In Sermon Illustrations: "Holiness"

Which Way Is Up?

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 20, 2006

Which Way Is Up? Some years ago I read about a speedboat driver who had recently survived a racing accident. He said that he had been at near top speeds when his boat veered slightly and hit a wave at a dangerous angle. The combined force of his speed and the size and angle of the wave sent the ...read more

Tags: Confusion

Denomination: Wesleyan

Good News/Bad News For Chaplains  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Apr 1, 2002

Good News/Bad News for Chaplains Good News: You baptized seven people today in the river. Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current. Good News: The Protestant Women of the Chapel voted to send you a get-well card. Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30. Good News: Your Chapel Council ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

George Barna's Research Of 1996 And 1997  PRO

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Apr 30, 2002

George Barna’s research of 1996 and 1997. 1. Many professing Christians believe that people are inherently good, that our primary purpose is to enjoy life and that our most important responsibility is to take care of our family. 2. 81% believe that the Bible teaches that God helps those who help ...read more

Tags: Truth, Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

What Prayer Is…  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 6, 2002

What Prayer Is… Prayer is coming into the presence of God… Prayer is entering the throne room of the KING of kings and LORD of lords… Prayer is taking our concerns to the one who cares for me Prayer is to stand on holy ground… Prayer is communicating with the creator of the world…(the one spoke ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Know, For Pastors, Ministry Is A Series Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Harvie Neatherlin on Aug 19, 2002

You know, for pastors, ministry is a series of good news and bad news. Listen to these scenarios: Good news: You baptized seven people today in the river. Bad news: You lost two of them in the swift current. Good news: The Women’s ministry voted to send you a get-well card. Bad news: The vote ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember An Old "Dragnet” ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 6, 2002

I remember an old “Dragnet” television episode back in the mid ‘60s, when the arguments about the dangers or relative safeties of marijuana use were in full bloom. The main character, Sgt Joe Friday, was expounding to a young suspect the harmful effects and results of heroine sale and use, and how ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Church Body Of Christ, Apologetics General

Denomination: Orthodox

Spiritual Anarchy  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 23, 2003

SPIRITUAL ANARCHY In his [Barna’s] new volume he flatly states that moral anarchy has arrived and rules our culture today. The argument hinges on a substantial amount of attitudinal and behavioral evidence: record bankruptcy levels, frivolous lawsuits, the rapid growth of the pornography industry, ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Perfect Church  PRO

Contributed by Keith Davis on May 5, 2003

The Perfect Church I think that I shall never see A church that’s all it ought to be; A church that has no empty pews, Whose preacher never has the blues; A church whose deacons always “deke” And none is proud but all are meek; Where gossips never peddle lies Or make complaints or ...read more

Tags: Church General, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From Step Mom  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 11, 2004

Opening Illustration from Step Mom: Scene were the dad explains to the children what happened to his and their mothers love for one another. He misrepresents what Love really is. But this scene shows that the world does not know what true love is. Luke explains to his children why he and ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Checkout This Quote From; Your God Is Too Safe, ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 5, 2004

Checkout this quote from; Your God Is Too Safe, about studying the word of God, “Curious times, these. There is simultaneously a glut of the word of God and a famine of it, a drought and deluge. We have every translation of the Bible you can imagine – the NIV, the NEVG, the KJV, the NJKV, the ...read more

Scripture: Amos 8:11

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Martin Luther Once Had A Dream Where He Was In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 29, 2005

Martin Luther once had a dream where he was in his house and saw Jesus coming up the walk toward his door. Luther examined his surrounding and realized that everything was an absolute mess. Clothes were thrown over the furniture, old food was sitting out, trash was everywhere. And he thought, "How ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian Church

During One Summer While I Was In Seminary, I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During one summer while I was in seminary, I worked as a chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. I discovered while I was there that there were one group of people who were really open to prayer and to hearing about the need for Christ in their lives. Who were they? Men in the cardiac ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Three Men Died On Christmas Eve And Were Met By ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. “In honor of this holy season,” Saint Peter said, “You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.” The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Rebellion In China

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration from Tai Ping Rebellion in China We don’t learn much world history anymore in school. Back in the 1860s, a man arose in China who claimed to be a Messiah. [11] His name was Hong Xiuquan. Hong was this disturbed young salesman who read a bunch of heretical Christian literature, ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

George Barna Leads A Christian Research Group And ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jun 28, 2007

George Barna leads a Christian research group and discovered some things about Christian beliefs. In his research during 1996 and 1997, Barna discovered that many professing Christians believe that people are inherently good, that our primary purpose is to enjoy life, and that our most important ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Stages Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

THE STAGES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Several years ago I heard someone describe the Christian experience as similar to that of a piano player, and suddenly the commands of the Bible made more sense and seemed less daunting. When a person begins playing piano, do we expect them to play a piece by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Tags: Growth In Christ

The Practice Of ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Aug 6, 2009

The Practice of Restitution. Do those lofty ideals ever get put into practice? Yes, by specific individuals. Years ago we had in this church a man who had been saved after beginning to attend here. He was serious about Christ and had a strong desire to witness for Christ. The apostle Peter gave a ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Pentecostal

General Ulysses S. Grant's Loyal Friend, John A. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

General Ulysses S. Grant’s Loyal Friend, John A. Rawlins General Ulysses S. Grant, who commanded the Union soldiers for Lincoln, was such a disciplined hard man on his soldiers that few knew of his weakness for liquor. One of those who was keenly aware of Grant’s shortcoming was his faithful ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-5

Tags: Friendship General

The Explosive Christmas Story  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

THE EXPLOSIVE CHRISTMAS STORY James Martin tells about a trip to the Holy Land. While there, he buys a nativity set for his Sunday School class. It was carved out of olive wood in the town of Bethlehem and had all the traditional figures: sheep and oxen; wise men and the shepherds; Mary, Joseph, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

He Leaks!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2011

"HE LEAKS!" A country church was having their annual revival meeting. On the first night the preacher preached a message about repentance and the need to return to the Lord. At the altar call, a man came down the aisle saying "Fill me Lord, fill me". The next night the preacher challenged the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:10, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Revival, Selfish