In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Leaven"

Bertoldo De Giovanni Is A Name Even The Most ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Sep 1, 2009

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Pentecostal

John Ortberg's Quote,

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 11, 2009

John Ortberg’s quote, “Prayer involves an old paradox in our day. Almost everyone talks to God. Newsweek magazine noted that in a recent survey more Americans said they pray in a given week than work, exercise, or have sexual relations. Of the 13 percent of Americans who claim to be atheist or ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Protective Equipment

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 26, 2009

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT From John Gillmartin--Somehow, the young man found himself standing directly in the path of an oncoming car. The driver hit her brakes. Before either of them could do anything it seemed the 10 year old was shoulder deep in the windshield of the automobile. "Are you ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:6-12

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Shy Welshman Went And Slipped A Love Letter ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 31, 2010

A shy Welshman went and slipped a love letter under his neighbor lady’s door each week for 40 years. Because of an argument they had years before, she continued to refuse to speak to him. Finally, after 2,184 love letters – with no response of any kind – the now 74 year old man went and knocked on ...read more

Tags: Love, God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Jesus Never Fails

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 15, 2010

JESUS NEVER FAILS Isaiah 11:5, " Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." My good friend Charlie died about 3 years ago; he was 89 years old, and we were like family. Charlie was interesting, open-minded, and a great conversationalist. One day I called him and ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Greek Exegesis Of The Greek Term

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 13, 2010

The Greek Exegesis of the Greek term "I am the gate". Gate or Door - Thura Thoo-rah! The opening or the closure. 1. Old Testament models for the shepherd image, for going in and out, and for door prediction (especially in the messianic context of Ps. 118:19-21: "Open for me the gates of ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Slipped Away Into Eternity Peacefully The ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 9, 2010

"He slipped away into eternity peacefully the other day as we stood by his bed. The family and I held hands and prayed as an old man who loved the Lord and loved his family was in that moment absent from the body and present with the Lord. Peace and tears filled the room and I noticed one young ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Loss Of Original Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

LOSS OF ORIGINAL PURPOSE In the town of Delburne, Alberta, there was an old water tower built in 1926. Standing empty, the building was bought by two men who wanted to turn it into a dining and cocktail lounge. Plans called for a bar to be built on the second floor. Something similar has already ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:1-2

Tags: Church Purpose Of

A Champion Blood Donor

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Nov 10, 2010

A CHAMPION BLOOD DONOR Joe Kerkofsky is America's blood-donor champion. The American Association of Blood Banks will honor the 62-year-old retired security guard at a special presentation in Chicago. Mr. Kerkofsky lost an arm in an accident when he was six. He was thence rejected for military ...read more

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Denomination: *other

Anatomy Of Fear

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

ANATOMY OF FEAR In spite of what they say, 90% of the chronic patients who see today's physicians have one common symptom. Their trouble did not start with cough or chest pain or hyperacidity. In 90% of the cases, the first symptom was fear. This is the opinion of a well-known American ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: *other

Love Is The Greatest

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 7, 2011

LOVE IS THE GREATEST George Sweeting – Love is the Greatest - page 122: "God’s love is not cheap or sentimental. It is priceless and incomparable. The way of love is God’s way, and His way is the only way to abundant and victorious living. It is the best way. Life apart from God's love is ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Man Had Finished His First Semester In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 25, 2011

A young man had finished his first semester in college, and was spending the weekend at home. Somewhat bored with the old place, he was regaling his father with the wonders of his campus and the enlightened people there. After getting up a head of steam and warming up to his subject he said, "Why, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:2

Tags: Arrogance

Grandpa And The Peach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

GRANDPA AND THE PEACH "Four-year-old Jason was visiting his grandparents. Grandpa was in his study intently reading. Jason walked in carrying a peach, said something Grandpa didn't catch, and handed the peach to him. "Thinking his wife had sent him a snack, Grandpa took it and ate it. Just as he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

Tags: Children

Higher Ground

Contributed by John Putty on Apr 5, 2011

HIGHER GROUND The old hymn, “Higher Ground” is a spiritual declaration of one determined man Johnson Oatman, Jr. put to music! While some refuse to believe that our personal faith plays any real role in our spiritual growth and in experiencing Christian victory, in all my 20 years of preaching ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

No Picture Exists  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

NO PICTURE EXISTS On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait of a man with this inscription underneath. "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-8

Tags: Jesus Christ

Trying To Walk Two Roads

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2011

TRYING TO WALK TWO ROADS There is an old West African proverb which says, "The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants." (Janet Weiss, Leesburg, Florida, heard in a conversation by her father, a missionary to the Maninka tribe) That’s the way it is with those who try to live for the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Tags: Worldliness

I Am Stubborn, Then  PRO

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Jul 3, 2011

I AM STUBBORN, THEN. Here is a transcript of a conversation between my three year old grandson and I this week: "Help put away the toys, please." "No." "Come on, Aaron. Please help to put away the toys." "No." "Tell you what, you help put away the toys and you'll get a treat afterwards." "I'm ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Baptist

Quotations On Pride

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON PRIDE Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it. - "Uncle" Bud Robinson It is out of self-love that all other evil passions spring. - Alexander Whyte Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow. - William Barkley None are so ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Pride

Not Ashamed

Contributed by William L. Vincent on Aug 15, 2011

NOT ASHAMED No matter what you are looking for, you can find a religion or philosophy to fit your state of mind. We find this culture creating pressure on the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We find people church-shopping--looking for the right “fit” for their needs. And I realize that we need to ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Orthodox

The Promise Of A Flat-Screen  PRO

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 8, 2011

THE PROMISE OF A FLAT-SCREEN Reminds me of a 42-year-old woman from South Bend, Indiana. She called the police after being sold what she thought was a flat-screen TV. She was approached by a man who offered her a great deal on the TV, a new flat-screen TV for only $500 dollars. She admitted it ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Baptist