in My Neighborhood" about his uncle Greg, who is a quadriplegic. A few years ago, Uncle Greg was able to attend a special-needs camp at Country Lake Christian Retreat in southern Indiana. A man named John was assigned to be with Uncle ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Haleigh Cummings—or Someone Else

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Feb 27, 2009

HALEIGH CUMMINGS--OR SOMEONE ELSE An Amber Alert was issued for five-year-old Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings of Satsuma, Florida, on February 10, 2009, hours after the little girl vanished from the bedroom of her home in the pre-dawn hours. On February 11, 2009, Florida authorities said they believed ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Rough Seas Call For Distress Preparations" From ...

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Mar 17, 2009

"Rough Seas Call for Distress Preparations" From Fox News, 3/5/09 "Two days before NFL player Marquis Cooper took a doomed fishing trip with three friends in Florida Gulf Coast waters, a friend urged him to buy a life-saving device used to locate boats in distress. "Cooper hadn’t heard of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21-22

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

Standing Up For Persecuted Christians

Contributed by John Crowe on Oct 29, 2015

Michael Horowitz is a Jewish attorney in Washington, D.C. who has done more for persecuted Christians than almost any Christian I know. He recently wrote to me that from his long experience with efforts to help rescue persecuted Christians, his sad experience is that U. S. Christian leaders are ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41

Tags: Persecution, Persecuted Christian

Denomination: Baptist

Clean Conscience

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Aug 2, 2017

Martin Luther who brought the protestant reformation out of the Catholic church questioned the doctrine and practices of the Catholic church in a thesis called ‘The Ninety-Five Theses’ in October of 1517. The Roman Catholic church wanted Martin Luther to recant his view. The Diet of Worms of 1521 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11

Tags: Conscience, Clean Conscience, Pure Conscience

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sabbath Sympathy

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Jun 1, 2018

Never one to back down from a fight, Jesus takes the bait, and summons the man. He literally says, “Rise in the midst of the group.” And there are two reasons for this request. He wants everyone to see and witness this event. He wants him up and in the middle. The second is this. As a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:3-5

Tags: Sabbath, Pharisees, Sympathy, Sabbath Controversy, Healing By Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

When The First Ice Cream Cone Was Born

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

A lot gets accomplished when people work together. In the summer of 1904, at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, it was hot and people were searching for something to help cool them off. A vendor named Arnold had just what they were looking for……something called ice cream. People lined up for what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-7

Tags: Unity, Working Together

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holding Others Up

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

One of the best leaders and models in discipleship was Dawson Trotman, who died after helping to rescue two drowning girls. Says Chuck Swindoll: “When Dawson Trotman passed away, he probably left a legacy of discipleship on this earth that will never be matched except perhaps in the life of Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Discipleship, Following Jesus, Great Commission, Dawson Trotman, Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fools

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 16, 2021

It was a cold and silent night. The weather was freezing cold. A group of monkeys were on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.” Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20, Ephesians 5:15-20

Tags: Fools, Correcting A Fool

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Children's Letters To The Pastor

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 31, 2021

Children’s letters to the Pastor Dear Pastor, I would like to go to heaven someday because I know my brother won't be there. Stephen. Age 8, Chicago Dear Pastor, I know God loves everybody but He never met my sister. Yours sincerely, Arnold. Age 8, Nashville. Dear Pastor, Please say ...read more

Tags: Children, Humor, Pastors

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Serving, Ministry To Others, Volunteers, Fellowship, Support, Giving  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational