In Sermon Illustrations: "New Ministry"

Watching From The Bleachers

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 21, 2009

Cymbala shares in his book, "Fresh Power": "But just as there are people who watch from the bleachers and never know the challenge of competing on the court, we have millions of churchgoers who sit in pews every week without ever entering the game. They sacrifice nothing, strain toward no ministry ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

Dry Truth Or Dynamic Lies?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 26, 2010

DRY TRUTH OR DYNAMIC LIES? During my first year of ministry here, I asked a hypothetical question: If you had the choice of attending a church where the pastor believed and taught the Bible but was dry and not a very good speaker, or a church where the pastor believed that the Bible contained many ...read more

Tags: Doctrine

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Holy Joy

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2012

HOLY JOY Richard Foster describes holy joy like this: "Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. ...It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride. ...Utter abandonment to God is done freely and with celebration. And so I urge you to enjoy this ministry of self-surrender. ...The saints ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Nazarene

There Was An Ot Professor Who Taught Young People ...

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 5, 2012

There was an OT professor who taught young people that were preparing for the ministry. At the beginning of the class he would take off his coat and bow. He would bow to the class of his students. Some of his faculty members were upset at this gesture. And he said, "I bow to them because you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-9

Tags: Humility, Luther

Denomination: *other

Before Her Death, Judy Lawson Became A Spiritual ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Before her death, Judy Lawson became a spiritual Mother of scores of hardened criminals. "On her last Mother’s Day," according to Bill Myers, "she received 40 Mother’s Day cards from men whose life she touched." Her prison ministry began eighteen months after her son was brutally murdered. She knew ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

In His Alpha Talk "What About The Church," Nicky ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Mar 30, 2008

In his Alpha Talk “What About the Church,” Nicky Gumbel tells this story about John Wimber, the founding pastor of the Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship and the Worldwide Vineyard Movement: “John Wimber was once approached by a member of his congregation who had met somebody in great need. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

Prayer For Future Generations  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

PRAYER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS In Point Man, Steve Farrar tells the story of George McCluskey. When McCluskey married and started a family, he decided to invest one hour a day in prayer, because he wanted his kids to follow Christ. After a time, he expanded his prayers to include his grandchildren ...read more

Tags: Family

In 1996 Reverend Christopher Gray A Vicar Was ...

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Mar 29, 2009

In 1996 Reverend Christopher Gray a vicar was knifed to death in the grounds of his vicarage by a man he had been helping who had recently been released from prison. Reverend Gray was apparently a great academic with a heart for the poor and disadvantaged. He turned down a good job in the ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

The Apostle John

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on May 26, 2009

THE APOSTLE JOHN Here are some of the things we know about John, John was one of the apostles. In fact he was the youngest apostle. His brother was the apostle James who is beheaded in Acts 12. He is the only apostle to not be martyred for his faith. And he walked in the inner circle of Jesus. ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: *other

70 Funerals In One Day

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 24, 2010

70 FUNERALS IN ONE DAY During a forty-year ministry, I would guess that many pastors do seventy or more burials. But this wasn't over the full span of his ministry. In fact, it wasn't even a full year. In one day, Pastor Rinkart did burial rites for up to seventy people and did the same the next ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Lutheran

More Like ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

More Like Jesus What then is it to be more like Jesus in righteousness and faithfulness. Consider the story of: William Howard Doane (who) was a wealthy nineteenth-century industrialist who entered the business world at age sixteen and was president of his own manufacturing company by age ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:24-25

Tags: Music

Redemption And Restoration In Real Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

Many years ago at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, there was a shooting of several people in the church parking lot and building that left three dead and three wounded. The young man, who had done the shooting, killed himself after being shot by a security guard. Earlier that day, he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-14

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

The Other Side Of Islam  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Oct 30, 2001

THE OTHER SIDE OF ISLAM As Dr. Samuel Schlorff, an expert on Islam with Arab World Ministries puts it, "The truth is that there is another side to Islam, a side that embraces violence ’in the way of Allah.’ . . . It holds that all men are created to live in submission to Allah, as prescribed by ...read more

Tags: World Religions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Now, What Areas Is The Holy Spirit Fully Engaged ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Dec 2, 2003

Now, what areas is the Holy Spirit fully engaged in? Each person is concerned about one or several issues in life: (a) Everyone wants to be loved. (b) Everyone wants his or her life to count. (c) Life is empty without Jesus Christ. (d) Many sitting here today are loaded down with guilt. (e) ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit General, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Of The First Verses Of Scripture That ...

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Oct 20, 2004

"One of the first verses of Scripture that Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, encouraged me to memorize was 2 Timothy 2:2. This is like a mathematical formula for spreading the gospel and enlarging the church. Paul taught Timothy; Timothy shared what he knew with faithful men; these ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Baptist

A Well-Known Christian Businessman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Jan 21, 2005

A well-known Christian businessman who was visiting a church was asked to give his testimony. He said, "I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation. I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, Mark 4:35-38

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

D. Bonnie Ricks States "…learn What Being Set ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 10, 2005

d. Bonnie Ricks states “…Learn what being set apart really means... It means leading a life that is a reflection of Jesus Christ. It means demonstrating with your life that life in Jesus makes a difference. It means showing people through your actions what the love of God really means. It means ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Younger Children 800% More Likely To Receive ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 9, 2006

Younger Children 800% More Likely To Receive Christ: Barna Research reports teens between ages 14 and 18 have only a 4% likelihood of accepting Christ compared to kids ages 5 through 13 who have a 32% probability. This challenges the widely held notion that the teen-age years are a prime time for ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Spiritual Leadership

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 9, 2007

Spiritual Leadership Samuel Logan Brengle said: Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of ...read more

Denomination: Other