In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus First"

"Knowing" Christ  PRO

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jan 6, 2013

"KNOWING" CHRIST In today's world of Smart Phones, tablets and instant Internet access, there are many things that we can "know." If someone asks the questions, "how long is the Verrazano Bridge," a nimble person with a 4 G connection and an Iphone can ask Siri, "How long is the Verrazano ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10

Tags: Jesus Christ, Knowing God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Salvation Without Surrender  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Feb 18, 2013

NO SALVATION WITHOUT SURRENDER So in case some left it out or forgot to mention it when they explained what it meant to be a Christian, let me be clear: There is no forgiveness without repentance. There is no salvation without surrender. There is no life ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-18, Luke 9:24

Tags: Commitment, Surrender, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cotton Pickin' Son Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

We were having our weekly AWANA meeting at our church when something really funny happened. The children were sharing their Bible verse for the week -- John 3:16. One of our little boys was struggling with remembering the words. He was asked, "Can’t you remember John 3:16?" The boy struggled to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Your God Bleed?  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

DOES YOUR GOD BLEED? A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in another country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Son, may I ask you a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Salvation, Cross, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Dead, But I Spoke To Him This Morning!

Contributed by Silas Eke on Feb 28, 2015

Once Billy Graham was challenged when giving a message on the reality of God and His Son Jesus Christ; somebody said to him. “Hi, Billy, you talk very much about God as if He lives. He is dead. He has no more power in the affairs of men.” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Tags: Christ's Death, Jesus Is Alive

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

Why Einstein Was So Brilliant

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 19, 2016

WHY EINSTEIN WAS SO BRILLIANT "As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.... ..No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-17

Tags: Jesus, Wisdom, Atheism, History

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dr Cephas Mashiyach

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 28, 2016

Dr Cephas Mashiyach Suppose I were to tell you about a fabulous preacher that I encountered by the name of Dr Cephas Mashiyach? The power of his preaching and his dynamic sermons is unsurpassed. People come from miles around everywhere he goes. Then I told you that Dr Mashiyach was available to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-26

Tags: Rejection, Rejection Of Jesus, Acceptence

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Was Preaching To A Church In Australia. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A man was preaching to a church in Australia. The congregation had big black Bibles and severe expressions... And they knew their Bibles, and were proud of that. It was a smallish group, so he decided to engage them in dialogue: ’Who knows who the Pharisees were?’ They did. ’The Pharisees got a ...read more

Tags: Parable Pharisee, Jesus The Light

George Wilson Was Sentenced To Hang After He Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

George Wilson was sentenced to hang after he was convicted of killing a guard while robbing a federal payroll from a train. Public sentiment against capital punishment led to an eventual pardon by President Andrew Jackson. Unbelievably, Wilson refused to accept the pardon. Can you do that? The case ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Kill Sin

Scarab Beetles  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Apr 29, 2008

SCARAB BEETLES Many people find beetles and bugs somewhat creepy, but if here’s one beetle in the world that could turn you into a beetle lover - the jewel scarab. Jewel scarabs live in the jungles of Honduras and have the shape of your regular Christmas beetle. But their colours are so dazzling ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-21

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Born Again

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is A Story About A Little Girl Who Proudly ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

There is a story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day she was approached by a man who said to her, "Little girl, don't you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn't beautiful like the one you're wearing? It was an ugly, wooden thing." To which the ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Children, Change, Sanctification

The Wave

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Nov 5, 2022

In elections there is a term “The Wave”. This term means that a large change is coming, and one side is going to have substantial losses in the upcoming election. In the news you will hear about an upcoming “Blue Wave” or a “Red Wave”. However, as Christians, we will choose to trust in the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:20, Matthew 8:23-27

Tags: Heavenly Citizenship, Sovereignty Of Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

That's My King!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 20, 2022

THAT’S MY KING! “He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unparalleled. He’s ...read more

Tags: Jesus, King, Preachers, Lord

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Cannot Swim To Hawaii

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

If you put three swimmers on the coast of California and ask them to swim to Hawaii, the Olympic swimmer might swim 500 miles before she dies. The second swimmer might be a good swimmer and swim 25 miles before he dies. The last swimmer does not know how to swim very well and swims only one mile ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29, John 8:58, Matthew 25:31-33

Tags: Jesus Is The Way, Other Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Pastor Was Preparing A Christmas Message And ...  PRO

Contributed by Harold Miller on Dec 15, 2000

A pastor was preparing a Christmas message and fell asleep in his study at the church. He dreamed that he was in a world into which Jesus had never come. He walked out on the streets, but no church spires pointed to heaven. He was summoned by a weeping child to visit her dying mother, but on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11

Tags: God Brings Hope, Forgiveness In Jesus, Jesus Is The Way, Christmas Advent

Denomination: Mennonite

17 Words  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 17, 2003

17 WORDS According to the Atlanta Journal "The Ten Commandments contain 297 words. The Bill of Rights is stated in 463 words. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address contains 266 words. A recent federal directive to regulate the price of cabbage contains 26,911 words." In the Greek, John 1:1 contains 17 ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Jesus Teachings, Humanity Of Christ

Ready To Receive  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2003

READY TO RECEIVE At the wedding in Cana, it is interesting that Jesus waited until their resources had run dry before he performed the miracle. Only when the people came to the end of their supply were they ready to receive what Jesus had to give. John Piper, in an article entitled “The Present ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28

Tags: God's Provision, Miracles Of Jesus, Submission

In April 1865, The Civil War Was Coming To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2003

In April 1865, the Civil War was coming to a close. Robert E Lee had surrendered to US Grant. Lee later begged the southern states to join the Union and be one nation again. Johnson finally surrendered to Sherman, leaving only one major Confederate general to surrender, which he eventually did. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-2

Tags: Endurance, Faith, Jesus, Psychologist, Pit  (view more)  (view less)

Just For You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

JUST FOR YOU In Peggy Noonan’s book When Character Was King, she tells about a meeting between President George W. Bush and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. It was their first meeting as world leaders and Bush wanted to be sure they connected-- that they looked for depth of soul and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Jesus Christ, Crucifixion, Easter Resurrection