In Sermon Illustrations: "Mark Chapter 4 Verses 35 Through 31"

I Heard Mike Reynolds, Then The Director Of Utah ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Dec 28, 2004

I heard Mike Reynolds, then the Director of Utah Missions, at a meeting in South Carolina telling about leading a Mormon to Christ the first time he witnessed to him. It was such an unusual experience for Mike that he began asking questions about others who had witnessed to the man. He then said, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-14

Tags: World Religions

Denomination: Baptist

I Have A Friend In Nashville Who Had Two Very ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Adams on Jan 1, 2005

I have a friend in Nashville who had two very different sets of grandparents. On his father’s side, his grandfather had worked in factories, and had spent all his life saving money vigorously. They seldom traveled, though they bought a nice farm and a large house in another state. They stayed ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When I Was 15, I Was Serious About Playing The ...

Contributed by Mark Adams on Jan 1, 2005

When I was 15, I was serious about playing the guitar. I had my dad’s old one, but I wanted to get a better one. I had my eye on a yellow Gibson Explorer. I mowed grass all summer and saved and saved, and calculated that I only needed $30.11 to have enough to get that guitar. My dad had a best ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Comfortable Emptiness!

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 2, 2005

A Comfortable Emptiness! On a faded scroll framed in mahogany and hung in the hallway of an old farmhouse I chanced many years ago to read what then, in my youth, seemed important but now many years later is ingrained in my heart as one of the most profound and impacting statements I have ever ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 12:12-18

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

I Don't Want A ‘shicken Sandich'! (06.13.05--The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 10, 2005

I Don’t Want a ‘Shicken Sandich’! (06.13.05--The Tie That Binds--1 John 3:13-18) “Well, what do you want?” The young frustrated mother blurted out to her little boy as he pouted in the fast food line. “We’ve been standing here for five minutes and I’ve told you everything on the menu. What is it ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:13-18

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

If Only We Would Turn Around! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 26, 2005

If Only We Would Turn Around! (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:7-9 ) It’s a funny thing about life isn’t it that when we find ourselves off course we very seldom consider reversal the right direction to take. I guess it is just human nature to assume that where we’ve been already was a good choice ...read more

Scripture: John 21:7-9

Tags: God Brings Purpose, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Lutheran

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 28, 2005

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:11-14 ) WHen I’m There, will I know that I am there? When we finally reach that point in life where all things finally work together and we’ve arrived at our life’s goal, that place where the many years of education, accumulated wisdom and just plain ...read more

Scripture: John 21:11-14

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran

A Click And A Pop-Up Menu! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 28, 2005

A Click and a Pop-Up Menu! (06.30.05--Direction--John 21:15-19 ) Just being in love is not enough especially when you are considering spending the rest of your life in that condition. Internet romance is on a real boom swing around the world. Only a few short years ago anyone who “dated” on ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2005

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 5:1-9) When I was younger I remember being moved on more than one occasion, either by laziness or a predisposition to want to do something more “rewarding” on a Sunday morning, to prompt my dad with this question: “Why do we have to go to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Tags: Worship Benefits, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Lutheran

The Practice Of The Presence Of God By Brother ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Green on Jul 5, 2005

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. Revised and rewritten by Harold Chadwick. “We should not grow weary of doing little things for the love of God, who considers not the ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Light A Candle! (07.12.05--Tomorrow--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 10, 2005

Light a Candle! (07.12.05--Tomorrow--John 21:18-19) You know what is the best thing about the future? The way things have been going lately I have no doubt. The best thing about tomorrow is that tomorrow only comes one day at a time. We’ve all had times in our lives when what we feared the most ...read more

Scripture: John 21:18-19

Tags: Death, Guilt

Denomination: Lutheran

No Dragons--Just God! (07.14.05--Tomorrow--2 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 12, 2005

No Dragons--Just God! (07.14.05--Tomorrow--2 Timothy 2:11-13) There’s an old adage that a little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing. Often what we think we know, based only on a scattering of a tidbit of knowledge here and there, can prove to be our undoing when we base our actions largely on ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran

Two Ships In The Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 14, 2005

Two Ships in the Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers 22:29) There’s a time to be right and a time to be righteous. That’s what the old farmer told me as I hefted the last hay bale into the loft. I had just had an encounter with a bully at school and I was feeling both peeked and embattled at the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:29

Tags: Wait, Worship, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John 7:51) Open mouth, insert foot! There are few times in life more embarrassing than when we say something we didn’t mean to say or let something slip that should not have been said. On the occasion of a recent birthday in our household, I was given ...read more

Scripture: John 7:51

Tags: Humility, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

A U.s. Air Force Transport Plane With Its Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

A U.S. Air Force transport plane with its captain and 5 crew members was flying over Alaska in the mid-50s when they entered an unusually fierce snowstorm. The navigator contacted an air base only to be told that he had veered several hundred miles off course. Correct coordinates were given to the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15

Tags: Faith, Humility

Denomination: Lutheran

Toot And Tumble! (07.22.05--Pride--2 Chronicles ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

Toot and Tumble! (07.22.05--Pride--2 Chronicles 26:16) Sometimes we just amaze ourselves when it comes to our own ability to work things out. You know, when faced with a troublesome situation, we come up with a problem solution that even we didn’t see coming. The story is told of two ducks and a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 26:16

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Character, Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

Dr. Ernest Mellor Writes: "Recently My Wife And ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 22, 2005

Dr. Ernest Mellor writes: “Recently my wife and I sat charmed at an outdoor performance by young Suzuki violin students. After the concert, an instructor spoke briefly on how children as young as two, three and four years old are taught to play violin. ‘The first thing the children learn,’ he said, ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 10:29-32

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

Sometimes I Feel Like A Nut! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 25, 2005

Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut! (07.27.05--Appreciation--Isaiah 12:1-6) Sometimes you feel like a nut-- and sometimes you don’t. Just another one of those advertising jingles that has bored its way deep into my subconscious. As innocuous as many of these little ditties might seem (and as irritating ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-6

Tags: Joy, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Boomerang!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 27, 2005

Boomerang! (07.28.05--Appreciation--Ezra 5: 1-2) “When someone does something good, applaud! You’ll make two people happy.” The life-long motto of film magnate, Samuel Goldwyn, he knew that appreciation was a two-way street. The one who received it benefited as well as the one who gave it. Both ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 5:1-2

Tags: Joy, Listen, Obedience, Forgiveness General, Samuel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Streaming After Dreaming! (08.01.05--Boldness ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 28, 2005

Streaming After Dreaming! (08.01.05--Boldness Too!--Deuteronomy 33:27) Do you consider yourself a cautious person? I don’t know about you but mom and dad always taught me to “look before you leap.” A cautious approach to things can keep you out of a lot of trouble in this life. Did you also know ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 33:27

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran