In Sermon Illustrations: "John 1 1 9 10 18"

Possums And The Grave  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 13, 2001

POSSUMS AND THE GRAVE I have heard that possums are smart animals. You wouldn’t think so because you hardly ever see one except when it’s dead on the road. There’s a joke that goes, “why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done!” But possums, it turns out, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 8:10-15, Luke 24:13-24

Tags: Volunteer, Victory, Resurrection, Service, Servant, Missions, Go, Easter, Easter Resurrection, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

A Year Or So Ago Time Magazine Published A Review ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 16, 2001

A year or so ago Time Magazine published a review of the movie, “The Birdcage.” The review said that while the movie is based on the plot of Robin Williams & Nathan Lane playing a homosexual couple, & Gene Hackman playing a conservative politician who messes up their gay lifestyle, that the movie ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:18-32

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Holiness, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Vicar Was Retiring After 25 Years In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 8, 2001

A vicar was retiring after 25 years in the parish. As he came to clear out his bedroom he found a small bowl with 5 eggs and £1,000 pounds in. Baffled he called his wife and said: Darling, what is this little basket under the bed with five eggs and £1,000 in. "Oh " she said " I must confess that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-7, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Tags: Leadership General, Gifts Encouragement, Gifts Prophecy, Love

Denomination: Anglican

The Devil Has A Plan For Your Life: Doubt - To ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 30, 2001

The devil has a plan for your life: Doubt - To make you question God’s word and His goodness; Discouragement - To make you look at your problems rather than at God; Diversion - To make the wrong things seems attractive so that you will want them more than the right things; Defeat - To make you feel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9, Luke 7:18-35

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Humble Memorial  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

A HUMBLE MEMORIAL In 1884 a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial to him. With that in mind they met with Charles Eliot, president of Harvard University. Eliot received the unpretentious couple into his office and asked what he could do. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, Genesis 1:1

Tags: Emotions, Parable Great Banquet, Humility

An Elderly Man Was Desperately Ill. Knowing The ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Dec 10, 2001

An elderly man was desperately ill. Knowing the time for his departure was near, he called for his closest friends to come see him one last time. Attending him were his doctor, his pastor and his business manager. The old man said, “I know you can’t take it with you, but who knows for sure? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-10, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On A Rather Insignificant Sphere  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 28, 2002

ON A RATHER INSIGNIFICANT SPHERE A senior angel is showing a very young angel around the splendors of the universe. They view whirling galaxies and blazing suns, and then flit across the infinite distances of space until at last they enter one particular galaxy of 500 billion stars. As the two ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-8, 1 Peter 1:12

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Baptist

For Everyone—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Aug 23, 2002

FOR EVERYONE-COMMUNION MEDITATION James W. Moore of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston tells a story about one of his minister friends. His name is Tom and he does a fascinating thing each month. Even though he has an extremely busy schedule he still makes the time each month to go down ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Luke 22:19

Tags: Lord's Supper, Reverence, Worth, Communion, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I've Been In Long Caravans Before Where Anywhere ...

Contributed by Rick Thiessen on Oct 1, 2002

I’ve been in long caravans before where anywhere from 5 to 25 vehicles are making the same trek together - as a tree planting and a youth pastor. You know what my rule always was for the drivers? Keep up with the guy ahead of you. That was my rule. It seemed natural because you’re always ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tags: Following, Guidance, Apprenticeship, Discipleship, Mentoring, Leading, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sodium Is An Extremely Active Element Found ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Platt on Nov 1, 2002

Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride - common table salt ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Apologetics General, Christian Values, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Slow And Steady  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 28, 2003

SLOW AND STEADY The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:4-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit General, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lost Sheep—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 25, 2004

THE LOST SHEEP- COMMUNION MEDITATION Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years? When he was finally discovered in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by musterer Ann Scanlan, he was almost unrecognizable as a sheep. The first thing his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10, 1 Peter 2:24-25

Tags: Lord's Supper, Parable Lost Sheep

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., Is The Chief Judge Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., is the Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals. When his daughter Zoe graduated from the Univ. of South Carolina in 1992, he told this story that happened what she was just three years old. Sanders came home from work one day to find his home – and especially ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Children, Commandments Murder

Denomination: Baptist

Distractions  PRO

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Jul 14, 2004

Illustration: Distractions We can become distracted and look away from the goal of becoming like Christ. If you saw the movie Chariots of Fire, then maybe you remember the great runner Abraham. He had won so many races. His coach held up such discipline. But he finally lost one of the races ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

Billy Graham Tells The Story About A Little Child ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Nov 11, 2004

Billy Graham tells the story about a little child the was playing with a very valuable vase. He put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father too, tried his best to get it out, to no avail. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, “Now my son, make one more try. ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-13, 1 Corinthians 3:1-22

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith, Freedom, Materialism, Surrender, Worldly  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

Where Your Heart Is  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

St Augustine wrote Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. Where you heart is, there is your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Gifts Giving

Denomination: Baptist

A Well-Known Christian Businessman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

A well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church was asked to give his testimony. He said, "I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Mark 4:35-38

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Others Have Prejudices, But We Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 5, 2005

Others have prejudices, but we have convictions. Others are conceited, but in me it’s self-respect. Others are social-climbing snobs, but with me it’s just trying to get ahead. If you are unyielding about your views of Scripture, that’s just plain stubbornness; but in me, it’s contending for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:2, Luke 15:25-32

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Worry

Denomination: Baptist

Perserverance  PRO

Contributed by Richard Schwedes on Nov 13, 2006

Perserverance: In Sydney, Australia you can climb the Sydney Harbor bridge...for a fee of course $145 per person... This opportunity is available because a gentleman by the name of Paul Cave had the vision to establish the business Bridge Climb... At one stage it looked like the business would ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5, 1 Samuel 22:1-4

Denomination: Lutheran

God Has Said That Every Christian Has At Least ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"God has said that every Christian has at least one spiritual gift for the benefit of the whole body of Christ. No one has all the gifts, all have at least one gift, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Character