In Sermon Illustrations: "Image Of God"

First-Born

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 8, 2010

FIRST-BORN The ancient Rabbis called Yahweh Himself "Firstborn of the World" (Rabbi Bechai cited in Lightfoot’s commentary on Colossians). Rabbis also used firstborn as a Messianic title. "God said, ’As I made Jacob a first-born (Exodus 4:22), so also will I make king Messiah a first-born’ (Psalm ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Adopted By Grace

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 10, 2010

ADOPTED BY GRACE I have three daughters. Oh the cats that we took from the pound. They are in cat heaven! But they could have been left at the pound, except that we DECIDED to take them because we WANTED to love them. There was nothing those kittens could do to make me love them! ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Mother Teresa Once Said, "Joy Is Prayer - Joy Is ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2012

Mother Teresa once said, "Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ...She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Nazarene

Who Flatters The King  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 14, 2012

WHO FLATTERS THE KING Francois Fenelon was the court clergy for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?" Fenelon ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bacon And Eggs

Contributed by Silas Eke on Feb 26, 2015

The story is told of the pig and the chicken that went to Church and heard the Pastor was going to do his birthday. Each offered to donate towards the birthday. The Chicken offered to donate eggs and asked the pig to give bacon so that the pastor would have a good breakfast. The pig looked at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:24

Tags: Sacrificial Giving, Perfect Sacrifice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Urgent Do We Approach The Harvest

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 13, 2017

In Matthew 9:38 Jesus describes driving workers into the field with the urgency of a harvest that cannot wait. Yet, so often our churches have become ho-hum about God's harvest. How can revival come to our land when our churches are so Laodicean in attitude? How can our dying western ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:38

Tags: Harvest, Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

It Is Natural To Seek Pleasure

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 8, 2020

“Every creature in the universe is programmed to pursue pleasure. The wolf seeks meat, the bear seeks warmth. That is an indisputable fact, and that's the way God wants it. “Human were created for pleasure, too. But unlike other creatures, humans have the ability to tap into their spiritual ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17, Ecclesiastes 9:9, Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 2:25

Tags: Recreation, Fun, Humor, Balance, Pleasure, Enjoyment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Serving Or Souring

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jun 13, 2022

If you are not serving where you are do not expect to be called to somewhere else to serve. Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Saul/Paul and Barnabas were already serving in the church ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:2

Tags: Service, Ministry, Call

Denomination: Baptist

Counterfeit Fruit Of The Spirit

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

"It is possible for the old nature to counterfeit some of the fruit of the Spirit, but the flesh can never produce the fruit of the Spirit. One difference is this: when the Spirit produces fruit, God gets the glory and the Christian is not conscious of his spirituality; but when the flesh is ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Fruit, Flesh, Fruit Of The Spirit, Works Of The Flesh, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fullness Of Time

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” Part of the “fullness of time” is that Jesus would be condemned to die, and it would include being bruised and bleeding. It would include a whipping so we can know “by His ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6, Galatians 4:4

Tags: Bleeding, Fullness Of Time, Stripes, Healed

Denomination: Methodist

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Following Story Was Written By A Missionary ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Mar 26, 2009

The following story was written by a missionary doctor who worked in Africa. "One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Baptist

Tale Of Two Kings  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

TALE OF TWO KINGS Two of the greatest love stories ever told. The one, at Camelot; the other, at Calvary. Two of the noblest kings ever to live. The one, King Arthur; the other, King of the Jews. The one is adorned with a jeweled crown; the other, with a crown of thorns. The comparisons ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:33-35, John 10:15-18

Tags: Cross, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Man From Slums Of N.y. Converted And Ordained By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Man from Slums of N.Y. Converted and Ordained by Jim Cymbala Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

Numbers In The Bible  PRO

Contributed by Pastor Cosmos on Jan 13, 2011

NUMBERS IN THE BIBLE Remember to use these keys when dealing whith Bible Prophecy only Many of the numbers in the Bible have deeper prophetic or spiritual significance. Both in the Old and New Testaments, numbers reveal hidden concepts and meanings that commonly escape the casual reader. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-2

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Charismatic

The Key To The Gate

Contributed by Justin Lauramore on Nov 12, 2012

THE KEY TO THE GATE Picture this, you have walked for miles and miles. You are tired and ready for a long nap. You walk up towards a town gate. As you stare at a distance you meet a young man that tells you that the gate is locked. You say ok, well I will test this out for myself. As you continue ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Parallels Between The Passover Lamb And Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 1, 2023

Passover begins this year on April 8th, at sundown. What many do not know is that Passover illustrates the sacrifice of The Passover Lamb–the crucifixion of Jesus. The first Passover lamb was slain during the dark times in Egypt marked. This event marked the beginning of The Exodus, which ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-13

Tags: Sacrifice, Cross, Lamb, Passover, Calvary, Forgiveness, Easter, Blood, Israel, Egypt, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Do You Play For? Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Who Do You Play For? shows a player that is wearing a certain jersey but appears to be playing for the other team because he is doing everything to help the other team win. This is to make you examine your actions do they truly say you are a Christian? URL: https://youtu.be/xLEEMrkpspY SUMMARY In ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:11

Tags: Salvation, Actions

I Don't Believe In Hell

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Jul 5, 2023

Illustration: “I don’t believe in Hell.” The fact that a lot of people have a tough time believing in a literal Hell was brought home to me in a very meaningful way. When I pastored in Chino, CA we lived in a parsonage right next to the Church. I soon noticed that a certain man was walking up ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:28, Mark 9:43-45, Luke 16:23

Tags: Hell, Salvation, Facing Death

Denomination: Baptist