In Sermon Illustrations: "Holiness"

Are You All Familiar With The ‘footprints' ...

Contributed by Timothy Dolan on Jan 5, 2008

Are you all familiar with the ‘Footprints’ poster that essentially says that when times get rough and there was only one set of footprints in the sand as you walked with God, that this is the time when God carried you. How inspirational, but it’s a lie! What drivel…it all started within a heresy ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Good Jealousy

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 19, 2009

GOOD JEALOUSY Dennis De Haan illustrates: Shep, the newest member of our family, is a young Shetland sheepdog who openly displays his jealousy when I kiss my wife. He doesn’t snarl or bite, but in the language of barking he seems to be saying, "Hey, Master, you belong to me!" His jealousy gives ...read more

Tags: Jealousy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Airline Travelers With Confirmed Tickets Are Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Airline Travelers With Confirmed Tickets Are Not Anxious, Unlike Those Flying Standby Bill Hybels, in his book Too Busy Not To Pray wrote Sometime when you’re in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-16

Tags: Peace

Temptation...means Enticement, Forbidden Fruit, ...

Contributed by Hugh Laing on Mar 1, 2010

TEMPTATION...means Enticement, Forbidden Fruit, Allure, Bait, Desire... and I love this story on temptation. “There is a story told about a little boy in a grocery store that I think illustrates the nature of TEMPTATION. The boy was standing near an open box of peanut butter cookies. “Now then, ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist

Wilderness ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 6, 2010

Wilderness Christians NOTE: 4 marks of a wilderness Christian. 1) His body is with the church, but his mind and heart are still in Egypt! ILLUS: They are like a compass in a land of two norths. They vacillate between the two readings and thus constantly wander! James 1:8 A double minded man ...read more

Tags: Unbelief

Denomination: Baptist

Hard Places Cannot Be Mended

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 30, 2010

HARD PLACES CANNOT BE MENDED How many of you have read the Pilgrim’s Progress? This is a classic allegory of the Christian journey. The main character, Christian, is on a journey from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City, and along the way him and all the other pilgrims come across ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Woman Steals From Church And Blames Satan

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

WOMAN STEALS FROM CHURCH AND BLAMES SATAN In March 2009, a 62-year old woman was charged with stealing more than $73,000 from her church in the state of Washington. When the detectives interrogated her, she told them: "Satan had a big part in the theft." It sounds like she was saying that the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Temptation Resisting

Not In Vain

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Apr 10, 2011

NOT IN VAIN In Washington, a Sunday school class was disrupted by a boy who wouldn’t behave. He also kept the other children from paying attention. The faithful teacher became discouraged and felt that his efforts were in vain. The mischievous youngster grew to manhood and travelled west, where he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Spirit Of Poverty

Contributed by Charles Jones on Jun 30, 2012

THE SPIRIT OF POVERTY If: You justify your lack and make excuses. You are afraid to give under the direction of the Holy Spirit. You govern your finances with a lack of trust and don't believe God is your source. Your are suspicious that those around you may take your money. When things ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Pentecostal

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

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

God Lights The Way

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

GOD LIGHTS THE WAY My brother-in-law has a friend named Pedro. The first time Pedro ever read the Bible, was when he was in prison. But once he "saw the light," he couldn't get enough of it. He read the entire Bible through in a matter of weeks. He would hold the Bible kind-of under the table ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Does The Remembering

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 7, 2008

GOD DOES THE REMEMBERING A 91-year-old lady reads the Scriptures regularly, but now her memory is failing her. Friends commented, "So what’s the use of all this reading when you cannot remember what you’ve read." Her answer is always the same. "God has blessed me richly. I eat well and sleep ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Am One Of Them

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

I AM ONE OF THEM As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy, which is a thousand times ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

There's A Story About A Middle Eastern Oil Sheik ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007

There’s a story about a Middle Eastern oil sheik who had three sons. Two sons were physically normal. The third son was stooped over and crooked. The father told his three sons, "I want to grant you each a wish. What would that be?" His first son said, "Father, I would like to become a physician. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Minister The Word  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 28, 2010

MINISTER THE WORD There are valid ministries which are pleasing to the Lord such as, missions, youth ministries, local church services and ministerial alliances. However, there are two ministries that are often set on the back burner. The ministry of truly preaching the whole council of God's ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:4

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Thanks Offering

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering 1 Chronicles 29:16, "O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you." Christians are the temple that God cares about today, for 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 17 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:16

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of Mary: Circumcised Heart

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Heart of Mary: Circumcised Heart "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code..." (Romans ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:28-29

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Promise To Christ

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

God's Promise to Christ There are many truths to grasp in Isaiah 53. A truth worth grasping today is found in Isaiah 53:10, "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief. If He would render Himself as a guilt offering. He will see His offspring, He will prolong His Days, and the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:10

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational