In Sermon Illustrations: "John Updike" showing 721-740 of 4,145

In Eastern Lands, People Used Public Baths And ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Mar 30, 2004

In Eastern lands, people used public baths and got dressed again; as they walked in the dusty streets, their feet became dirty. On arriving home, they did not need another bath; they needed only to wash their feet. When the Jewish priests were ordained, they were washed all over (Ex. 29:4), which ...read more

Scripture: John 13:9-10

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Lutheran

I Think That Pain And Suffering Is The Price We ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2004

I think that pain and suffering is the price we pay for being alive. Being alive means living with original sin and the mighty power of Jesus’ death on the cross. When we understand that, our question will change to, What do we do with our suffering and pain? Our pain and suffering must become ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-38

Every Once In A While My Daughter Starts ...

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 30, 2004

Every once in a while my daughter starts crying. From then on in, the battle begins. My wife and I have an ignorance contest. Who can lay the stillest for the longest without getting up? The trick to winning this battle is to learn how to tune it out. If I can somehow stay in a sort of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

When I Was A Boy, I Saw A Stereo At Foley's ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 23, 2004

When I was a boy, I saw a stereo at Foley’s department store that I wanted. My father agreed to pay for the stereo on the condition that I pay him back with the money I received from mowing lawns that summer. It was my first real loan in some ways. I received the benefits of the stereo ...read more

Scripture: John 1:43-51

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

One Sunday After Church, A Mom Asked Her Very ...  PRO

Contributed by Evelyn Weston on May 23, 2004

One Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don’t be scared, you’ll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what ...read more

Scripture: John 14:16

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Lutheran

When You Were Growing Up, Do You Remember The ...  PRO

Contributed by Robbie Shivar on Jun 4, 2004

When you were growing up, do you remember the phrase "Do-Over" that was often used during playtime? It would happen during a game of kick ball. The kicker would wallop the ball into the air over toward the trees. The ball would then bounce it way down through the branch and then get stuck. The ...read more

Scripture: John 21:12-19

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Worship Ought Not To Be Construed In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 12, 2004

Worship ought not to be construed in a utilitarian way. Its purpose is not to gain numbers nor for our churches to be seen as successful. Rather, the entire reason for our worship is that God deserves it. Moreover, it isn’t even useful for earning points with God, for what we do in worship won’t ...read more

Scripture: John 4:26-32

Tags: Worship Definition

I Served A Church That Had A Wonderful Young ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2004

I served a Church that had a wonderful young married couple. He was 30, she was 26 and they had two beautiful children. The oldest would come up and set with me while I was preaching. The husband worked for the State and had a good job that he enjoyed. She worked for a large nationwide company ...read more

Scripture: John 10:14

Numbers 24:17 Had Predicted That "A Star Will ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 20, 2004

Numbers 24:17 had predicted that “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” That star was a young boy by the name of Jesus - who would save His people from their sins. Every evening when you wake up you can look at the stars and depend on the fact that it will be in the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:25-26

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

A Real Heroine  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 26, 2004

A REAL HEROINE As you walk down the red carpet, a frenzied mob swarms around you, demanding your autograph. The reporters are snapping your picture, nearly blinding you. Every ten feet, a television crew stops you for an interview. Have you just become the hottest newest star? No, you’re at ...read more

Scripture: John 15:14

Tags: Ruth, Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Are You Being Served? Was A British Sitcom That ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 7, 2004

Are You Being Served? was a British sitcom that ran from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the very old-fashioned Grace Brothers department store, owned by Mr. Grace. The program deals with the working life of the staff of the Ladies’ and Gent’s outfitting departments. Captain Peacock is in overall ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Misconceptions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

C. A Little Girl, On The Way Home From Church, ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 21, 2004

C. A little girl, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.” The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?” The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” “Yes, that’s true,” the Mother replied. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-29

Tags: Joy, Peace, Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Is Told Of A Native From A Remote ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 17, 2004

The story is told of a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to visit a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere. So he bought a sack full of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:5

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was In A Christian Bookstore In St. Louis Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2004

I was in a Christian bookstore in St. Louis not that long ago. I was walking around looking at the different books on the shelves and trinkets that you could buy. I really didn’t see much that I thought was worth my attention, so I started heading to the door. Before I got to the door, however, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:28-30

Tags: Misconceptions

The Birth Foretold  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 6, 2004

THE BIRTH FORETOLD About 500 before Jesus was born - a man named Buddha came along. He established a religion we know of as Buddhism, and many people gathered around him and tried to live by his teachings. But before he was born, nobody ever said: “Hey somebody is going to come along and he will ...read more

Scripture: John 6:24-35

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Foundation, Disciples, Messianic Prophecies

The Mystery Of The Humanity Of Christ, That He ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2004

"The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

When Christmas Doesn't Make Your Heart Swell Up ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2004

“When Christmas doesn’t make your heart swell up until it nearly bursts and fill your eyes with tears and make you all soft and warm inside then you will know ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Donald Miller, In His Excellent Book Searching ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 2, 2007

Donald Miller, in his excellent book Searching for God Knows What, tells about going to a Bible college where he taught one of the classes. Speaking to this group of Bible students, he told them he was going to present the plan of salvation, but he was going to leave out one key element, and they ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Denomination: Methodist

Currently Rudy Is Locked Up And Locked Up Is What ...

Contributed by Sam Wrisley on Oct 24, 2007

currently Rudy is locked up and locked up is what he deserves. I met Rudy 4 years ago. He was drunk at a bus station. He wanted a bus ticket and I bought it for him. It would not be the last ticket i would buy for Rudy. Rudy was arrested for robbery when he was 17. The judge sentanced him to ...read more

Scripture: John 8:34-36

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For Almost Forty Years, Margaret Lived With The ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Jan 12, 2008

For almost forty years, Margaret lived with the memory of one soul-scarring day in the one-room schoolhouse she attended. From the first day Margaret came to class, she and Ms. Garner, her bitter and harsh teacher, didn’t get along. Over the years, the animosity between them only worsened until ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Tags: Love, Healing, Encouragement, Depression

Denomination: Baptist