In Sermon Illustrations: "Mark 8:22-26:26"

Choose Wisely  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

CHOOSE WISELY There are many who believe that hell is not a literal place prepared for those who reject God. Part of the refusal to believe this comes from the way Hell has been represented to us. It’s become a cartoon of sorts. There is a Far Side cartoon showing the devil (complete with a ...read more

Tags: Hell, Jesus Teachings, Second Coming

It Is Said That About 200 Years Ago, The Tomb Of ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Sep 15, 2005

It is said that about 200 years ago, the tomb of the great conqueror Charlemagne was opened, and the sight that greeted the workmen startled them. It seems they found his body in a sitting position, clothed in the most elaborate of royal garments, with a scepter in his bony hand. On his knee lay ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: *other

What We Leave Behind Is Not As Important As How ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 21, 2005

“What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.” Capt. James T. Kirk to Capt. Jean Luc Picard, on “Star Trek – Generations” That declaration may be true to the degree that the phrase ‘what we leave behind’ refers only to material and tangible things. But ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Orthodox

The Cocooning Lifestyle Peaked In ‘98 When The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

The Cocooning Lifestyle Peaked in ‘98 when the typical household spent $1,601 on home furnishings and it’s been falling since. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the American household spent only $1,497 on home furnishings in ‘03. Consumers are downscaling, downsizing and eliminating clutter. ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Megachurch Facts: According To John Vaughn, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Megachurch Facts: According to John Vaughn, Church Growth Today, There are now more than 1000 mega-churches (attendance of 2000 or more) in the U.S. vs. just 10 in ’70. Other 2005 megachurch firsts are: A church passed the 30,000 weekly attendance mark (Lakewood Church, Houston, TX). Overall ...read more

Tags: Church General

Different Giving Responses: Recent Campbell ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

Different Giving Responses: Recent Campbell Research studies of donors who give to Protestant and Catholic ministries indicate marked differences. Direct mail letters were fairly comparable, with 30% of Protestants and 27% of Catholics having responded to a mail appeal in the last 12 months. ...read more

Tags: Giving General

C.s. Lewis Observed, "If You Read History, You ...

Contributed by Ted Mulder on Mar 24, 2007

C.S. Lewis observed, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Nothing Has A Greater Impact On Spiritual Growth ...

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 7, 2012

"Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture. If churches could do only one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Baptist

A Desperate Situation

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2012

A DESPERATE SITUATION The old preacher Vance Havner used to say, "The tragedy of our time is that the situation is desperate but the saints are not." Three weeks before President John Kennedy was assassinated, he said, "Almost all presidents leave office feeling that their work is unfinished. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Hypocrisy Part Of Human Nature

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

“Since psychological studies first began, people have given themselves top marks for most positive traits. While most people do well at assessing others, they are wildly positive about their own abilities, Dunning said. That's because we realize the external traits and circumstances that guide ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-29

Tags: Criticism, Pride, Hypocrisy, Critical, Arrogance, Negative, Self Esteem, Superiority, Double Standard, Judgementalism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Poem: The Gospel According To You

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 22, 2007

Poem: The Gospel According to You Arthur McPhee said: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Are read by more than a few, But the one that is most read and commented on Is the gospel according to you. You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day By the things that you do and the words that ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Best Way For Anyone To Know How Much He Ought ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

The best way for anyone to know how much he ought to aspire after holiness is to consider not how much will make his present life easy, but to ask himself how much he thinks will make him easy at the hour of death.” - William Law “Didst thou oftener think of thy death than of thy living long, ...read more

Tags: Death

Called To Be Faithful  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 5, 2001

CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mentor's Encouragement

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 25, 2010

A MENTOR'S ENCOURAGEMENT In my office hangs a tie and a pair of suspenders enclosed in a glass and wood case. Those mementos belonged to my academic advisor, mentor and friend from my days in seminary - the late Dr. Gary McGee. About half way through my program, I stood in his office tired, burned ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

Faith And Icebergs

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 26, 2010

FAITH AND ICEBERGS Sailors in the northern oceans have frequently observed icebergs traveling in one direction in spite of strong winds blowing in the opposite direction. The icebergs were moving against the winds, but how? The explanation is that the icebergs, with eight-ninths of their bulk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:9-11

Tags: Grace

Erickson's Thoughts On God The Father

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

ERICKSON'S THOUGHTS ON GOD THE FATHER And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent' (John 17:3) Dr. Packer's devotional approach to theology is evident from his choice of textbook which is Millard Erickson's 'Christian Theology'. Here's an ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Tags: God The Father

The Martyrs For Christ

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 1, 2011

THE MARTYRS FOR CHRIST James the son of Zebedee was beheaded in Jerusalem, the first of the apostles to die, during the Easter season in about the year A.D. 44. Matthew was slain with the sword in a city in Ethiopia. Mark was dragged through the streets of Alexandria until he expired. Luke was ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Luther And Marx

Contributed by Perry Greene on Feb 8, 2012

LUTHER AND MARX 1983 must have been a strange year for the German people. During that year the people observed the birth days of two notable men. That year marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther and the 100th of Karl Marx. Marx was the father of socialism/communism. Its ...read more

Tags: Christian Liberty

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At A U.s. Arsenal A Few Years Ago, A Large ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At a U.S. arsenal a few years ago, a large cannon lay, marked "Condemned." The attendant pointed out some indentations about the size of a pinhead which dotted the barrel in a dozen places. They did not appear to go deeper than a 32nd of an inch; and yet the weapon was condemned. There might be a ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Christians Aren't Perfect, Just ...

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Sep 24, 2007

Illustration: "Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven" Whether seen on bumper stickers, heard during altar calls, developed from a narrow interpretation of Lutheran or fundamentalist theology, or perpetuated in fluffy paperbacks, the reduction of the gospel to cheap forgiveness is ever with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist