In Sermon Illustrations: "Needs"

Ineffective Churches

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2011

INEFFECTIVE CHURCHES Chuck Colson makes an interesting observation. He points out that when the Communists took over Russia in 1917, they did not make Christianity illegal. The Soviet constitution guaranteed freedom of religion. What they did do is make it illegal for the churches to do any "good ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:14

Tags: Christian Witness

Men And Women's Roles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

MEN AND WOMEN'S ROLES Wayne Grudem and John Piper identified and addressed a problem in leadership back in 1991 which is still relevant: "A controversy of major proportions has spread through the church. It began over 20 years ago in society at large. Since then an avalanche of feminist ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:9-15

Tags: Men And Women

Allow The Word To Disturb You  PRO

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Nov 4, 2011

ALLOW THE WORD TO DISTURB YOU "We need to repent of the haughty way in which we sometimes stand in judgment upon Scripture and must learn to sit humbly under its judgment instead. If we come to Scripture with our minds made up, expecting to hear from it only an echo of our own thoughts and never ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Audrey Hepburn's Beauty Tips

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 18, 2014

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her ’beauty tips.’ It was read at her funeral years later. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9

Tags: Beauty, Hands, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Getting Fat

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 6, 2019

JUST GETTING FAT? By Juan Carlos Orte We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call “eternal babyhood of the believer.” We have members of our churches who after years of hearing messages are just the same as always. They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Focus, Real Growth, Stages Of Growth

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Levels Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

There are 4 levels of spiritual maturity for believers in Christ. I have created the names of each phase to add to this great quote from John Maxwell: #1 - REBELLION: I'm going to do what I want regardless of what God says. #2 - CONDITIONAL LOVE: If God gives me what I want, I will give Him ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Maturity, Growing In Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eat Twinkies Together

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 23, 2019

A Harvard study of 7,000 people found that the most isolated people were 3 times more likely to die than those with strong relationships. Reporting on the study, John Ortberg writes that “people who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating habits, or alcohol use) but strong social ties ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:15

Tags: Church, Relationships, Synergy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Get Up And Do It

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Nov 15, 2020

Mother Teresa – So many leaders have the idea that to lead greatly you have to focus on everyone. Mother Teresa took a different approach. She saw the poor. The hurt. The dying. And she knew something had to be done. When you know that there’s that many hurting people out there, you might think ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-9

Tags: When God Speaks, Get Up And Do It

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Billy Graham's Great Regret

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Billy Graham was once asked, "If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently?" He answered: “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough, I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Bible Study, Word Of God, Pastors, Sermon Preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staying Where You Started!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

The problem is that Christians do not go on with God. They get saved, give a testimony of their salvation, and that’s all they ever have. They never maintain a serious study of the Word of God, which is essential to growth. They are like the little girl who fell out of bed one night. When the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race, Perserverance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Is Our Strength

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 12, 2021

My beautiful mama was always so strong, a tower of strength, courage and faith that stood like a beacon for our family. Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As I meditated on this, I remembered a time when I was about 3 years old or so. I saw myself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 37:39, Exodus 15:2

Tags: Fear, Protection, Strength, God Is Our Strength

Denomination: Charismatic

Cs Lewis On Repentance - The Hole We Find Ourselves In

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 19, 2022

Now what was the sort of hole man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms, saying you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 2:4, Mark 1:15, 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, Romans 6:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Repentance, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fooled By Our Emotions

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 17, 2023

One of the most difficult things, all Christians must surely admit, is to differentiate between a truly spiritual fervor and a carnal, animal zeal and enthusiasm. Natural animal spirits and temperament may very well make one fervent and zealous.... There is nothing of which a preacher needs to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Spirituality, Enthusiasm, Martin Lloyd Jones

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Before You Yield To Temptation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 9, 2024

Dr Warren Wiersbe has some excellent words we all need to keep on the "front burner" of our mind so that we have our loins (minds) girded for action (before) the next time we are tempted to commit some flagrant, presumptive, abominable sin against our Holy, Holy, Holy God. BEFORE you ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tribulation, Yield, Trials, Lust, Deception, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Lies, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Conditional Promise

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

This is the beginning of that story where God tells them what they needed to do: 1 – Kill the Passover lamb 2 – Collect the blood in a bowl 3 – Put the blood on the two sides and top of the door The result would be what God promised to do – pass over their houses with the final plague of the death ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 12:21-28

Tags: Passover, Conditional Promise

Denomination: Methodist

Horse In The Basement

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 6, 2025

Imagine having what we need but not using it – like the hoarse in the basement or the car that can drive at highway speed but you never go over 25mph. I heard a story about a guy who was looking at chainsaws at the hardware store. The salesman told him, “If you buy this chainsaw, you can cut ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, Car, Horse, Chainsaw  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Girolamo Savonarola

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

At the very start of his ministry there, Savonarola noticed an elderly woman who used to come and pray regularily before that statue of the Virgin Mary. One day, he took an elderly priest aside who had been serving in the cathedral for many years and said, "Look how devoted this woman is. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Girolamo Savonarola, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Occupational Hymns  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jun 21, 2001

OCCUPATIONAL HYMNS ~ Astronaut: "Nearer My God, To Thee" ~ Baker: "I Need Thee Every Hour" ~ Barber: "A Parting Hymn We Sing" ~ Baseball Batter: "Seek Thee First" ~ Builder: "How Firm A Foundation" and "The Church’s One Foundation" ~ Canoeist: "Flow, River, Flow" ~ Carpenter: "The Nail Scarred ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7, James 3:1-12, Psalm 32:11, Exodus 33:12-23, Galatians 5:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: River, Reed, Mind, Peace, Joy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Wife And I Were Trying To Show Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2001

My wife and I were trying to show our grandchildren the importance of thanking God for everything that He had blessed us with. We encouraged them to speak to God whenever they needed to know what they should do. Michael, our 4 year old grandson, enjoyed holding our hands, and with head bowed, he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

Tags: Come As A Child