Contributed by Maurice Schaus on Feb 11, 2008
There’s a scene in the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where the main character, Harry Potter, encounters an enchanted mirror, the mirror of Erised.
Earlier in the book we learned that Harry’s parents died when he was only a baby, and he was raised by his Aunt Petunia and Uncle
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Denomination:
Lutheran
Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 28, 2011
STAYING IN THE SHALLOW END
He stays at the shallow end of the pool for a long time, refusing invitations to come out into the deeper water, even with his dad. But after a long time considering it, my grandson Zion Brave Bennett thrusts himself into the pool, swimming underwater and then
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Feb 1, 2007
I was a young youth pastor in Augusta, GA, doing my best to train a group of kids to reach out to others. Granted – some of my ideas met resistance (imagine that!), and the culture there turned out to be very different than what was actually communicated to me at the beginning. However, I figured
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002
based on 25 ratings
| 7,894 views
FAITHFUL TO THE CLOCK
There was a man who prided himself on being exceedingly punctual. He followed a very precise routine every morning. His alarm went off at 6:30 AM. He rose briskly, shaved, showered, ate his breakfast, brushed his teeth, picked up his briefcase, got into his car, rode
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mitch Chapman on Jan 4, 2003
based on 8 ratings
| 2,565 views
Three pastors from different congregations were having lunch and sharing experiences and ideas to help each other out with their different fellowships.
After several minutes of animated conversation, the first one remarks, "Hey, you know, we’ve got a serious problem at our church that I want to
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 8, 2008
The Farmer's Three Wishes - An ancient Jewish parable:
One night a poor farmer was awakened by an angel of the Lord who said: "You've found favor in the eyes of your Maker. He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham. He wants to bless you.
Therefore, make any three requests of
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 24, 2001
based on 79 ratings
| 2,282 views
[God Is Just One Squeal Away, Citation: Rod Cooper, "Worship or Worry?" Preaching Today, Tape No. 108.]
We raised pigs.
We raised about a thousand pigs a year.
In one field we had two or three hundred little oinkers running around.
Every day, at four in the morning, as I’d walk into the field
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 10, 2001
based on 177 ratings
| 3,667 views
A preacher’s family had started putting up a nativity scene in their front yard. All of them were carrying out the little statues to put in the nativity scene. Finally everything was in place - Mary & Joseph & the manger & the baby, & angels & shepherds & all the barnyard animals.
Then
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Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2002
based on 3 ratings
| 2,652 views
THIS IS THE DAY THE DEVIL HAS MADE
The real test of a thankful heart is how it responds to a context of crisis. Dr. Arthur Caliandro tells of the 25 year old woman who was flying in a small plane with her boss when they had to make an emergency landing in Texas. The pilot was killed instantly, and
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based on 6 ratings
| 3,155 views
Have you heard the story of Jim Smith and Ron Jones?
Jim went to church one Sunday morning.
He heard the organist miss a note, and he made a face.
He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying.
He felt sure that the usher was watching to see how much money he put in the offering plate,
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Denomination:
Nazarene
Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jul 29, 2003
based on 9 ratings
| 3,012 views
This parable (of the Wedding Garment) has something to tell us of the attitude we should have in coming to worship. The way we approach anything demonstrates the spirit in which we come. Is it willingly or do we begrudge the time out of our lives? If we go to visit in a friend’s house, we don’t
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Denomination:
Baptist
based on 6 ratings
| 2,817 views
An artist, seeking to depict on canvas the meaning of evangelism, painted a storm at sea. Black clouds filled the sky. Illuminated by a flash of lightning, a little boat could be seen disintegrating under the pounding of the ocean. Men were struggling in the swirling waters, their anguished faces
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004
based on 7 ratings
| 1,755 views
An artist was once asked to put on canvas what he considered to be the picture best symbolizing a decaying and dying church. After several months, he returned and reported that he had finished the task. The hour finally arrived when the painting was to be unveiled and Several people standing around
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Fred Mueller on Dec 16, 2004
based on 2 ratings
| 20,934 views
The story is told of the pioneer days in our country. A man was making his way west when he came to the Missouri River. It was winter and the ice covered the river from bank to bank. But how could the man be sure it would hold his weight? He knew people often drowned in that river when the ice
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Bart Leger on Feb 9, 2005
based on 3 ratings
| 4,239 views
I am not a connoisseur of great art, but from time to time a painting or picture will really speak a clear, strong message to me. Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s sole possession.
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Denomination:
Independent/Bible