In Sermon Illustrations: "Mean People"

No To Knowing The Future

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Nov 17, 2010

"NO" TO KNOWING THE FUTURE When I used to work in an urban parish in Calcutta in India, I used to see a man sitting outside my window, on the pavement, with a parrot in a cage. He was a fortune teller. Several people who pass by that way would stop at him to learn about what the future held for ...read more

Tags: Future

Denomination: Catholic

A Brief Excerpt From The Biography* Of ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Sep 17, 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

Dan Kimball: Passionate About Hell

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Dan Kimball writes, "I am passionate about hell. That sounds odd -- but I am not passionate about hell itself, but passionate about studying what it is because of the seriousness of what it is. I am passionate about it as I don't want anyone to experience it. Sort of like when you study cancer, you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Doctrine Of Hell

Denomination: Methodist

Through The Eyes Of A 3-Year-Old

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

Rena was 3 years old when she went to her first baptismal service. It was new for her and a bit mystifying. As events transpired, she looked up at her father with surprise in her eyes, “Daddy, he pushed that guy under the water? Why did he do that?” The father tried to quietly answer her question ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Baptism, Good Works, Water Baptism, New Start

Denomination: Charismatic

Be Doers Of The Word

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 8, 2022

There is a made-up story about a man who had a dream about heaven. The story is not true but the point it illustrates is true. In this story a man had a dream he died and went to heaven. He toured heaven and it was marvelous just as he imagined it would be. He sees mansions, streets of gold and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Tags: Doing, Great Sermons, Doers Of The Word, Practical Faith, Not Hearers Only, Do What It Says, James On Doing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

In Football They Have A Huddle, The Goal ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Dec 11, 2000

“In football they have a huddle, the goal of the huddle is to give you thirty seconds to call the play, that is why they give you a huddle.(At a professional football game there may be ) Sixty thousand people watching you huddle, they don’t mind you taking thirty seconds to call the play. They ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Genesis 3:16-17

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Great Commission, What Is Evangelism?, Pure

Denomination: Baptist

When I Look At History I Think Of Another Time ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 21, 2001

When I look at history I think of another time when America faced a crisis. The year was 1857. America was at both an economic and spiritual low. Attendance in churches had dwindled and there was a cynicism among many concerning religion. It was in the midst of this spiritual crisis that God gave a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Vision, God's Sovereign Will, God's Omniscience

There Is A Legend Which Recounts The Return Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Mar 26, 2003

There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached Him and said, "Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there." "I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:17

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

What Someone Has Called The Pleasure Explosion ...  PRO

Contributed by James O. Davis on Oct 28, 2003

What someone has called the pleasure explosion has overtaken us so that in the United States alone the pleasure business has been growing at an average rate of 6 billion dollars a year since 1965. Thrills and chills are available on demand. Popular amusement parks offer themes and thrills of all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35-37

Tags: Entertainment, Television And Movies

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Thanks Offering For His Plans For Us  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering For His Plans for Us Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Tags: God's Plan, God's Timing, God's Direction, Wisdom Of God, God's Sovereign Will  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Late Henri Nouwen, A Great Theologian And ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 10, 2007

The late Henri Nouwen, a great theologian and priest, retells an old story in his famous book, The Wounded Healer: “One day a young fugitive, trying to hide himself from the enemy, entered a small village. The people were kind to him and offered him a place to stay. But when the soldiers who ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Bill Hybels: Difficult Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2010

BILL HYBELS: DIFFICULT FORGIVENESS Everything we have seen about how to deal with difficult people when put to action will bring glory to God. We find this in an illustration from Bill Hybels: "A couple of years ago, a member of my church’s vocal team and I were invited by a Christian leader ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

The Bells Toll For Someone Else

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 22, 2011

THE BELLS TOLL FOR SOMEONE ELSE We began the week with the story of the Chicago nightclub fire in which 21 people were killed as they rushed to the exit. The club had already been cited for overcrowding and other safety violations--like not enough doors and windows. What happened was that a ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Was Dull In A New Way, And That Made Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"He was dull in a new way, and that made many ...read more

Tags: Productivity

The Problem Is Not That The Churches Are Filled ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Most Important Trip You May Take In Life Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The most important trip you may take in life is ...read more

Temper Is A Quality That At A Critical Moment ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in ...read more

Tags: Anger

In Their Cry For Freedom, It May Truly Be Said, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In their cry for freedom, it may truly be said, the voice of the ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom

If You Want To Live A Happy Life, Tie It To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not ...read more

Tags: Goals

The Basis Of Our Political System Is The Right ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter ...read more

Tags: Government