In Sermon Illustrations: "Ministry"

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

I Was Driving Home One Sunday From Trinity Of...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I was driving home one Sunday from Trinity of Gentilly, where I was serving. I was on Napolean headed toward the river and had just passed Pascale Manales when I saw Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of St. Charles Ave. I then had a vision of younger families in the Uptown and Garden ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance, Visions

Denomination: Methodist

Tithe And Offiering

Contributed by Rev. Vinod Rasaily on Oct 19, 2016

"I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields." Nehemiah 3:10 The Pastors and Worship team of Jerusalem Church were no where to be found. The reason? They ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:10-13

Tags: Tithes And Offering, Giving In Love, Support Mission, Financial Support

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Want You To Know That God Is Alive And Well In ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Feb 27, 2008

I want you to know that God is alive and well in the world today. Let me say that again. God is alive and well in the world today. Every day, “Over 30,000 Chinese accept Christ.” More people accept Christ in China every 3 days, than the entire population of Deltona. “In spite of the brutal ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In A Market-Driven Age We Are Accustomed To ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Aug 23, 2008

“In a market-driven age we are accustomed to think of every church having a special niche, of every visitor as a prospective customer, and every aspect of worship designed to satisfy the consumers. Paul was reminding the Galatians that the gospel was not a product to be peddled on the marketplace ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Other

Lagos (Reuters) – A Father Took His 20-Year Old ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 20, 2008

LAGOS (Reuters) – A father took his 20-year old son to an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for idleness, asking that he be sent to prison for refusing to engage in productive activities, state news agency NAN said Friday. "He is not listening to words and he is bringing shame to my family. I am ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When The Blacksmith Strikes His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

Illustration: When the blacksmith strikes his hammer repeatedly on the anvil it is said that the same anvil will wear out many hammers. Those who strike Christians are creating boldness in the body of Christ. When Christians are persecuted there is more courage. Tell about the workers at Youth for ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Individually, We Are Weak

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2022

This story was written by Donald Grey Barnhouse. Several years ago, two students graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The highest ranking student in the class was a blind man named Overton and, when he received his honor, he insisted that half the credit should go to his friend, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-15

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Small Group

Jesus Loves Me—and I Love Jesus!

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 8, 2025

Sociology professor Anthony Campolo recalls a deeply moving incident that happened in a Christian junior high camp where he served. One of the campers, a boy with spastic paralysis, was the object of heartless ridicule. When he would ask a question, the boys would deliberately answer in a halting, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Testimony

Denomination: Methodist

Precious Blood  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 18, 2002

PRECIOUS BLOOD Several years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Vera Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever. February 16, 1989. A very normal Thursday morning. The phone rang at 9:15 a.m. "There’s been an accident..." It involved their son Ben. As they approached the intersection of ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-40

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Blood, Lord's Supper, Jesus Christ

Are We Really Who We Say We Are?  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Aug 9, 2004

“Are We Really Who We Say We Are?” It was a typical night on the streets of Lansing. As the bars began to open and the nightlife found its pulse again, the little storefront building, which held The Lansing Street Ministry – The Harvest House, was just beginning its evening ministry. The ...read more

Tags: Grace, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Methodist

Before The Review Board  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 29, 2004

BEFORE THE REVIEW BOARD John the Baptist was a truly strange fellow. I can imagine his performance review from the board of clergy examiners. - - - - - - - - - Dear John ben Zechariah: The board of examiners completed their visit and frankly were concerned about several matters pertaining to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:1-12

Tags: Repentance, Christmas Advent

Giving The Poor A Reason To Live

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

GIVING THE POOR A REASON TO LIVE So let's humble ourselves before each other and experience His grace. It's the way to true glory and dignity even if we find ourselves down and out. That's what Abbe Pierre discovered when he founded the Emmaus Communities in 1949. The Emmaus Communities today ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-17, Galatians 5:13-15

Tags: Servanthood

Jim Rhodes: God's Complainer  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 16, 2007

Jim Rhodes: God’s Complainer Driving through Mineral Wells, Texas, one afternoon in 1994, Jim Rhodes noticed many buildings standing vacant due to the shutdown of a local military base. "I always complain to God about things that bother me," says Rhodes, "so I asked him, ’Why aren’t these buildings ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Significance Of Nazareth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Significance of Nazareth "God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee." (Luke 1:26) Many Christian historians tell us that by the time of the birth of Christ, Nazareth had become an unimportant town. It was the home of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:39) and Nazareth was where the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Craig Von Buseck Tells Of Serving As An Assoc...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Craig von Buseck tells of serving as an associate pastor in Pennsylvania. After more than five years on staff, he began sensing that the Lord wanted him to leave this church to complete his ministry training. Relations were beginning to become strained between himself and the senior pastor. While ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:25

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance

Denomination: Methodist

[050]. A Message From A Poem – Come Aside And Rest Awhile

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 7, 2025

[050]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – COME ASIDE AND REST AWHILE Burnout is just as real among some Christian workers as it is in the working world. Those who are faithful and go the extra mile in service for their Lord can feel the strain and stress of ministry. Don’t forget either, that the evil ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-32, Mark 6:33-34, Mark 6:43-46

Tags: Burnout, Retreat, Rest, Come Aside

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Specifically Are We Being Reminded Of? In ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 14, 2003

What specifically are we being reminded of? In verses 24 and 25 of our text Jesus said “…do this in remembrance of Me.” It is a memorial service in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. On one of the walls in our home is a little heart shaped plaque. On it are the words “When this you see remember ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper

Denomination: Charismatic