In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 5:1-20"

Martyrdom Of John ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

MARTYRDOM OF JOHN DENLEY One day, on the way to visit some friends, John Denley was stopped and searched by the authorities, who found his written confession of faith. Denley believed the Church was built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as its head, and that the present state church, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Faith, Persecution, Martyr

Hudson Taylor's Example

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

HUDSON TAYLOR'S EXAMPLE Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Light Of The ...

Contributed by Gordon Weatherby on May 2, 2013

LIGHT OF THE WORLD Jesus stated that we are to be the "Light of the World", and that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the Canadian province of New Brunswick there is a church building on Deer Island that for many years has served as a physical light house to the fishermen of that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-15

Tags: Witness, Light, Influence, Lighthouse, Christian Witness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The World Hates Light  PRO

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 16, 2013

I remember listening to a sermon illustration given by the powerful proclaimer, Rev. Dr. A. W. Mays of Austin, Texas. He told us of an incident that took place in his hometown of Austin concerning a streetlight. In Austin there was a high crime area, and the residents of the community petitioned ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 5:13-20

Tags: Light, Christian Life, Christian Duty, Light Of The World, Sermon On The Mount  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Forced To Kill  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 1, 2013

FORCED TO KILL Around the time of the Korean War, Kim Joon-gon had seen 2,000 out of 20,000 people on Chunnam Island murdered by the Communists. They dragged he and his family outside their village where Kim’s father and wife were beaten to death and Kim was left for dead. When he revived and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 5:7

Tags: Mercy, Salvation, Revenge, Vengeance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Eusebius On Christian Compassion  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 2, 2013

EUSEBIUS ON CHRISTIAN COMPASSION The Christian conquest of the Roman Empire came not by the sword, but by the preaching of the gospel joined with acts of compassion. In the middle of the 3rd century AD there was a terrible plague and many died. The pagans and doctors left the cities to avoid ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Compassion, Let Light Shine

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reflecting The Light  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Feb 27, 2014

REFLECTING THE LIGHT A well-known Bible teacher has just finished speaking to a large class of business people on the Christians' responsibility to be light in the world. He had emphasized the as believers we all have the obligation to reflect the Light in the world, the Lord Jesus. After the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Evangelism, Living As Light

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Revealing The Spectrum Of God’s Love

Contributed by Fred Parker on Oct 23, 2014

Written by Pastor Fred Parker Sat, 4th June, 2011 Matthew 5:16 “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” NIV Early one morning not long ago, I was reminded that the aura of God is revealed in the beauty of His light. The clouds were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Love, Light Of Truth, Spectrum, Jesus Loves

Denomination: Pentecostal

Simpson's Cocoa Powder

Contributed by Jason Albertson on Nov 8, 2014

There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Tags: Purity, Personal Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: July 4th, Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Telemarketer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 6, 2017

Here’s a story from a telemarketer: “The other day I called a house and a real nice lady answered the phone, she was really helpful and friendly, she was the type of lady that helps a telemarketer get through a long day. After some pleasantries I asked if Mr. Smith was in, “I’m sorry”, she ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Matthew 5:4

Tags: Grief, Grave, Cemetery, Marketing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lights Along The Shore

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Jul 9, 2017

The Lights Along the Shore To me, lighthouses are among the most charming of man-made structures. Their unique and essential purpose makes each one a thing of exquisite beauty. Seafarers seeking a haven on a stormy night find a beam from the shore as precious as life itself. Perhaps Philip ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3-7, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 22:5, John 3:19-21, Malachi 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Harbor, Light And Darkness, Navigation, Light, Sea  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Billy Graham's Conversion

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

In an interview on October 15, 2013 Billy Graham said, “There are two basic needs that all people have: the need for hope and the need for salvation. It should not be surprising if people believe easily in a God who makes no demands, but this is not the God of the Bible. Satan has cleverly misled ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Matthew 5:17-18

Tags: Salvation, Repentance, Billy Graham, Easy Believism

Denomination: Charismatic

Baksheesh

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 27, 2018

Donald Barhhouse says, “One of the first words learned by the traveler in India is “baksheesh.” Multitudes of begars hold out their hands and say this one word. Preaching through an interpreter, I had occasion to speak of salvation as the gift of God. I emphasized the word. It is a gift. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3, Titus 3:5

Tags: Salvation, Poor In Spirit, Gift Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Your Light Shining

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

IS YOUR LIGHT SHINING? Many years a missionary employed a Chinese scholar to translate the New Testament into the Chinese language. The scholar was a Confucian and had never heard of Christianity until the missionary had hired him. The scholar was a painstaking person and wanted to produce a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16

Tags: Reputation, Complacent

Denomination: Pentecostal

Broken

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

Broken Windows … (Little improvements can make a big difference) Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. One ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Community, Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Sure Do Miss St. Sanity

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 17, 2019

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and me recently celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary. It sure does not seem we have been married that long. I guess, as you get older, according to my grandmother, time goes faster. If that is true, I must be getting older. We met in September, became ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Politics, Humor, Sanity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Not Enough Salt

Contributed by David Ward on Sep 12, 2019

Dennis Kinlaw, former Asbury Seminary professor and Asbury College president, tells a story about growing up in rural Lumberton, North Carolina, during the depression. It was Dennis’ job, as a young boy, to rub salt into the meat his father brought home from hunting. He would rub salt into the meat ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Evangelism, Identity In Christ, Salt Of The Earth, Influence For Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meekness......don't Leave Home Without It.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

William Barclay gives an extra "amplified" translation of Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the Meek". "Oh, the bliss of the man who is always angry at the RIGHT TIME and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct, every impulse, and every passion under control because ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Strength, Meekness, Weakness, Beatitudes, Gentleness, The Blessed Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational