In Sermon Illustrations: "Holy God"

What Is Your Legacy?

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Sep 16, 2008

What is Your Legacy? This week I had the extreme privilege of praying at a ceremony honoring the memory of Sandra Waugh Bradshaw, one of the heroic flight crew of 9/11's Flight 93. Sandy went to Grays Chapel and had ties to this community. I want to suggest to you that in the moment that brave ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: United Methodist

Healthy Shame

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Sep 22, 2008

Healthy Shame Healthy shame is that inner compass—-the gentle voice of God-—that tells me something is amiss in my life, and it motivates me to change or make amends so that I can be true to myself. My first year of college was a bit of an exercise of 'livin la vida loca.' I didn't do well in ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: United Methodist

The Aspect Of Perfect Obedience Has Perplexed ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2008

The aspect of perfect obedience has perplexed and troubled many. Why is it that the one who sins greatly is condemned like the one who is much less sinful? Take a situation of three workmen on a building. One workman got so engrossed in his work that he wasn’t paying attention, stepped back and ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Other

How Can We Be A Friend To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

How Can We Be A Friend To The Suffering? 1. We can be there for them. 2. We can feel their pain. 3. We can encourage them. 4. We can listen more than we talk. 5. We can be honest: I don’t know… don’t try to explain everything. 6. We can look beyond their faults and look to their needs. 7. We ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

This Story Comes From Reggie ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

This story comes from Reggie McNeal: I was sitting on a bench on a beach boardwalk late one afternoon, resting after an hour walk. I had passed a woman in a green uniform pushing a broom several times. She came toward my bench doing her meticulous sweeping of the sidewalk. Suddenly she stopped, ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Marriage And Creation

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 30, 2009

Marriage and Creation Your life started as the joining of two cells, One from your mother and one from your father. That cell from your dad made in an incredible journey as one of thousands. Each cell carries 23 chromosomes. When the cell from your dad and the cell from your mom met, they formed ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Church Of God

Arabian Horses Go Through Rigorous Training In ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 3, 2009

Arabian horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East. The trainers require absolute obedience from the horses, and test them to see if they are completely trained. The final test is almost beyond the endurance of any living thing. The trainers force the horses to do without ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Infinite Can Penetrate The Finite!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 1, 2016

Herbert Spencer, one of the popularizes of agnosticism over a century ago, observed accurately that a bird has never been known to fly out of space. Therefore, he concluded by analogy that it is impossible for the finite to penetrate the infinite. Even if God does exist, we can never know Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Creator, Infinite, Agnosticism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowledge Vs Wisdom

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Aug 20, 2018

There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. First, let us understand that there is no such thing as wisdom unless it pertains to wisdom from God. All other earthly wisdom is foolishness, according to God. Now that we have that straight, what exactly is the difference. Well, my ...read more

Tags: Wisdom, Knowledge, Foolishness

Denomination: *other

It's Got Hold On Me !

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 13, 2019

Can you see him running, he is running with all his might. Look at the beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. Each step that he takes is labored; he is exhausted from the struggle. Can you see the fear in his eyes as he looks back over his shoulder? Something’s got a hold on him and won’t let ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-21

Tags: Deception, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Temptation

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

TEMPTATION Can you see him running, he is running with all his might? Look at the beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. Each step that he takes is labored; he is exhausted from the struggle. Can you see the fear in his eyes as he looks back over his shoulder? Something’s got a hold on him and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Tags: Sin, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Homosexuality In First Century Greek Culture

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

Craig Keener writes, “Greek men were commonly bisexual; not only was homosexual behavior approved…but elements of the culture socialized boys in this direction. Men and women were segregated growing up, and male bonds became close. Apparently due to a deficiency in the number of women (which many ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:24-32

Tags: Gay, Homosexuality, Lesbian, Gender, Bisexuality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

How Will You Face Death?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2019

Voltaire, one of history’s best known atheists, often stated that “by the time I’m buried, the Bible will be non--existent.” His last words were: “I am abandoned by God and man; I shall die and go to hell alone.” His condition had become so terrible that his associates were afraid to approach ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Atheists

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Room In The Inn

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 20, 2020

People have no room for Christ because they are full of themselves, full of their own will, full of their own cares, and full of their own sinfulness. They feel they have no time or no need for the Lord. People may deny Christ and scorn Him. Yet, every time they write the date of the year, they are ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Messiah, Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Mary And Joseph

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham On Hell

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

BILLY GRAHAM ON HELL: "It isn’t fashionable today to talk about Hell—but the Bible is clear: God created us with a soul that will live forever and when we die, we will continue to exist—either in the place the Bible calls Heaven or in the place it calls Hell. Hell, the Bible says, is ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Hell, Death, Sin, Heaven, Salvation, Gospel, Truth, Judgment, Invitation, Billy Graham  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inspect Versus Expect

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

There was a young boy who was notorious for cleaning according to what his parents would inspect, but not necessarily what they would expect. In other words, he would do things like fold and put away the dirty laundry, and put away the dirty dishes thinking they were clean. Things looked tidy on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Expectations, Cover Up

Denomination: Baptist

Types Of Preaching Found In The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of preaching described in the New Testament: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Tags: Church, Teaching, Preaching, Pastors, Homiletics, Teachers, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Journey Of A Black Artist

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 30, 2024

Consider the journey of a fictional Afro American artist named Maya, who grew up in a neighborhood plagued by inequity. Her early life was fraught with challenges—families losing homes, schools underfunded, and dreams foiled by systemic barriers. However, Maya found solace in art, a channel ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:25

Tags: Hope, Faithfulness, Restoration

Denomination: Methodist

Not Why, But What  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2001

NOT WHY, BUT WHAT Technically speaking, David Ring was born dead. Quick acting medical personnel were able to get him breathing, but oxygen deprivation left him with cerebral palsy. He suffered from a speech impediment, hands that don’t cooperate, and a limp. As if that wasn’t enough adversity for ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Human Body

The Change You Owe To Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 21, 2001

THE CHANGE YOU OWE TO JESUS John Wesley was a popular evangelist in early America and often rode from one church to another to preach. On one such journey, stopped by a highwayman who shouted, "Halt, your money or your life." Wesley got down from his horse, emptied his pockets to reveal only ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Grace, Repentance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ