In Sermon Illustrations: "Holy Living"

The Bible Says, "Today, If You Hear His Voice, Do ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Feb 10, 2001

The Bible says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." How do I know if I am hearing his voice you say? One time, I made a homemade kite. I used about a thousand yards of my grandmothers crochet thread for the string. I let that kite out as far as I could on that string. So ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Holy Spirit Attributes, Trinity

Denomination: Baptist

A Story Is Told In Which An Accountant Answered ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jul 19, 2001

A story is told in which an accountant answered an advertisement for a top job with a large firm. At the end of the interview, the chairman asked, “One last question—what is three times seven?” The accountant thought for a moment and replied, “Twenty-two.” Outside he checked himself on his ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Apologetics The Bible, God's Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Falling Out Of Bed  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Sep 7, 2001

Illus.: “Falling Out of Bed” A little boy constantly fell out of bed. No matter what his parents did, the boy couldn’t sleep without rolling out of bed. An uncle came to visit and in the middle of the night the usual thump and cry was heard. In the morning the uncle teased the boy and asked ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-23

Tags: Holiness, Discipleship, Faith, Falling Out Of Bed

Denomination: Wesleyan

My Four-Year-Old Granddaughter, Amanda, Went To ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Sep 23, 2001

My four-year-old granddaughter, Amanda, went to the doctor’s office with a fever. The doctor looked in her ears and said, "Who’s in there? Donald Duck?" She said, "No." He looked in her nose and said, "Who’s in there? Mickey Mouse?" Again she said, "No." He put his stethoscope on her heart and ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Children, Faith General

Denomination: Pentecostal

We've Done Everything Else  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2001

We’ve Done Everything Else "We have learned to soar through the air like birds, to swim through the seas like fish, to soar through space like comets. Now it is high time we learned to ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Holy Spirit Attributes, Faith

The Whole Conviction Of My Life Now Rests Upon ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The whole conviction of my life now rests upon the belief that loneliness, far from being a rare and curious phenomenon, peculiar to myself and a few other solitary men, is the ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Evangelism The Lost, Disappointment

Spiritual River Rafting  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 5, 2012

SPIRITUAL RIVER RAFTING The necessary safety equipment for river rafting and spiritual river rafting: i. The Helmet – Helmets protect the most vital and vulnerable part on a person their head – their thinking! 1. Spiritually: We need to be wearing the helmet of salvation as we ride the wave of ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Salt, Indwelling, Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Frozen Waterfall  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2014

THE FROZEN WATERFALL The present day church in America appears to be mostly principle and very little power. We say the right things and believe the right things, but produce very little evidence to confirm what the Bible says. You might say that the modern church is much like a FROZEN ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Fire Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Perfection Achieved  PRO

Contributed by Larry Turner on Dec 4, 2014

Then Jesus concluded with this commandment. “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Wow, now that is a tough one. Be perfect. I am not like Noah, a righteous man. Wait a minute. He was a drunk. Okay like Abraham. He was a liar. How about Moses, short ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48

Tags: Holiness, Perfection, Finished Work, Christian Maturity

Denomination: Foursquare

All Sin Is Against God.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“W. S. Plumer said, “We never see sin aright until we see it as against God. All sin is against God in this sense: that it is His law that is broken, His authority that is despised, His government that is set at naught Pharaoh and Balaam, Saul and Judas each said, ‘I have sinned’ which is only ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: David, Sin, Repentance, Holiness, Prodigal Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Churches Closed Due To Lack Of Power!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Bill Crowder gives us a greatIllustration of Need for the Power of the Holy Spirit: "The first winter that my wife Marlene and I were married was marked by severe blizzards. I can vividly remember one Sunday when we awoke to find that the electricity had been knocked out by an ice storm. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Power, Acts 2, Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Close Enough—isn’t!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 23, 2022

Introduction: Sometimes, close enough just isn't! Text, Matthew 13:25, KJV: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Thoughts: Have you ever heard the phrase, “Oh, that’ s close enough” or “that’s good enough”? Sometimes, it’s true but there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:25-30

Tags: Holy Spirit, Wheat, Tares, Close Enough

Denomination: Baptist

Churches Closed Due To Lack Of Power!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 10, 2023

Bill Crowder gives us a pithy Illustration of Need for Power. The first winter that my wife Marlene and I were married was marked by severe blizzards. I can vividly remember one Sunday when we awoke to find that the electricity had been knocked out by an ice storm. Huddled around a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Acts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecost And Babel Contrasted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-7

Tags: Tongues, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Judgment, Babel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Quiet Strength  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 24, 2004

QUIET STRENGTH There is a story about a sunken ship that illustrates the quietness of the spirit, but at the same time His Power in our lives. "Several years ago engineers building a new bridge over the East River in New York, discovered that the wrecked hull of a ship, sunk many years before, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit General, Kingdom Of God, Pentecost, Trinity

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In May Of 1996, The Greatest Disaster In Mountain ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Dec 5, 2001

In May of 1996, the greatest disaster in mountain climbing occurred on Mount Everest. The climbers stayed too long at the summit. A storm began to blow in. As they made their way down to an intermediate camp, they were engulfed in a full scale blizzard. The wind exceeded 60 knots. The chill ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Holy Spirit Attributes, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In The Villages Of Northern India A Missionary ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Apr 12, 2001

In the villages of Northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. As he closed, a Muslim gentleman came up and said, "You must admit we have one thing you have not, and it is better than anything you have." The missionary smiled and said, "I should be pleased to hear what it is." The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:4-6

Tags: Easter, Easter Resurrection, Muslim, Resurrection, Islam, Miracles Of Jesus, Living God, World Religions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Little Boy And The Circus  PRO

Contributed by Ely Lambert on Aug 26, 2002

The Little Boy and the Circus A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve and had never in all his life seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Church Purpose Of, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessed Are The Persecuted  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Persecuted Matthew 5:10-12 says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational