In Sermon Illustrations: "lack of discernment"

Who Needs Twitter!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

We all want our lives to matter, and we believe they only matter if they are noticed by someone. I wonder if this desire for a witness isn't what fuels a lot of blogs, Facebook, and especially Twitter. We want someone, anyone, to take notice … to care about us … to watch us and by their ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Communication, Self Esteem, Relationship

Denomination: Pentecostal

From 1986 To 1990, Frank Reed Was Held Hostage ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 22, 2004

From 1986 to 1990, Frank Reed was held hostage in a Lebanon cell. For months at a time, Reed was blindfolded, living in complete darkness or chained to a wall and kept in absolute silence. On one occasion, he was moved to another room, and, although blindfolded, he could sense others in the room. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In 1835 A Man Visited A Doctor In Florence, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 21, 2005

In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy. He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. He couldn’t eat, and he avoided his friends. The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition. Concluding that his patient needed to have a good time, the ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Rude Awakening: "People Have No Tolerance Or ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Rude Awakening: “People have no tolerance or compassion anymore,” says Lori Vitto, USAirways. Service industry customer complaints are way up and road rage is common. Incivility is on the rise and almost the norm in some parts of the culture. Some see all this as the dark side of the New Economy. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Many Years Ago, In My High School Chemistry ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Many years ago, in my high school chemistry class, a little poem was often quoted. Its effort at humor may have been lacking but the consequences of an erroneous belief were certainly well depicted. It goes “Alas for little Willie, We’ll ne’er see Willie more, For what he thought was H2O, Was H2 ...read more

Tags: Humility

The Importance Of Relationships

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS I recently read some interesting statistics that show how IMPORTANT relationships are in our lives. The American Institute of Stress conducted research on 232 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery. Of those patients, 21 died within six months. Here are two ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Talmud Records A Similar Parable By Rabbi ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 2, 2009

The Talmud records a similar parable by Rabbi Johanan b. Zakkai - b. Shabbat 153a* [It is like] a king who invited his servants to a feast and did not appoint them a time. The wise among them adorned themselves and sat down by the door of the palace, for they said: Is anything lacking in a palace? ...read more

Tags: Preparation, Feast

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hudson Taylor On Contentment  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Hudson Taylor on Contentment "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One," said A. W. Tozer. 1. You have His assurance - "for he hath said..." Hudson Taylor the founder of China Inland Mission, was facing a lack of finances in his ministry. He retreated to office and read the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: God's Provision

We Require Loving

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

WE REQUIRE LOVING A little girl was making but poor progress toward recovery, though the ailment had been checked and there seemed to be no reason why she should not rapidly improve. But it didn’t happen, and the doctor in charge was keenly interested to know why. She was a very sensitive child, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Christian Love

Can You Conquer Yourself?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

GREAT QUOTES ON SELF-CONTROL Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Holy Spirit, Self, Self Denial, Crucified With Christ, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Go To God €" He Is The Source Of Our Goodness On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Go to God – he is the source of our goodness on this earth. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Story: This story about Hudson Taylor – a well known ...read more

Tags: Missions

God's Will Is God's Word

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

GOD’S WILL IS GOD’S WORD Jimmy is a professional fisherman. He makes his living fishing on the BASS (Bass Angler Sportsman Society) circuit. He is also a devout Christian and belongs to the FBC Keys, Oklahoma. This year, BASS made a ruling that to be eligible for the fisherman of the year award ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Countries Far And Wide Sought Out Solomon. He ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 19, 2009

Countries far and wide sought out Solomon. He gained influence and riches. Immediately after this passage, there is the story of two prostitutes who each had a baby. The mother of one child in her sleep rolled over and killed her child. She got up and switched her dead baby with the other women’s ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Church Of God

Seven Ways To Test The Spirits

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 2, 2023

The late A. W. Tozer had some wise counsel on how to test the spirits” from I John 4:1. He posed seven tests to apply to any teaching: (1) How does the teaching affect my relationship with God? Is He magnified and glorified, or diminished? (2) How does the teaching affect my attitude toward ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:1, John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Holy Spirit, Spirits, Spirit Of Error, Teaching, Satan, Truth, False Teachers, Will Of God, Teachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Citadel Of The Spirit!" Galatians 4: 1-16 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 22, 2004

“The Citadel of The Spirit!” Galatians 4: 1-16 Key verse(s): 16 “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth.” There’s an old proverb that simply states, “Anger begins with folly, and ends with repentance.” I can remember many times in my life when, confronted by someone’s correction, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-16

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Lutheran

A Recent Television Documentary Pointed Out That ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2001

A recent television documentary pointed out that the cheetah survives on the African plains by running down its prey. The big cat can sprint seventy miles per hour. But the cheetah cannot sustain that pace for long. Within its long, sleek body is a disproportionately small heart, which causes the ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Recently This Word—fellowship—has Been In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Galen Hackman on Mar 1, 2003

Recently this word—fellowship—has been in the headlines of our daily experience, thanks to the popular movie adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkin’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. In the first book and movie, entitled, Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien describes the camaraderie of a diverse group of ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Brethren

The Inability To Love  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 26, 2004

Ortberg notes this about the inability to love: 1. The most serious sign of hurry sickness is a diminished capacity to love. Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don’t have (87). 2. The truth is look around at our society ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prominent Businessman At A Luncheon ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 11, 2004

“A prominent businessman at a luncheon announcing his decision to give away a significant amount of money to his alma mater caused great division within his family, for his money was coming out of what his children believed to be their rightful inheritance. The man, once one to find great joy in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 8:5-10

Tags: Fatigue, Joy, Worry, Tired, Stress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

When The American West Was Opened Up, Many A ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Massey on Mar 23, 2002

When the American West was opened up, many a traveler passed over the rich earth that lay on top of the territory of Nebraska. The dirt is rich, black dirt, but they could see no water anywhere. They thought this land would be good for nothing. One writer even called it, “The Great America ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7

Tags: God Brings Hope, God In The Hardships, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Church Of God