In Sermon Illustrations: "Ministering"

Ministry: A Character Profession

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

MINISTRY: A CHARACTER PROFESSION Ministry is a character profession. To put it bluntly, you can sleep around and still be a good brain surgeon. You can cheat on your mate and have little trouble continuing to practice law. Apparently, it is no problem to stay in politics and plagiarize. You can be ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: *other

If Jesus Is Like You

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 4, 2012

IF JESUS IS LIKE YOU Richard Wurmbrand was a particular hero of mine, who died a couple of years ago. Wurmbrand was a Christian Lutheran minister who was put in prison for his faith in Romania by the Communist authorities for his faith. While Wurmbrand was in prison, he shared a cell with a ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Anglican

Dead People Everywhere

Contributed by Jeff Gauss on Jun 29, 2012

DEAD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE Sometimes the most basic truths of Christianity can be quite confusing. Take for instance the first time little Suzy attended a funeral service. The minister used the phrase, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Suzy didn't understand so she asked her grandma, who was with her, ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

A Flexible ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

A FLEXIBLE SERVANT All of his life, David Livingstone wanted to be a missionary to China. Even in his old age he longed to have the opportunity to go and minister there. But God sent him instead to Africa, where he worked and died opening up that large continent to missions work, much as William ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Tags: Servanthood

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Adam And Eve

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Story Of Unequally Yoked.  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2015

David Slagle, a minister at a small church in Atlanta, tells the story of a woman in her late 20’s. The woman had befriended a man living in her apartment complex. Slagle and his wife asked whether the two were dating. The man in question was a known atheist. The young woman answered, “No, I’m ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Marriage, Premarital, Unequally Yoked, Pre-Marital Counsel

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Conformity

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Feb 29, 2016

I first noticed this in leading people to Christ. They were beautiful before they were “church broke.” Great young converts often start out as radiant Christians and end up only as carbon-copy Baptists. Great young ministers start out as adorable mavericks, but after a business meeting or two and a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12:2-5

Tags: Conformity, Accepting

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Fat

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 6, 2019

JUST GETTING FAT? By Juan Carlos Orte We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call “eternal babyhood of the believer.” We have members of our churches who after years of hearing messages are just the same as always. They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Focus, Real Growth, Stages Of Growth

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Revival Begins In The Prayer Closet

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

E.M. Bounds, who was born in 1835, began his three-hour prayer routine at 4am. To him, prayer was not a prelude; it was a priority. Edward Payson, who ministered during the Second Great Awakening, was said to have worn grooves into his hardwood floors as a result of prayer. Adoniram Judson ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Prayer, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Arrogance, Bragging, Preachers, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Easter, Revival, Church Growth, Pride, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Hole You Go!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

As a minister, I conduct many baptismal services. My denomination baptizes in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. One Sunday, my family and I went to a friend’s home in the country. Our four children went outside to play with the others. After a short while, we heard only silence ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Faith, Baptism, Church, Children, Great Commission, Salvation'  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Man Of Hope  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2002

OUR MAN OF HOPE In the 1930’s Winston Churchill was the only voice sounding the alarm against Hitler. His fellow Conservatives shunned him, and he was not offered a position in the government. But Churchill was a man of action. Not content to sit on the sidelines as a spectator, he became ...read more

Tags: Faith, Endurance, God Brings Hope

God's Will And The Tablecloth

Contributed by John Perry on Apr 8, 2010

GOD'S WILL AND THE TABLECLOTH It happened in 1948, just a few days before Christmas. A flash flood ravaged a small town, leaving a gaping hole in the wall of an old church building--right behind the pulpit. The young pastor knew there was no time to fix the damage and decided to make the best of ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

Pastoral Ministry Crisis

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2015

2009 Statistics Of Why Pastors Leave the Ministry by Fuller Institute, George Barna and Pastoral Care Inc, Focus On The Family. 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America. 4,000 new churches start each year in America. 7,000 churches close each year in America. 25% of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29

Tags: Pastoral Leadership, Pastoral Ministry

The Mother Of Four Young Boys Often Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Sep 24, 2001

The mother of four young boys often had difficulty curbing their energy, especially in church. But when her minister preached on "turning the other cheek," the boys gave him their undivided attention. “No matter what others do to us,” he said, “we should never try to ‘get even.’” That afternoon ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Baptist

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Looking Up Peacekeeper In An Encyclopedia ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard White on Oct 26, 2002

When looking up Peacekeeper in an Encyclopedia one would find some of the following; various weapons like the Colt 45 called by Sam Colt “the peacekeeper” you would also find a missile system built during Ronald Reagan’s administration by the same name. You will find various soldiers, militia, and ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts, Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Billy Graham Was Driving Through A Small ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Apr 3, 2003

When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:8

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

There Is Generally A Staff Of Three In Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 17, 2003

There is generally a staff of three in our building, our secretary Patsy, youth and children’s minister Sandy, and the warden, me. One day this week, at a particularly still and quiet moment, there was an incredible BOOM that shook the building. Sandy and I hit the hallway at the same time – we ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: United Methodist

What's God Got To Do With It?  PRO

Contributed by John Harvey on Feb 12, 2004

WHAT'S GOD GOT TO DO WITH IT? If you “Google” the word love, and you have to be very careful doing this, you will find all sorts of websites,120,000,000 to be exact. Here are some examples that you will find: I love Dogs.com I love Cats.com (Although this one is a plea to spay or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Galatians 5:20-22

Tags: Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Baptist