In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 15 10 20 21 28"

Fasting Before The Great Awakening

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 22, 2011

FASTING BEFORE THE GREAT AWAKENING Jonathan Edwards was a man used by God in the First Great Awakening. I have read that he preached in a weak, squeaking, monotone voice and held his tiny manuscript so close to his face that people could not see his expressions. When he preached, "Sinners in the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:2-3, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, Luke 5:33-35, Acts 14:23, Luke 2:37, Matthew 6:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Fast

Denomination: Baptist

Not What Was Expected

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 16, 2022

Integrity is when something is the same all the way through. Pure gold is gold and only gold, all the way through. 14kt gold is less than pure, but other metals give it a hardness that allows more uses such as making beautiful jewelry from it. The bible calls the condition of being one thing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:21, James 3:11, James 3:12, James 3:13, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Integrity, Hypocrisy, Tongue

Denomination: Charismatic

Redemption - Doctor Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

This story is reported as true ... though true or a parable ... it speaks to the importance ... of the One ... of one who can save. It was almost 1:00 in the morning... when the phone rang. Dr. Leo Winters, ...a highly acclaimed surgeon... was abruptly awakened ...from his nights sleep. There ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21, Ephesians 1:7, John 8:36, Matthew 26:28, 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 43:25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Redemption, Lamb, Redeemed, Sin, Blood, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Entitlement With God

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 20, 2025

A Jewish woman is walking on the beach with her little grandson. Suddenly a huge wave sweeps the boy out to sea. Desperate, the woman looks up to heaven and says, “God, please rescue my grandson, my only grandson, the light of my life!” Miraculously, the next big wave deposits ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 25:1-24, Deuteronomy 25:1-18, Isaiah 61:1-3, 2 Chronicles 36:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 3:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: False Hope, Owed, Abraham, Privilege, Entitlement, Assumptions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In May, 2008 A Missionary Serving In Italy Was ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jun 2, 2008

In May, 2008 a missionary serving in Italy was thrilled to see his first Italian convert after four years of ministry in one small town. After this young man trusted Christ, he was thrown out of his house by his Roman Catholic father for “wasting his life.” The prosperity preachers in America ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

After World War Ii, A Group Of ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Feb 26, 2006

ILLUSTRATION: After World War II, a group of German students volunteered to help rebuild an English cathedral that had been severely damaged by German bombs. As work progressed, they became concerned about a large statue of Jesus, whose arms were outstretched and beneath which was the inscription: ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rich Atchley Says That If You Went To The Average ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 16, 2001

Rich Atchley says that if you went to the average university campus today, & asked students if they know a verse of Scripture, most would say that they do. If you had asked 10 or 15 years ago, most would have quoted John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Tags: Apologetics The Bible, Truth, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beautiful Feet?

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 14, 2012

BEAUTIFUL FEET? The Bible says, in Romans 10:15, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace..." (NKJV). I don't know about you, but when I think about beautiful things, feet don't rank very high on my list. Feet are sweaty and stinky. Did you know that your feet have ...read more

Tags: People In The Gospel

Denomination: Christian Church

John - The Apostle Of ...

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on May 1, 2009

John - The Apostle of Love John is known as The Apostle of Love because more than any other writer in the New Testament he speaks of love, he exemplifies love, he loves and is loved. As a matter of fact, even though he writes only five books in the New Testament (as opposed to Paul’s 13) he used ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: *other

Take Special Note Of The Chapel Windows. Each ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 16, 2008

Take special note of the chapel windows. Each window uses symbols to depict the life and destiny of a different apostle. You will see the three money bags that represent Matthew the tax collector. You will see two crossed fish to remind us of Andrew the fisherman who died a martyr's death on an ...read more

Tags: Apostles General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Relationship We Share

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 2, 2014

While many people hunger for family closeness, we often miss the opportunities that stand immediately before us. Tammy Harris of Roanoke, Virginia, began searching for her biological mother when she turned 21. A year of searching proved fruitless. Tammy did not realize, however, that her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:34-35

Tags: Family, Church Family

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scripture Reading - Job 5:17-26

Contributed by John Collier on Nov 28, 2016

17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a] 18 For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. 19 From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you. 20 In famine he will deliver you from ...read more

Scripture: Job 5:17-26

Tags: Protection, Blessing, Discipline, Scripture Reading

Denomination: Baptist

A Self-Control Inventory

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

Are you struggling with self-control in any of these areas that are addressed in the Book of Proverbs? • Uncontrolled lust. Proverbs 6:26: “For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.” • Uncontrolled spending. Proverbs 21:20: “In the house ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Proverbs, Money, Lust, Alcohol, Anger, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Budding Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Luke 21 records the parable of the Budding of the Fig Tree by Jesus. This parable is interpreted by many evangelical writers as a reference to the Regathering of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel 38. It happened in 1948 as the nation was re-born miraculously as we prepare for the return of ...read more

Tags: Prophecy, Second Coming, Parables, Rapture, Return Of Christ, Regathering, Israel, End Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Speaking To Someone About New Zealand A ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 15, 2010

I was speaking to someone about New Zealand a couple of days ago and how when we went there we had explored the colourful natural volcanic areas of Rotorua - bubbling mud, steaming ground and geysers, huge volcanic craters and weird and wonderful rock formations. Although it was beautiful the smell ...read more

Tags: Judgment, Eternal Hell

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[098]. A Message From A Poem – Genesis Synopsis

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

[098]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GENESIS SYNOPSIS How can you possibly put the book of Genesis into a poem? The answer is, be brief and try not to miss the main events. I had the desire to write a Genesis poem and this is the result. The poem begins of course with Chapter 1 and works to the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:13, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 15:18, Matthew 24:37-38, Genesis 1:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Genesis, Creation, Egypt, Isaac, Nimrod, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Adam, Joseph, Cain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Bigger Than Our Box

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 20, 2023

(Have 4 boxes of different sizes for illustration) Here is a box. Its a small one. For some people, what they think of God could fit in this box. They have few expectations and limited knowledge of who God is. Here is another box. It is a little larger. Many people would be comfortable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Tags: God Is Able, Power Of God, Limiting God, Bigness Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Earnest Heed  PRO

Contributed by Charles Dupree on Oct 25, 2011

Earnest Heed Hebrews 2:1 There was a man named Earnest Heed Who simply refused listen But when his wife cooked apple pie His eyes would always glisten. Earnest had a few close friends Named Apathy and Lazy They like Earnest refused to hear And drove other people crazy. One day, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-2

Tags: Obedience, Listen, Accountability, Laziness, Hearing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Latinos Boosting Catholic Attendance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

LATINOS BOOSTING CATHOLIC ATTENDANCE The U.S. Catholic Church would be in decline without Latin American immigrants. Traditional congregations of the American Catholic church have been dwindling in recent years, to where 1 in every 10 Americans is a former Catholic. Immigration from Latin-American ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:5-7

Tags: Evangelism How To

Fishers Of Men

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 15, 2018

While fishing in the dark in a very deep canyon can present very obvious problems it can produce some unexpected experiences as well. It was a warm summer night about 2:00 AM, dark would be an understatement as the moon was nonexistent at least in the bottom of our canyon. Trout was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:19, 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, 1 Corinthians 2:9-14, John 16:8

Tags: Filled With The Spirit, Holy Spirit, Sin, Gospel, Righteousness, Spirit Of Truth, Gospel Presentation, Evangelism, Judgement  (view more)  (view less)