In Sermon Illustrations: "Intense Concern"

When I Was About 27 Years Old I Developed An ...

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

When I was about 27 years old I developed an abscess in a rather embarrassing area of the body. Consequently I tried to keep quiet about it hoping it would go away by natural means. Eventually the abscess got to such a size that the pain was intense and I was finding it difficult to walk. So I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

In The City Of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, A Muslim ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

In the city of Mashed, Pastor Soodman, a Muslim convert was hung for his faith in Christ. His assistant took over the leadership of the church. The assistant was arrested and released, but each week was interrogated by the authorities. The pressure was intense, and his wife feared he might break. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-39

Tags: Persecution

Sin ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

SIN DEFINITIONS What is sin? Here are some suggestions: "Sin is like a kidney stone. No one likes a kidney stone, nor should anyone like sin." "Sin is like a rotten egg we try to cover up with spices." "Sin is like a cancer with a 0% survival rate." "Sin is like weeds in a garden; if not ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Punished For Helping

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

PUNISHED FOR HELPING Thu Feb 26, AP/ DENVER -- A good Samaritan who helped push three people out of the path of a pickup truck before being struck and injured has gotten a strange reward for his good deed: A jaywalking ticket. Family members said 58-year-old bus driver Jim Moffett and another man ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18-27

Tags: Fail, Good, Intention, Hardship Of Life

Businessman Risks Life For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Businessman Risks Life for Money Suze Orman in her book, “9 Steps to Financial Freedom” writes: When I was 13, my dad owned his own business—a tiny shack where he sold chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries. One day the oil that the chicken was fried in caught fire. In a few minutes the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24

Tags: Money

Joy And Phyllis Diller  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

JOY AND PHYLLIS DILLER A thirty-eight-year-old scrubwoman (cleaning lady) would go to the movies and sigh, "If only I had her looks." She would listen to a singer and moan, "If only I had her voice." Then one day someone gave her a copy of the book, The Magic of Believing. She stopped comparing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 126:2

Tags: Joy

Missions ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 8, 2012

Missions quotes: "I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" — John Keith Falconer "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply" — Hudson Taylor [ video ] "God isn't looking for people of ...read more

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life With God On Your Side Should Get Better, Shouldn't It?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Aug 31, 2017

5 Storms in my life changed me intensely. Sometimes a storm will follow a great spiritual event just like these disciples had witnessed. … Many years ago, I was having great difficulties, and that is when I turned to Christ, and then I knew that everything in the bible was true, that Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Doubt, Storm, Difficulties, Confusion, Trials, Doubt And Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Episcopal

Lord Prayer

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Nov 17, 2017

We have defined prayer as breathing out self and breathing in God. We breath in a God who is Abba Father Daddy. I loved to play with the kids. I love to play with the grand children. Lego never had lego as a child so love to do it with the kids I now get my lego out before they come and start to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-3

Tags: Love, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

Implanted Sin

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 7, 2019

The enemy leader is in his command center discussing his battle strategy with those under his command. The enemy is very upset about the latest move by the rebellion forces. They have been attacking in vital areas. Never before in this struggle has the rebellion force (the C) had this much ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-13

Tags: Sin, Enemy

Denomination: Pentecostal

Persecution

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a ...read more

Tags: Persecution Of Christians, Cultural Warfare

Denomination: Lutheran

The Voice Of God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Mar 28, 2026

The Voice of God says many important things to us. The main thing and the most reassuring is, “You are never alone”. God will never ever leave you. I am reminded of how God let my wife Becky know that he was with her when she was in a time of trouble. Her father was sick and in dire condition in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9, Exodus 34:1-9

Tags: Faith, Security, Care

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Is With The Righteous

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Feb 19, 2012

GOD IS WITH THE RIGHTEOUS Listen to a partially embellished STORY of the SERVANT who escaped to Abraham... The sun was just rising in the east. Abram's entourage had grown significantly since Lot departed. They had settled in the land of Mamre the Amorite, finding water and shade in the forest, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 14:1-16

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Proud People Vs Broken People

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

Proud people focus on the failures of others. Broken people are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need. Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope. Broken people are compassionate; they can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20

Tags: Humility, Revival, Repentance, Pride, Brokenness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During The Time I Was A Police Officer There Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 16, 2005

During the time I was a police officer there was a dispatcher who was no more than a co-worker and casual friend to me. Near Christmas time one year, I walked into the dispatch center and she lifted a package from the table next to her and gave it to me. It was a Christmas gift, and it was ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Orthodox

Interesting Story . . . 1936, His First Book And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

INTERESTING STORY . . . 1936, HIS FIRST BOOK AND TO THINK I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET WAS REJECTED 43 TIMES . . . FAIL MISERABLY. SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT BOOKS MET THE SAME FATE AS THEY BARELY MADE A SCRATCH ON THE LITERATURE RADAR SCREEN. IN FACT IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1954 WHEN LIFE MAGAZINE PUBLISHED A ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Expecting Answers To Prayer

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jun 25, 2024

Several years ago, there was a drought in one city and the pastor of the Church called for a prayer meeting to pray for rain. The prayer meeting was held on a hot summer evening. All the members came out dressed in cool summer clothes since they would be there for a while praying. When Sister Betsy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Expectations, Beliefs

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Courage Of Civil War Leader Stonewall Jackson ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

The courage of Civil War leader Stonewall Jackson in the midst of conflict can be a lesson for the believer. Historian Mark Brimsley wrote, “A battlefield is a deadly place, even for generals; and it would be naive to suppose Jackson never felt the animal fear of all beings exposed to wounds and ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Warfare, Peace, Examples Of Faith, Confidence, Assurance, Battle  (view more)  (view less)

It's Easy To Live A Long Life, At Least In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

It’s easy to live a long life, at least in America. Look at the statistics: Out of every 100,000 persons, 88,361 reach 50 years of age, more than 70,000 make it to 70, and almost 17,000 get to 85 or more. Staying around a long time, however, should not be our primary goal. Rather, we should be ...read more

Tags: Death

Non-Christian Narnia: The C.s. Lewis Estate And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Non-Christian Narnia: The C.S. Lewis estate and its publishers have started shaping a marketing makeover of Aslan and assorted Narnian habitués to expand readership and extend the brand. Most striking of all, they have developed a discreet strategy to avoid direct links to the Christian imagery ...read more

Tags: Narnia