In Sermon Illustrations: "New Age"

The Two Adversaries

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2012

THE TWO ADVERSARIES Robert Biggs, 69, who often hikes in the Whisky Flats area, came across a mother bear and her cubs, which were about 40 feet from where he was standing. After watching the bear family for a few minutes he decided to leave them alone and turned to walk back up the trail. As he ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Good Friday In The Philippines

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 8, 2012

GOOD FRIDAY IN THE PHILIPPINES Ever since the 1950s, the men of the Philippines have had unusual tradition around Easter. It has grown to the point where from 50,000 to 75,000 people attend every year. The ritual that has drawn all these tourists to the Philippines is an odd and gruesome Good ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Was God On 9/11?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2012

WHERE WAS GOD ON 9/11? In his article, "Ten Years Later", R.C. Sproul said: "A full decade has passed since America suffered the tragedy of 9/11. Ten years ago, I repeatedly heard the question raised: 'Where was God in all of this? Where was God on 9/11 when the planes crashed into the twin towers ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:6-9, 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Tags: God In The Hardships

Downward Trends In U.s. Christianity

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

DOWNWARD TRENDS IN U.S. CHRISTIANITY In George Barna's new book on U.S. Christians called Futurecast, he tracks annual changes from 1991 to 2011 and shows that all the major trend lines of religious belief and behavior ran downward except two: More people claim they have accepted Jesus as their ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Tags: Church Practices

A Personal Surgery

Contributed by Ken Henson on Aug 21, 2012

A PERSONAL SURGERY Dr. Evan Kane was the head of Summit hospital in New York, in the 1920s. At that time when they operated they used general anesthesia. Dr. Kane felt, local anesthesia would do and would help patient do better, and recovery would be quicker. His theory seemed true, but no one ...read more

Tags: Heart

Denomination: *other

We Humans Tend To Come To Blockages And Stop. ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Dec 28, 2012

We humans tend to come to blockages and stop. The other day I was using a vacuum cleaner, the nice new yellow one here at the hall, I turned it on and it worked (tuned it on made all the right noises). But it had no suck. It had become blocked and jammed with hay where the hose met its body, thanks ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Salvation Army

Ayn Rand Vs. Christian Community

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2014

What we observe in that early community of Christians stands in stark contrast to the philosophy of Ayn Rand, who has been getting a lot of press lately. She is known for her belief in what she called Rational Egoism which translates Rational Self-Interest which she described as "The Virtue of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Selfishness, Atheism, Capitalism

Dan Kimball: Passionate About Hell

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Dan Kimball writes, "I am passionate about hell. That sounds odd -- but I am not passionate about hell itself, but passionate about studying what it is because of the seriousness of what it is. I am passionate about it as I don't want anyone to experience it. Sort of like when you study cancer, you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Doctrine Of Hell

Denomination: Methodist

Baptistry

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 13, 2014

Bob Russell wrote of a church who, years ago, bickered over the use of a piano. Some wanted to use a piano during Sunday worship, others did not. The disagreement grew sharp, and the church divided into two sides over the issue. One Sunday, when members arrived for church, they discovered a new ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Tags: Disagreeable, Church Unity, Church Conflict

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Forgetting What Is Past And Straining Toward The Future

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Oct 8, 2017

Commentator Gordon Fee recalls the famous “miracle mile,” the first time two milers ran under four minutes in the same race. Roger Bannister and John Landy competed in Vancouver, B.C. in 1954. Landy had led all the way, but coming off the final turn toward the finish line he looked over his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Forgetting The Past, Heavenward Calling, Future Oriented

Denomination: Baptist

The Wrong Target

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 31, 2021

Emmons loses gold medal after aiming at wrong target! 2004 Washington Post: Matt Emmons of the United States shoots at wrong target, finishes eighth. (Douglas C. Pizac -- AP) Matthew Emmons is an elite athlete ! He was an accounting major from Browns Mill, New Jersey. He was a four-year ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:26-30, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 2 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Purpose, Priorities, Idolatry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gossip Test

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 1, 2021

Another basic concept – sin creates spiritual blindness. Let me illustrate with my favorite sin to talk about… GOSSIP. I’ll stop right here and make sure you know how I define gossip. Before you tell someone a story about another person (even disguised as a prayer request), it needs to pass all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Tags: Sin, Gossip, Spiritual Blindness

Denomination: Methodist

A Certain Man Wanted To Sell His House In Haiti ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 6, 2007

A certain man wanted to sell his house in Haiti for $2,000. Another man wanted to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership for one ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

As A Very Young Man, My Mother Sent Me This Poem ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

AS A VERY YOUNG MAN, MY MOTHER SENT ME THIS POEM WHICH SHE CLIPPED FROM THE SUNDAY PAPER AND I HOPE IT EFFECTS YOU, AS IT HAS ME FOR SOME FORTY YEARS NOW: "LORD, HELP ME TO LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY IN SUCH A SELF-FORGETFUL WAY THAT EVEN WHEN I KNEEL TO PRAY MY PRAYER SHALL BE FOR OTHERS. HELP ME IN ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Scientists Now Say That A Series Of Slits, Not A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Scientists now say that a series of slits, not a giant gash, sank the Titanic. The opulent, 900-foot cruise ship sank in 1912 on its first voyage, from England to New York. Fifteen hundred people died in the worst maritime disaster of the time. The most widely held theory was that the ship hit an ...read more

Tags: Paul

C.s. Lewis Had These Incisive Comments About The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

C.S. Lewis had these incisive comments about the Christian walk: "The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, ’Give me all. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. “I have not come to torment your natural self, but to ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

At The Close Of Vietnam Era, Bill & Gloria ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At the close of Vietnam era, Bill & Gloria Gaither tough period of song writing. Post affects of the war. Some people claiming that God was dead. Bill & Gloria’s own hopes seemed dashed, about that time they learned Gloria was pregnant with son (Benjy). They had two daughters, Bill remarked ...read more

Tags: Joy

The Story Goes That Jesus Returned To Heaven ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The story goes that Jesus returned to heaven following His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb and the angels gathered around Him in amazement. Finally, Gabriel spoke up, “Master, you suffered terribly down there. Do they know and appreciate the extent of your sacrifice?” “No,” ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:14-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Rose Beyond The Wall-A. L. Frink

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

THE ROSE BEYOND THE WALL-A. L. Frink Near a shady wall a rose once grew, Budded and blossomed in God’s free light, Watered and fed by morning dew, Shedding its sweetness day and night. As it grew and blossomed fair and tall, Slowly rising to loftier height, I came to a crevice in the ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

A Group Of Botanists Went On An Expedition Into A ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 19, 2007

A group of botanists went on an expedition into a hard-to-reach location in the Alps, searching for new varieties of flowers. One day as a scientist looked through his binoculars, he saw a beautiful, rare species growing at the bottom of a deep ravine. To reach it, someone would have to be lowered ...read more

Denomination: Baptist