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

Keep The Springs Pure  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

KEEP THE SPRINGS PURE The family’s water supply came from a spring just a few feet from the house. The pure, cold, sweet water bubbled up through a large pipe about the size of a barrel that had been sunk in the ground. One morning two huge frogs were found in the spring. No one wanted to drink ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Heart

A Defensive Programming Problem

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2012

A DEFENSIVE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM In the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands between England and Argentina, the Royal Navy’s 3,500-ton destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk by a single missile fired from an Argentine fighter jet. This caused some people to wonder if modern surface warships were obsolete. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27-28

Tags: Judgment

The Right Use Of The Eyes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2012

THE RIGHT USE OF THE EYES A bishop of the early church, who was a remarkable example of the virtue of contentment, was asked his secret. The venerable old man replied: "It consists in nothing more than making a right use of my eyes. In whatever state I am, I first of all look up to heaven and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13

Tags: Gratitude

Let Me Read One Of Aesop’s Greek Fables; In ...

Contributed by Francis Balla on Aug 24, 2012

Let me read one of Aesop’s Greek fables; In the forest, there lived four oxen. They were very good friends and always went together to graze in the fields. However, every time they went, a hungry lion tried to attack them. The lion longed for their meat. But they withstood his attack by fighting ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Dickens And Reviving Christmas  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Dec 23, 2012

Two hundred years ago, in the early 19th Century, as astonishing as it may seem, Christmas in Great Britain had become almost extinct. The Times newspaper did not mention Christmas once between 1790 and 1835. Not once! However, Charles Dickens was instrumental in reviving Christmas during the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Tags: Christmas, Losing Christmas

Denomination: Anglican

Overloaded

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

OVERLOADED In the book, Overload, by Dr. Richard Swenson, he discusses one of the main reasons our lives have too much anxiety and stress. He says that most of us are just plain overloaded. Think about it. (1) We are overloaded with commitments. We don’t know how to say no. And as a result we meet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Stress, Time Management

Successful People Get Up Early!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

Forbes Magazine states that early risers are the most successful people. The discipline of getting up early produces many positive results, such as: 1. More proactive approach to life 2. The ability to anticipate problems better 3. Better goal-setting 4. Time for exercise 5. Sleep is much better ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-21, Genesis 22:1-19

Tags: Sacrifice, Abraham, Temptation, Trusting God, Success, Successful, Getting Up Early  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Infinite Can Penetrate The Finite!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 1, 2016

Herbert Spencer, one of the popularizes of agnosticism over a century ago, observed accurately that a bird has never been known to fly out of space. Therefore, he concluded by analogy that it is impossible for the finite to penetrate the infinite. Even if God does exist, we can never know Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Creator, Infinite, Agnosticism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Debt Is Paid

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Because of our sin, we owe a great debt that is impossible to pay, but Jesus paid the debt. Verse: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NKJV). Illustration: One time I was buying a sandwich at a store and I did not ...read more

Tags: Wages Of Sin, Jesus Paid Our Debt, Debt Is Paid, Sin

Denomination: Charismatic

What Kind Of Worker Are You?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

WHAT KIND OF WORKER ARE YOU? The way you work in your business is one of the greatest ways you witness either for the Lord or against Him. Don't be a half-hearted worker like these: 1. The Vanisher - The vanisher seems to go invisible at odd times without explanation.  2. The Victim - ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28

Tags: Work, Testimony, Business

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God-Centered Life

Contributed by Ritchie Guerrero on Oct 15, 2020

Illustration of life that is God-centered God is always in the center of your life. Your Priority. Our life must revolve only in Jesus Christ. Consider a small Object. ex. a small piece of wood Tie the object with a soft string, at least 1 ft in length, in such a way that you could hold the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Priorities, Focus, Center

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Cast Your Bread

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Feb 1, 2021

True Story: There was a boy who lost his parents when he was about thirteen years old. He has left an Orphan without hope of continuing his education. He was brought to a care home run by a Pastor. He was given food and education. The Pastor who believed in investing in young boys and girls, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

Tags: Care For Poor, Give Gospel

Denomination: Methodist

Do Not Let Others Discourage You

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Apr 18, 2021

Over the last few Wednesdays, we have been studying how to make wise choices in who are your close friends. One of the main points is- To have a close friend, you have to be a close friend. We live in a time where people enjoy destroying other people and leave them discouraged. In our sermon ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-28

Tags: Be The Church, Encourager

Denomination: Baptist

The Truth About The Wizard Of Oz

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Did you know that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was written, not about the mythical Land of Oz but it was about Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people. The lyrics were written by Yip Harburg, the youngest of four children born to Russian-Jewish immigrants. His real name was Isidore Hochberg, ...read more

Tags: Israel, Jewish, Wizard Of Oz

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Small Decisions, Huge Consequences

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 3, 2022

1. We make small decisions all the time, and they can affect the direction of our lives. Take this true story: “When I was a kid, my mom, my cousin, my sister, and I were all about to go to my great grandma's house from my grandma's house. It was not a far drive so my mom allowed my sister ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:20-25, Hebrews 6:4-6, Acts 16:31, John 3:16

Tags: Providence, Choice, Consequences, Decisions, Important Choices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Things That Mom Would Never Say!!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 5, 2022

THINGS THAT MOM WOULD NEVER SAY.... 1) “How on earth can you see the TV sitting so far back?” 2) “Yeah, I used to skip school a lot myself when I was your age!” 3) “Just leave all the lights on … it makes the house look more cheery.” 4) “Let me smell that shirt — Yeah, it’s good for another ...read more

Tags: Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Sermon Introductions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Types Of Preaching Found In The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of preaching described in the New Testament: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Tags: Church, Teaching, Preaching, Pastors, Homiletics, Teachers, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have Spiritual Wax In The Ears?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

JAMES 1:21 - "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." A person must put off every dirty thing and lay it off to the side away from himself. If he enjoys the dirt and filth, then his mind is ...read more

Tags: Followers Of Jesus, Worhsip, Word Of God, Voice Of God, Cleansing, Hearing God, Filth, Listening, Discipleship, Confession  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[200]. A Message From A Poem – On The Emmaus Road – Easter Poem

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 13, 2025

[200]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – EASTER POEM The greatest bible study in history happened on the road leading to Emmaus. The reason why the disciples, who were still in shock, did not understand the events that were unfolding rapidly before them, was that they did not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:35, Luke 24:30-31, Luke 24:32, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 24:13-35, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Scripture, Easter, Bible Study, Cleopas, The Emmaus Road, Breaking Of Bread, Burning Hearts, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are Those Masked Men?

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 6, 2010

WHO ARE THOSE MASKED MEN? Some of you would have no idea of who I am talking about when I speak of the LONE RANGER. He is way before your time and he doesn't fit into our culture anymore. Pity. He had a strict moral code and even the actor, Clayton Moore, was a great ROLE MODEL for ...read more

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational