In Sermon Illustrations: "Masterful Preacher"

Greg Laurie, Pastor Of Harvest Church In ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 13, 2005

Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Church in Riverside, California, was having lunch with Billy Graham. Ruth, Billy’s wife, had made a classic southern lunch of fried chicken, collard greens, and the works. It was Greg’s first time to meet Billy Graham; he was nervous. Greg says, “I had many questions ...read more

Tags: Mind, Cross Agony, Renewing The Mind

Denomination: Pentecostal

Don't Move The Piano  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Jan 10, 2007

A new preacher at the local church walked into the auditorium of His new church. He thought it would be best to move the piano from the right side of the stage to the left side of the stage, so he moved it. Soon after he was fired for the disruption caused by the new ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Charles Spurgeon The Great English Victorian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Charles Spurgeon the great English Victorian preacher wrote of the death of Richard Baxter, the great Puritan preacher. Baxter lay dying. Some friends came to see him. They asked him what we all asked at times like that, “How are you doing?” Baxter was weak and obviously near death. But with great ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Falling Asleep In Church

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Apr 22, 2009

FALLING ASLEEP IN CHURCH Please don't think I'm complaining about folks who fall asleep in church. I understand some people can’t help it. I am convinced that some people fall asleep in church during the sermon because their have a physical ailment. Some folk must have a snooze button attached at ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Church Of God

Delivering Death Notices

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 30, 2011

DELIVERING DEATH NOTICES When I lived in Albuquerque I was trained by the Albuquerque Police Department to deliver death notifications to people in town. The Police Department used local preachers wearing suits with Police Chaplain badges instead of sending uniformed officers because it was ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Afternoon, While Playing Golf At Bay Hill In ...  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Hensley on Aug 15, 2002

One afternoon, while playing golf at Bay Hill in Orlando, I was teamed up with the legendary football coach, Lou Holtz. As one of the men spoke of our team, he questioned Mr Holtz about his silence, afterall he was known as the "master motivator"! Lou looked at him and said, "It is hard to be a ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Instrument Of Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2003

AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE "Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15

Tags: War

A Harmonious Will

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 16, 2009

Watchman Nee: "An obedient will and a harmonious will are very different. Obedience is related to actions, whereas harmony is related to character. The obedient will of a servant is seen in carrying out every order of his master. "But the harmonious will is shown in the son who knows the father’s ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Churches And Culture

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Mar 13, 2010

CHURCHES AND CULTURE In survey after survey, researchers find that the lifestyles of born-again Christians are virtually indistinguishable from those of nonbelievers. The divorce rate among Christians is identical to that of nonbelievers. Christian teens are almost as sexually active as ...read more

Tags: Culture

Denomination: Baptist

When A Christian Grows

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

WHEN A CHRISTIAN GROWS Dr. Bonar once remarked that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Master, talk less of what he was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

As A Third-Century Man Was Anticipating Death, ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 27, 2008

As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon Fire

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

SERMON FIRE Preacher who asked his wife: "Should I have put more fire into my sermon?" Wife replied: "You should ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Brethren

Gen. Douglas Macarthur Wrote This Prayer For His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son. He prayed: "Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, & brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud & unbending in honest defeat, & humble & gentle in victory. "Build me a son ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Father's Day, Father, Goals, Dreams  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Persian Legend - Pour Water Into Basket  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 2, 2001

Persian Legend - Pour Water Into Basket A certain king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages and told them to fill a basket with water from a nearby well, saying that he would come in the evening to inspect their work. ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Faith, Fool, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Build Me A Son By General Douglas A. Macarthur  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on Jun 5, 2003

Build Me a Son by General Douglas A. MacArthur Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face him self when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishbone ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen Retells A ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on May 28, 2004

In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen retells a tale from ancient India: Four royal brothers decided each to master a special ability. Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned. “I have mastered a science,” said the first, “by which I can take but a bone of some creature and ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Staying By The Stuff

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

STAYING BY THE STUFF. A. MY GRAND MOTHER USED TO TELL US BOYS ABOUT AN OLD PERSIAN LEGEND, B. THAT TALKS ABOUT A KING WHO NEEDED A FAITHFUL SERVANT AND HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE. C. HE TOOK BOTH, AT FIXED WAGES, AND TOLD THEM TO FILL A BASKET WITH WATER FROM A NEARBY ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Let's Talk About The Differences Inherent In ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 1, 2008

Let’s talk about the differences inherent in being son or servant in any household. Now it may seem more than a stretch to draw from a modern fantasy tale for my illustration, but the story line of Batman offers very good examples of our point. In that story, the boy who will eventually ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Orthodox

Our Family Pet Dog, Avalon, Was A Beautiful ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Our family pet dog, Avalon, was a beautiful rottweiler and she was a good dog. She loved to follow me around. When I would come home from work she would get all excited – wagging her tail with glee. She would rush towards me while snorting with anticipation and celebration. Avalon loved to be ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist

There Is A Tale Told Of That Great English Actor ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Dec 9, 2001

There is a tale told of that great English actor Macready. An eminent preacher once said to him: "I wish you would explain to me something." "Well, what is it? I don’t know that I can explain anything to a preacher." "What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Apologetics The Bible, Acting, Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist