In Sermon Illustrations: "Mark"

Spiritual Health Checks  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (True Devotions) Rick Warren wrote, "The key for churches in the 21st Century will be church health, not growth." When a congregation is healthy, it will grow spiritually and enjoy the benefits of a live, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. A healthy Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Children, Moses, Deception, Godly Women, Listen, Liar, Selectively, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Prince Of Peace And The Pauper

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 2, 2009

THE PRINCE OF PEACE AND THE PAUPER It may be a poor example, but I draw from Mark Twain's classic "The Prince and The Pauper." Ten-year-old Prince Edward, spoiled and bored, finds a pauper boy, Tom Conti, who is his precise double in appearance. The two trade places on a lark, but the Prince ...read more

Tags: Jesus Life

Denomination: Orthodox

God Has Already Given Us The Answer To Our ...

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 5, 2009

God has already given us the answer to our question for tragedy – God lets bad stuff happen because He is good. Without the goodness of God there would not be any free choice for you and me. We would be like robots, serving God by His will alone, and not our choice. The fact that a good God, who ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: United Methodist

Diversity In The Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH Philip Yancey put it this way in an article in Christianity Today just this last November. He writes, "As I read accounts of the New Testament church, no characteristic stands out more sharply than [diversity]. Beginning with Pentecost, the Christian church dismantled the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:28

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Laws Of Stewardship, Sowing And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Laws of Stewardship, Sowing and Reaping A few of the Laws of Stewardship and of Sowing and Reaping: THE LAW OF RIGHTFUL OWNERSHIP – Nothing truly belongs to us; everything actually belongs to God. THE LAW OF PURPOSEFUL POSSESSION – Wise stewards are guided by lordship, not “hoardship.” THE LAW ...read more

Tags: Stewardship

Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst Judith Viorst wrote a popular children’s book called Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. It’s about a little boy whose day starts out bad and goes downhill from there. He gets gum in his hair and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Jonah

Following God Ordained Passions, Like Wilson ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Following God Ordained Passions, like Wilson Bentley the Snowflake Photographer I want to die the same way Wilson Bentley died. Wilson grew up on a farm in Jericho, Vermont, and as a young boy he developed a fascination with snowflakes. Obsession might be a better word for it. Most people go ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14

Tags: Zeal

Money ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

Money Talks -Most of us have probably heard the saying, “Money talks.” Words are one thing, but when someone slaps down their money or writes the check, their words take on new meaning. Sometimes money produces results that seemed slow in coming with any other approach. This might be due to greed, ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-6

Tags: Money

A Blow To A Priceless Jewel

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2011

A BLOW TO A PRICELESS JEWEL Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert lapidary: a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-8

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

The Life Vest

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

THE LIFE VEST The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August 1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 August. About ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Action

White As Snow  PRO

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

WHITE AS SNOW Ash Wednesday — it’s kind of a solemn day. It’s the start of Lent —a word which means “spring” in German. But more than this, it’s the time each year when we intently focus on the path Christ Jesus laid out for us to follow — to be true to his word, true to his calling, and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:14, Joel 1:14-27

Tags: Deception, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Lutheran

You're Beautiful To God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO GOD R.C. Buckner, a big, bold and brash man, lived about 100 years ago in Texas. This imposing figure had a very tender heart for children, starting Buckner's Children's Homes all across the state. The children affectionately called him "Papa Buckner" and would run up to him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Tags: Compassion

The Happiness Of Heaven

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 7, 2012

THE HAPPINESS OF HEAVEN In 1871 Fr. J. Boudreau wrote a short story entitled "The Happiness of Heaven." It's a story about a kindhearted king who is hunting in the forest when he discovers a blind, poor orphan boy living there. The king takes the blind orphan to his palace and adopts him as his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Heaven

Moved By Grace

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

The word itself... grace... has become trite and debased through misuse and overuse. It does not move us the way it moved our early Christian ancestors. In some European countries, certain high ecclesiastical officials are still called, Your Grace. Sportswriters spoke of Michael Jordan's easy ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Tags: Grace, Lacking In Grace, Scandal Of Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Give Thanks

Contributed by Jonathan Meade on Nov 18, 2023

At 16, a mission to Honduras with my father was an eye-opening experience that left an incredible mark on my soul. I found myself in a foreign land, surrounded by poverty and heart wrenching realities that I had never encountered before. One particular night, our bus pulled into a dimly lit gas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Missions, Gratitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Humanity's Quest For Moral Understanding

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

I recently watched a video by Pastor David Wilkinson discussing the innate human understanding of good and evil, heaven and hell. Based on this, I believe that our inherent moral sense inevitably drives humanity to create various religions. Hinduism, with its openness to diverse divine forms, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:14-15

Tags: Religion, Good, Moral Compass, Innate Morality, Moral Understanding, Jesus' Impact, Hell, Evil, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost For Preaching The Truth About Baptism

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 22, 2024

Baptism is identification with Christ. Baptism allows the believer in Christ to openly identify with Christ who died, was buried and who rose again on his behalf. It is a public testimony to say I have identified with Christ. I will live for Christ. On October 15, 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Baptism, Persecution, Immersion, Reformation, Church History, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Story About Graduation Car

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: The son of a wealthy man expected to receive a sports car for his graduation. Instead his Dad called him into his study, told him that he loved him and handed him a wrapped-up present. When he opened it, he found it to be a box containing a leather bound Bible, with his name inscribed on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:9-14

Tags: Treasure, Graduation Present

Denomination: Anglican

One Line Sermons

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 25, 2025

Be Fishers of Men … You catch ‘em, He’ll clean ‘em. A family altar can alter a family. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. Don’t put a question mark where God put a period. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church. Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord! Forbidden fruits ...read more

Tags: Wisdom, One Line Sermons

Denomination: Anglican

Dragging My Sin  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 6, 2005

DRAGGING MY SIN In this award winning film called “The Mission,” Robert DeNiro plays a mercenary who has taken asylum in the local church after killing his brother in a fit of jealous rage. He eventually leaves the church and heads to a mission post located above the waterfalls in a South American ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-11, Psalm 32:1-11, Mark 5:1-19, Mark 5:1-19

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Character