In Sermon Illustrations: "Missing The Point"

J. Wilbur Chapman Meets General Booth Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

J. Wilbur Chapman Meets General Booth of Salvation Army A willingness to obey is the first step toward spiritual understanding John 7:17 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. When J. Wilbur Chapman was in London, he had an opportunity to meet General ...read more

Scripture: John 7:16-17

Tags: Obedience

Stowell: How People Go Astray  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

STOWELL: HOW PEOPLE GO ASTRAY Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, in his book, Following Christ, asks the question: HOW DO PEOPLE GO SO FAR ASTRAY SPIRITUALLY? The question was prompted when Dr. Stowell read an article given to him from the local paper the about Tom Wilson who died, gunned down as a member ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12

Tags: Apostasy

Basement People Vs. Balcony People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

BASEMENT PEOPLE VS. BALCONY PEOPLE Keith Miller, in his book Passionate People, which he co-authored with Bruce Larson, describes two kinds of people -- "basement people" and "balcony people." "Basement people" are the discouragers in our lives. They may be people from our past, or present, but ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Encouragement

Pa, Let's Play David And Goliath.

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 9, 2010

"Pa, let's play David and Goliath." My grandson and I play all kinds of games ranging from kings and heroes to dinosaurs. At any point in the game my grandson may change from being Petri the Pterodactyl to Spiderman. As my daughter and I walked with her children last night I ranged from being the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jeep Gets Stuck In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2010

Jeep Gets Stuck in the Sand There are vast numbers of people - today - who are defeated in their lives! Their conqueror may be some wrong action or some mental evil such as fear or worry! I am convinced that nobody need be defeated by anything - Jesus, the Christ, is the answer! The story is told ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

What We Watch Affects Our Behavior

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

WHAT WE WATCH AFFECTS OUR BEHAVIOR Studies are even showing how we are affected by what we watch on television, hear on our radios, or read in books and the paper. A study recorded in American Psychologist reported that “Psychologists have studied the effect of violent media on aggression for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:22-23

Tags: Television And Movies

The Richest Man On The Island

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

THE RICHEST MAN ON THE ISLAND In his autobiography Just As I Am, Billy Graham recalls a story demonstrating that apart from God, we will not gain anything from living wisely. He said: Some years ago Ruth and I had a vivid illustration of this on an island in the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Who Is The Shepherd?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 6, 2011

WHO IS THE SHEPHERD? Keith Miller writes, "Years ago, when our daughters were very young, we'd drop them off at our church's children's chapel on Sundays before the eleven o'clock service. One Sunday, just as I was about to open the door to the small chapel, the minister came rushing up. He said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Tags: Arrogance

The Lottery  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

THE LOTTERY Did you know that the first modern-day lottery was started in 1963 in the state of New Hampshire? Did you know that the state of Massachusetts, started their lottery in 1972 with 50 cent tickets and a drawing once a week. It now has 33 different games to choose from their sales have ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Psalm 37:35

Tags: Money, Contentment

Winning The Lottery

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

WINNING THE LOTTERY Christmas night 2002, Jack Whittaker had five out of five numbers in the West Virginia Power ball drawing. Jack Whittaker had just won $314 million, the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history. He took the one lump payment and received $113 million after taxes. Listen ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Serving Saves A Soul

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 8, 2011

SERVING SAVES A SOUL One of the best ways to do these good things is to get involved in Vacation Bible School: Praying for VBS, inviting kids to come, serving in VBS, and following up on our guests. Kids will get saved. Sometimes even parents get saved through VBS. Florence Lee can tell you that. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

Shoot The Moon

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 17, 2011

SHOOT THE MOON The other day I needed to take my mind off things, so I opened my computer and played a game of hearts. Now, like all card games, no matter how diligent you play, there's time when the unexpected happens, and you're hand turns to disaster. One sneaky move from an opponent and it's ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Lutheran

Refining Sap To Maple Syrup  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

REFINING SAP TO MAPLE SYRUP Dr. David Osborn at Denver Seminary says, "Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while He is using our circumstances to change us." (Compass, April 2003) You see, God is right now in the process of making us like Christ. Think of the process of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Psalm 13:1-6, Psalm 34:15-16

Tags: Sanctification

What's Important In Life...?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN LIFE...? When I was 13, my dad owned his own business--a tiny shack where he sold chicken, ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries. One day the oil that the chicken was fried in caught fire. In a few minutes the whole place exploded in flames. My dad bolted from the store before ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Having Compassion

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Sep 12, 2011

HAVING COMPASSION Let’s suppose for a moment that it was Friday night and you wanted to go to a movie. You’re running late for the movie because you got home late, and then once you put down the keys, you forgot where you placed them. It was frustrating but you did find them. You finally jump ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The First Thanksgiving

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Nov 19, 2011

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING Let's consider the first Thanksgiving in America. It was in the fall of 1621, one year after the Pilgrim’s landed. There was great affliction in their voyage. 102 Pilgrims the left Holland, stopped briefly in England before sailing to America. They were at sea for 66 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Mother's Christmas Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

A MOTHER'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER On Christmas Day, Mike Nicholas, a tall and slim young man with dark hair was making his way south on I-85 just below High Point, NC trying to hitch a ride. For two years, he hadn't been home. His family had heard nothing from him. He and his mother had a disagreement ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

Emotional ...

Contributed by Joe Bertone on Aug 1, 2012

EMOTIONAL DECEPTIONS In 1930, in a small town in Oklahoma one high school seemed to loose all the football games they played against their arch rival from a neighboring school. The more important the game the worse they lost. Finally, a wealthy oil producer decided to take matters in his own ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Deception, Failure, Anticipation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Three Races

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 31, 2012

THE THREE RACES A boy realised that God had made him fast. He wanted to have a race in his village to prove his speed. People from his village and the surrounding villages were invited, either as competitors or spectators. A wise man came to watch the race, which the boy won easily. Everyone ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Opposes The Proud At Mt. St. Helens

Contributed by Bret Toman on Oct 31, 2012

GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD AT MT. ST. HELENS In the spring of 1980, the mountain showed signs of awakening. There were earthquakes. There was volcanic activity. Residents were told to leave the area. But Harry Truman would have nothing to do with that. He believed the danger was exaggerated "I don't ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Baptist