In Sermon Illustrations: "Image Likeness"

Positive Discipline

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 29, 2011

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE Zig Ziglar says he looked into a mirror one day and realized he needed to lose a lot of weight. He really wanted to get in shape. As an incentive, he put a picture of a thin man on the refrigerator door. There are all kinds of gimmicks offered as motivators to dieting. You can ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Will Remain Christians

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2011

"WE WILL REMAIN CHRISTIANS" An American journalist in 1993 interviewed a group of children from a Sunday school in southern Sudan where Arab Muslims regularly raided their village and slaughtered Christians. Many of their relatives had already been killed. The journalist asked, "Would you turn to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Tags: Persecution

Do You Have An Awareness Of Sin?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 26, 2012

DO YOU HAVE AN AWARENESS OF SIN? John MacArthur: A basic mark of true spirituality is a deep awareness of sin. In Scripture those who most despised their sinfulness were often those who were the most spiritual. Paul said he was the chief of sinners. Peter said to Jesus, "Depart from me, for I ...read more

Tags: Death, Sin, Deception, Sanctification, Lies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying Together: Greater Than The Sum Of Our ...

Contributed by Christopher Gregas on Sep 8, 2012

PRAYING TOGETHER: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS Someone wrote, "At a horse-pull in Canada, one horse pulled 9,000 pounds, another pulled 8,000 pounds. Together, we might assume that they could pull 17,000 pounds. However, when harnessed together these mighty steeds pulled 30,000 pounds, over ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift Of Their Lives

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

THE GIFT OF THEIR LIVES A Dutch pastor was helping Jews escape the Nazis when he himself caught. He was loaded into a boxcar with several Jews and others to be sent to a concentration camp. It was a long, frightening journey through the night. Finally the train stopped, the doors opened, and ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Methodist

Why Would The Angel Talk To You?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 24, 2012

There's conversation in the Peanuts comic strip between Peppermint Patty and her friend Marcie. They are walking to school and Peppermint Patty says, "I'm going to ask the teacher if I can be Mary in the Christmas play this year." Marcie answers, "She already asked me, sir." Patty continues, ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Disciplines Meditation, Listening

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Importance Of Having The Right Desires Is ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 29, 2012

The importance of having the right desires is illustrated in the Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This film contains a powerful theme of REDEMPTION. Hollywood could not come up with a film like this today! If you remember the story, George’s life is falling apart because he DESIRES ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Disappointment, Heart's Desires

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Relationships Inside And Out

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 5, 2013

RELATIONSHIPS INSIDE AND OUT If I saw our relationship (with his wife) as a bunch of rules I had to keep, I would quickly become bitter and miserable. I would likely rebel and break the rules when she wasn’t paying attention. But I am passionately in love with my wife and that translates into a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Tozer On Ambition To Lead  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2013

A. W. Tozer said, "A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation." He continued to elaborate, "I think there was hardly a great leader from Paul to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Tags: Leadership General

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

I May Never See You Again

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

Phillips Brooks of Boston became quite ill and would see no visitors. However, when Robert Ingersoll, the noted atheist, heard that his friend was sick, he called at his home and was admitted at once. "I appreciate this very much," said Mr. Ingersoll. "But why do you see me when you deny ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1

Tags: Hell, Death, Heaven, Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving

Contributed by Steve Malone on Oct 2, 2019

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:24

Tags: Sacrifice, Giving

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Computers

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 21, 2020

Three ways our choice to follow God is like a computer (phone/electric device) 1. We need to stay plugged in to keep our batteries charged. (prayer, scripture, worship all charge our batteries) 2. We need to keep our Virus Protection up-to-date. (Sin is as prevalent as viruses on the internet. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, 2 Timothy 1:12

Tags: Computers, Virus, Connected, Phones, Charged, Virus Protection, In God's Hands  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Love And Forgiveness

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

Rabbi David A. Nelson likes to tell the story of two brothers who went to their rabbi to settle a longstanding feud. The rabbi got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other in honor of the Jewish New Year. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Tags: Jesus Is The Answer, Jesus Forgives, Jesus Saves Us

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Preach!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 25, 2021

“PREACH” The word, “preach” comes from the Greek word, kerusso, and means to proclaim as a herald or make a proclamation in a public gathering. The herald may not even have liked the message he was to proclaim or the people may not have wanted to hear it and, thus, the temptation for the herald ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, Churches, The Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Sermon Reminded Me Of The Peace And Love Of God!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

After a very long and boring sermon the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons. "Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!" The pastor was ...read more

Tags: Paul, Preaching, Peace Of God, Eutychus, Love Of God, Preachers, Boring Sermons, Long Sermons  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Count The Cost

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Jul 24, 2025

I want to tell yall a true story about counting the cost. This happened to a friend, who shall remain nameless to protect her dignity. My friend had been going through a lot and needed something therapeutic to do and so took up gardening. Growing your own food is always a good idea, right? The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:28, Luke 14:29, Luke 14:30

Tags: Building, Cost, Adversity, High, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Children's Perspective On Mom

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 4, 2009

CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVE ON MOM. The following are different answers given by school-age children to the stated questions: "Why were mothers created?" 1. She’s the only one who knows where the Scotch tape is. 2. Think about it; it was the best way to get more people. 3. Mostly to clean the ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Humpty Dumpty—continued

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

HUMPTY DUMPTY--CONTINUED We all remember the story of Humpty Dumpty that goes like this... Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. But did you know that there's more to the story? Not only ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-21

Tags: God's Love