In Sermon Illustrations: "Holy Days"

Symbol Of The Spirit

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 29, 2012

SYMBOL OF THE SPIRIT Jim Cymbala: "The Bible has other symbols for the Holy Spirit besides water. One is wind, which in the original Greek in the New Testament is the same word as breath. Wind helps us to visualize the invisible and mysterious movement of the Spirit" (John 3: 8). [Cymbala, Jim ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes We Need A Steward

Contributed by Francis Balla on Nov 15, 2012

SOMETIMES WE NEED A STEWARD If you ever get to Venice, one of the places to see is Saint Mark's Square, the spot Napoleon called "the drawing room of Europe." But if you go there, make sure your belly is covered up. It’s not that there's exactly a dress code, but there is an expectation of ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Less Room For Me

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

The only way to be filled with the Spirit is to empty myself to me. When I empty me of me, it provides space for the Holy Spirit to fill me. The more he fills me the ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-15

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Woman Sees A Father Shopping With A Fussy ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

A woman sees a father shopping with a fussy two-year-old in his grocery cart. “Be patient, Billy,” he whispers. “You can handle this, Billy. It’s okay, Billy.” The woman said to him, “I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but I just had to tell you how wonderfully loving and patient you are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-33, Genesis 15:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

When We Are Best For Communities

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 21, 2014

J. K. Jones, professor at Lincoln: "We are best for our communities when we are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:17

Tags: Community, Holiness, Distinctiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simpson's Cocoa Powder

Contributed by Jason Albertson on Nov 8, 2014

There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Tags: Purity, Personal Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Christians Should Live In The World, But Not Be Filled With It.

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 15, 2016

Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in the water; but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom. So Christians may live in the world; ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3, Romans 12:2, Romans 12:2

Tags: World, Holy Living

Growing Up

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 21, 2018

I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Sanctified, Holiness Walk

Growing Through Pain

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Oct 2, 2020

Paul Tournier, the famous Swiss physician and counselor, reported his surprise in his book Creative Suffering upon reading an article entitled “Orphans Lead the World.” The article appeared in a respected medical journal and surveyed the lives of 300 leaders who had an impact on world history. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

Stopping To Focus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2022

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can’t see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1, John 15:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dependence

The 100% Solution!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

Since the beginning of time, mankind has craved peace! When Adam and Eve came upon the body of their son Abel, slain by his brother Cain, they no doubt longed for peace. The peculiar thing about peace is this; man has always longed for the time when peace was in his life––yet peace has so seldom ...read more

Scripture: John 14:25-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Peace

Are We Hypocrites?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 13, 2025

I once saw a video of a pastor who had figures, covered with sheets, up in the front of the church. As he started to preach, they were uncovered and you could see monsters and scary characters related to Halloween. The preacher kept asking, “Should these be in the House of God?” The congregation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-12

Tags: Holiness, Halloween, Hypocrite

Denomination: Methodist

Pastor And Author Tony Evans Says This About ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 5, 2001

Pastor and author Tony Evans says this about God: “Holiness is the centerpiece of God’s attributes. Of all the things God is, at the center of His being, God is holy. Never in the Bible is God called, ‘love, love, love,’ or ‘eternal, eternal, eternal,’ or ...read more

Tags: God's Holiness, Holiness, Rapture, 1000 Year Reign

Denomination: Wesleyan

Like Filthy Rags  PRO

Contributed by Richard White on Jan 3, 2002

LIKE FILTHY RAGS Jeff Bridges says, "Christians can never in themselves merit salvation through their personal holiness." Our Righteousness is like a filthy rag before a holy God. One of the early church fathers ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Holiness, God's Holiness, Filthy Rags

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Read The Story About A Football Player Whose ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jun 3, 2003

I read the story about a football player whose performance exceeded the expectation of others. "…. In the last two minutes of the game, with the score against his team, makes a touchdown. He runs faster than his legs can carry him, and farther than he has ever dreamed of running. When he comes ...read more

Tags: Change, Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: United Methodist

Emptied Out And Filled Up  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 28, 2003

EMPTIED OUT AND FILLED UP D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Hosea 5:4

Tags: Law, Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran

Catching The Flu

Contributed by Michael E. Bartee Sr. on Nov 10, 2018

Catching The Flu is definitely dangerous! Perhaps you have read about the flu epidemic that swept the world in 1918? It killed 50 million people. One fifth of the world’s population. It spread rapidly because it was so contagious and people didn’t know what it was or how to prevent it. I am ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Revival

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

At One Time, There Was A Young Man Who Was A ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 10, 2002

At one time, there was a young man who was a friend to many with musical abilities and talents. It was unfortunate that he was not musically talented as they were. You would think the story ended there, but it did not. This young man had a talent that was somewhat hidden from his peers and even ...read more

Tags: God's Holiness, Gifts General

Denomination: United Methodist