In Sermon Illustrations: "Members Of The Body"

His Son Gave His Life On 911

Contributed by Steve Ely on Sep 22, 2010

Lee Lelpi is a retired firefighter, a New York City firefighter. He gave 26 years to the city. But on September 11th, 2001 he gave much more. He gave his son, Jonathan. His son was a firefighter as well. When the Twin Towers fell, Jonathan was there. Firefighters are a loyal clan. When one ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Thunderclap In The Debate

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 11, 2011

A THUNDERCLAP IN THE DEBATE A group of college students were debating this issue one day. Some said a mother has the right to do what she wants with her own body. Others pointed out the scientific fact that an unborn child is not part of the mother's body and has its own distinct DNA, blood type, ...read more

Tags: Abortion

Denomination: Lutheran

Sleeping Church

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Sep 26, 2020

Martin Luther once dreamed that the devil was listening to reports from his agents on the progress they were making against the Kingdom of God. One reported, "A company of Christians were crossing the desert, and I loosen the lions on them, and all were lost." The devil replied, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:5

Tags: Against The Kingdom Of God, Sleeping Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Transcending Tradition

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

TRANSCENDING TRADITION During these tough economic times, churches all across the country are seeing a sharp drop in their offerings. Thankfully, we haven’t seen that here, yet, but a lot of churches have, one of them being the Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, Texas. Their drop in income ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: God Brings Hope

Leaders At The Poles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

LEADERS AT THE POLES In his book, Leading at the Edge, Dennis Perkins contrasts the leadership values of two different explorers: Earnest Shackleton and Vilhjalmur Stefansson. In 1914, Shackleton led a daring expedition to reach Antarctica in the South. A year earlier, Stefansson led an expedition ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Prestige Professions Americans List The Following ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Prestige Professions Americans list the following professions and occupations in the order of having "great prestige" according to The Harris Poll: · Doctor (61%) · Teacher (54%) · Scientist (53%) · Minister/clergy (43%) · Military officer (40%) · Policeman (37%) · Engineer (36%) · Architect ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

Where Are The Pastors? Presbyterian Church, Usa, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Where Are The Pastors? Presbyterian Church, USA, reports that almost 50% of PCUSA churches with 51 to 100 members are without a pastor. Over 76.6% of these Presbyterian congregations of less than 50 have no pastor. A significant number of small rural and inner-city churches do not have a pastor, ...read more

Tags: Church General

Fewer Protestants: A University Of Chicago Survey ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Fewer Protestants: A University of Chicago survey shows U.S. Protestants are now 52% of the population, down from 62% in ‘93, and may no longer be the nation’s largest religious group by year’s end. The 52% included about 2% of respondents who said they were Church ...read more

Tags: Church General

I Read Of A Minister Who Was Visiting One Of His ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 27, 2000

I read of a minister who was visiting one of his members. The lady of the house was trying to impress him about how devout she was by pointing out the large Bible on the bookshelf and talking in a very reverential way of it as "the Word of God". Her young son interrupted the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 2:15-20

Tags: Neglect Of Bible, Holiness, Bible Study, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

When God Builds A Church  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 19, 2001

“Growing Christians are more evangelistic than evangelistic sermons. Inspire the members of your church—get them on fire for Jesus and excited about growing spiritually—and then they can’t help but tell their friends about it. The best evangelism is that which comes as a natural outpouring ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Growth In Christ, Great Commission

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

John Quincy Adams, The Sixth President Of Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of our country, once stated: "So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have for many ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Heroes And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

HEROES AND ROLE-MODELS British adults were asked who they would want their children to look up to in an Opinion Research poll. Family members topped the list, followed by multi-millionaire entrepreneur and daredevil Richard Branson. Jesus Christ came in 3rd in the ...read more

Tags: Parenting

In Order To Give Something, You Must Let Go!

Contributed by Jim Heidebrecht on Oct 10, 2009

IN ORDER TO GIVE SOMETHING, YOU MUST LET GO! VISUAL ILLUSTRATION: (I had a church member come to the front and pretended to give him my Bible, but wouldn’t let go of it, so I never really gave it to him. You have to let go of something in order ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist

Criticism

Contributed by Perry Greene on Oct 16, 2012

A church member, noted for his "kickative mood and objective case," was challenged to construct a workable program rather than always finding fault with the attempts of others. "No," he replied, "you go ahead and make the plans, I will tell you what is wrong with them." This is essentially how ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Abraham Lincoln On Humor

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 13, 2023

President [Lincoln] prefaced a discussion of the draft Emancipation Proclamation by reading aloud from a favorite humorist. In response to the disapproval of some members of his cabinet, Mr. Lincoln said: Gentlemen, why don’t you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me night and day, if I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Merry, Jokes, Comedy, Emotion, Sense Of Humor, Stress Relief, Stress, Joy, Humor, Laugh, Funny  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Resurrection Only 36% Of American Adults Believe ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 14, 2007

Resurrection Only 36% of American adults believe that, after you die, your physical body will someday be resurrected. 54% do not believe so and 10% ...read more

Resurrection Only 36% Of American Adults Believe ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2007

Resurrection Only 36% of American adults believe that, after you die, your physical body will someday be resurrected. 54% do not believe so and 10% ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

The Essence Of Our Effort To See That Every ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"The essence of our effort to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each an equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become differentto realize whatever ...read more

Tags: Children

The Essence Of Our Effort To See That Every ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The essence of our effort to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each an equal opportunity, not to become equal, but to become different -- to realize whatever ...read more

Tags: Learning

Surf Torture  PRO

Contributed by Tommy Hames on Oct 12, 2005

ILLUSTRATION The U.S. Navy has a Special Forces team called the SEALS. It takes a lot to become part of this elite group. One of the many physical challenges that SEALS in training must complete is called “surf torture”. Basically the entire class must wade into the surf zone to their waist line ...read more

Tags: Temptation Resisting, Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist