In Sermon Illustrations: "John Ortberg"

Churches Present State-- Barna Did A Recent Pole ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 1, 2002

Churches present state-- Barna did a recent pole and 90% of the USA claims to be Christian. He then did another pole and asked certain Christian concepts - Here are the results: He asked Christians what Jesus’ Great Commission was from Matthew 28:19,20 - 86% responded with the wrong answer or did ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions, Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pleasures Of God

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 20, 2003

John Piper writes, "if God wants to love us infinitely and delight us fully and eternally, he must preserve for us the one thing that will satisfy us totally and eternally; namely, the presence and worth of his own glory. He alone is the source of full and lasting pleasure. Therefore, his ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Tags: God's Provision, God The Father

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Issur Danielovitch Densky Did Not Like The Image ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Issur Danielovitch Densky did not like the image he thought his name projected, so he changed his name and became Kirk Douglas. In the same way, Frances Gum transfigured herself and her image into Judy Garland. Archibald Leach became Cary Grant. Aaron Schwalt became Red Buttons. And would you ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Quote: "To What Does The Kingdom Refer? It ...

Contributed by C Jordan on Aug 24, 2007

QUOTE: “To what does the Kingdom refer? It refers to God’s sovereign rule in the universe – He is the King of the Heavens. But more specifically, here it refers to the entry of God’s long anticipated Anointed One – the prophesied Messiah, who would not only be the Saviour and King of Israel, but ...read more

Denomination: *other

One Of My Christmas Presents Was A Book: ‘a ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jan 5, 2008

One of my Christmas presents was a book: ‘A Bundle of Laughs’ by J. John & Mark Stibbe. Towards the end of the book comes their light-hearted ‘20 Rules of Wisdom’. Don’t worry; I’m only going to read four! 1.God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts! 2.Growing old is inevitable, growing up ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Since 1991 Dr. Haddon W. Robinson Has Held The ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jan 27, 2008

Since 1991 Dr. Haddon W. Robinson has held the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching Chair at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. In a poll taken by Baylor University in 1996 he was named one of twelve most effective preachers in the ...read more

Tags: Covetousness

Denomination: Methodist

We Are Not To Be Dazzled, As Many People Are, By ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 18, 2008

"We are not to be dazzled, as many people are, by the person, gifts or office of teachers in the church. They may come to us with great dignity, authority and scholarship. They may be bishops or archbishops, university professors or even the pope himself. But if they bring a gospel other than the ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Other

Fish Tank Life  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 25, 2008

Fish Tank Life A very nice doctor's office had a beautiful fish tank. The fish are bred to look like exotic salt-water fish. They are beautiful, but they are stuck in that expensive tank and going nowhere, chasing each other, killing each other, hoping someone will pay attention and feed them. ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Pentecostal

If God Has Promised Something To You Through His ...

Contributed by Dillon Burroughs on Mar 9, 2009

If God has promised something to you through His Word, it will come to pass. Dr. John Walvoord served as president at Dallas Seminary for 34 years and was known as an authority on the area of Bible prophecy. He calculated after an exhaustive study of the Scriptures that half of the prophecies of ...read more

Tags: Prophecy

Denomination: Baptist

If You've Ever Made The Journey From Jerusalem ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 22, 2009

If you’ve ever made the journey from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, you see this immediately. The whole area is desert, and any drop of water that falls on that desert is immediately swallowed up by the volcanic sand and the sparse vegetation. Ezekiel sees the grace of God flowing from the Temple of ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Catholic

Not So Sure

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2009

NOT SO SURE The famous preacher and founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, once said, "When I was young, I was sure of everything. But after a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before. And at present, I am hardly sure of ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Salvation Is Not A Matter Of Improvement Or ...

Contributed by Shawn Rose on May 19, 2009

“Salvation is not a matter of improvement or perfection of what has previously existed. It is total transformation. The New Testament speaks of believers having a new mind, a new will, a new heart, a new inheritance, a new relationship, new power, new knowledge, new wisdom, new perception, new ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Baptist

When A Christian Grows

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

WHEN A CHRISTIAN GROWS Dr. Bonar once remarked that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Master, talk less of what he was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

If You Can't See The Greatness Of God...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“If you don't see the greatness of God, then all the things that money can buy become very enticing. If you can't see the sun, you will be impressed with a street light. If you've never felt thunder and lightning, you'll be impressed with fireworks. And, if you turn your back on ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-4

Tags: Deception, Vision, Worldliness, Glory Of God, Greatness Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Pastor Was Talking To A Group Of Young People ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Mar 27, 2005

A pastor was talking to a group of young people about the high cost of dying. "People today waste thousands of dollars on coffins and monuments," he said. "Jesus was so unconcerned by His death that He had to use a borrowed tomb." Leave it to our youth to get to the bottom line and put things in ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

C.s. Lewis Says Of True Friendship, "True ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Dec 31, 2005

C.S. Lewis says of true friendship, “True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter in to this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Salvation Army

Publisher Influence: "Religion Publishing Has ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2006

Publisher Influence: “Religion publishing has been a key force, perhaps the key force, in the redefinition of American religion,” says sociologist and author Wade Clark Roof. John Sweeney, Jewish Lights Publishing, notes that publishers help explain religion outside the context of institutions of ...read more

Tags: Character

A Classic Type, Common To Many Renaissance ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Kennicott on May 31, 2006

"A classic type, common to many Renaissance paintings is the ’student.’ A favored follower, a protege or disciple, is always portrayed as very youthful, long-haired and clean-shaven...Throughout the Renaissance, artists portray St. John in this fashion. He is the ’disciple Jesus loved’ ....Only a ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Pentecostal

When Doubts Filled My Mind  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 21, 2006

Psalm 94:19 - When doubts filled my mind The doubts of this verse concern a multitude of realities as offered by John Gill. There are thoughts of the majesty of God and how we relate to him. It is offered that we sense security yet an uncertainty at the same time. We believe we have hope but are ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

To Laugh Often And Much; To Win The Respect Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36