In Sermon Illustrations: "Mystery Revealed"

Unanswered Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

UNANSWERED PRAYER Cable television tycoon Ted Turner has often been quoted as being critical of fundamentalist Christianity. Turner made some very revealing remarks at a banquet in Orlando, Fla., in 1990, where he was given an award by the American Humanist Association for his work on behalf of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Parable Widow, Prayer Persistence

Richard Dehaan Tells Of A Soldier Who Was Doing ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jan 27, 2003

Richard Dehaan tells of a soldier who was doing sentry duty on the front line in WWI. After being relieved of duty, as a Christian, he wanted to pray, to thank God for protecting him and to ask specifically for his continued protection. But the enemy lines were very close and he couldn’t go far, so ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Prayer General

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Leo Burnett Advertising Agency ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: The Leo Burnett advertising agency did a nationwide telephone survey a few years ago on lying, cataloging when we lie, how we lie and why we lie. The results were interesting. Ninety-one percent of all Americans confessed that they regularly lied… One out of every five admitted that ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

In 1920 An English Preacher Named Frank W. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In 1920 an English preacher named Frank W. Boreham published a book of sermons on great Bible texts. In each case, he linked a Bible text to the history of a great Christian man or woman. He called his book Texts That Made History. An example of a text that made history is David Livingstone’s ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

There Is A Fascinating Article In The April 2007 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There is a fascinating article in the April 2007 issue of Smithsonian Magazine about French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson. In 1947 he was labeled the “photographer of the decisive moment.” The article states that, “since 1952 and the publication of his book of photographs, The Decisive ...read more

Tags: World Religions

John Piper Compares The Gift Of Teaching To The ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 29, 2007

John Piper compares the gift of teaching to the gift of prophecy: "And yet, even though the gift of teaching is fallible and even though it lacks intrinsic, divine authority, we know it is of immense value to the church. We are all edified and built up by gifted teachers. God is in it. He does use ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

3 Years Ago, My Brother-In-Law Died Of Cancer ...

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Dec 31, 2007

3 years ago, my brother-in-law died of cancer that he had battled for a few years. At first there were treatments – a surgery, then attempts with some experimental drugs. David lost his hair, and he had to be very careful about infections. Then at one point, it was clear that he wasn’t going to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Metamorphosis

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Aug 16, 2008

Metamorphosis In a world filled with sweet scents and blue sky, Lives the gentle, uplifting butterfly, Whose metamorphosis has this truth to teach: Our aspirations are within our reach. For this fluttering flyer of soaring worth Was at one time a creature that crawled the earth. When she climbed ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: *other

The Mouth Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

THE MOUTH OF BABES Have you ever heard the phrase, "Out of the mouth of babes?" Certainly you have. It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t! For example: Patrick, age 10, said, "Never trust a dog to watch your ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Jehovah's Witnesses And Mormons

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES AND MORMONS New studies reveal most adult Witnesses have made a personal commitment to Christ they consider important in their life, but only 10% base their hope of salvation on a confession of sins and acceptance of Jesus as savior. 61% of Jehovah’s Witnesses, vs. 42% of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

In Fact The Idea Of Speaking Out When Confronted ...

Contributed by Michael Carbaugh on May 5, 2009

In fact the idea of speaking out when confronted with something wrong was the chief proponent behind an education development in the Reagan administration. It’s roots go back to the 1970’s where a University of Houston Social Psychology professor begin working on a model to help students resist ...read more

Tags: Worldliness

Denomination: Baptist

Recently, I Caught A Segment On Tv Of A Movie ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Dec 15, 2009

Recently, I caught a segment on TV of a movie called Jack. It’s the story of a boy that ages four times faster than usual. Robin Williams plays the role of Jack. He enters public school for the first time in the fifth grade. Though he has the emotional and mental development of a fifth grade ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Baptist

A Truly Humble Man Is Hard To Find, Yet God ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Dec 21, 2009

A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless people. Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of this truth. Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Pentecostal

Childlike Faith

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 20, 2010

CHILDLIKE FAITH Perhaps it is the reason that I embraced Christianity so easily was that the Christian faith doesn’t demand intelligence. I have an above average intelligence level. Well, actually, although it was above average according to the IQ test I completed at School, it was more tilted ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Moody's Servant's Heart  PRO

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

MOODY'S SERVANT'S HEART A large group of European pastors came to one of D. L. Moody’s Northfield Bible Conferences in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. Following the European custom of the time, each guest put his shoes outside his room to be cleaned by the hall servants overnight. But of course ...read more

Scripture: John 13:13-15, Luke 14:16-24, 1 Samuel 18:8-11, Luke 14:49-53

Tags: Celebration, Salvation, Servant, Humble, Servanthood  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren

Faith Like A Potato: Don't Give Up Hope

Contributed by Selwyn Robins on Apr 19, 2011

FAITH LIKE A POTATO: DON'T GIVE UP HOPE There is a movie called 'Faith Like a Potato'. It takes place in South Africa. Long story short a farmer w/an anger management issue is converted to a believer (follower) of the word. Needing to bring in money for his family, he decides to plant a crop of ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

God Redeems A Child's Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2011

GOD REDEEMS A CHILD'S DEATH These are bad things God allows in order to reveal Himself and accomplish some larger good that supersedes or overcomes the bad. Imagine the following scenario: Three little boys walk into a large electrical compound in Okinawa when the workmen momentarily walks to his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: God In The Hardships

Haven: The Real You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Sep 25, 2011

HAVEN: THE REAL YOU What is in you is what comes out and always reveals the REAL you. In fact, that which you say yes to is the tell-tale sign of what is inside you. It is the litmus test of whether you are walking in the Spirit or in the "flesh. What's inside comes out. My wife and I watch a ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Nazarene

The Wedding Cake On The First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2012

THE WEDDING CAKE ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY One of the many pieces of advice we received before our wedding was to save the top tier of your wedding cake and eat and eat it on your first anniversary. We had a tiny little freezer. For one full year, this box of wedding cake sat in our freezer, denying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-28

Tags: Character

A Few More Hours

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jan 23, 2013

A FEW MORE HOURS A young lady busied herself getting ready for a blind date. He had promised dinner at an exclusive downtown restaurant with live music and dancing. Wanting to make a good first impression she had taken the day off work. She cleaned her apartment; she went out that afternoon to ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Baptist