In Sermon Illustrations: "Need For Christ"

The "Whole Point" Of Art Is To Lead Us Beyond ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 23, 2009

The "whole point" of art is to lead us beyond what can be apprehended at the merely material level, to awaken new senses in us, and to teach us a new kind of hearing, which perceives the Inaudible in the audible. The sacredness of the [art] consists precisely in the fact that it comes from an ...read more

Tags: Art

Denomination: Catholic

A Friend Of Mine Was Comfortable As The Senior ...

Contributed by Dr. Mark Eckart on Jul 6, 2009

A friend of mine was comfortable as the senior pastor in a local church in the Midwest. The church paid well, took great care of his family, and he was positioned to advance in his denominational movement. However, one night he attended a camp service and was listening to a missionary speaker and ...read more

Tags: Missions, Sacrifices

Denomination: Holiness

No Christianity Without The Cross  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

NO CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT THE CROSS Dr. H. Richard Neibuhr condemns cross-less Christianity, or the evangelical "feel good" seeker-sensitive churches, who refuse to display or talk about the cross. With biting criticism he writes, "Such beliefs as a God without wrath, bringing men without sin into a ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Cross

What Americans Believe

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 11, 2009

WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE In the Barna Report: What Americans Believe, 1991, George Barna, the church statistician, states that there is "a great deal of ambivalence among Americans with regard to their beliefs. For instance, while 62 percent of the respondents said they have made a personal ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Only Jesus

Contributed by Raymond Lu on Aug 8, 2010

Charles Colson said, and I quote, “Psychiatry, properly administered, can turn a schizophrenic bank robber into a mentally healthy bank robber. A good teacher can turn illiterate criminal into an educated criminal. But they are still bank robbers and criminals.” D.L. Moody said, “If you educate a ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Fad Or Follower?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 8, 2010

FAD OR FOLLOWER? I was looking at a list of some fads from the 1990's. Among them were: spandex shorts, Pokemon, Grunge music and fashion, The Macarena, Bowl cut, What would Jesus do?, Pogs, Polly Pocket Toys, and Tickle Me Elmo. In that list, only one fad had long-term bearing, "What Would Jesus ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Jan 15, 2011

"IT" Did any of you see a film that came out in the 90s - "The Adams Family". There's a creature named "it" that is a hand that runs around on its own [mime it]. St Paul tells us the church is the body of Christ. We are all parts of a body interconnected with each other. But if we try to be ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Anglican

If I Believed...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2011

IF I BELIEVED... An atheist once told William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, "If I believed what you Christians say you believe about a coming judgment and that impenitent rejecters of Christ will be lost, I would crawl on my bare knees on crushed glass all over London, warning men, night ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-13

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Pysanky — Ukrainian Art Of Egg Decorating

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Jan 4, 2012

Pysanky -- Ukrainian Art of Egg Decorating Pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg. Pysanky is a form of wax-resist dyeing using a kind of stylus called a kistka. Some kistkas are dipped into the hot wax, and others consist of a cone filled with hot wax that feeds the nib of the stylus. Kistkas are ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whitefield: Which Conversions Are Genuine

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 29, 2012

WHITEFIELD: WHICH CONVERSIONS ARE GENUINE George Whitefield conducted outdoor evangelistic campaigns in the 1700's throughout New England, a period of revival called the "Great Awakening." Though thousands responded to his preaching, when asked how many were converted after one of his sermons he ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Congregational

Reasons Why We Suffer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

1. We suffer because we live in a fallen world (Romans 8:26-30). 2. We suffer because we have an enemy who stalks us (I Peter 5:8-9). 3. We suffer because of our own wrong decisions (Psalm 51). 4. We may suffer because of God’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26-30

Tags: Discipline, Suffering, Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Henry Wingblade Used To Say That Christian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Henry Wingblade used to say that Christian personality is hidden deep inside us. It is unseen, like the soup carried in a tureen high over a waiter's head. No one knows what's inside--unless the waiter is bumped and he trips! Just so, people don't know what's inside us until we've been bumped. But ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

High Cost Is Expected

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 12, 2009

HIGH COST IS EXPECTED In the past missionaries boarded ship not expecting to ever see their homeland again. Some even sold themselves into slavery because that was the only way other slaves could have a chance to hear the gospel. High cost and sacrifice was something expected of the body of ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale Was A 30 Year ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale was a 30 year old Substitute teacher and bartender in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He and his buddies spent most Sunday afternoons in the Fall either playing football at the park or watching the Philadelphia Eagles play on tv. Week after week they had high hopes, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

In Or Out Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IN OR OUT OF THE FORT? One of the things I find really neat about this area is all of the forts. You have Fort Morgan, all the Forts over at Pensacola NAS. We have had forts all over this country since the day the Pilgrims first landed, up to right now. Some were made of wood, stone, brick and ...read more

Tags: Outreach

All Lambert's Fault

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 16, 2009

ALL LAMBERT'S FAULT Have you ever been to Lamberts Cafe? If not, I highly recommend it. The waiters wear suspenders and bow ties, the meals are served on metal skillets. The drinks come in the largest plastic cup you will ever see, and there are peanuts on the floor. It is the home of the throwd ...read more

Tags: Gluttony, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: *other

In August Of 1983, I Started My Sophomore Year ...  PRO

Contributed by John Harvey on Apr 28, 2004

In August of 1983, I started my sophomore year in high school. At that time I made the conscious decision not to be the good little girl anymore. I had a crush on someone I had known for the past 3 years and I was going to date him. Well, not only did he become my boyfriend, before long he had ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

The Myth Of More

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

Society is trying to sell us stuff all the time...and it's not all that difficult to do because we're so unsatisfied with what we have. Would you agree that discontentment is our default setting? Capitalizing on our inherent dissatisfaction, the worldwide marketing machine spends around $450 ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

Tags: Covetousness, Contentment, Satisfaction, Discontentment, Advertising, Ten Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Guardrails

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2012

GUARDRAILS A guardrail is actually a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. Now, nobody pays attention to guardrails unless you need one. There are all different kinds of guardrails, but guardrails are that invisible part of our driving experience. We’re ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:15-16

Tags: Conscience

Why Mike Guglielmucci Lied To The World  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008

Why Mike Guglielmucci Lied to the World The Australian musician who wrote "Healer" needed his own healing from a porn addiction. His tragic story should challenge us to embrace purity. I play the song "Healer" all the time in my car. I can't get the tune out of my head. You probably know the ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy

Denomination: Wesleyan