In Sermon Illustrations: "Isaiah 61 1 4 8 11"

Don't Go Together

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

Certain things don’t go together. Old examples: Military Intelligence – Partial Pregnancy – (and my fav) Short Sermon 😊 Today, think about pairing sweets and seafood. How would you like ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Intelligence, Pregnancy, Military, Partial

Denomination: Methodist

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Doctrine Of Atonement

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

We need to have core beliefs that do not change over time – NO MATTER WHAT! The doctrine of atonement is under attack today. It is attacked by folks who look at humans and see each one as basically good who occasionally do bad things. They talk about each person’s freedom to become your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Scripture, Atonement, Authentic, Holy God, Fallen World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Healing And Health

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

Divine healing can be a touchy subject in the Church. Most will agree that it’s God’s intention or desire for His children to walk in health and wholeness. Do you agree? Also, we live in a fallen world. Do you agree? So, our bodies are caught in the middle. Why aren’t we talking more about how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:19-20

Tags: Healing, Sickness, Fallen World

Denomination: Methodist

Another Week On My Own

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 22, 2025

Several weeks ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me she would be in St. Augustine with our daughter and granddaughter for spring break. As always, I really didn’t properly process this information. I get so busy with other things that there are some things I can’t process. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Cheating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The (Unwise) Wisdom Of The World

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2025

The world in its wisdom may tell us that there is no such thing as truth. That there is no such thing as that which is right and that which wrong. But our experience, of even the simplest of human experiences, will cause us to question that. If you were to ask a gas station attendant for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Tags: Better, Follow Jesus, Unwise, Directions, Wisdom Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Be Found Faithful

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 31, 2025

There is a story of a choir director who was so stressed out because at least one or more members of the choir were absent at every rehearsal for a concert. Finally came the last rehearsal and he announced: “I want to personally thank the pianist for being the only person in this entire church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Tags: Faithfulness, Choir, Unfaithfulness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Loves Me—and I Love Jesus!

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 8, 2025

Sociology professor Anthony Campolo recalls a deeply moving incident that happened in a Christian junior high camp where he served. One of the campers, a boy with spastic paralysis, was the object of heartless ridicule. When he would ask a question, the boys would deliberately answer in a halting, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Testimony

Denomination: Methodist

Look Different

Contributed by John Bright on Sep 23, 2025

These folks to whom Peter is writing used to look like everybody else. They were a part of the world, so they partied and did all the other things average folks did back then. The Roman world in which Christianity first spread was highly sexualized, and many of the practices today that are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:3-4

Tags: Change, Sexuality, Gender, Roman World

Denomination: Methodist

Boy, Oh Boy, What A Day It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 27, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my years, I have had many crazy days. I guess it's crazy days that develop character. If so, I have a lot of character. I never had a day quite like last week. Everything seemed to go wrong for me. When we got up, our electricity was off. It had been off for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Accident, Scam

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Benefits Of Humble Leadership

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine published an article that highlighted the leadership style of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied forces to victory in World War II and served two terms as President of the United States. He was known for his humility. “Eisenhower’s humility was evident ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Humility, Leadership, Dwight D Eisenhower

Denomination: Methodist

Oh No, Not Another Day

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 18, 2025

I thought got over the problems I had two weeks ago. I thought I stepped onto new ground and everything was going to be fine. Very few times am I right, and this wasn't one of them. A couple of weeks ago, I had a terrible day. Our electricity was off for over six hours. My printer died, and I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Victory, Struggle

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[116]. A Message From A Poem – Having A Chat With God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 27, 2025

[116]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVING A CHAT WITH GOD There is nothing pretentious here. It is a simple prayer mixed with thoughts of the Lord. This poem is a meditation, one that I hope you can relate to in your life. Some make prayer a sanctimonious affair and it is about as dead as a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 John 4:19

Tags: Grace, Love, Hope, Prayer, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Chat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding The Spiritual Gifts By Dr. Dale A. ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 13, 2011

Understanding The Spiritual Gifts By Dr. Dale A. Robbins 1. The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. After He established His church on the earth and ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to equip His church with power and ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

So God Made A Farmer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

In James chapter 5, we see a comparison between the patient farmer in the field waiting for his crops and the waiting believer in Christ preparing to meet the Lord at His return. Paul Harvey did a masterful job of describing the life of the farmer years ago. And on the 8th day, God looked down ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18

Tags: Patience, Return Of Christ, Prophets, Farmers, Waiting, Job, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

According To Nrf's 2007 Holiday Consumer ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

According to NRF's 2007 Holiday Consumer Intentions, sales will rise 4% this year to $474.5 billion. U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $816.69 on holiday shopping, plus an additional $106.67 on special "non-gift" purchases by taking advantage of special promotions and discounts to treat ...read more

Tags: Materialism

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

In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Dec 7, 2003

In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) 6. Sexual Lust (Tie) 7. Envy 8. Gluttony 9. Lying Survey respondents noted that temptations ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist

6. Similarities Between The Death Of Stephen ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 10, 2008

6. Similarities between the death of Stephen and the death of Jesus (note: I have altered): 1. Both were tried before the high priest 2. Both were accused by false witnesses 3. Both were accused of threatening to destroy the temple 4. Both mention "the Son of Man" 5. Both charged with blasphemy 6. ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Independent/Bible

U.s. Donor Profiles: According To Campbell ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

U.S. Donor Profiles: According to Campbell research, the following are typical profiles of U.S. donors. (1) Gender: 60% female, 40% male. (2) Ethic Origin: 85% Caucasian, 7% African American, 3% Hispanic, 1% Asian and 4% other. (3) Median Age: 54. Of course individual organiza-tions donor profiles ...read more

Tags: Giving General