In Sermon Illustrations: "Living"

South Park: God's Authority

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 15, 2009

SOUTH PARK: GOD'S AUTHORITY The hostile atheists do not want to admit that God is Creator because such an admission would give God authority over their lives. They would rather serve chance so that all experience is relative and so that there are no absolutes-—except perhaps, their certainty that ...read more

Tags: Atheism

Denomination: *other

Imagine, If You Will, Considering The Fuel That ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Feb 22, 2009

Imagine, if you will, considering the fuel that runs most of our society, a gasoline station along the metaphorical road of life. It has two large signs that can be seen from all around. One sign says, “Come on in! Your bill is already paid!” That’s grace—something paid before you ever reach the ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: *other

Life Without Easter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

LIFE WITHOUT EASTER The story is told of a young mother who found herself on the last train out of Poland during Hitler’s regime. She had her first-born toddler and her newborn nursing infant with her. The bombing was fierce, and the train had to stop many times for the passengers to take cover. A ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:6

Tags: Easter, Joy, Purpose, Eternal Life, Easter Resurrection  (view more)  (view less)

Transparency And Real ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

TRANSPARENCY AND REAL LIFE I can right off the top of my head think of at least three falsehoods that many people still call the truth today: 1. "Every day in every way our world is getting better, better, better." I sure would like to meet the person who first wrote those words, wouldn’t you? ...read more

Tags: Truth

Comedian And Actor Chris Farley, Of Saturday ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 20, 2009

Comedian and actor Chris Farley, of Saturday Night Live fame, was found dead in his downtown Chicago apartment on December 18, 1997. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later reported that he died of an opiate and cocaine overdose (James Barron, “Chris Farley, 33, a Versatile Comedian-Actor,” ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Other

Working On This Sermon Has Made Me So ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on May 13, 2009

Working on this sermon has made me so thankful. A few weeks ago I taught a class that went along with what I’ve been studying for this series in Exodus. For the class, I did an extensive study on the 7 feasts that God instituted for the Nation of Israel. I read a detailed account of what is ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Couldn't 'not' Forgive Him  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

I COULDN’T ’NOT’ FORGIVE HIM Chris Carrier has one of the best testimonies of Christian forgiveness I have ever seen. Chris grew up in Coral Gables, Florida. He was abducted when he was just 10 years old. Chris’ kidnapper was angry with the boy’s family. He burned him with cigarettes, stabbed him ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-49

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Weathering The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

WEATHERING THE STORMS Pastor Ron Ritchie once talked about a friend of his named Jack who called him one night many years ago. He sensed immediately that his heart was heavy with grief. A few months prior his wife Cindy had become pregnant for the first time after years of waiting on the Lord to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

What Do You Hold ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

WHAT DO YOU HOLD SACRED? One of the most profound things I learned in graduate school was taught to me by one of my professors. He is now my Counselor Intern Supervisor, my mentor, and my good friend, Tom Moore. It was really more of a question than a profound fact to puzzle over. On an essay ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Tags: Christian Values

Reconciliation: Chancing One's Arm  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

RECONCILIATION: CHANCING ONE’S ARM A. The oldest Christian site in Ireland is said to be St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. (Slide Of St Patrick’s) 1. It is a beautiful edifice, but it also has a interesting piece of history involving one of its doors– it is known as the "Door of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Genesis 33:1-11

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Revenge Vs. Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

REVENGE VS. FORGIVENESS There was once a man who was bitten by a dog, which was later discovered to be rabid. The man was rushed to the hospital where tests revealed that he had, in fact, contracted rabies. At the time, medical science had no cure for this disease and so his doctor faced the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:41-50

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Billy Graham Awarded Golden Congressional Medal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

BILLY GRAHAM AWARDED GOLDEN CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL On Thursday May 2, 1996, Dr. Billy Graham was awarded the Golden Congressional Medal, the highest honor this country can bestow upon an individual - only 263 individuals had ever received this in the history of the United States of America. In his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Attitude General

Frenzied Pace Of Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

FRENZIED PACE OF LIFE A lot of these same gods are still worshipped in America today, aren't they? Our culture also seems to bow down to the idol of busyness. In her book called, "Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families," Ann Kroeker writes this: "America, the land of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:41-42

Tags: Culture

Nine Year-Old Girl Transformed By Liver ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Nine year-old Girl Transformed by Liver Transplant and Change of Blood Type Demi-Lee Brennan had a liver transplant at age 9. She faced a life on anti-rejection drugs like every other transplant patient. Nine months later, however, her red blood cells were being attacked by her own white blood ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-17

Tags: Born Again, Transformed Life

Premature Infant Connects Voice Of Grandfather To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Premature Infant Connects Voice of Grandfather to His Touch A man by the name of Max DePree related the following heart-touching story: Esther, my wife, and I have a granddaughter named Zoe, the Greek word for life. She was born prematurely and weighed one pound, seven ounces, so small that my ...read more

Scripture: John 14:7-15

Tags: Touch, Humanity Of Christ

Mr. And Mrs. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

"Mr. and Mrs. Thing" John MacArthur, in his book titled Overcoming Materialism, offers this analysis: Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a very pleasant and successful couple. At least, that’s the verdict of most people, who tend to measure success with a “thingometer.” And when the “thingometer” is put to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Materialism

No Peace In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2009

No Peace in World The weekend of December 7, 1941, started out to be another routine weekend. The aircraft carriers were at dockside and the crews were enjoying the day with rest and relaxation. The sky was clear, the sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. This was a perfect picture of ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: War

Little Boy Sees The Parade But Misses The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2009

Little Boy Sees the Parade but Misses the Circus Lowell Ogden tells the story of a little boy who lived out in the country around the turn of the century. He had never seen a traveling circus, and one was coming to his town on Saturday. The lad asked his father for permission to go and his dad said ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Tags: Worship Definition

Difficult People Are Like Tools  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

Difficult People Are Like Tools Some difficult people are like the tools in your tool shed: A. Measuring tape: These people always let us know that we don’t quite measure up. These perfectionists feel compelled to set the standards for everyone else. In short, they judge by their own ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

So You Won't Be Afraid

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 16, 2010

"SO YOU WON'T BE AFRAID" In one of the Nazi death camps, Solomon Rosenberg lived and suffered with his family. It was a work camp, which meant a person had value and stayed out of the ovens as long as he or she could work. Solomon’s parents, aged and broken, were already gone. Now he feared his ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed