In Sermon Illustrations: "In The Place Of"

Invictus  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Aug 5, 2001

William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is ...read more

Tags: Death, Truth, Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

The Way We Live  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 27, 2001

THE WAY WE LIVE Idolatry in its larger meaning is properly understood as any substitution of what is created for the creator. People may worship nature, money, mankind, power, history, or social and political systems instead of the God who created them all. The New Testament writers, in ...read more

A Recent Survey Of Discipleship Journal Readers ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 26, 2002

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them. These are listed in this order. 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Tied were: Anger/Bitterness/Sexual lust. 6. Envy. 7. Gluttony. 8. Lying. (3) There’s little ...read more

Though This May Be An Oversimplification, There ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Waddell on Nov 30, 2002

Though this may be an oversimplification, there are basically two fundamental worldviews with regard to the subject of TRUTH. These two views can be compared to playdough and a rock. They are two ways to view the world in which we live. The playdough worldview sees truth as flexible, changing, ...read more

Tags: Truth Absolute, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Present  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2002

Jeff Calendar’s three year old daugh- ter along with the rest of her family was observed opening Christmas packages. As is often the case, Jeff’s wife had recycled some bows from previous times, and their daughter grabbed one and then placed it on top of her head. The old tape left on it caused it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1-5, Ephesians 1:3-5, John 17:6

Tags: Christmas Advent

To Have The Peculiar Signature Of God's Favor Or ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Vargo on Dec 12, 2003

"To have the peculiar signature of God’s FAVOR or honor or cherishing value placed on you so that when he sees you there is a special value he has for you…In other words…God really likes you!" "When He likes you, there is such an influence that comes upon you that the charisma of God himself rubs ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:13

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

In College, James Dobson's Goal Was To Become The ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 29, 2004

In college, James Dobson’s goal was to become the school’s tennis champion. He felt proud when his trophy was prominently placed in the school’s trophy cabinet. Years later, someone mailed him that trophy. They had found it in a dustbin when the school was renovated. He said, "Given enough ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The True Nature Of Spiritual Life  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2004

THE TRUE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE Christian spirituality isn’t about sitting at the feet of some guru for a seminar at a retreat. It isn’t about having a nice comfortable, safe dose of spirituality in your life to make you feel good whenever your thoughts run deep about ultimate questions and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:1

As An Electrician I Was Once Completing The Final ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2004

As an electrician I was once completing the final lighting fitment in a family home. With me at the same time were 2 other tradesmen, (a carpenter and a stonemason) who were also applying the finishing touches to their handy work. When the young couple that owned the house arrived, they excitedly ...read more

Tags: Joy

After The Preacher Died And Went To Heaven, He ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jun 4, 2004

After the preacher died and went to heaven, he noticed that a New York cabdriver had been given a higher place than he had. “I don’t understand,” he complained to St. Peter. “I devoted my entire life to my congregation.” “Our policy is to reward results,” explained St. Peter. “Now what happened , ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Supplication

The Risk—the Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 9, 2003

THE RISK-- THE JOY Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, almost delighted in taking risks for the gospel. He said: "I must take this decision disregarding risks involved and make known the gifts of God and his everlasting consolation. Neither must we fear any such risk in faithfully preaching ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Endurance, Great Commission

C. A Store Manager Head His Clerk Tell A ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 3, 2003

C. A store manager head his clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” Then the manager ...read more

Tags: Commandments Testimony

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Social Impact Theory

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 4, 2007

According to Wikipedia: Normative influence is a function of social impact theory (Lantane, 1981), which has three components. A group’s strength is how important the group is to you. Groups we value generally have more social influence. Immediacy is how close the group is to you in time and space ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Matthew Henry Commentary

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of my favorite commentaries is the Matthew Henry Commentary. Matthew was in his study at 4:00 a.m. and remained until 8:00 a.m. After breakfast and family prayer, he would return to his place of prayer and study until 12:00 noon. After dinner he resumed to his books and pen until 4:00 p.m. Most ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Wrong Kind Of Faith

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Here’s an example of the wrong kind of faith. Are you familiar with the Broom Hilda comic strip? Anybody ever seen it? For an illustration of mindless faith I like the conversation that takes place between Irwin Troll and Gaylord Buzzard. Gaylord is reading the daily paper and observes, "First we ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Corrie Ten Boom, Amazing Love - If I Straighten ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Corrie ten Boom, Amazing Love - If I straighten the pictures on the walls of your home, I am committing no sin, am I? But suppose that your house were afire, and I still went calmly about straightening pictures, what would you say? Would you think me merely stupid or very wicked? We’re not to ...read more

Tags: Salvation

The Ais, The American Institute Of Stress - ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 27, 2007

The AIS, the American Institute of Stress - Yeah, there’s actually such a place - which says a lot! - their research says that 75- 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. They agree with health officials who say that heart disease, strokes, gastritis, ulcers ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

I Was Watching A Movie The Other Day Called ...

Contributed by Cameron Smith on Aug 4, 2007

I was watching a movie the other day called Blood Diamond, a film about the terrible loss and suffering caused by internal conflict in Sierra Leone. The main character turns to his friend and says “Sometimes I wonder if God will ever forgive us for what we’ve done to each other. Then I look around ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Quote: J. C. Ryle's Observations On Holy Living ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 19, 2007

Quote: J. C. Ryle’s observations on holy living still apply to all believers living in a world hostile to Christianity: A holy man will follow after spiritual-mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not ...read more

Denomination: Other

Well I Want To Talk To People About Christ, But ...

Contributed by Damon Rambo on Apr 4, 2008

Well I want to talk to people about Christ, but I’m scared. What kind of excuse is that? Imagine for a moment that you were the parent of a child that just got ran over. And you went to one of the people who were standing on the side of the street, watching, and you ask them “why didn’t you warn ...read more

Denomination: Baptist