In Sermon Illustrations: "non-anxious presence"

In His Powerful Book The Holiness Of God, R. C. ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Jun 4, 2005

“In His powerful book The Holiness of God, R. C. Sproul observes that unbelievers often feel uneasy in the presence of an obedient Christian. The holiness of God reflected in a believer’s life makes the non-Christian uncomfortable. Sproul then shares this truce incident to make his point. “A ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

A.w. Tozer Says, "God Wills That We Should Push ...

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Nov 24, 2004

A.W. Tozer says, “God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Girl’s Prayer: A Little Girl Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mccutchen on Jan 26, 2001

A little girl’s Prayer: A little girl was being punished by eating alone in the corner of the dining room. The family paid no attention to her until they heard her pray: “I thank Thee, Lord, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 5:16-18, Matthew 6:3-20, Psalm 145:8-21

Tags: Compassion, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Out Of The Depths

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

OUT OF THE DEPTHS Author Bernard Anderson in Out of the Depths speaks of this remembering the multitudes and the house of God and makes a worthy observation. He says, "This is not a longing for a one-to-one relationship with God in mystic solitude. The poet yearns to be surrounded by the believing ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

I Can't Say I Have Ever Felt Afraid Of God, But I ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 28, 2009

I can’t say I have ever felt afraid of God, but I have felt the awe of His presence, and I have been overcome by a sense of His majesty. I remember standing out on a mound of earth out on a property and looking up at the stars. Away from the city, the stars seem so much brighter, and I cried out to ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power In Holy Communion

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Apr 18, 2023

I've been thinking about holy moments, how Christ has surprised me by his presence. One of those moments came when I visited and had Communion with a member who was dying of cancer. Near the end of the visit I asked her how I could pray or for what she would like me to pray for. She expressed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Power In Prayer, Power In Holy Communion

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Man's Life Is Governed By His Thoughts; He Will ...

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 9, 2006

A man’s life is governed by his thoughts; he will ultimately become that which dwells most on his mind. “You are what you eat.” Engulf yourselves with His presence, put Him in ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Other

The Talmud States That A Bat Kol (Heavenly ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 8, 2010

"The Talmud states that a Bat Kol (heavenly voice) was heard (on two separate occasions) declaring that Hillel and Samuel were worthy of the Shekinah (Divine Presence)…" [from "Jesus the Pharisee" by Harvey ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Real Comfort  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

REAL COMFORT “When life caves in, you do not need reasons -- you need comfort. You do not need some answers -- you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation -- ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Humanity Of Christ

According To The Puritans, "All Professions Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2002

According to the Puritans, “all professions are spiritual to the Christian, not because of the nature of the work but because of the presence of God. …When a Christian – the temple of the Holy Spirit – walks into an office at IBM, IBM becomes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Temple, Holy Spirit

I Have Been Married To The Same Lovely Woman For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2004

I have been married to the same lovely woman for over 25 years. That’s 25 years of eating together, laughing together, crying together, holding hands, sleeping together in a queen sized bed. A couple of weeks ago she left one Saturday afternoon to spend a Mother-Daughter week in Puerto Valarta, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God Brings Hope

C.h.mackintosh Wrote: "There Is Power In The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 12, 2001

C.H.Mackintosh wrote: “There is power in the presence of a risen Savior to solve our difficulties, remove our perplexities, calm our fears, ease our burdens, dry our tears, meet our every need, ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, God Brings Hope, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Pentecostal

Humility Gate

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Dec 4, 2008

HUMILITY GATE Someone said that there is a church in Palestine where the door is so low that one must stoop to enter. This was to prevent medieval raiders from riding their horses into the church to disrupt the service. The door is called, ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Church Of God

When The Spirit Prays Through Us, He Trims Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When the Spirit prays through us, he trims our praying down to the will of GodThe Holy Spirit is both teacher and lesson. We pray, not by the truth he reveals to us, but we pray by the actual presence ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

The Man Who Brightens With A Smile When I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The man who brightens with a smile when I approach him, whose hand grasps mine with cordiality, whose good opinion is a boon and support to me, whose talk, whose very ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Soren Kierkagaard Said, "I Went Into Church And ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Oct 22, 2007

Soren Kierkagaard said, “I went into church and sat on the velvet pew. I watched as the sun came shining through the stained glass windows. The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, ‘If any man will be my disciple, said Jesus, let ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Depression And Aloneness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Depression and Aloneness Author Bernard Anderson in "Out of the Depths" speaks of this remembering the multitudes and the house of God and makes a worthy observation. He says, "This is not a longing for a one-to-one relationship with God in mystic solitude. The poet yearns to be surrounded by the ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Brother Lawrence And Disciplines

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

BROTHER LAWRENCE AND DISCIPLINES Around 1610, a child was born in France by the name Nichols Herman. Later in life, he would become known as Brother Lawrence. As a young man, he fought in the Thirty Years War and sustained a near fatal His injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him quite ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:9

Tags: Discipleship, Recognition, Seeking Christ

C. S. Lewis Suggests, "If We Have Never Had The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Dec 31, 2005

C. S. Lewis suggests, “If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet – getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Salvation Army

Mike Yaconelli, In His Little Book, Messy ...

Contributed by Paul Newell on Dec 4, 2006

Mike Yaconelli, in his little book, Messy Spirituality writes, “Spirituality is about doing the tiny work of God, little acts, small responses to God’s presence in our lives. Every week, my church shows me ...read more

Denomination: Baptist