In Sermon Illustrations: "Mark 1:1-12:23"

Too Afraid To Plant  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

TOO AFRAID TO PLANT A Georgia farmer, ragged and barefooted, was standing on the steps of his tumbledown shack. A stranger stopped for a drink of water and just to pass the time of day he asked: "How is your cotton coming along?" he asked. "Ain’t got none," replied the farmer. "Did you plant ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Choking The Word Of Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

CHOKING THE WORD OF LIFE Unless we know the difference between flowers and weeds, we are not fit to take care of a garden. It is not enough to have truth planted in our minds. We must learn and labor to keep the ground clear of thorns and briars, follies and perversities, which have a wicked ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-20

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

The Purpose Of The Light  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

THE PURPOSE OF THE LIGHT "There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-35

Tags: Parable General, Giving Yourself

A Well-Known Christian Businessman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

A well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church was asked to give his testimony. He said, "I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Mark 4:35-38

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

The Sack Lunch  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

THE SACK LUNCH A man was packing a shipment of food contributed by a school for the poor people of Appalachia. He was separating beans from powdered milk, and canned vegetables from canned meats. Reaching into a box filled with various cans, he pulled out a little brown paper sack. Apparently ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44, Mark 6:30-44

Tags: Giving General, Miracles Of Jesus

Eating It All  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

EATING IT ALL Charles Spence’s son was a Baltimore Ravens season-ticket holder, and he thought taking his seven-year-old daughter to a game would be a good bonding experience. But once there, she found the food vendors much more enticing than what was taking place on the field, so his son bought ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, God's Provision

Make More  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

MAKE MORE One Saturday, as is the custom at the Erickson house in Peoria, IL, Ken Erickson’s wife cleaned out leftovers from the refrigerator. She gave the one remaining portion of tortellini to their 6-year-old son, Jeremy. Their 8-year-old son, Matthew, also wanted some, so bickering ensued. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Tags: God's Provision, Miracles Of Jesus

You Don't Know What You're Talking About!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT! Rejection comes in all forms. Steven was a young man that felt the call of God on his life. He came from a really close family. He finished his college and then went off to seminary. After finishing seminary he came back before going to his first church. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Tags: Send, Rejection, Jesus Teachings, Jesus' Ministry

Martin Luther Once Had A Dream Where He Was In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jan 29, 2005

Martin Luther once had a dream where he was in his house and saw Jesus coming up the walk toward his door. Luther examined his surrounding and realized that everything was an absolute mess. Clothes were thrown over the furniture, old food was sitting out, trash was everywhere. And he thought, "How ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-12

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian Church

Left On A Sinking Ship Were The Captain And Three ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Left on a sinking ship were the captain and three sailors. The captain spoke first. "Men, this business about a captain going down with his ship is nonsense. There’s a three-man life raft on board and I’m going to be on it. To see who will come with me, I will ask you each one question. The one who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Tags: Sin General

Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate. ...

Contributed by Richard Francis on May 19, 2006

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:43-45

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Took The Deaf Mute Man Aside, Away From The ...

Contributed by Glen O'brien on Sep 21, 2006

Jesus took the deaf mute man aside, away from the crowd, stuck his fingers in the mans’ ears and spat on his tongue. What Jesus was doing here of course was touching the affected areas. He put his fingers in the man’s ears because this was the location of his disability. He spat and touched his ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:33

Denomination: Methodist

Do You Guys Remember The Cartoon With Wiley ...  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Knight on Nov 24, 2006

Do you guys remember the cartoon with Wiley Coyote and Ralph the sheep dog. I use to love that cartoon. Every morning Ralph and Wiley would meet at the time clock which was mounted on a tree. As they clocked in they would great each other and then they would go to their respective departments. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-9, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Mark 3:7-35

Denomination: Baptist

Hans Christian Andersen's Tale Of "The Ugly ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of “The Ugly Duckling” illustrates the truth that what you know and believe to be truth determines your behavior. Although hatched in the same nest as the other eggs, this “duckling” looked different. He was big and ugly, not soft and yellow like the other ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-3, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Mark 7:1-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Storm, Trial, Trust

Denomination: Baptist

The Dragon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

"The Dragon" I would like to tell you a story this morning about a dragon. "There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Really Giving  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

REALLY GIVING The great Alliance preacher and renowned Christian author, A. W. Tozer, makes this observation: “Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!... In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-43, Matthew 9:1, Mark 9:14-35

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Was That A No?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

WAS THAT A NO? A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

Tags: Parable General

The Disease Of Pride  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

THE DISEASE OF PRIDE “Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it” ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

Tags: Humility

Jokes And Potato Salad  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

JOKES AND POTATO SALAD Tony Campolo said, "If you ever start to feel proud, just remember that soon after your body has been lowered into the grave, your family & friends will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

Tags: Humility

To Be Six Years Old  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

TO BE SIX YEARS OLD There is a story about a father who became disturbed about the length of time his six year old son was taking to get home from school. The father decided he would make the trip to discover for himself how long it should take a small boy to cover the distance. The father ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37, 2 Corinthians 3:18

Tags: Parable General