In Sermon Illustrations: "John Mark"

War Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

WAR IS HELL War is defined as “a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations,” or more generally, as “a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism.” About 15 years ago a group of academics and historians compiled some startling information. Since 3600 BC, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8

Tags: War

The ...

Contributed by Loyd Taylor on Oct 30, 2008

THE VOLUNTEERS This poem is dedicated to all faithful volunteers. We could not make it without your willingness to serve. Thank you, Loyd Taylor There are some special people that we know Found in needy places across this land, They’re people that selflessly serve others Always ready to lend a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41

Tags: Servanthood, Serving Others

Denomination: Baptist

Life Without Easter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

LIFE WITHOUT EASTER The story is told of a young mother who found herself on the last train out of Poland during Hitler’s regime. She had her first-born toddler and her newborn nursing infant with her. The bombing was fierce, and the train had to stop many times for the passengers to take cover. A ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:6

Tags: Easter, Joy, Purpose, Eternal Life, Easter Resurrection  (view more)  (view less)

The German Spiritual Writer Thomas À Kempis ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 28, 2009

The German spiritual writer Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) said this: "Jesus now has many lovers of his heavenly ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Anglican

A Prayer Of God's ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Apr 21, 2009

A PRAYER OF GOD’S SERVANTS We are God’s servants. We put God’s love for all people first. No race is superior to another. No government is more loved than another. No nation is dearer than another. We do not put our nation’s economy before God’s economy. He tells us to seek first His Kingdom, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:45

Tags: Servanthood, Servants Of God, Servant Attitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

C.h. Spurgeon Defines Faith This Way, "Faith Is ...

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 26, 2009

C.H. Spurgeon defines faith this way, "Faith is believing that Christ is what He is said to be, and that he will do what He has ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:2-5

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Radical Solutions

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

RADICAL SOLUTIONS A pastor was walking along a river one day, when he came across some boys who were fishing. But this was no ordinary way of fishing, because to the surprise of the onlooker, they were casting a tire into the water. The result? They were hauling the fish in by the bucketload! As ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: Evangelism How To

Isolation, Loneliness More Difficult Than ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

ISOLATION, LONELINESS MORE DIFFICULT THAN PAIN William H. Willimon, in his commentary on our text, shared the following story from his childhood. "A little girl in my second grade class got the dreaded disease of polio. Our teacher described to us the possible complications of her disease. She ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

Tags: Loneliness, Suffering Loneliness

Soon, Very Soon  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on May 28, 2009

SOON, VERY SOON A lady was cleaning her house and singing Gospel songs as she worked. She began singing, "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king..." Her little son was in the next room and began singing along with Mom. Something was a little off, however, so Mom stopped to listen. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-16

Tags: Children

Denomination: United Methodist

What Do You Hold ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

WHAT DO YOU HOLD SACRED? One of the most profound things I learned in graduate school was taught to me by one of my professors. He is now my Counselor Intern Supervisor, my mentor, and my good friend, Tom Moore. It was really more of a question than a profound fact to puzzle over. On an essay ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Tags: Christian Values

Stayed To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

STAYED TO SERVE Last fall, Baptist deacon Joe Lusi was suspected of spying. Lusi is a physician in Rwanda, right near the border where the refugees cross into Zaire. Joe Lusi is a Zairian, but the Baptist hospital is in Rwanda. Moreover, the government-run hospital across town had always been ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:35

Tags: Servanthood

Prejudice Comes From An Unclean ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Prejudice Comes from an Unclean Heart I like this thought posted by Mike Atkinson in his daily email humor list some time ago. If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:14-15

Tags: Racism

Compassion For

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Compassion for "Dirty Dog Gentiles" Mark 7:36-37 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (NIV) These ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:36-37

Tags: Compassion

Self-Gratification, Nfl ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

Self-Gratification, NFL Style Dexter Manly, has two Super Bowl rings, and amassed over 100 sacks during his career-heard voices. They were voices calling him into personal and instant gratification as a star. Clothes, meals, cars and drugs took over his life. In 91 he was banned from the NFL. His ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Self

Brain ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2009

Brain Translplant There’s a story about a wealthy man who was terminally ill. The doctor said, "There’s only “one thing” that will save you. “A brain transplant.” - It’s an experimental operation. And it’s very expensive." The wealthy guy said, - "Money is no object. Can you get me a brain?" The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-6

Tags: Power, Christ's Power

How An Elevator Operator Shares The Gospel  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2009

How an Elevator Operator Shares the Gospel An elevator operator at a hospital in Nashville once said, "I’m just a nobody telling everybody about somebody who can save ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-6

Tags: Evangelism How To

Working Late In The Cemetery  PRO

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Oct 29, 2009

WORKING LATE IN THE CEMETERY Late one dark night, two men were walking home after a party. They were tired and desperate to get home, so they decided to take a shortcut through a cemetery. They got to about the middle of the graveyard, and they were startled and stopped moving. There was a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Tags: Halloween

Denomination: Pentecostal

Popular Ideas Of Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

POPULAR IDEAS OF JESUS As we consider the risk of following Jesus, we must acknowledge the same thing; we must acknowledge that Jesus is THE Christ, not some popularized version we hear about today. In a posting just this last June, Kevin DeYoung, in his Restless and Reformed blog, describes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-29

Tags: Faith, Christ, Jesus, Culture, Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

1950's Game,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

1950’s Game, "Going To Jerusalem," Misrepresented the Christian Life Mark 8:33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter – same word. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (NIV) Peter’s attitude was not only ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Discipleship, Playing Games

A $100 Bill, A $20 Bill And A $1 Bill Meet Up At ...

Contributed by Timothy Craver on Nov 9, 2009

A $100 bill, a $20 bill and a $1 bill meet up at the shredder at the end of their lives. The 100 says, “I’ve seen the whole world during my lifetime. Why, I’ve been on cruises in the Caribbean, safaris in Africa and vacations in Europe.” The 20 says, “Well, I haven’t done quite as well, but I have ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Money, Giving

Denomination: Brethren