In Sermon Illustrations: "Living In Sin"

Coach Tom Izzo Of The Michigan State Spartans ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2005

Coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team, came up with a great bit of theater to get his players’ attention on Selection Sunday, just before the field was announced. He put two game tapes on a table, then smashed them with a sledgehammer. "One tape is the end of the regular ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Dorothea Day's Poem "My Captain" Is The Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jun 30, 2005

Dorothea Day’s poem “My Captain” is the Christian response to Henley: Out of the light that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be For Christ the conqueror of my Soul. Since His, the way of circumstance I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under that rule, ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Lordship Of Christ, Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Methodist

My 5 Year Old Son Evan And I Were Driving In ...  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Brown on Nov 9, 2005

My 5 year old son Evan and I were driving in Atlanta. He saw some spotlights moving the clouds. He asked me what they were and what they were for. I told him that they were called spot lights and people used them to draw attention to a certain place. It’s like they are say "Come over here and see ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Baptist

Many Years Ago In A Moscow Theater, Matinee Idol ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Many years ago in a Moscow theater, matinee idol Alexander Rostovzev was converted while playing the role of Jesus in a sacrilegious play entitled Christ in a Tuxedo. He was supposed to read two verses from the Sermon on the Mount, remove his gown, and cry out, “Give me my tuxedo and top hat!” But ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Born Again Beliefs: The Number Of People Born ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Born Again Beliefs: The number of people born again varies widely by denomination. Using this definition, “they have made a personal commitment to Christ that is important in their life today and say that when they die they know they will go to Heaven solely because they have confessed their sins ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Bevere's Story, "Now Here Is Where Many In ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 3, 2007

1. Bevere’s story, “Now here is where many in the church falter. They see the love of God in the light of the temporal, not the eternal. There is love and goodness, which are admired by society and many in the church but determined by human measures, and are contrary to the love of God. Let me ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want To Close By Reading The Benediction From ...

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 17, 2009

I want to close by reading the benediction from Charles Spurgeon’s message on this passage, which serves as an invitation and an encouragement. Will you be there…? Will you behold His final triumph over sin, death and hell? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Is he your confidence and trust? ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: *other

Faithfulness In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Faithfulness in Battle John Wesley once said: "Give me a hundred men who love nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, and I will shake the whole world for Christ." It doesn’t take many… but it does take someone who decides to be faithful. In December 1944, the German army launched an unexpected ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:12

Tags: War, Snow

William Borden Was Born In 1887. He Was A Yale ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 7, 2010

William Borden was born in 1887. He was a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth. But he rejected a life of ease to bring the gospel to muslims. He refused to buy himself even a car and gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions. Then, after only four months of zealous ministry in Egypt ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices, Great Gain

Denomination: Baptist

Nfl Players Are Some Of The Strongest Most ...

Contributed by Roger Miller on Apr 27, 2010

NFL Players are Some of the strongest most disciplined athletes in the world-and exactly who you would want to walk with you down a dark alley! But look at Michael Vick and Big Ben and you know for a fact they are weaklings against sin! They are a worthless savior! It is a reminder that all ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Way Back In January Of 2002 We Taught William ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 3, 2010

Way back in January of 2002 we taught William Fay’s approach to sharing the gospel. It was called “Share Jesus Without Fear.” A part of those sessions dealt with handling objections. "There are many religions in the world. How can you know the right one?" Response: "All religions can be divided ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Pentecostal

It Really Is Finished  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

IT REALLY IS FINISHED After suffering on the cross for six hours, Jesus shouted, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Everything that needed to be done to provide salvation had been accomplished. When former President George W. Bush was asked about regrets during his presidency, Bush answered that he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 19:30

Tags: Cross

The Gentleman Cat

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

THE GENTLEMAN CAT Two men sought to prove to their king whether a man had to be "born a gentleman" or could become one by "discipline and training." The one told the other that he would prove his point regarding "training" by showing the king his cat, which he had trained to stand on its back ...read more

Tags: Allegory

A Far, Far Better Thing

Contributed by Perry Greene on Mar 29, 2012

A FAR, FAR BETTER THING In Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, the young Frenchman Charles Darnay was condemned to die by the guillotine. When Sidney Carton learned of his friend’s situation, he determined to lay down his life in place of his friend. He determined to do this, not because he ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Two Adversaries

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2012

THE TWO ADVERSARIES Robert Biggs, 69, who often hikes in the Whisky Flats area, came across a mother bear and her cubs, which were about 40 feet from where he was standing. After watching the bear family for a few minutes he decided to leave them alone and turned to walk back up the trail. As he ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Drop That Baby!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

"DROP THAT BABY!" A pastor called on a lady from his church and found her very despondent and feeling that God had forsaken her. Looking at the baby in the woman’s arms, the pastor said to her, "Drop that baby on the floor." Startled by the suggestion, she looked at him in disbelief. "Well," he ...read more

Scripture: John 10:22-30

Tags: God In The Hardships

Mothers

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

To Mama and Jesus, You and He, You gave me life and He extended it. You saved me from the cold and He from sin. You taught me hope and He defended it. From you I once was born . . . from Him again. You let me skip in fields that He had made. He bid me bless the loaves you baked for me. You ordered ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-6

Tags: Death, A Mother's Heart

Denomination: Baptist

Not Ordinary

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 18, 2017

When we describe our kitchen to other people we always talk about new appliances, or new counters, or even our new silverware. But, we never describe the wall color to someone. The reason is simple: it is ordinary. Everyone has it, it’s not worth mentioning, and so we don’t even consider ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:24

Tags: Jesus, Jesus Christ, Ordinary, Extraordinary

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Through The Eyes Of A 3-Year-Old

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

Rena was 3 years old when she went to her first baptismal service. It was new for her and a bit mystifying. As events transpired, she looked up at her father with surprise in her eyes, “Daddy, he pushed that guy under the water? Why did he do that?” The father tried to quietly answer her question ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Baptism, Good Works, Water Baptism, New Start

Denomination: Charismatic

Few Years Ago I Met A Couple Who Had A Bad Child. ...  PRO

Contributed by Art Good on Jun 7, 2007

Few years ago I met a couple who had a bad child. This boy was in trouble at home, in trouble at school, in trouble in the neighborhood and in trouble with the law. He was caught stealing, smoking, drinking and doing drugs. He swore, cheated, lied, was disrespectful of anyone in authority and at ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan