In Sermon Illustrations: "Leadership Listening"

A Church Is Not An Audience

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 2, 2007

A Church Is Not An Audience A sharp distinction ought to be made between a church and an audience. · An audience is a group of unrelated people drawn together by a short-lived attraction. A church is a group of born again believers drawn together by a Savior. · An audience is a crowd. A church is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

During The War Between The States, A Northern Pow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2008

During the war between the states, a northern pow escaped from his captors. For hours and days he wandered through the woods seeking the union lines and the safety of his companions. Finally, he approached a camp trying to figure out if it was friend or foe. Within minutes, he was surrounded by the ...read more

The Late Bishop Edwin Hughes Once Delivered A ...

Contributed by Carl Kolb on Oct 24, 2009

The late Bishop Edwin Hughes once delivered a rousing sermon on "God’s Ownership" that put a rich parishioner’s nose out-of-joint. The wealthy man took the Bishop off for lunch, and then walked him through his elaborate gardens, woodlands, and farm. "Now are you going to tell me," he demanded when ...read more

Tags: Worship General, God's Ownership

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Undefiled Ears  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Undefiled Ears" The church that prolongs the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ has Christians who long to have undefiled ears. Isaiah 50:4-5 says, "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, wakens my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-5, Isaiah 50:4-10

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Found This Fictional Letter But It Is A Great ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hiehle on Jul 19, 2001

I found this fictional letter but it is a great example of how we might have looked at the early disciples and who we would have chosen for leadership. Jesus, Son of Joseph Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop Nazareth, Galilee Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you have picked ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Disciples, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Nazarene

Many Years Ago I Went To See A Theatrical ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Tyas on Jan 7, 2002

Many years ago I went to see a theatrical production called Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical about the life of Jesus with an Appalachian, country-western twist. It was based on Clarence Jordan’s paraphrase of the New Testament, by the same name. It tries to tell the story of Jesus as if he has been ...read more

Tags: Herod, Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Father's Role  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

A FATHER'S ROLE James Dobson and Gary Bauer in their book Children at Risk articulate the importance of the father’s leadership and his role in the children’s emotional development and moral education: “Fathers must be there to tame adolescent boys, to give a young son a sense of what I means to ...read more

But I Just Have To Give!  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Oct 28, 2002

BUT I JUST HAVE TO GIVE! Eric Hulstrand writes in Leadership magazine: "While I was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance. As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Church Practices

Denomination: Pentecostal

It Was Said That Those Who Worked With President ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was said that those who worked with President Dwight D. Eisenhower found him very bright, tough and commanding. But Ike liked to verbalize his leadership role in a softer way: He said “I am not one of the desk-pounding type that likes to stick out his jaw and look as if he is bossing the show. I ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

Jesus And Unity

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 24, 2009

JESUS AND UNITY Jesus knew that people contribute their uniqueness to churches and therefore they make it stronger. Each person in the body (on the team) contains a host of knowledge, insight and experiences to a scenario, or a situation. Mike Murdoch makes this observation, "Look at those who ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Knocking

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Oct 14, 2010

JESUS KNOCKING A nurse on the Pediatric Ward before listening to the little ones' heart beat would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe, but she never got a response to equal four-year old David's comment. She ...read more

Tags: Heart

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Just Focus On The "Pops And Sizzles"

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Mar 17, 2012

DON'T JUST FOCUS ON THE "POPS AND SIZZLES" There once was a man who owned a record company. Besides running the record company, he spent many hours in production listening to the "master disc," from which was the record and all subsequent records were pressed. Over the years his ears became adept ...read more

Tags: Faults

Denomination: Brethren

The Heartbeat  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 29, 2002

THE HEARTBEAT: A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones’ chests would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe. But she never got a response to equal four year old David’s. Gently ...read more

Tags: Children, Jesus Teachings, Jesus Christ

A ‘05 Cdc Study Reports 47% Of U.s. High School ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 19, 2007

A ‘05 CDC Study reports 47% of U.S. high school students have had sexual intercourse, vs. 54% in ’91. Yet the nation is the world leader in teen pregnancies and STDs. A Child Trends report revealed less than 30% of females and less than 50% of males consistently use condoms, and nearly 20% of ...read more

What Did She Say?

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Jan 15, 2011

WHAT DID SHE SAY? There were once two men, Pete and Joe out sailing in a boat. A fierce storm blew up. Torrents of rain splashed down. The waves were rocking them. They desperately the rigging this way and that trying to keep the boat upright. "It's at times like this" shouted Pete above ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Anglican

The Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Baba Metsia, Page ...

Contributed by Mark Kennicott on Mar 20, 2008

The Babylonian Talmud (tractate Baba Metsia, page 59b) tells a story of Rabbi Eliezer, one of the greatest of the rabbinical sages, and instructor of the great Rabbi Akiva. One day he was engaged in a fierce debate with a group of rabbis about a small matter of interpretation. When he could not ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Paying The Bully  PRO

Contributed by William Neel on Jan 14, 2003

In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to start paying him five ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Supernatural, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Baptist

But I Just Have To Give!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

BUT I JUST HAVE TO GIVE! Eric Hulstrand writes in Leadership magazine: "While I was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance. As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-43

Tags: Parable General

Guiseppe Garibaldi Was An Italian Soldier Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Guiseppe Garibaldi was an Italian soldier who lived during the 1800’s. His father dreamed of his entering the priesthood, but Guiseppe had dreams of being a sailor, and the Navy was the way to do it. His leadership abilities caused him to rise quickly in the ranks, and in time, he amassed a ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Says In His Society There Is A New Way For ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 15, 2005

“Jesus says in his society there is a new way for [people] to live: you show wisdom, by trusting people; you handle leadership, by serving; you handle offenders, by forgiving; you handle money, by sharing; you handle enemies, by loving; and you handle violence, by suffering. In fact, you have a ...read more

Tags: Faith, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed