In Sermon Illustrations: "Living For Jesus"

I Heard About An Old Farmer That Had A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 5, 2002

I heard about an old farmer that had a grandfather clock that went haywire and chimed fourteen times one midnight. He jumped up and said, “Wake up, Nellie, it’s later than it’s ever been before.” I want to tell you folks, it’s later than it’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:11-12

Tags: Giving Yourself, Jesus Teachings, Second Coming

Denomination: Baptist

The Wine Of Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2003

THE WINE OF JOY To the Jewish people wine symbolized joy. The Jewish rabbis had a saying, ‘Without wine there is no joy.” At the wedding in Cana their joy had run out! This statement by the mother of Jesus goes beyond liquid refreshment at a wedding. It is symbolic of our lives. It is a reminder ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, God Brings Hope, Joy

C.s. Lewis On The Difference Between Heaven And Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

LEWIS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL C. S. Lewis once provided a powerful image of the difference between heaven and hell. He described hungry people sitting at a huge banquet loaded with delicious food. Every person had a meter-long fork and knife attached to their hands (that’s about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: Jesus Parables, Wedding Banquet, Heaven And Hell

Parable Of Christ’s Sacrifice, Citation: ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 11, 2001

[Parable of Christ’s Sacrifice, Citation: Brad Walden, senior minister with the Tates Creek Christian Church, Lexington, KY; true story told by Mark’s grandfather at Westwood Cheviot Church of Christ, Cincinnati, OH] The mother of a nine-year-old boy named Mark received a phone call in the middle ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-16, Acts 28:23-31

Tags: Hope, Christian Disciplines, Crucifixion, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Had A Gun To His Head When He Called My Office...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 7, 2022

When I was pastoring in Texas, an unknown man called our church office and asked for the Senior Pastor. The call was transferred to me and I quickly discovered that I had a frantic man on the line whom I didn’t know. He told me how horrible his life was and how he couldn’t stand living in “hell ...read more

Tags: Desperation, Jesus, Salvation, Rescue, Witnessing, Suicide  (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, Satan, Preaching, Revival, Religion, Kingdom Of God, Outlines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In England, There Is A Paper Factory That Makes ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 9, 2001

In England, there is a paper factory that makes the finest stationery in the world. One day, a man touring the factory asked what it was made from. He was shown a huge pile of old rags and told that the rag content was what determined the quality of the paper. The visitor couldn’t believe ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Becoming A Christian, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Engraved On A Cathedral In Germany

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

These words are engraved on a cathedral in Lubeck, Germany: You call Me master and obey Me not, You call Me light and see Me not, You call Me the way and walk Me not, You call Me life and live Me not, You call Me wise and follow Me not, You call Me fair and love Me not, You call Me rich ...read more

Tags: Servant, Obedience, Lordship Of Christ, Lord, Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Did You Find When You Opened My Heart?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Here’s a story about a little boy that was to have heart surgery. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed and his parents sat across from him. The surgeon said to the little boy, "Tomorrow morning, I'll open up your heart." The little boy interrupted the surgeon and said; ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12, Romans 10:13

Tags: Heaven, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Death, Jesus, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someday Soon  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 22, 2002

SOMEDAY SOON You just know that some things are going to happen sooner or later. That’s the way it was with Michael Parfit, a writer for Smithsonian magazine. For a feature article on the mighty Mississippi River, Parfit rode in a twelve-foot rubber dinghy down the Mississippi from Memphis, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 90:10-15

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Kingdom Of God, Second Coming

While I Was Working In The V Corps Chaplain's ...  PRO

Contributed by Julian Silva on Jan 9, 2003

While I was working in the V Corps Chaplain’s office in Frankfurt, Germany; I came in contact with many wonderful Christian individuals. One of the most inspiring was a German by the name of Carl Scholz. In speaking to him one day, he related to me of how that during the Second World War he served ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

We've All Read And Heard These Bible Verses About ...  PRO

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Nov 26, 2000

We’ve all read and heard these Bible verses about the shepherds before, taught by pastors and Sunday School teachers at Christmas time. We can even hear these verses on TV each year if we watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown spends the show as so many people do today, looking in all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Patient, Wait

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Read Of A Norwegian Missionary, Marie Monsen, ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

I read of a Norwegian missionary, Marie Monsen, who served in China in the 1950s. She testified to the intervention of angels when Christians were in great danger. They had taken refuge in the mission compound only to be surrounded by looting soldiers and they were astonished to find that they ...read more

Tags: Angels, Miracles Of Jesus, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

The Candy Cane  PRO

Contributed by Rob Ross on Dec 26, 2000

The CandyCane A Candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help us remember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Jesus, Joy, Rejoice

Denomination: Baptist

The Easter Story Ends Not With A Funeral But ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

"The Easter story ends not with a funeral but with a festival. It demands not our applause but our allegiance, not ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Death, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

It¡¦s Been Said, "When A Man With Money Meets A ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

It¡¦s been said, "When a man with money meets a man with experience, the man with the experience ends up with the money and the ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Money, Giving General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Does God Really Love Us? I Say Look To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Nov 4, 2000

Does God really love us? I say look to the crucified Jesus. Look to the old rugged cross. -By every thorn that punctured His brow. -By every mark of the back lacerating scourge. -By every hair of his beard plucked from his cheeks by cruel fingers. -By every bruise which heavy fists made upon His ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion, Lordship Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Heard About An African-American Who Tried To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

I heard about an African-American who tried to attend a church. Sadly, the church wouldn’t even let him attend a service. The pastor said, "You just need to pray about it." About three weeks later the pastor saw him and asked, "Did you talk to the Lord about it?" The man said, ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Parable General, Racism

Years Ago, Leslie Flynn Penned A Book Called, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

Years ago, Leslie Flynn penned a book called, Great Church Fights. In it he chronicled the way people in different churches would go after each other – all in the name of Jesus Christ. A young father heard a commotion out in his backyard, he looked outside and saw his daughter and several ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 14:13-21

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Love Of The Disciples, Unity

When Chances Come By Willo Lou Clark  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

"When Chances Come" BY Willo Lou Clark If you had been a lowly shepherd who heard the angels sing, Would you have left your sheep alone to find the baby King? If you had been the innkeeper - pressed & hurried since the dawn, Would you have done the best you could, or told them to move on? If you ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Birth Of Jesus, Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ