In Sermon Illustrations: "Masterful Preacher"

I Am One Of Them

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

I AM ONE OF THEM 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 ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Worthless Slaves

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 16, 2009

WORTHLESS SLAVES Rewards from God are never merited as something God owes us but come as a free gift from his grace. Jesus brought this home at another time with a short story. Suppose you had a slave plowing the fields. Now when that slave came in, would you say, "Sit down and I’ll get you some ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Lutheran

Leeches In Burma Fall Off Traveler In Herbal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Leeches in Burma Fall Off Traveler in Herbal Bath William Arnot wrote this: "A traveler in Burma, after fording a certain river, found his body covered all over by a swarm of small leeches, busily sucking his blood. His first impulse was to tear them from his flesh: but his servant warned him that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus

Branded As Christ's Disciple

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2010

BRANDED AS CHRIST'S DISCIPLE Two Texans were trying to impress each other with the size of their ranches. One asked the other, "What's the name of your ranch?" He replied, "The Rocking R, ABC, Flying W Circle C, Bar U, Staple Four, Box D, Rolling M, Rainbow's End, Silver Spur Ranch." The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Discipleship

What Is A Mom?

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 8, 2011

WHAT IS A MOM? What is a mom? Is she the one that gave birth to your life? Is she one who raised you with the warm embrace of her arms? Is she the woman who gives the all of life, so that yours could be prosperous and long? Many mothers are probably all theses, and many things more. Moms are ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Lutheran

A Brief Excerpt From The Biography* Of ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Sep 18, 2012

A brief excerpt from the Biography* of D.Livingstone that immortal missionary to Africa captures the essence of his ministry…on how he had modeled it on His master. ‘They (people to whom he ministered) had decided to go to Kolobeng, too, for they felt that they could not live without their white ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: *other

The Devil's Vision  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on Aug 8, 2002

THE DEVIL’S VISION The devil once said, to his demons below, our work is progressing entirely to slow; The holiness people stand in our way, since they don’t believe in the show or the play; they teach that the carnival, circus and dance, the tavern and honky tonk, with games of chance, drinking ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-6

Tags: Satan, Television And Movies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not Talking To Me...or Is He?

Contributed by Ryan Davis on Oct 28, 2010

NOT TALKING TO ME...OR IS HE? So often those of us who have been coming to church and have been Christians for a long time sit and listen to sermons as if the preacher is talking to everyone else in the auditorium except us. We sit there during the sermon and take in what the preacher is saying, ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In His Book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Dec 1, 2004

In his book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max Lucado tells the story of John Egglen, who had never preached a sermon in his life before the Sunday morning when it snowed and the pastor wasn’t able to make it to the church. In fact, he was the only deacon to show up. He was not a preacher, but he ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 8:1-15

Tags: Faith, Charles Spurgeon, Christian Disciplines, Significance, Illustration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Size Of Congregation Doesn't Guarantee ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2010

Size of Congregation Doesn’t Guarantee Fruitfulness It is important to note that large crowds do not necessarily mean that a teacher has a fruitful ministry. He may have a “successful” ministry, in the sense that the world measures success: by buildings, budgets, and bodies. But a “successful” ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12-13

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Holy Spirit: The Forgotten God

Contributed by Brad Henry on Oct 19, 2011

HOLY SPIRIT: THE FORGOTTEN GOD ALL the ruthless Ninevites from the commoner to the King of Assyria repented and God did not send destruction. But why did these ruthless people listen to Jonah who was just one man? I have been struggling with this very question and asked God to help me speak to you ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Did Jesus Really Die On The Cross?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

One lady sent in a letter to a religious question and answer forum. "Dear Sirs, Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health because he just fainted on Good Friday. He didn't really die and he wasn't really raised ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:1-2

Tags: Easter, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Son Of Man, Cross, Son Of God, Empty Grave  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In 1986 I Had A Series Of Experiences That Turned ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 31, 2001

In 1986 I had a series of experiences that turned my preaching around. I came to realize that the ability to help or stir people depends primarily on preparing the heart of the preacher. I found in myself that the pull toward religious Pharisaism is a constant, a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Leadership General, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Ministers Were Talking About The Kind Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 29, 2002

Two ministers were talking about the kind of Sunday morning we all have sooner or later. The alarm did not go off. Various domestic crises occurred. The traffic was unusually heavy. Finally, when he arrived at the church, he was late and someone had his parking space. With his frustration level ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Baptist

A Bit Of Advice  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2004

A BIT OF ADVICE It took the Church nearly 400 years to decide about Trinitarian orthodoxy, producing the Nicene Creed that many churches say on a Sunday morning. Most preachers would prefer to preach on any other subject than the Trinity. Perhaps we should heed the advice of Brother Elric, a ...read more

Tags: Trinity

Martin Luther, Commenting On Isaiah 65, Had This ...

Contributed by Garth Wehrfritz- Hanson on Apr 6, 2007

Martin Luther, commenting on Isaiah 65, had this to say: Through his Gospel God can make the supreme tyrants of the world subject to a simple man and preacher, even though these tyrants were lions and wolves. God can turn enemies into friends. They shall feed together ... The kingdom of peace ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

My Wife And Were Enjoying A Cruise On A Recent ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 30, 2007

My wife and were enjoying a cruise on a recent vacation. At the dinner table that second evening, that dreaded question came up regarding my occupation. (Now I am not ashamed of being a minister, but telling people I am a minister will erect walls that cannot be scaled) I replied that I would ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Tension Between A Christian And Society Is ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Jun 7, 2007

The tension between a Christian and SOCIETY is highlighted in the story Tony Compolo relates as a child who entered his house, not knowing the PREACHER was VISITING. Seeing his Mom, the boy came running in holding a RAT by the TAIL. With obvious EXCITEMENT he choked out: “Look, Mom! Look at ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Author Wrote, "I Shall Never Forget Dr. R. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One author wrote, "I shall never forget Dr. R. A. Torrey saying to me as a young preacher, ’Young man, make up your mind on one thing and stick to it.’" Vance Havner comments: "The Christian life should be like a sword with one point, not like a broom ending in many straws. Such a single purpose ...read more

Tags: Faith

Who Came To Worship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Henry Ward Beecher knew he was going to be absent from the pulpit of Plymouth Church one Sunday, so he asked his brother to preach for him. When the worship service began, and it became apparent that the great preacher would not be speaking that particular morning, some people got up and started to ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits