In Sermon Illustrations: "Lamp Of The Body"

The Bible Says That "Today Is The Day Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Nov 4, 2003

The Bible says that “Today is the day of salvation.” Author Anne Lamott tells about a 7 year old girl who got lost in a big city. The girl frantically ran up and down several streets, looking for a familiar landmark. A policeman saw the girl, realized something was wrong, and offered to help. She ...read more

Tags: Body Of Christ, Church, Heaven, Home, What Is Evangelism?  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Most Of Us Have Experienced What Happens To ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

Most of us have experienced what happens to motorists when one of those huge graders goes to work on a highway repair job. when the machine is operating on a busy road, traffic is halted and the cars lined up in opposite directions are allowed to proceed alternately. A veteran operator of one of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3-10

Tags: Frankincense, Epiphany, Human Body, Gold, Wise Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is The Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Stedman illustrates this point noting that "As the Battle of Trafalgar was about to begin, Admiral Nelson came across two officers of his own flagship who were arguing hotly and about to take sword to each other. Nelson stepped between them and said, "Stop." Then, pointing to the ...read more

Tags: Unity, Body Of Christ, Working Together, Division, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Is Not Selfish - President Kennedy Quote

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 9, 2025

Our society ... the world in which we live ... is a self-first ... a self-oriented society. The big question ... often asks by those in the world is ... "What's in it for me?" or "How will I benefit from this?" However, ... we as followers of the Christ ... are a new ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4, James 3:8-10, John 13:15, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Body, Self, Selfish, Individual, Benefit, Caring, Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Snowflakes Are One Of Nature’s Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jun 7, 2001

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Friendship General

Denomination: Baptist

Warmth Rather Than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Warmth Rather than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van Ens, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3.] People join churches more because they want warmth than light. We like to think it’s our stunning proclamation of the truth that keeps them in the pews. Sermons may get them into church the ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Linked At The Roots, Citation: Blair F. ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Linked at the Roots, Citation: Blair F. Rorabaugh, Uniontown, Ohio. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 2] The article "What Good Is a Tree?" in Reader’s Digest explained that when the roots of trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown fungus helps link roots ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Friendship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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 Pastor Saw Robert Schuller's Tv Program "Hour ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 11, 2002

“A pastor saw Robert Schuller’s TV program “Hour of Power.” One of the things that impressed him the most during the program was watching everyone turning around to shake hands with and greet other worshippers seated near them. The pastor felt that his church was a bit stuffy and could use a bit of ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Friendship New Friends, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Church Of God

The Cheering Crowd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

THE CHEERING CROWD Picabo Street first joined the U.S. Ski Team when she was only 17. She went on to become the only American skier to ever win the World Cup downhill championship. In 1996 she tore a crucial ligament in her left knee. The 30 year-old Street went through extensive ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:29, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: God The Father, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Larry Crabb Writes, "A Central Task Of Community ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 21, 2002

Larry Crabb writes, “A central task of community is to create a place that is safe enough for the walls to be torn down, safe enough for each of us to reveal our ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship, Human Body

Denomination: Christian Church

I Would Like To Bring In Here The Story Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Nov 18, 2002

I would like to bring in here the story of the film “Chocolate” directed by Lasse Hallström [Heinrich Jacob, Der Prediger und Katechet, 6/2002. pages. 849-851]. A small, sleepy, and quiet french city. The inhabitants are lower-middle class, strictly moralistic, tied to tradtion, scrupulous and ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Church Body Of Christ, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Catholic

Staying Warm Together  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2003

STAYING WARM TOGETHER In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group." The 55 degree (Fahrenheit) water threatened to kill them slowly by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:24

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love

Annie Johnson Flint's Life On Earth Could Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 6, 2004

Annie Johnson Flint’s life on earth could never be measured in any degree by comfort and ease; quite the contrary, from childhood her body endured the onslaught of Rheumatoid Arthritis until she could no longer rise from bed. Over the years the affliction took a great toll, leaving her with no ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Human Body, Perseverance, Mercy, Affliction, Struggles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Time To Time, Lobsters Have To Leave Their ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

From time to time, lobsters have to leave their shells in order to grow. They need the shell to protect them from being torn apart, yet when they grow, the old shell must be abandoned. If they did not abandon it, the old shell would soon become their prison--and finally their casket. The tricky ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Tolerance, Change, Distractions, Condoning, Church Body Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

But One Time About Six Years Ago I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 17, 2001

But one time about six years ago I was complaining to someone about the Christian church, when suddenly an image flashed in my mind of a bride and a groom on their wedding day. In that mental image I walked up to the groom and said to him, "Your bride sure is ugly." Now no one would ever do that ...read more

Tags: Gift, Divinity Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Christians Spend The First Six Days Of Each ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

"Some Christians spend the first six days of each week sowing their wild oats, then they go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure." There is a myth that exists that says we can live comfortably in our world ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Holiness, Faith, Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples, Body, Attendance, Apologetics General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ