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

Charles F. Kettering, Former Research Head Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2006

Charles F. Kettering, former research head of General Motors, was fond of telling this story. When he called a research and development meeting on a particular problem of not an immediate probability of presenting a ready solution, and he wanted the problem solved, he’d take care to first find a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 7:1-2

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Lutheran

Years Ago New Engineers In The Lamp Division Of ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 6, 2006

Years ago new engineers in the Lamp Division of General Electric were assigned, as a joke, the impossible task of frosting light bulbs on the inside. None of the engineers took the assignment seriously since frosting a bulb on the inside was not a possibility by engineering standards. Eventually, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 19:1-7

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Lutheran

What God Chooses, He Cleanses. What God Cleanses, ...

Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006

What God chooses, He cleanses. What God cleanses, He molds. What God molds, He fills. What ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

A Solitary Christian

Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006

John Wesley wrote: There is nothing more unchristian than ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Baptist

A Nine Year Old Girl Came Into The Room Of Her ...

Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006

A nine year old girl came into the room of her very sick mother. Thinking her mother was asleep the little girl unfolded the blanket and covered her mother up. The mother said, It was not long ago that I was Covering you up and taking care of you. This little girl paused and ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Baptist

The Right Choice

Contributed by Mark Wood on Feb 18, 2006

A.W. Tozier said: The man or woman who is wholly and joyously surrendered to Christ can’t make a wrong choice ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Baptist

One By One

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 21, 2006

Taking today’s problems one by one, instead of diving into the things in this life that concern us tomorrow, is the best way of avoiding have all the troubles in life collapsing on us at the same time. In 480 B.C. the outmanned army of Sparta’s King Leonidas held off the Persian troops of Xerxes by ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:24

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Lutheran

Tomorrow's Trivia! (02.24.06--Do Not Worry!--Luke ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 22, 2006

Tomorrow’s Trivia! (02.24.06--Do Not Worry!--Luke 22:24) An average person’s anxiety is focused on: 40% -- things that will never happen, 30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed, 12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue, 10% -- about health, which gets worse with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

During The American Revolution A Man In Civilian ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 6, 2006

During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal!” The stranger ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:21

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

Submitting Totally To God's Plan For Us And Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 7, 2006

Submitting totally to God’s plan for us and our loved ones, is difficult to do. But, it is a must for any Christian seeking the “whatever it takes” solution to the difficult problems in life. In 1878, when William Booth’s Salvation Army was beginning to make its mark, men and women from all over ...read more

Scripture: John 2:5

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

The Great Violinist, Nicolo Paganini, Willed His ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 8, 2006

The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:27

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Lutheran

No Other Peace

Contributed by Mark Wood on Mar 9, 2006

George Whitefield All I can say is I look for perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life, and I hope for no other peace, ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

In 1924, Two Climbers Were Part Of An Expedition ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 9, 2006

In 1924, two climbers were part of an expedition that set out to conquer Mount Everest. As far as is known, they never reached the summit; and they never returned. Somewhere on that gigantic mountain they were overpowered by the elements and died. After the failure of the expedition, the rest of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:29

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

A Funny Thing Happened In Darlington, Maryland, ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 12, 2006

A funny thing happened in Darlington, Maryland, several years ago. Edith, a mother of eight, was coming home from a neighbor’s house one Saturday afternoon. Things seemed too quiet as she walked across her front yard. Curious, she peered through the screen door and saw five of her youngest children ...read more

Scripture: Job 21:22

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

A Small Girl Had Been Promised The Privilege Of ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 13, 2006

A small girl had been promised the privilege of climbing to a nearby hilltop where her brother enjoyed playing. But when she came within sight of the steep, rough path, she drew back in dismay. “Why, there isn’t a smooth spot anywhere. It’s all bumpy and stony!” she exclaimed.  “Yes,” said her ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-2

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

Charles Spurgeon Said "We Have Plenty Of People ...

Contributed by Mark Wood on Mar 14, 2006

Charles Spurgeon said “We have plenty of people nowadays who could not kill a mouse without publishing it in the Gospel Gazette. Samson killed a lion and said nothing about it. The Holy Spirit finds modesty so rare that He takes care to record it. Say much of what the Lord has done ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Preacher-To-Be, Having Passed His ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 19, 2006

A young preacher-to-be, having passed his doctrinal examinations, faced his trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. When he stepped into the pulpit, the vast room and the searching, critical eyes caused him to falter. Two weeks later his name ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:8-16

Tags: God's Love, Rejection, Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

In 1858 The Illinois Legislature Sent Stephen A. ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 20, 2006

In 1858 the Illinois legislature sent Stephen A. Douglas to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln, although Lincoln had won the popular vote. (In those days the Illinois legislature elected its federal senators and not the voters.) The future president was stunned by the outcome but took it ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-2, Judges 7:1-30

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

In 1864, One Of America’s Great Poets, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 8, 2000

In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Habakkuk 1:2

Tags: Peace, Love Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

Nate Saint And Fellow Missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jan 20, 2001

Nate Saint and fellow missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian had set up camp on a little sandbar in hopes of making contact with the primitive Aucas, known for their fierce infighting and hatred of outsiders. The five missionaries had a deep burden to share the ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Wesleyan