In Sermon Illustrations: "Opportunity"

S We Face A New Year With Unknown Challenges But ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 7, 2008

s we face a new year with unknown challenges but also unknown opportunities, I encourage you to remember Mary and her simple but important faithfulness to the purposes of God. By some she is venerated, held in very high esteem. By others she is simply thought about once a year and then forgotten. ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Selfish  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 19, 2008

Selfish A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake; I can wait.” Kevin ...read more

Denomination: Other

30 Years Ago Two Shoe Salesmen Were Sent To ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 22, 2001

30 years ago two shoe salesmen were sent to Nigeria to survey the country for the possibility of building a shoe factory. The first man came back and said, "Few people here wear shoes so there is little need to build a new shoe factory in Nigeria. The second came back to London and said, "This is ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bridger Generation, Those Born Between ‘77 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

The Bridger Generation, those born between ‘77 and ‘94 and the second largest generation in history, is growing up in homes with no moral certainty, no absolutes, no sense of why right is right and wrong is wrong, and no certain hope for eternal life and God’s abiding presence today. Christians can ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Do It Myself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It is said that D.L. Moody, in his early days in Chicago, was a regular attendant on the noonday prayer meeting at a local church. At one of these meetings a rich brother rose and told those present of an opportunity to do a certain good thing if only three or four hundred dollars could be raised ...read more

Tags: Giving General

As A Recovered Alcoholic, I Have A God-Given ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 24, 2007

As a recovered alcoholic, I have a God-given opportunity to share with other alcoholics so that they also may recover. But the very first question is, “Do you want to get better?” If the answer is “no” or “I don’t have a problem” then the response is, “Sorry to bother you.” Pursuing the issue will ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Did You Know That In June 2006 Israeli Doctors ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jan 26, 2008

Did you know that in June 2006 Israeli doctors and scientists successfully germinated a 2000 year old date palm, found at the Herodian fortress of Masada on the West Bank of the Dead Sea the seed was tagged the Methuselah. Friends there is coming a time when another seed is going to be ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Have A Friend Who Works With A Church In ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Jul 26, 2005

I have a friend who works with a church in Nashville. He was telling us a few weeks ago about a lady at his church who was really convicted by what she had been reading in the scriptures and hearing at church. She felt that she has no other choice but to take the love of God out to a dying world ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In The Book, No Bad Dogs, By British Dog Trainer ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

In the book, No Bad Dogs, by British dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse, she says dogs understand love better than we do. She writes, “In a dog’s mind, a master or a mistress to love, honor, and obey is an absolute necessity. The love is dormant in the dog until brought into full bloom by an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Has Anyone Ever Told A Fish Story Before? Well, I ...  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Wheat on Jan 9, 2005

Has anyone ever told a fish story before? Well, I was stationed in Alaska where I had the opportunity of a lifetime to fish for Alaska King Salmon. And let me tell you they get B-I-G! In fact I caught one King Salmon that was this (stretching arms out fully) big….ok my wife says I should be honest ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Pentecostal

Once In His Dream A Man Was Haunted And Thwarted ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

Once in his dream a man was haunted and thwarted by a mysterious, veiled figure. As soon as he had gained a fortune, the veiled form snatched it away from him. When he was about to enter into peace and joy, the veiled figure attacked his mind with fear and anxiety. When he was hungry and sat ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hiring A Dog

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A sign was hung in an office window. It read: Help wanted. Must type 70 words a minute. Must be computer literate. Must be bilingual. An equal opportunity employer. A dog was ambling down the street and saw the sign. He looked at it for a moment, pulled it down with his mouth, and walked into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:26

Tags: Service, Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

Ephesians 5:15-16, "Be Very Careful, Then, How ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Jesus calls us to “make the most of every opportunity to fulfill His mission and ours. “D. L. Moody said that his ‘greatest mistake’ occurred ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Mike Freeman, An Elder Here At Mcc, Shared This ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Sep 17, 2007

Mike Freeman, an Elder here at MCC, shared this with me this past week. When he was finishing up his college he had an opportunity to do his internship at a really swanky resort in Missouri or to do it a children’s camp called Spring Hill in upper Michigan. The resort was one of these all ...read more

Tags: Faith, Envy, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Observation About Immanence

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2020

One of my favorite pastimes is playing some computer games, especially the ones where you make money—okay, run a business, simulation, or that kind of thing. In one of these you, as manager of a transportation company, have the opportunity to choose how best to serve the industries and communities ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Return Of Christ, Rewards For Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Parenting  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Oct 11, 2001

PARENTING There is no better opportunity for any adult to impact this world, than to develop strong Christian relationships with and through their children. A survey was taken among parents. The point was to record the negative and positive statements they made to their children in the course ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: United Methodist

Swindoll's Observation: Moses  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Apr 4, 2002

Swindoll’s observation, MOSES p. 107) I believe there are many who have not responded to God’s call on their lives--many who may miss opportunities to flame brightly for Him, like a radiant city shining on a hilltop. I speak to so many who are waiting for some kind of curious sign in the heavens, ...read more

Tags: Moses, Faith, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

For Too Long Our Culture Has Said, ‘if It Feels ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Biolsi on Apr 7, 2004

"For too long our culture has said, ‘If it feels good, do it.’ Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: ‘Let’s roll.’ In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

Carpe Diem." Seize The Day. Make The Most Of ...  PRO

Contributed by David Flowers on May 4, 2005

“Carpe Diem.” Seize the day. Make the most of every opportunity. Seize – the day. Notice the phrase is not “with utmost care and caution, after you have worked out the cost/benefit analysis and determined that there is no logical reason why all systems should not be go, and have assured ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Free Methodist