In Sermon Illustrations: "Offerings"

65279;there's A Story About A Young Child Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Mar 7, 2004

There’s a story about a young child who lay in hospital dying of cancer, withering away to nothing. Her family was devastated. Friends came, from church, from work...and tried to offer solace. They tried but could only come up with unhelpful little sayings that didn’t begin to touch the ...read more

Tags: Character, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Like Bill Hybels, I Believe That There Is Nothing ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on May 25, 2004

Like Bill Hybels, I believe that there is nothing like the local church when it is working right. In addition, I agree with what he says after that sentence: “Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Church Of God

Church Health Services

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

CHURCH HEALTH SERVICES Nearly 70% of U.S. churches provide direct health services and 65% provide educational health programs, according to the National Council of Churches (NCC) USA Congregational Health Survey. Only 6.4% offer no programs of any kind in health care ministries. The congregations ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Sleeping The Night Before Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

SLEEPING THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR EXECUTION In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley’s execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort. Nicholas declined the offer and replied ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:7

Tags: Peace

The Golden Calf

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 6, 2025

In Exodus 32, the people are complaining that Moses has been gone for too long. They go to Aaron and say, “Make us a god.” To this, Aaron replies, “NO WAY!” Not really, that’s what he should have told them. What really happened: Exodus 32:2 “ And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:2-6

Tags: Golden Calf, Fertility Idol, Idol

Denomination: Methodist

The Good Samaritan  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2002

Luke 10:30-37 John Darley and Daniel Batson are two Princeton University psychologists. Some years ago they decided to conduct a study, inspired by the story of the Good Samaritan. They conducted the study at Princeton Theological Seminary. They met with a group of seminarians and asked each one ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37

Tags: Compassion, Christian Love

Pax Romana  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 30, 2012

PAX ROMANA About 27 years before Jesus was born Rome experienced something unique that history has called Pax Romana = the peace of Rome. Beginning with the reign of Augustine, Emperor of Rome and lasting till about 180 A.D. (a period of 200 years) Rome was at peace. They had few internal ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Got Carried Away  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

I GOT CARRIED AWAY The late Danny Thomas lost his life savings of $600.00 at a time when he was out of work. He and his wife, Rosie, had a baby on the way, and they needed money. Danny worked at part-time jobs so Rosie could buy groceries. He also borrowed money from friends. It was a tough time ...read more

Tags: Giving General, God's Provision

Many Of Us Cannot Reach The Mission Fields On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Many of us cannot reach the mission fields on our feet, but we can reach them on our knees. Solid lasting missionary work is accomplished by prayer, ...read more

Tags: Great Commission

Listening Vs. Hearing

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 24, 2010

LISTENING VS. HEARING A school music teacher asked her class the difference between listening and hearing. At first there was no response. Finally a hand went up and a youngster ...read more

Tags: Leadership Listening

Denomination: Brethren

More Than 50% Of The Churches With 100 Or More In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

More than 50% of the churches with 100 or more in attendance offer classes for new believers and youth outreach activities compared to 33% with less than ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

The Future Is Not A Result Of Choices Among ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Jean Nicholas Grou, Who Was A Jesuit Priest In ...

Contributed by Paul Green on Jul 14, 2009

Jean Nicholas Grou, who was a Jesuit priest in the 1700s. He wrote, ‘Let your suffering be borne for God; suffer with submission and patience and suffer in union with ...read more

Tags: Suffering, Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

When A Woman In My Office Became Engaged, A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 27, 2006

When a woman in my office became engaged, a colleague offered her some advice. "The first ten years are the hardest." "How long have you ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Independent/Bible

John Bisagno Former Pastor Of Houston’s ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 31, 2001

John Bisagno former Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church tells the story of his coming there to candidate for the position of pastor many years ago. He said that as he entered the auditorium it was dimly lit, with just a few people huddled together. They were singing some old slow funeral type ...read more

Tags: Excitement, Celebration, Church General, Church Body Of Christ, Love Of The Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

John Bisagno Former Pastor Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jul 18, 2005

ILLUS: John Bisagno former Pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church tells the story of his coming there to candidate for the position of pastor many years ago. He said that as he entered the auditorium it was dimly lit, with just a few people huddled together. They were singing some old slow ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Funeral

Denomination: Baptist

The Lawyer's Invitation

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 1, 2013

THE LAWYER'S INVITATION A pastor told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

Oxen, Nuts And Shells  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

OXEN, NUTS AND SHELLS All of us, at one time or another, have heard humorous stories of people who in a moment of frightful crisis will make extravagant promises to Almighty God, to other people; or, to themselves! Then, when the crisis is over or has subsided, they reduce the levels of their ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 30:1-2

Tags: Gratitude

Transcending Tradition

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

TRANSCENDING TRADITION During these tough economic times, churches all across the country are seeing a sharp drop in their offerings. Thankfully, we haven’t seen that here, yet, but a lot of churches have, one of them being the Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, Texas. Their drop in income ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: God Brings Hope

At A Meeting Of The Fellowship Of Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Jun 21, 2003

At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in being brief and to the point: “Dear ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, God The Father

Denomination: Baptist