In Sermon Illustrations: "July 4"

Music Abuse

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

MUSIC ABUSE The Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analyzed the lyrics of the top 279 songs of 2005. Nearly 80% of rap songs contained references to illicit drugs, alcohol or tobacco, followed by country (37%), R&B (20%), rock (14%) and pop (9%). When combined, 42% of all songs had some ...read more

Tags: Culture

Christian Publishers And Retailers Report ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

Christian Publishers and retailers report increased Bible sales in 2007 fueled by audio editions. Thomas Nelson’s The Word of Promise audio project was the top-selling Bible at Christian retail in Q4 of 2007, while Zondervan’s Inspired by ... The Bible Experience audio edition and derivative ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Shallow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

SHALLOW LIVES A few statistics clarify a problem. The figures I have are from five years ago, but I believe the comparisons are still the same. Americans gave $2.9 billion dollars to overseas missions. That sounds pretty good until you find out that we spend $8.4 billion to see movies, $13 billion ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Darkness Of The Catacombs, In The Filth ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

"In the darkness of the catacombs, in the filth of underground sewers, in the shadows of a thousand Roman nights, these phrases were searched by tired faces. These pages were held in trembling hands. These words sent the light of hope into the hearts of God's people. It was a message straight from ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Right And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Right and Wrong While Leonardo da Vinci was painting the “The Last Supper”, he became incensed with a certain man. His temper flared, and he lashed out with bitter words. Returning to his work, he attempted to brush some delicate lines on the face of Jesus. But he was so distraught that he could ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Œwhile Touring Europe A Tourist Visited A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

“While touring Europe a tourist visited a lovely estate in Italy. He admired the beautiful garden encountering the gardener he said, “You’ve done a beautiful job. How long have you worked here?” 25 years, came the answer. “How often has the owner been to this estate?” – 4 times – ...read more

Tags: Money

Œwhile Touring Europe A Tourist Visited A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

“While touring Europe a tourist visited a lovely estate in Italy. He admired the beautiful garden encountering the gardener he said, “You’ve done a beautiful job. How long have you worked here?” 25 years, came the answer. “How often has the owner been to this estate?” – 4 times – ...read more

Tags: Money

Although He Follows No Rules, We Know Satan ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Although he follows no rules, we know Satan attacks on three fronts: through the flesh, through the world, and by direct assault. The Flesh: In the 1936 Spanish civil war, Franco’s Loyalist Army defeated the Republican Army in Madrid. It was the key battle of the war and led to the establishment ...read more

Tags: Satan

Church Health Services

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

CHURCH HEALTH SERVICES Nearly 70% of U.S. churches provide direct health services and 65% provide educational health programs, according to the National Council of Churches (NCC) USA Congregational Health Survey. Only 6.4% offer no programs of any kind in health care ministries. The congregations ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Catholic Schools ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CLOSING 1,267 Catholic schools have closed since 2000, and enrollment nationwide has dropped by 382,125 students, or 14% percent, according to the National Catholic Education Association. The problem is most apparent in inner cities. Catholic schools have been closing since their ...read more

Tags: School

Online Fraud ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

ONLINE FRAUD STATS Americans reported $240 million in online fraud losses in ’07 to the FBI (an increase of $40 million from ’06). Median dollar loss in ’07 per complaint was $680. Men lost on average $1.67 to every dollar women lost. Men accounted for 75.2% of reported perpetrators and 57.6% of ...read more

Tags: Technology

We Are Having Some Difficult Times, And People ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Feb 26, 2009

We are having some difficult times, and people are struggling, but there are some things we need to realize and remember this morning. “A few centuries ago, 4/5s of the French spent 90% of their income for food. With only what you and I consider a marginal tip to a waitress, they had to provide ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Baptist

The Captain Of The Lord's Hosts

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 17, 2023

The “Captain of the Lord’s Hosts” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. We call this a CHRISTOPHANY. The word translated as, “Angel”, is another word for “Messenger” and does not limit the Divinity of Christ or make him a mere angel. What does Scripture say about the ...read more

Tags: Joshua, Jesus, Christophanies, Worship, Angels, Captain, Sovereignty Of God, Types, Christ In The Old Testament  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Cain Refused To Bring A Blood Offering

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

God's having made for man coats of skin presupposes the slaying of animals; and doubtless implies that Abel's sacrifice of an animal life was an act of faith which rested on God's command (though not expressly recorded) that such were the sacrifices He required. If it had not been ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Jesus, Blood Covenant, Offerings, Blood Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things You Do When You Are Obsessed With Prophecy!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 30, 2023

Things you do when you are obsessed with biblical prophecy: 1. You always leave the top down on your convertible in case the Rapture happens while you are driving! 2. You never buy green bananas. 3. Bar code scanners make you nervous. 4. You refuse a tax refund check because the amount comes ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:12-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Return Of Christ, Prophecy, Second Coming, Antichrist, Parousia, Rapture, Tribulation, Revelation, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before You Yield To Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Dr Warren Wiersbe has some excellent words we all need to keep on the "front burner" of our mind so that we have our loins (minds) girded for action (before) the next time we are tempted to commit some flagrant, presumptive, abominable sin against our Holy, Holy, Holy God. BEFORE you ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tribulation, Yield, Trials, Lust, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Lies, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Swift To Hear

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2024

Ropes suggests that the phrase “swift to hear,” used in James 1:19 (tachus eis to akousai), relates primarily to the hearing of or the ready obedience to the Word (referring to 1:18). It is not just an imperative concerning normal social interaction or communication. It is, in fact, ...read more

Tags: Listening, Worship, Discipleship, Obedience, Prayer, Word Of God, Hearing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Hole You Go!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

As a minister, I conduct many baptismal services. My denomination baptizes in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. One Sunday, my family and I went to a friend’s home in the country. Our four children went outside to play with the others. After a short while, we heard only silence ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Faith, Baptism, Church, Children, Great Commission, Salvation'  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational