In Sermon Illustrations: "Jesus Leadership"

Few Who Bear His Cross  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 18, 2013

FEW WHO BEAR HIS CROSS In Thomas á Kempis' book, The Imitation of Christ he says, Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24-26, Galatians 2:20, Luke 12:32-40, Mark 11:1

Tags: Lordship, Following Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

A Bad Business Meeting

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

A church called a special business meeting of all of its members to vote on a very heated issue. Things got out of hand so badly that one elderly woman of the congregation stood up and said, "I am so ashamed of every one of you here tonight. This is a disgrace! If Jesus knew about this......He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-33

Tags: Jesus, Church, Theology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cast Your Net On The Right Side

Contributed by Herb Pulse on Jun 28, 2017

I come from a fishing family. When I became old enough to walk, I became old enough to experience the wonderful world of fishing. One of things I particularly love is throwing a shad net. Often times it becomes very draining work, and at the tender age of 12 I became the primary go-to-guy for ...read more

Scripture: John 21:6

Tags: Jesus, Net, Cast

Denomination: Christian Church

The Manor - A Story About The Master Coming Back

Contributed by John Gullick on Jul 31, 2017

Here is a story- Driving up to the mansion seemed quite grand. The turrets bathed in the bright sunlight - windows glistened sending wild cascades of light over the pastures. The driveway was, well, elegent to say the least. But immediately Bernard sensed something was wrong. The hedges and shrubs ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-43

Tags: Obedience, Disciple Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Two Boys

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2019

Two Boys Two young boys are playing happily in the garden and are great companions for some time, but then something bad happens. One boy gets ill and is stunted and is never the same again, while the other one grows to full and healthy mature manhood even though he suffers far more than his sick ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:15, Ephesians 2:16

Tags: Reconciliation, Jesus' Cross

Denomination: Baptist

There Are Sayings About Every Thing These Days. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There are sayings about every thing these days. Here are some that may cause you to smile and some may even make you laugh. When all else fails, lower your standards. I don’t know, I don’t care, and it doesn’t make any difference. I don’t have any solution but I certainly admire the problem. ...read more

Tags: Passover, Jesus Teachings

After This Manner The Blessed Virgin Advanced In ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 13, 2008

"After this manner the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with his sacrifice, ...read more

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother

Denomination: Catholic

By Bobby G. Bodenhamer, ...

Contributed by Bobby Bodenhamer on Oct 17, 2008

By Bobby G. Bodenhamer, D.Min. For October 19, 2008 Introduction - A life of "change" Isn’t it remarkable how rapidly things change? In looking at this passage in Jeremiah my mind was drawn back over my life time. I was borne (I think I was born. Dad always told me that he found me in an old ...read more

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: *other

Yancey Noted: "Today As I Read The Accounts Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Yancey noted: "Today as I read the accounts of Jesus’ birth I tremble to think of the fate of the world resting on the response of two rural teenagers. How many times did Mary review the angel’s words as she felt the Son of God kicking the walls of her uterus? How many times did Joseph ...read more

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother

On June 1, 1965, A Boat Set Sail From Falmouth, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

On June 1, 1965, a boat set sail from Falmouth, Massachusetts. The name of the boat was Tinkerbelle. If it completed the dangerous journey, it would be the smallest boat ever to cross the Atlantic. It was less than 14’ long. And its pilot was Robert Manry. And he was afraid. He was afraid, not ...read more

Tags: Mary Jesus Mother

At The Dramatic Conclusion Of The Musical, ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 9, 2009

At the dramatic conclusion of the musical, Camelot, the tragic figure of King Arthur calls a boy named Tom out of the bushes. Arthur dubs the boy a “Knight of the Round Table,” but orders him not to fight in the battle. He is to “grow up and grow strong” in order to tell of the ideals and ...read more

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: *other

Not Afraid To Offend God

Contributed by Jw Worcester on Feb 8, 2021

The true “Lord’s Prayer” is John 17, also sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer. In verses 1 – 20 Jesus had already prayed for Himself and His mission. He also prayed for His disciples. Jesus prayed this prayer before Jesus and the disciples left for the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: John 17:22, John 17:24

Tags: Grieve, Knowing Jesus

Calling Me Home

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

I want you all to go back in time with me for a moment when you were a child. We didn’t have xbox, or playstation, or video games. We actually went outside and played face to face with our friends. If you were like me, you'd gather with your friends in the neighborhood and would be out most ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:23-31

Tags: Expectant, Jesus' Voice

Denomination: Baptist

Look!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 30, 2024

E. Stanley Jones, Methodist Doctor and Missionary to India once wrote: The early Christians did not say: "Look what the world has come to!" - but, "Look what has come to the world." They saw not merely the ruin, but the resource for the reconstruction of that ruin. They ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph: The Portrait Of Christ (Bible Gateway)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 4, 2025

Joseph: the Portrait of CHRIST (Bible Gateway) The Life of Joseph Genesis 30:24 – Genesis 50:26 1. A shepherd. 2. Loved by his father. 3. Sent unto his brethren 4. Hated by his brothers. 5. Prophesied his coming glory. 6. Rejected by his brothers. 7. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. 8. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:24, Genesis 50:26

Tags: Jesus, Joseph, Comparison

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead By Example

Contributed by John Bright on Oct 3, 2025

Lead by example. This is different than ordering folks around. When James and John ask for places of authority, Jesus warns them against acting like the world. Jesus describes what it will look like in the church: Mark 10:43-45 “43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45

Tags: Jesus, Example, Authority

Denomination: Methodist

The Pit

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 18, 2026

The Pit man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out. A subjective person came along and said: "I feel for you down there." An objective person came along and said: "It's logical that someone would fall down there." A Pharisee said: "Only bad people fall into ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Tags: Jesus, Helping Others

Denomination: Methodist

The Importance Of Really Living The Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jun 28, 2001

The importance of really living the Christian life is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain. Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men ...read more

Tags: Workplace Integrity, Leadership General, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Many Years Ago I Went To See A Theatrical ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Tyas on Jan 7, 2002

Many years ago I went to see a theatrical production called Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical about the life of Jesus with an Appalachian, country-western twist. It was based on Clarence Jordan’s paraphrase of the New Testament, by the same name. It tries to tell the story of Jesus as if he has been ...read more

Tags: Herod, Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Crisis Of All Religion  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jul 23, 2001

THE CRISIS OF ALL RELIGION Jesus is unique....This is highlighted in the ministry of a well-known missionary in India, Dr. E. Stanley Jones. Jones often lectured to Hindu audiences having Hindus as chairmen of the meetings. On one such occasion the chairman was a chief minister of state. During ...read more

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, World Religions, Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational