In Sermon Illustrations: "Need"

A Church In New York In 1963 Closed Down And ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Mar 11, 2008

A church in New York in 1963 closed down and someone stuck a sign on the outside of the front door: “Gone out of business. Didn’t know what our business was.” Is your business honoring Jesus Christ? Is your business listening to his word? Is your business following him in every area of your life? ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Expect To Lose 1/3 To 1/2 Half Of Your E-Mail ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Expect to lose 1/3 to 1/2 half of your e-mail database every year due to list churn. For many, a significant portion of this churn results from a poorly implemented e-mail address change procedure. Or worse yet, none at all! When you don't help subscribers change addresses, not only will you lose ...read more

Tags: Technology

Grow Out Of Your Shell

Contributed by Donny Granberry on Jun 21, 2008

GROW OUT OF YOUR SHELL From time to time lobsters have to leave their shell in order to grow. They need their shell to protect them, yet if they do not abandon it the old shell would become their prison – and finally their casket. We are not much different from lobsters. To change and grow we ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Read Of A Candidate For Ordination Into The ...

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 25, 2008

I read of a candidate for ordination into the ministry. He was having an interview with the bishop on the day before the ordination service. Feeling his unworthiness he said, "Bishop, if you knew how unworthy I am to be ordained by you, you would never lay hands on me." The dear bishop replied, ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Boat People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

BOAT PEOPLE There are three kinds of people -- rowboat people, sailboat people, and steamboat people. Rowboat people need to be pushed or shoved along. Sailboat people move when a favorable wind is blowing. Steamboat people move continuously, through calm or storm. They are masters of themselves, ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Joy-Suckers

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Apr 5, 2009

JOY-SUCKERS A "joy sucker" is someone who is determined to create either discouragement or hardship on your ministry. "Joy suckers" take on all shapes and sizes, but most often they are negative in their outlook, disappointed with their family, in need of attention or enamored with their own ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

We Are Directed To The Place Where Everything Can ...

Contributed by Colin Bain on May 1, 2009

We are directed to the place where everything can be seen and directed – heaven, where God dwells and directs. We are called to that place to gain a perspective that is not our own. It is like that moment when a successful businessman might take his child to his office window, showing the extent of ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Salvation Army

Hope For An Orphanage

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 26, 2010

HOPE FOR AN ORPHANAGE Opening Video Illustration: Bluefishtv.com - "Making a wish for an orphanage." The girl in the story shares how he she came down with cancer twice, and the second time the "Make a Wish Foundation" asked her what she wanted in life – a wish. Her wish was her hope – her ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Can Only Hope To Experience Eden When We ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 14, 2010

We can only hope to experience Eden when we understand it is a lifestyle not a landmass. God invites us to walk with Him and live in Eden! Eden is the experience of wholeness in the world you inhabit. You don’t need to book an international flight or leave it behind after a few days! Eden can be ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Salvation Army

God's Strange Answers

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 9, 2010

GOD'S STRANGE ANSWERS He was a Christian, and he prayed. He asked for strength to do greater things, but he was given infirmity that he might do better things. He asked for riches that he might be happy; he was given poverty that he might be wise. He asked for power that he might have the ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Christian Church

Crabs In A Basket

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2011

CRABS IN A BASKET Charles L. Allen wrote about a fisherman friend of his who told him that one never needs a top for his crab basket. If one of the crabs starts to climb up the sides of the basket, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back down. ("The Miracle of Love") Allen then observed ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4

Tags: Envy

Free To Be Your Slave

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Sep 5, 2012

FREE TO BE YOUR SLAVE Elisabeth Elliot wrote a beautiful prayer, in "A Lamp for My Feet": "Lord, break the chains that hold me to myself; free me to be Your happy slave – that is, to be the happy foot washer of anyone today who needs his feet washed, his supper cooked, his faults overlooked, his ...read more

Tags: Kindness

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Ocean Liner

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

I have never been on a cruise; but I have watched people board a luxury liner. That ship may carry the passengers all the way to the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. And the passengers arrive simply by boarding the ship. And I understand it can be a very enjoyable trip. Can you imagine swimming from ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:9-10, Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Grace, Trust, Grace Alone

Denomination: Charismatic

Human Dignity

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Nov 28, 2024

Human Dignity Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6 I overheard my mum requesting salt from the neighbours. However, there was salt in the house. Why was she requesting salt from the neighbours? I questioned her. She responded to me by saying: Since our neighbours are not wealthy and frequently ask us for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6

Tags: Human, Dignity

Denomination: Other

A Loving Congregation

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

This is the greatest need we have in the local congregation today – to be seen as a place where love for on another is present. What does that look like? A quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:8

Tags: Love, St Francis Of Assisi

Denomination: Methodist

Last Week, Bernie Came To The Church Door. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Oct 9, 2002

Last week, Bernie came to the church door. He showed up about five minutes before I was getting ready to leave for an appointment, and my first response to his arrival was, oh, no, not now. Bernie had been drinking – I could smell it on his breath. He was sweating profusely and was a little bit ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-20

Tags: Fellowship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Serving Others

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost”. - Arthur Ashe In a small, dusty town in western Oklahoma one November there lived a young single mother struggling to make ends meet. ...read more

Scripture: John 13:12-14

Tags: Humility, Christian Service

Denomination: Charismatic

As I Was Growing Up With A Younger Brother And ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Oct 30, 2007

As I was growing up with a younger brother and sister, one of our favorite games to play was baseball. We had a plastic bat and ball, and we would team up with some of the neighborhood kids and play ball in the back yard. On one particular occasion my mom took our bat away from us because we were ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

Tags: Forgiveness, Blood, Satan, Giving, Selfless, Care, Regeneration, Sacrificial, Young Men, Fear Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Great Quotes On Forgiveness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 10, 2022

When everything in you wants to hold a grudge, point a finger and remember the pain. God wants you to lay it aside. Why? Because, when you release it, you will be set free. - R.T. Kendall Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing that you were the prisoner. - Max ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiving Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Practice Makes Perfect Tjbts

Contributed by Blake Henson on Jun 6, 2023

Practice makes perfect shows that without good practice you can't expect to succeed in sports, but the same is true in your Christian life also. You can't just half prepare and expect to be a successful Christian. URL: https://youtu.be/eI92sWLcDIo SUMMARY In this video we see two teams. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:14

Tags: Christian Walk, How To Get Stronger