In Sermon Illustrations: "Me Focused"

The Party Is Over  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 20, 2002

THE PARTY IS OVER Americans experience presidential inaugurations in our nation’s capital every four years. They are gala events, expressions of national pride. All three branches of government are focused on the inauguration of an American president, and there are bands, banners, television ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

If We Have Failed In Any Respect In This Matter ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 13, 2007

If we have failed in any respect in this matter of “go…preach” it is probably related to our limited understanding of what the church is. Bishop Leslie Newbigin, labeled as “one of the leading influences on the theology of mission” (Wilbert R. Shenk) in the 20th century, was once quoted as saying, ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

We Allow Our Daily Concerns To Turn Into Anxiety ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 24, 2007

We allow our daily concerns to turn into anxiety and therefore sin when our thoughts become focused on changing the future instead of doing our best to handle our present circumstances. Such thoughts are unproductive. They end up controlling us—though it should be the other way around—and cause us ...read more

Denomination: Other

In The Not So Distant Past, Was A Movement That ...

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Sep 20, 2008

In the not so distant past, was a movement that swept across the country that was started by former Colorado University football coach Bill McCartney, called Promise Keepers. It started small, but before long, hundreds of thousands of men would gather for huge conferences that focused on men ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations

Denomination: Methodist

One Sunday Morning The Pastor Noticed Little Alex ...

Contributed by Todd Brock on Nov 13, 2008

One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Alex was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor ...read more

Tags: Memories

Denomination: Baptist

Picking And Choosing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2012

PICKING AND CHOOSING An extremely nervous patient came to his dentist for root canal surgery. He was brought into the examining room and made comfortable in the reclining dental chair. The dentist then injected a numbing agent around the patient's tooth, and left the room for a few minutes while ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-30

Tags: Bible Truth

A Peek At The Universe  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012

A PEEK AT THE UNIVERSE In 2004, scientists pointed the Hubble telescope at a blank-looking patch of sky near the Orion Constellation. The Hubble stayed focused on that spot for 400 orbits over 11 days. The patch of sky they were looking at is no bigger than a grain of sand held out at arm’s ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31

Tags: Creation

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Testimony Of Astronaut Charles Duke

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2013

TESTIMONY OF ASTRONAUT CHARLES DUKE Through the years, I’ve heard people say, "I wasn’t looking for God when He found me." Let me give you a modern example of this process. Astronaut Charles Duke is one of only twelve men who have left footprints on the moon. He was the lunar module pilot for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Jimmy Long Of Intervarsity Outlined These Nine ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Jimmy Long of InterVarsity outlined these nine elements to the Young Leader Network of Leadership Network. A welcoming environment because people are looking for a place to belong. A place of intimate community where people find God and each other. Narrative evangelism that listens to their story ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

I Am Going To Close With A Clip From The Movie, ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 9, 2006

I am going to close with a clip from the movie, “Freaky Friday”. In this fantasy, comedy Jamie Curtis plays a middle aged widow named Tess Coleman. She has met someone she loves and is about to get married. However, there is lots of conflict going on between her and her 15 year old daughter, ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Charismatic

Unwrapping The Christmas Present  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 16, 2003

UNWRAPPING THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT “To get ready for Christmas, God undressed. God stripped off his finery and appeared – how embarrassing – naked on the day he was born. . . God could not be God-with-us if he wasn’t flesh... As evangelicals we have focused on the saving death of Christ but ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Trinity

The Movie Rudy  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 20, 2004

Video Illustration: The Movie Rudy The Movie: Based on the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, this film is about friendship, courage, and sacrifice. Rudy (Sean Austin) grew up in a small steel town with the dream of someday playing football for Notre Dame. Despite many obstacles, he refused to give up, ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Friendship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A National Omnibus Survey Commissioned By ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

A national Omnibus survey commissioned by spirituality.com in September 2003 focused on gratitude. The random national sample of more than 1,000 adults gives details on how grateful America feels today, and how Americans express that gratitude. Through that survey here are some of the benefits that ...read more

Ransom

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 25, 2005

INTRODUCTION... Ransom Ransom, is an action packed drama thriller that came out in 1996 starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo and directed by Ron Howard. The movie focuses on Mel Gibson’s character, Tom Mullen, a rich airline owner, is shocked when his son is kidnapped. He is willing to pay the two ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Red Herring  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

RED HERRING You’ve probably heard the expression "red herring." This term was coined from a method of training hunting dogs to follow the scent of their prey. Once the dogs were following the proper scent, their trainers would drag red herrings (a stinky fish) across their paths. Initially, the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Bag Of Candy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

Bag of Candy A young boy was arrested and brought before the judge for taking a bag of candy from the shelf of a local store. The owner of the store pressed charges because he wanted the boy to learn a lesson. After a lecture from the judge, the judge asked the young boy if he had anything to say ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1-17

Tags: Forgiveness General

A Lot Of Christians Have A Tendency To Think That ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2009

A lot of Christians have a tendency to think that --- even though it was God’s Grace and Mercy that saved us --- now that we are saved, it’s all up to us to get on with the business of struggling to “live the Christian life” on our own power. We rev up our own dedication, will power, grit, and ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Burn The Books!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 16, 2005

Burn the Books! (08.18.05--Envy!--Prov 14:30) “Envy cannot read; therefore its will is that all books should be burned.” If we can’t have it then it should not be possible for others to know what we ourselves have not be given. When we equate envy with justice, we travel a very rocky road. Denying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:30

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Lutheran

There Was Once A Pastor Who Decided He Was Going ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was once a pastor who decided he was going to do something different for a change, so instead of a sermon, he gave everyone two sheets of paper. On one sheet, the heading read, “THE PROBLEM IN THIS CHURCH IS …” and on the other sheet, the heading read, “WHAT THIS CHURCH NEEDS IS …” He had ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Family Unity