In Sermon Illustrations: "Need For Christ"

Africaner' Was The Nickname Given To A Local ...

Contributed by Jaco Bester on Apr 2, 2009

‘Africaner’ was the nickname given to a local desperado of Namaqualand in the 1800’s. He was such a hardened character that the governor at Cape Town offered five hundred pounds as a reward to anyone that could deliver him, dead or alive. He and his men were the terror of that part of South Africa, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Can't See Him, So I'll Look At You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

I CAN’T SEE HIM, SO I’LL LOOK AT YOU A three-year-old was on the heels of her mother everywhere she walked around the house. Time and time again she’d trip over her small son. She suggested her son play with his toys, but he said he was okay and said, "I’d rather be here with you." Then he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Tags: Christian Witness

Evangelism Is Just The Beginning

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

EVANGELISM IS JUST THE BEGINNING Many feel that the mission of the church is to merely be witnesses to a lost world. It is true that we are to bear witness of the risen Christ and His transforming power. We are told in Acts 1:8 that we are to be His witnesses to the ends of the world. Again we are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Discipleship

On November 26, 19977 I Was Given A Wonderful ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

On November 26, 1977 I was given a wonderful gift by God, my wife Jan. Those early years of marriage we felt we were living ‘the abundant life’. But on August 17, 1981 I was given the greatest gift, this gift was priceless in nature. It was far greater than a promise to “go to heaven”. This ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Just Last Week Two Women Were Arrested At ...

Contributed by David Moore on Apr 14, 2010

Just last week two women were arrested at Liverpool airport for trying to board a plane with a dead body, they put the dead man into a wheelchair and put sunglasses on him, and were trying check in for a flight to Berlin on Saturday. But airport staff became suspicious, and the two were arrested on ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

“The Lord’s Answer” A man once said to a servant of the Lord: “I am such a helpless, miserable sinner; there is no hope for me. I have prayed, and resolved and tried, and vowed until I am sick of my unavailing efforts.” “Do you believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose again?” was the ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27-30

Tags: Forgiveness, Assurance Of Salvation

Don't Waste Your Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper recounts a story his father often told of his days as a fiery Baptist evangelist. It is the story of a man who came to saving faith in Jesus Christ near the end of his earthly existence. Piper writes: "The church had prayed for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Conscience

Trung's Story

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jan 3, 2013

TRUNG'S STORY To Dinh Trung was arrested more than 25 times for preaching the gospel in rural Vietnam. During his 24th imprisonment, in 1991, he was deprived of food for 12 days. He said: "In prison, I worshipped the Lord a lot, praying and singing in a room by myself. My room was the prison ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Lutheran

Orphans

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 24, 2014

Rubel Shelly tells of his friends Rich and Patty White, who traveled to a 3rd world country to adopt a little girl named Olona. After 2 years of effort and paperwork, the Whites stood before a judge who read words from an official document: “Inasmuch as Olona Morgan is orphaned and unwanted by ...read more

Scripture: John 14:18

Tags: Chosen By God, Orphan, Unwanted

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When You Have Nothing Left But God, Then Fgod Is Enough

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Pastor Norm Johnson tells the story of Bill who was gravely ill in the hospital. Norm was visiting him when the doctor came in and point blank said, “Bill, you're dead. There’s no hope. You’d better get your things in order.” Just that bluntly, no hope, no comfort, no, “How are you doing?” After ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Hope, God Is Enough

Denomination: Methodist

Redemption Through His Blood - Yellow Fever Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

There is a story...that may help Illustrate redemption...what Christ ...has done for us. In 1927, ...in West Africa... a blood specimen was taken from a native man named Asibi, ...who was sick ...with yellow fever. A vaccine ...was made ...from this original strain of the virus... obtained from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18, Hebrews 9:22

Tags: Blood, Salvation, Redemption

Denomination: Anglican

See The Lamb Of God

Contributed by Samuel M on Mar 19, 2025

When we are going through difficult times( or testing) and still remain obedient to God’s word, we will find, see (the lamb of God) and receive a greater (or deeper) revelation of the lamb of God. When Abraham was about to offer his only son as a sacrifice, he saw the ram caught in the thicket. ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

I Sat Down And Looked Through Some Magazines This ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

I sat down and looked through some magazines this past week. I discovered that if I want to feel right, I need to get a NordicTrack. I don’t have a NordicTrack, just a membership down at the gym, so I suddenly realized that I didn’t feel as healthy as I thought I did. I then read that if I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:12-13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 54:1-5, John 10:7-10

Tags: Contentment, Covet, Life's Seasons

Perpetual New Year's Resolutions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2002

PERPETUAL NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Share a funny story with ...read more

Tags: New Year's Day, Bucketlist, Christian Values

How Much Does Prayer Weigh?

Contributed by Robert Castile on Nov 24, 2003

How Much does Prayer Weigh? Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Holiness

Small Things With Great Love

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE Gary Morsch is the founder of Heart to Heart in Kansas City. As a physician, he has done magnificient work around the world taking medical supplies to low income people. Several years ago, he took a trip to Calcutta and Mother Teresa's House for the Destitute Dying. He ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Methodist

Hybels' Evangelism Formula For Maximum Impact  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2012

HYBELS' EVANGELISM FORMULA FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT We call this relational evangelism, and I have spoken of this many times before. It is showing people that we care, it is about building relationships with people who may not know Jesus and in that relationship, bringing them to a place where they can ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:27-32

Tags: Evangelism How To

Encouragement From A Friend

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A FRIEND There are times when you will be pushed out or pushed aside. You can be on the right road and still find yourself in a situation that is so severe that you cannot survive it on your own. Mark it down: You are not exempt from times of suffering, rejection, or ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Tags: Friendship General

The Blessing Of Fatherhood

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Oct 4, 2015

Sometimes you want to run away to a land far, far away! But unless you are Peter Pan, flying to Never-land is hardly a good idea! You see, your presence is more important than you know. Feelings of inadequacy bombard every dad, so at times you may not think you’re a good father! You may even think ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:6

Tags: Father, Baseball, Family Relationships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Years Ago When I Was Doing Youth Ministry, We ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 21, 2002

Years ago when I was doing youth ministry, we received applications from students who wanted to go on a mission trip. The missionary we were helping only had accommodations for a certain number to go, so the applications allowed the youth ministry sponsors to select the final team of students ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ