In Sermon Illustrations: "Marriage Commitment"

Kierkegaard's Complacent Duck  PRO

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

Kierkegaard's Complacent Duck There was a Danish philosopher named Kierkegaard whose writings are weighty and tough to read. But that deep thinker one time told a simple parable that describes how easy it is to slide into complacency. According to his parable, one Spring, a duck was flying ...read more

Tags: Lazy, Sloth, Commitment To Christ, Complacency, Sleep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

What Makes A Good ...

Contributed by Timothy Gardner on Nov 7, 2009

"What makes a good church? If all the… …Lazy folks get up …sleepy folks wake up …Discouraged folks cheer up …Gossiping folks shut up …Dishonest folks fess up …Estranged folks make up …Depressed folks look up …Disgusted folks sweeten up …Lukewarm folks fire up …Sanctified folks show ...read more

Tags: People, Love, Commitment, Humor, Church General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Yielded Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 17, 2014

ANDREW MURRAY: "God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Surrender, Consecration, Commitment To Christ, Lordship Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Will Of God Is Not This...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2019

THE WILL OF GOD “The will of God is not something you ADD to your life. It’s a course you choose. You either line yourself up with the Word of God…...or you capitulate to the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Will Of God, Living Sacrifice, Commitment, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fellowship Of The Unashamed

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-12, Romans 1:16

Tags: Testimony, Unashamed, Unafraid, Evangelism, Commitment, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discipleship Is A Call To Suffer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

John R. Scott gives a modern example of one who suffered for the gospel observing that… "Few men of this century have understood better the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He seems never to have wavered in his Christian antagonism to the Nazi regime, although it meant for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 3:1-20, Romans 1:16

Tags: Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Suffering, Will Of God, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give God A Blank Check!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I read once about a family that put their elderly grandmother on a plane for her first flight. She wasn’t too sure about this mode of transportation, but she grudgingly went along with it. When she returned, some of the family members couldn’t help playfully asking, “Grannie, did the plane hold you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Commitment, Trust, Will Of God, Believing God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Want To Quit?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

There was a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness he came across what he thought was a signpost. It ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Fear, Commitment, Endurance, Apostasy, Perserverance, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Prepared For Tough Times?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Lord Joseph Duveen, American head of the art firm that bore his name, planned in 1915 to send one of his experts to England to examine some ancient pottery. He booked passage on the Lusitania. Then the German Embassy issued a warning that the liner might be torpedoed. Duveen wanted to call off ...read more

Tags: Commitment, Preparation, Hardships, Trials, Tough Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being A Professional 24 7

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 22, 2021

Athletes strive for excellence and continual improvement. Disciples of Christ must take the same attitude. Hockey star Matthew Barzal of the New York Islanders comments on doing and being your best: Whether that's having short hair and clean facial hair throughout the regular season or ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:12

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Worship, Commitment, Discipleship, Excellence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Monkey Around With Eternity!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Tags: Eternity, Commitment, Satan, Discipleship, Temptation, Possessions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Parable Of The Pearl

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2022

Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection of his own. But one day, while he was away on business, he spotted a beautiful pearl in a Jeweler's window. It was a pearl such as he had never seen, perfect in shape, size, and color. He thought to himself, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Tags: Sacrifice, Commitment, Discipleship, Kingdom Of God, Decisions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[015] A Message From A Poem - All About Me But What About The Lord?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2024

[015] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALL ABOUT ME BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LORD? This is a very serious poem even though it is written in a partly informal way. The title says it all. “Everything revolves around me, and the Lord should be grateful for the time I give to Him.” Of course that attitude is ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:15-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Communion, Commitment, Study, Excuses, Selfish, The Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ham And Egg Breakfast

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 10, 2025

A chicken and a pig were talking about how people don’t truly appreciate what goes into making a breakfast of eggs and ham. The chicken spoke first: “Folks don’t appreciate me and all the hard work it takes to lay an egg. It really hurts!” The pig replied, “That’s the difference between you and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6

Tags: Sacrifice, Commitment, Chicken, Ham, Pig, Eggs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Would You Still Love Me?  PRO

Contributed by Dale Johnsen on Dec 28, 2000

A wealthy older gentleman had just recently married a lovely young lady, and was beginning to wonder whether she might have married him for his money. So he asked her, "Tell me the truth: if I lost all my money, would you still love me?" She said reassuringly, ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle, Money, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

I Remembered A Story Pastor Dan Rhodes Told Me. ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

I remembered a story Pastor Dan Rhodes told me. Dan is the pastor of two rural churches in Colorado and stays busy. Like most pastors, he has plenty to do, but by being the pastor of two churches, he has twice the committee meetings, and twice the worship services. As Dan tells the story, his ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Parenting, Workplace Balance

Denomination: Baptist

Chemistry 101 — Table Of Elements  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 11, 2001

Chemistry 101 -- Table of Elements Two new additions to the Periodic Table of Elements: Element Name: WOMAN Symbol: WO Atomic Weight:(don’t even go there) Physical properties: Generally round in form. Boils at nothing and may freeze at anytime. Melts whenever treated properly. Very bitter if ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Marriage General, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Is Told Of A Little Boy Sitting On His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 7, 2001

The story is told of a little boy sitting on his front steps with his face cradled in his hands, looking so forlorn. His dad came home just then & asked him what was wrong. The little boy looked up & said, "Well, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-11

Tags: Communication General, Parenting, Marriage Obligations

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Found These Lines In An Old Book Copyrighted In ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Daugherty on Aug 7, 2001

I found these lines in an old book copyrighted in 1911. The title of the book is "MORE HEART THROBS VOLUME TWO"... IT WILL MEND Ex-Governor Pennypacker, in an address that was both kind and witty, said in Philadelphia of the divorce evil: "There would be less divorce if there were more ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Divorce, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Holiness