In Sermon Illustrations: "Nominal Christian"

Golfers Have A Change Of Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2013

GOLFERS HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART When you willingly give Jesus all that you are and all that you have, you receive so much more in return. I heard a story once about a group of guys who were returning from playing golf in rural Georgia. As they drove down a two-lane road they came up on a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:16-20, 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Tags: Compassion

The Conversion Account Of St. Augustine

Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 21, 2018

The story of Augustine's conversion is an inspiring and amazing one. In my opinion it is a miraculous account of God grabbing the attention of Augustine and speaking directly into his heart through the power of a perfectly timed scripture. This could be a great illustration about the power of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:13-14, Revelation 12:11, Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 119:9, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 4:22-24  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Put On Christ, Miraculous, Power Of The Word, Conversion Of Augustine, Bible, Romans, Conversion, Testimony, Indulgence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Shows Up

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Feb 3, 2019

I just finished reading a book called, “The Shack.” I read it about ten years ago, and something made me read it again, and I’m so glad I did. I commend it to you as a book that captures the very essence of a God who wants nothing more than to have a loving relationship with you. What an incredible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Humility, The Shack, God Shows Up, Miracle, Sacred In The Ordinary, Sacred In Secular  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 8, 2008

The List Once upon a time a woman was married to a perfectionist husband. No matter what his wife did for him, it was never enough. At the beginning of each day, he would make out his list of chores for her to do, and at the end of each day, he would scrutinize it to make sure she had done all ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fruit Of The Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jul 6, 2008

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT The fruit is singular, not plural. The most common teaching is that there are nine fruits of the Spirit. But that’s not the case. It’s one “fruit,” and that fruit has those characteristics. For instance, take an apple. It’s one apple, but it has many characteristics: red, ...read more

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

A Vigilant ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Vigilant Nation Lives In a Healthy Fear of the Lord Psalm 33:12,18 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him. A God fearing people can make a powerful difference in God’s dealings with a nation. The Bible gives us powerful truths ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-18

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Truths To Victorious Living Are:  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Truths to victorious living are: One, recognize the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so you can live a life that reflects being led of the Holy Ghost. The apostle exhorts you "...to be filled with the [Holy] Spirit." Two, begin mortifying the flesh by confessing sins and claim Christ's ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-9

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Significance Of Nazareth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Significance of Nazareth "God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee." (Luke 1:26) Many Christian historians tell us that by the time of the birth of Christ, Nazareth had become an unimportant town. It was the home of Joseph and Mary (Luke 2:39) and Nazareth was where the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ever-Flowing Stream Of Grace  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ever-flowing Stream Of Grace Walk and Not Be Faint: Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Christians who have close communion with God "...will walk and not ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Grace, Pray

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Confidence Of God

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God Marks of Contentment "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6

Tags: Helper, Fear, Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of A  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Power of a Christ Centered Ministry In Galatians chapter five the apostle Paul writes about the fruit that comes out of mankind. First there are those who produce fruit that comes by living according to the sinful nature and second, there is fruit that is produced as one lives under the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Contract Vs. Covenant

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 23, 2008

CONTRACT VS. COVENANT In describing the nature of a Christ-Centered covenant, Bruce Shelley in Christian Theology in Plain Language, writes: In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, ...read more

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Other

The More You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

THE MORE YOU KNOW Allen Rex Sandage, the greatest observational cosmologist in the world--who has deciphered the secrets of the stars, plumbed the mysteries of quasars, revealed the age of globular clusters, pinpointed the distances of remote galaxies, and quantified the universe’s expansion ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God

Different Views Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Different Views of Time You may not realize it, but your appreciation of time this morning goes well beyond the challenges of adjusting to daylight-savings time. There was a time when time was a relatively simple thing. People were born, grew up, grew old and died. Days, seasons and years past. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Time

Ipod ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

iPod Religion This is right up there with what 10-year-old Joshua wrote to his pastor: “Dear Pastor, My father says I should learn the 10 Commandments. But I don’t think I want to because we have enough rules already in our house.” That’s not as bad as what 11-year-old Ralph wrote: “Dear Pastor, I ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Tags: Youth

I Think God Gives Us Opportunities Like That To ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

I think God gives us opportunities like that to help us build our trust in Him. I used to go hiking and camping a lot by myself in the wilderness (not a good idea I know). But I remember getting lost once, and this was before I was even a Christian. I had literally no idea how to get back, and I ...read more

Tags: Trust

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Follow Me

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Feb 17, 2023

Follow Me The United States Army is one of the most powerful forces in the world. The strongest and most trained soldiers in all the world. Each one is a valuable asset in order to have victory over an enemy. Therefore, training requires strict discipline and the ability to follow orders of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Faith, Trust

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 20, 2023

It was my Senior year of high school, and I wanted to have a good date for the upcoming Junior Senior Banquet (a Christian version of the prom). Her name was Jenny. She was the pastor's daughter, and she was cute. When I finally got up the nerve to ask her, she readily said Yes! I was so ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Humor, Sowing, Reaping, Personal Story

Denomination: Baptist