In Sermon Illustrations: "kingdom of darkness"

Quiet Strength  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 24, 2004

QUIET STRENGTH There is a story about a sunken ship that illustrates the quietness of the spirit, but at the same time His Power in our lives. "Several years ago engineers building a new bridge over the East River in New York, discovered that the wrecked hull of a ship, sunk many years before, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit General, Kingdom Of God, Pentecost, Trinity

The Reason It Happened...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2004

THE REASON IT HAPPENED... The Metropolitan Insurance Company has published this list: Reasons/Excuses for Auto Accidents: (1) “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car, and vanished.” (2) “The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran over him.” (3) “I had been driving for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24

Tags: Apologetics General, Parable Great Banquet, Kingdom Of God

Laus Deo  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

LAUS DEO In the middle of Washington DC stands a monument--our national Monument, the Washington Monument. As a history lesson, there are some things you should know about this place. There can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument in the DC area. On the aluminum cap ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

Tags: Children, Worship, Sin, God, America, Character, Kingdom  (view more)  (view less)

Become What You Are

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 18, 2014

Norman Jean Douglas- Germans have a saying, “Ware was du bist” (Become what you are). The meaning was difficult for me until a minister gave me the following analogy. When a reigning monarch has a child there appears to be no difference between that child and any other child. Both are fussy, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13

Tags: Child Of God, Mentor, Training Disciples, Kingdom Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Recognizing The Value Of The Gospel Offer

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 20, 2021

It’s a sad day when people are offered the kingdom of heaven, but they don’t see its value. They set it aside as a common thing and go their way. Image going to an antique store and finding a priceless antique there. The seller has priced it as a common item. But it is worth many times more than ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44-46, Philippians 3:7-11, Matthew 6:19-34, Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 4:7, Luke 14:33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Value, Invitation, Choice, Kingdom Of Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

[091]. Poem Message – For The Christian - Light Through The Tunnel

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 28, 2025

[091]. A POEM MESSAGE – FOR THE CHRISTIAN THERE IS LIGHT THROUGH THE TUNNEL There was a lovely little song written in that western style around the middle of last century called, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Sometimes in our lives, it is like being in a dark tunnel where we can not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, 1 Corinthians 13:12

Tags: The Path Ahead, Light, Darkness, Maze, Walk By Faith, Tunnel, We See Dimly  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Divine Advocacy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Discipleship occurs only in community. Very few people are expert in anything all by themselves. They need a supporting community. Do you know a good musician who was not trained, nurtured and sustained by the music community? Show me an athlete who achieves excellence all alone, apart from the ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

A Couple Of Weeks Ago, Our Small Group Got ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

A couple of weeks ago, our small group got together for a movie night. We watched “Unbreakable,” the latest movie from the writer and director of “The Sixth Sense.” In this movie, Bruce Willis discovers that he has a special gift, but he doesn’t yet know how to use it. So his new friend, played by ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith, Kingdom Of God

The Gospel Is A Universal Language That Crosses ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

The Gospel is a universal language that crosses the barriers of time to impact the lives of ordinary ...read more

Tags: Outreach, Gospel, Kingdom Of God, Evangelism, Witness, What Is Evangelism?  (view more)  (view less)

A Missionary Was Seated On A Plane Next To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 17, 2002

A missionary was seated on a plane next to a well-dressed young man and they soon began conversing. The missionary asked him what he did for a living. He answered, “I’m in big business.” “So am I,” replied the missionary. With that the young man remarked, “I cover the entire U.S. with my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Great Commission, Church Body Of Christ, Kingdom Of God, Matthew

Denomination: Wesleyan

Life Change Comes About! ((Moffatt's Law) Of Life Change)

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 5, 2018

Engaging in Kingdom Culture that brings life change. It works on this fundamental principle. Hope is the spark that ignites the confident belief and in addition relationships with God and people, lead to Life Change. Hope + confident belief (Faith) + relationship (Love) = Life ...read more

Tags: Faith, Love, Law, Hope, Life Change, Kingdom Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Ocean Of Understanding Awaits

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Dec 22, 2024

Many saved by grace through faith in Christ wait on the shore of a great ocean. For them great opportunities to serve, encounter life change, and gain deeper understanding of God and their fellow man awaits. All ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith, Belief, Understanding, Ocean, Depth, Kingdom Of God, Shore  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Unsinkable  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

UNSINKABLE Robert Morgan tells a story that took place on the Sunday after the Titanic sank. It happened in Belfast, where the great ship was built. Naturally, the townspeople were devastated. Men met on the city's streets, grasped each other's hands, burst into tears and parted without speaking a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Tags: Grace, Perseverance, Endurance, Hope, Kingdom, Halloween, Struggles, Trial, Fear And Worry  (view more)  (view less)

Outline Of The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

This profoundly simple model captures everything we need to know about prayer. It sets the standard, or pattern, for praying the way Jesus prayed. Outline: The paternity of prayer: “Father” The priority of prayer: “Hallowed be your name” The program of prayer: “Your kingdom come” The ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Lord's Prayer, Daily Bread, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dead Religion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

Steven Cole gives us a powerful personal application of the story in Luke 13:10-17. Luke concludes this story by noting that Jesus’ opponents were being humiliated, but the multitude was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him (Lk 13:17). As we saw before, Jesus and His teaching ...read more

Tags: Faith, Church, Revival, Religion, Satan, Preaching, Outlines, Kingdom Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

But Before That...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 7, 2002

BUT BEFORE THAT... In 1992, when our own Govenor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria. But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 33:12

Tags: Kingdom Of God, July, Heritage, History, Independence Day, Independence, America, Freedom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God Is Your Father

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jul 25, 2018

As a child, before my brothers and sisters and I would sit down for breakfast, we would ask our father what we could do to please him so that he would let us eat breakfast. He’d tell us. If we wanted lunch money for school we would ask our father what would please him. He’d tell us. At supper time, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-33

Tags: Father, God, Kingdom, Master, Seek, Gentiles, Reap, Take No Thought, Lillies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Cannot Say The Lord's Prayer If...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

An unknown author put together an interesting (convicting) summary of how we cannot pray the Lord's Prayer, which should be actually referred to as the Disciples’ Prayer, for Jesus had no sin to confess. I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself. I cannot say, “Father” if I do not endeavor ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Sermon On The Mount, Forgiveness, Prayer, Temptation, Holiness, Lord's Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cheapest Way To Park A Rolls Royce!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

In Mattew 25, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples. The parable shows the value of investing wisely by those who took their talent and multiplied it through wise negotiation. The one who buried his talent and did not invest was scolded by the Lord. Here is a funny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Investing, Business, Talents, Saving Money, Money Management, Kingdom Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational