In Sermon Illustrations: "Isaiah 58 1 9a 9b 12"

Fasting Together: The Minnesota Grasshopper ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2010

FASTING TOGETHER: THE MINNESOTA GRASSHOPPER SWARM In Minnesota, during the summer of 1876, there was a swarm of grasshoppers destroying the crops. There was a fear that the grasshoppers would return, so Governor John S. Pillsbury proclaimed a day of prayer and fasting on April 26, 1877, urging ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-14

Tags: Fast

Luther's Ink ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2010

LUTHER’S INK STAIN Some of you may know someone who has visited the WARTBURG CASTLE in Eisenach, German. The tour guide regularly points out to the black spot on one of the walls of the room which Luther occupied during his benevolently intended imprisonment. Let me share the legend connected with ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Themistocles Harnesses The Wind To Help Win The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

Themistocles harnesses the wind to help win the Greek naval battle at Salamis They shall mount up with wings as eagles.”] Themistocles, who led the Greeks in the famous naval battle of Salamis, for some reason unknown to his troops, delayed the engagement. It was expected that he would avail ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Tags: God's Omnipotence

A Mother Is Born By Regina ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

A Mother Is Born by Regina Phillips My first child, a daughter, was born on July 27, 2000, and I found I was completely unprepared. I thought I was ready for her birth. I had read my books and articles on childbirth and baby care; I had bought everything on my shopping checklist. The nursery was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 49:15

Tags: Children, Mothers

Selling Anti-Aging Products Is Big ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2010

Selling Anti-aging Products is Big Business Americans spend more than $20 billion annually on various anti-aging products that claim to cure baldness, remove wrinkles, build muscle, and renew the powers of youth. Can those products deliver what they promise? Dr. Thomas Perls of Boston University ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:6-8

Tags: Aging

Withholding Your Best Wine  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2010

WITHHOLDING YOUR BEST WINE There is a story about an old village in Spain. The people of this village heard the king planned to visit there. No king had ever done that. So naturally, they became excited and wanted to offer a great celebration that would show their adoration and that would honor ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 29:13

Tags: Honor, Hypocrisy, Dishonor

The Importance Of Perspective  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSPECTIVE When I think of perspective I am often reminded of a conversation between me and my son in the summer he turned four. That spring, Mark had asked for a spot in the family garden to call his own. He turned the soil, broke the clumps, and planted his favorite ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: God Brings Hope

The Bigger ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

THE BIGGER PICTURE In How Life Imitates the World Series, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson. Weaver had a rule that no one could steal a base unless given the steal sign. This upset ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: Obedience, Baseball

Loss Of Original Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

LOSS OF ORIGINAL PURPOSE In the town of Delburne, Alberta, there was an old water tower built in 1926. Standing empty, the building was bought by two men who wanted to turn it into a dining and cocktail lounge. Plans called for a bar to be built on the second floor. Something similar has already ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:1-2

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Brand New Start  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

BRAND NEW START An angry newspaper subscriber stormed into the reporter’s office and demanded an apology because he had been mistakenly put in the obituaries. The reporter said, "I never write retractions, but what I will do tomorrow is list you in the birth column and give you a brand new ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 57:14

Tags: Revival

My Dream  PRO

Contributed by Michael E. Bartee Sr. on Jan 21, 2011

MY DREAM This story is dedicated to all who have lost a loved-one who had suffered a long illness before dying. October, 1972, I visited Israel on a ’Holy Land Tour’. One night while staying at a hotel in Jerusalem, I dreamed that I was standing in a dimly-lit room. In the middle of the room ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Really Matters

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 28, 2011

WHAT REALLY MATTERS It was two weeks before Christmas and it began to start. Everyone was scrambling and rushing to get to Wal-Mart. Their credit cards were in the orange and checking account in the red in hopes that their rich uncle would soon be dead. Old Saint Nick sitting high on a mountain ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Christmas, Season, Gift, Santa, Xmas, Clause  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Lost Camper: Making Yourself Available

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE LOST CAMPER: MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE One of my favorite sayings: "God doesn't want your capability. He only wants your availability. If you'll give Him your availability, He'll provide the capability." Availability is when you make yourself accessible for utilization. Availability is what we ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:8

Tags: Servanthood

What The Cross Displayed  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

WHAT THE CROSS DISPLAYED Author Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family he knew in Paraguay. The father, a doctor, spoke out against the military regime there and its human rights abuses. Local police took their revenge on him by arresting his teenage son and torturing him to death. Enraged ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15

Tags: Cross

What Occupies Your Heart?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART? I squirmed a bit as I forced myself to listen to my friend cataloging her problems. After three hours, I interrupted her gently to ask, "If you were to draw a circle to represent your life, what would be in the center?" She thought a moment, then said, "My problems." My ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3

Tags: Death Nearness

The Bible And The Bounty

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

THE BIBLE AND THE BOUNTY The English ship Bounty, commanded by Lt. William Bligh, journeyed to the South Pacific in 1787. Many signed on considering the voyage a trip to paradise. Bligh appointed a young friend, Fletcher Christian, to the post of second in command. The Bounty stayed in Tahiti for ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-11

Tags: Bible Influence

God's Glorious Creation

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Aug 28, 2011

GOD'S GLORIOUS CREATION Sometimes it’s good for us to get out of our environment to see the glory of God, and to be even more thankful for all he’s done and given, for that which he is doing now, and forevermore will do for all of creation. Going on vacation last weekend t refreshed my soul. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25

Tags: Glory

Denomination: Lutheran

The Signet Ring

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Sep 4, 2011

THE SIGNET RING "...I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty" (Haggai 2:23). We don't often hear about signet rings anymore; but in Bible times, they were very significant. f In other words, you knew something was from the king because it was marked ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Baptist

Redefining "Deviancy"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

REDEFINING "DEVIANCY" Alcoholism, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, school violence, child abuse, pornography, rape, robbery and murder pervade our nation. America is drowning in wickedness and immorality. For example, Oregon approved legalized physician-assisted suicide in 1994 ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20

Tags: America

Five-Year-Old Suri Cruise, The Daughter Movie ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 24, 2011

Five-year-old Suri Cruise, the daughter movie stars Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, was seen last week throwing a temper tantrum in toy store. This is a five-year-old girl with a $130,000 Christmas wish list including a $100,000 pony! (Originally Published: Friday, December 23 2011) It’s hard to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational