In Sermon Illustrations: "Honoring The Pastor"

Crown Of Thorns  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

CROWN OF THORNS Nearly thirty years ago on Saturday night I sat in an indoor arena excitedly watching a beautiful Arabian stallion receive the very high honor of "Legion of Merit." The lights were turned off and a large spotlight appeared at the entrance gate. Music played as this beautiful bay ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:28-30

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Aikido For Christ

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 25, 2009

AIKIDO FOR CHRIST The lessons and teaching of the Holy Spirit came each day and through various ways. When we were doing a tent revival on Penn and Plymouth, the Holy Spirit taught me a lesson about dying to myself and letting go of my natural abilities like strength and fighting to resolve ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Weapon Of Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2003

THE WEAPON OF PRAYER It takes more than bullets and bombs to win a war, residents said in Chatsworth, GA. "Prayer is the greatest weapon we’ve got," said Frank Lloyd of Chatsworth at a prayer service at First Baptist Church. "This war’s not going to be won on military might. It’s going to be ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: War, Political Freedom, Prayer Adoration

Several Years Ago Billy Graham Preached In St. ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 10, 2004

Several years ago Billy Graham preached in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the crusade a very brilliant architect, an atheist, came to hear him. Night after night he listened to the preaching of the gospel. He didn’t make a decision during the crusade. As he thought about the matter later, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

A Newly Appointed Young Preacher Was Contacted By ...

Contributed by Craig West on Dec 10, 2004

A newly appointed young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a graveside committal service at a small country cemetery in Iowa. There was to be no funeral, just the committal, because sadly, the deceased had no family or friends left in Iowa. The young pastor started ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1

Tags: Leadership General, Funerals Non-Christian

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Son's Attempt At Full ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on May 9, 2005

A young son’s attempt at full forgiveness…(Illustrations Unlimited) A pastor’s son and his mom had been to a shopping and the boy had not behaved himself. As they were driving home, he could sense her displeasure and said, “When we ask God to forgive us when we are bad. He does, doesn’t he?” His ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

A Small Church In Virginia Needed To Have A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Aug 25, 2005

A small church in Virginia needed to have a new roof in the worst of ways, but there was no money in their account. Most of the congregation was very poor except for the local banker. He was an ornery old cuss, and he would be the first in church so he could always sit in the back pew by the ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: *other

A Newly Appointed Young Preacher Was Contacted By ...  PRO

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Aug 28, 2001

A newly appointed young preacher was contacted by the local funeral director to hold a graveside committal service at a small country cemetery in Iowa. There was to be no funeral, just the committal, because sadly, the deceased had no family or friends left in Iowa. The young pastor started ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

Topography, Basketball And The Gospel

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Sep 16, 2008

Topography, Basketball and the Gospel Jack went to an Ivy League School and was a star on the basketball team and graduated with a degree in topography – that is, the study of mapping. What do basketball and topography have to do with the Gospel? Nothing. Except that years later Jack found himself ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Obedience, Not Understanding

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Sep 29, 2010

OBEDIENCE, NOT UNDERSTANDING Our denomination has a Pastor’s Retreat every year up in the mountains of S. Cal. As I was walking to breakfast one morning, I came across a monument that explained that when Billy Graham first started preaching, he was confused and had some doubts about God’s Word. ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Wesleyan

Americans: Flabby Faith  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 16, 2011

AMERICANS: FLABBY FAITH A dozen or so years ago, a Romanian pastor came to visit the church I belonged to. He had gotten to know my pastor, John Vawter, who had been involved in a Bible-smuggling ministry when the Iron Curtain was still up. John asked him what he thought of our country, and of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-16, Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Discipleship

If Crumbs Of Joy Now, What Next?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

IF CRUMBS OF JOY NOW, WHAT NEXT? A widely respected man known as "Uncle Johnson" died in Michigan at the incredible age of 120. Perhaps his advanced years could be credited in part to the cheerful outlook that characterized his life. One day while at work in his garden, he was singing songs of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: Joy

Global Warming Doubts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

GLOBAL WARMING DOUBTS More than 31,000 U.S. scientists, including more than 9,000 Ph.D.s (in fields such as atmospheric science, climatology, Earth science, environment and dozens of other specialties) have signed a petition rejecting "global warming," the U.N.’s assumption that human production ...read more

Tags: Culture

Revelation At The Front Door

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Sep 22, 2009

REVELATION AT THE FRONT DOOR A new pastor was visiting the homes of some of the people in his congregation. He came to one house and he knocked but there was no answer. He could see the lights were on and it seemed very obvious that someone was home, so he knocked again. When there was no ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Denomination: *other

Quote: Eugene Peterson Describes, "Sabbath As ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 1, 2006

Quote: Eugene Peterson describes, “Sabbath as that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing” ...read more

Tags: Rest, Sabbath

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Better Opportunities

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Aug 18, 2009

BETTER OPPORTUNITIES Pastor Greg Laurie preaches to thousands at Harvest Crusades, but Greg started in ministry as a janitor at a church. Our purpose in life may not seem big, but if we are ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

Not A Time For Weak-Hearted Preaching

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 1, 2007

Not A Time For Weak-Hearted Preaching By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown November 22, 2002 (Agape Press) - A well known Bible teacher and author is calling on pastors to confront false beliefs from the pulpit. John MacArthur says no epoch in history has witnessed the rise of as many dangerous belief ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Bill And Mary

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jun 4, 2008

BILL AND MARY Bill was a retired pastor who helped out now and then in our church in San Antonio. He was a huge man, the image of what you think of as a lean tall Texan, and he was man with a huge heart. Everyone talked about Bill and what a wonderful pastor he was. Bill died a couple of months ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Religion Worth Having  PRO

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 30, 2011

A RELIGION WORTH HAVING Dr. F. E. Marsh used to tell that on one occasion he was preaching on the importance of confession of sin and, wherever possible, of restitution for wrong done to others. Afterward a young man came up to him and said: "Pastor, you have put me in a sad fix. I have wronged ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:1-2

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Baptist

A Timely Testimony

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 23, 2012

A TIMELY TESTIMONY Jim Cymbala tells an amazing story of one Sunday in his church: (Fresh Faith pp. 78-82) During the choir anthem, Pastor Jim was touched by the words of one of the young men who was featured as a soloist during the song. As the song concluded, Pastor Jim was strongly prompted ...read more

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran