In Sermon Illustrations: "John 19:46-51"

In His Book Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides Tel...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

In his book Ghost Soldiers, Hampton Sides tells the story of a dramatic mission during World War II. On January 28th, 1945, 121 hand-selected Army Rangers slipped behind enemy lines in the Philippines in an attempt to rescue 513 American and British POW’s who had spent three years in a hellish ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty

Prison Doors Open From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PRISON DOORS OPEN FROM OUTSIDE Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned by Hitler during World War II, writes to his fiancé about one of the many lessons he learned from life in prison: “A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty

The Church Is About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

THE CHURCH IS ABOUT FREEDOM The silkworm makes an amazing journey to becoming a moth. At one point in the journey, the worm spins about itself a remarkable cocoon. The little sack is composed of 400 to 800 yards of silk fiber which seals it from the inside as it waits for metamorphosis. When that ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Christian Liberty

Together Again

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jan 18, 2009

Together Again Together again, over yonder God’s promise the way it will be Never again to know parting Together again, you and me. Together again, up in heaven Removed from life’s sorrow and care No worry about a tomorrow Together again, over there. Together again, glad reunion Happy meeting in ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sputtering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

SPUTTERING A man in North Carolina bought a new car with a voice-warning system. ... At first he was amused to hear the soft female voice gently remind him that his seat belt wasn’t fastened. ... Edwin affectionately called this voice the "little woman." He soon discovered his little woman was ...read more

Scripture: John 14:26

Tags: Direction, Holy Spirit, Rebellion, Conscience

Stuttering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

STUTTERING A enormously muscular guy with a bad stutter goes to a counter in a department store and asks, "W-w-w-where’s the m-m-m-men’s dep-p-p-partment?" The clerk behind the counter just looks at him and says nothing. The man repeats himself: "W-w-w-where’s the m-m-m-men’s dep-p-p-partment?" ...read more

Scripture: John 14:26

Tags: Conscience

Escaped ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

ESCAPED CONFLICTS In the 1980’s a retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the least likely place affected by a nuclear war -- a place of ultimate ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Never Said Thanks  PRO

Contributed by Et Tapper on Feb 9, 2009

NEVER SAID THANKS Edward Spencer was a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, and also a member of a life-saving squad during his school years. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue seventeen ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Pentecostal

The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

THE SHEEP-CHASER A guide on a tour bus that traveled through Israel’s countryside had the crowd engaged as he explained the history, the scenery and the lifestyle. In his description, he included a heart-warming portrayal of the ancient shepherd/sheep relationship. He told of how the shepherd ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-15

Tags: Leadership General

The World Doesn't Hate You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THE WORLD DOESN’T HATE YOU After a tough and discouraging day at work, Melvin plopped himself on the couch and began wallowing in self-pity. His moaned to his wife, "Nobody cares about me. In fact, the whole world hates me." Without even looking up from her work, Melvin’s wife replied, "That’s ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Disappointment

Imbalanced ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

IMBALANCED COVERAGE Only 8% of Americans are atheist, reports The National Cultural Values Survey conducted for the Culture and Media Institute (CMI). Yet the U.S. news media does not subject atheism or atheists to the same skepticism to which it subjects Christians and Christianity. From the 105 ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Persecution

Christ Was Love  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

CHRIST WAS LOVE I read a story that I thought was a perfect illustration as to what the perfect gift looks like at Christmas. It centered on a school Christmas pageant. Of course there was nothing there to make it religious. Only snowmen, reindeer and the like. And so the kindergarten class was ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Light In The Darkness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 11, 2009

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS I remember a story told to me by a friend who flew combat choppers in Viet Nam. He was radioed to a secret mission one night which required him to fly in total darkness, totally by instruments. Hovering above a jungle under heavy cloud cover, he told me that it seemed you ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Christian Witness

The Story Of Isaac ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE STORY OF ISAAC WATTS A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring and old-fashioned, with tiresome words that meant little to his generation. His father challenged him with these words: "If you think you can write better hymns, why don’t you?" The boy ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Tags: Worship General

Famous Last Words  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

FAMOUS LAST WORDS Karl Marx, died in 1883 with these last words: "Go on, get out - last words are for fools who haven’t said enough." Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, d.1170 "I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace." The very last words ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Tags: Cross

I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

I CHEATED... Davy Troxel said: My 8-year-old son came home from school with a stuffed animal he had won at the class Valentine party. "How did that happen?" I asked. "Well," he explained, "the teacher put all our names together, then picked one out. I cheated, though," he said, looking ...read more

Scripture: John 16:24

Tags: Prayer General

Every Single Apostle Experienced Persecution: 1 ...  PRO

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on May 29, 2007

• Every single apostle experienced persecution: 1 John died of old age exiled on the island of Patmos. 2 Peter was crucified upside down under Nero. 3. Andrew died upon a cross at Patrae, in Achia 4.James the brother of Jesus was thrown from a pinnacle of the temple and beaten to death by a ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-31

Denomination: Baptist

I Know Of A Priest Back In New York City Who Went ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jun 3, 2007

I know of a priest back in New York City who went to Ireland to visit his relatives. While he was staying at his cousin’s farm, they decided to have some fun with him. After doing some chores in the fields, they told him to come in for dinner just as soon as he was through rounding up the sheep ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Bamboo

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Once upon a time, in the heart of an ancient Kingdom, there was a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden would walk. Of all the plants of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet more noble ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Tags: Humility, Surrender, Abundance, Send, Die To Live  (view more)  (view less)

More Than Anyone Else Christian Parents Can Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

More than anyone else Christian parents can have the most influence on their children, because when Christ died upon the Cross the veil was ripped open so they could enter into the presence of God who sits on the Throne of Grace. The call to pray is from God’s Word and we are given a sure promise, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-18

Tags: Faith