In Sermon Illustrations: "Importance"

Running The Race

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Aug 22, 2009

James was excited as he turned the two hundred mark heading towards home. Two and three –quarter laps had gone and he was still in the lead. His one and only goal was to win this race and he was full of confidence that he could do it. His thoughts race ahead to the podium, the applause, the glory, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Sacrifice, Glory, Help, Focus, Fool, Determination, Honour, Caring  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

Why Be Buried With A Fork In Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

Why Be Buried With a Fork in Your Hand There was a woman who had been told she only had 3 months to live. Her doctor recommended that she start making preparations to die. And so, she contacted her Pastor to talk about her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral, what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Heaven

A Parable Of Parables  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

A PARABLE OF PARABLES The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Luke 22:24-27

Tags: Doctrine

Saving Private Ryan Tells Us About Our Need For Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 24, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Death, Grace, Fear, Salvation, Legalism, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You've Got To Earn This!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Merit, Works, Grace, Law  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Insignificant Is Significant

Contributed by Peter Loughman on May 15, 2008

THE INSIGNIFICANT IS SIGNIFICANT To anyone who knows her, Joanne is not a significant person. Honestly, chances are, Joanne will never accomplish anything significant. In the town that she lives in, Joanne is never going to be someone who people in town will see as an important person. Joanne is ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saint Arnold Janssen And His Mission Relevance Today

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 1, 2024

Saint Arnold Janssen and His Mission Relevance Today (The Feast Day is on 15th January) Scripture: Mark 1:14-20 The 19th century saw the birth of a visionary priest Saint Arnold Janssen, who devoted his life to evangelization and the promotion of the Christian faith. The following words will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Tags: Saint Arnold Janssen, The Society Of The Divine Word

Denomination: Other

Last Year On December 3rd (2000) A Homeless Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Last year on December 3rd (2000) a homeless man by the name of William Wallace Brown, Jr. was buried in the graveyard of the prestigious St. John’s Episcopal Church, across from the White House. This would not be unusual except that St. John’s is called the "church of presidents." Since 1808, the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Emotions

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright Once Told Of An ...

Contributed by John Cuddeford on Oct 18, 2002

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: *other

I've Been Reading About How Japan Celebrates ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 26, 2003

I’ve been reading about how Japan celebrates Christmas, which has become a major event over there. They put up decorations, exchange presents, send cards, sing yuletide songs, decorate trees, serve special seasonal treats (especially strawberry-decorated cakes), and make a big fuss over St Nick, ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Congregational

Writer Charles Swindoll Once Found Himself With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. “I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day,” he recalled in his book ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright Once Told Of An ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no-nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end ...read more

Tags: Family

I Read About How Japan Celebrates Christmas, ...

Contributed by Scott Weber on Dec 16, 2005

I read about how Japan celebrates Christmas, which has become a major event over there. They put up decorations, exchange presents, send cards, sing yuletide songs, decorate trees, serve special seasonal treats (especially strawberry-decorated cakes), and make a big fuss over St Nick, Rudolph and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Problem I Remember Was A Time When Our Son ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

One problem I remember was a time when our son Bob broke our trust and lied to his mother and me. He was still young, dating Linda, his wife-to-be, and was only allowed to see her on certain nights. Well, one night he wanted to see her without permission and told us he was at his friend’s house. ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Senior, Was A Doctor. As ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Senior, was a doctor. As such he was very interested in the use of ether. In order to know how his patients felt under its influence, he once had a dose administered to himself. As he was going under, in a dreamy state, a profound thought came to him. He believed that he had ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

What Adults Believe Some Of The Key Findings ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

What Adults Believe Some of the key findings tracked by The Barna Group for the last two decades: 87% claim their religious faith is very important in their life today. 75% strongly affirm this idea. 77% are with the Christian faith, 12% are atheist or agnostic, while 11% are with some other faith ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Writer Charles Swindoll Once Found Himself With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he recalled in his book ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright Once Told Of An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once told of an incident that may have seemed insignificant at the time, but had a profound influence on the rest of his life. The winter he was 9, he went walking across a snow-covered field with his reserved, no- nonsense uncle. As the two of them reached the far end ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Often We Think, Or At Least Live Like, If No One ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 29, 2006

Often we think, or at least live like, if no one on earth knows then God won’t... but can we sin in obscurity? Mitch is married to Barbara and Ed, one of his best friends, is questioning Mitch on this very concept by asking if Mitch would stay faithful if he knew Barbara would never find ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian Church

I Got My Driver's License Early In 1974, And Some ...

Contributed by Mark Suter on Sep 16, 2006

I got my driver’s license early in 1974, and some of you remember that was right around the time of the first Arab oil embargo. That wasn’t the best time for a young guy to start driving, because after all, the price of gas shot up to 50 or 60 cents a gallon, and that’s when the speed limit was ...read more

Tags: Predictions False

Denomination: Methodist