In Sermon Illustrations: "Make A Joyful Noise"

How Many Here Have Ever Seen The Classic Movie, ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 21, 2005

How many here have ever seen the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”? George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) wonders if his life really matters. He feels like a failure. In his sacrifice for others he has not attained his dreams. At his point of crisis he meets up with an angel named ...read more

Tags: Joy, Peace

Denomination: Charismatic

Stress Reduction Salons

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 12, 2005

Stress Reduction Salons About a dozen new “stress-reduction salons” have opened in the U.S. and also in Japan. Members of these Synchro Energize salons slip off their shoes, climb into beds and lie with eyes closed for the next 45 minutes. Spinning patterns of intense colors appear before their ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Wesleyan

In The Movie John Q, Denzell Washington Plays ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 25, 2005

In the movie John Q, Denzell Washington plays John Q and during the movie his son becomes develops a heart disease. Throughout the movie it is shown that because the family does not have enough money and there are not enough heart donors the child will not make it. Finally Denzell holds up the ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Compassion

Sulfur Caves  PRO

Contributed by David Selleck on Nov 17, 2005

Sulfur Caves In Southern Mexico lies the Cueva de Villa Luz, or Cave of the Lighted House. As you make your way to the cave you walk through a veritable paradise of tropical birds and lush rain forest. Underwater the cave is fed by 20 underground springs, beautiful watercourses which teem with tiny ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Methodist

As Stated In The Lion, The Witch And The ...  PRO

Contributed by Keeney Dickenson on Nov 30, 2005

As stated in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the recipients of our witness are given three options as to their response. Professor Kirke responds to the skepticism of Lucy’s siblings about her report of traveling to Narnina: “There are only three possibilities. Either your sister is telling ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Baptist

The White Witch Played On Ed's Cravings For ...

Contributed by Randall Bergsma on Dec 1, 2005

The White Witch played on Ed’s cravings for pleasure and importance. She magically gives him enchanted Turkish Delight, and the more he eats, the more he wants.(anybody been there?) She promised to make him a King of Narnia, and then he could eat all the Turkish delight he wanted. (Sound ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Another Poll Sheds Light On This Paradox Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Another poll sheds light on this paradox of increased religiosity and decreased morality. According to sociologist Robert Bellah, 81 percent of the American people also say they agree that “an individual should arrive at his or her own religious belief independent of any church or synagogue.” Thus ...read more

Scripture: John 15:5, Galatians 6:3, Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Idolatry, Worship, Christ, Apologetics General, Dependence  (view more)  (view less)

When Jim Burke Became The Head Of A New Products ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

When Jim Burke became the head of a new products division at Johnson & Johnson, one of his first projects was the development of a children?s chest rub. The product failed miserably, and Burke expected that he would be fired. When he was called in to see the chairman of the board, however, he met a ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Six Ways To Learn Everything You Ever Need To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 13, 2005

Six ways to learn everything you ever need to know about a man before you decide to marry him: 1. Watch him drive in heavy traffic. 2. Play tennis with him. 3. Listen to him talk to his mother when he doesn’t know you’re listening. 4. See how he treats those who serve him (waiters, maids). ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart Of Louisville, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here’s how he recalls the experience: “They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, literally within seconds, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Jeff Bezos, 36-Year-Old Founder Of Amazon.com, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Jeff Bezos, 36-year-old founder of Amazon.com, shared the following 5 time management tips in the Wall Street Journal. Set aside Tuesdays and Thursdays as your own, without any regularly scheduled meetings. Break your routines. Visit Stores. Scrutinize your own Web site. Learn from unexpected ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

Great Pr: Companies Are Becoming More Creative In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2006

Great PR: Companies are becoming more creative in how they support philanthropy. More are offering employees paid time off for volunteer work. Such policies make for excellent public relations. In today’s still-tight labor market, companies are also betting that work-life benefits such as volunteer ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Traps That Hinder Leaders: Dale Galloway ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Traps That Hinder Leaders: Dale Galloway enumerates these hindrances to relational ministry in his book On Purpose Leadership, Beacon Hill Press. Insecurity—Selecting only those people who have the same gifts as the leader—or lesser gifts. · Elitism—Developing a “leaders only” attitude that keeps ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Mixed Attitudes & Values: Americans Feel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Mixed Attitudes & Values: Americans feel emotionally comfortable with their choices but struggle with the consequences of their moral behavior. 74% say they are concerned about the moral condition of the nation. That point of view is only slightly more pronounced among Christians. When asked the ...read more

Tags: Character

Cell Phone Codependency A Growing Number Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Cell Phone Codependency A growing number of experts have identified and begun to study a distinct downside in that: cell phone use may be making us less autonomous and less capable of solving problems on our own, even when the answers are right in front of us. The ease of obtaining instant advice ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Value Concepts: To Younger Audiences, "Value" ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Value Concepts: To younger audiences, “Value” means price, fast service, free, bigger, instant gratification and ego building. Boomers and women place more value in quality, relationships, learning, personal service and making one’s life richer and more meaningful. Boomers and women will pay higher ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Teen Gifts: A Stored Value Systems Inc. Study ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Teen Gifts: A Stored Value Systems Inc. study reveals 93% of American high-schoolers have received at least one gift card in the last year. Of teens that receive a gift card, 59% use it up in the first month, in the first visit. A majority of teens spend up to 10% of their disposable income on ...read more

Tags: Children

Biblical Worldview Lacking: Only 4% Of Adults ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Biblical Worldview Lacking: Only 4% of adults have a biblical worldview as the basis of their decision-making according to recent Barna Research findings. Most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

I Was On A Mission Trip To North Carolina A Few ...

Contributed by Kory Wilcoxson on Mar 12, 2006

I was on a mission trip to North Carolina a few years ago, working on a house that had been flooded by a recent hurricane. A few youth and I were assigned to clean out the pool, which had been filled to the top with floodwaters and creepy-crawlies and sticks that looked liked snakes and made ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Steadfastly For Monogamy. Adultery Is Almost ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

I am steadfastly for monogamy. Adultery is almost certainly going to make a dent in trust and intimacy, and in many cases I’ve known, it has destroyed them altogether. A woman who is conducting a secret affair has to become deliberately deceitful...like a CIA agent or spy. She can’t just come home ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment