In Sermon Illustrations: "Opportunity"

Random Universe

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 29, 2008

RANDOM UNIVERSE I had a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary who had an ongoing feud with a professor at another institution. My professor would argue that the universe is well thought out and therefore life is not random and so life has great meaning. His nemesis would argue the opposite, ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bonnie Laughlin's Answered Prayer

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 16, 2010

BONNIE LAUGHLIN'S ANSWERED PRAYER Psalms 27:13 says, “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” One sacrifice made by Bonnie K. Laughlin was the Christian homeschooling of her son, Caleb Laughlin. Bonnie saw that Caleb needed to develop his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:13

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mother Teresa Visited Australia. A New Recruit ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 30, 2001

Mother Teresa visited Australia. A new recruit to the Franciscan order in Australia was assigned to be her guide and “gofer” during her stay. “Thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman, he dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they would talk about. But ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Poverty

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Christian Lifestyles Aren't Different: George ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Why Christian Lifestyles Aren’t Different: George Barna, researcher and author of the book, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions, says, “For years we have reported research findings showing that born again adults think and behave very much like everyone else. It often seems that their ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Leaders Learn From Their Mistakes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 2, 2002

Leaders Learn from Their Mistakes In his book Managing People is Like Herding Cats, leadership guru Warren Bennis observes that "Almost invariably, great leaders have had a significant setback, crisis or failure in their lives. Many of the leaders I studied faced adversity early in their lives. ...read more

Tags: Leader, Leadership General

Do It Anyway  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Jun 7, 2003

DO IT ANYWAY While we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. ………Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

The Image Of God In Human Beings Is Like A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2007

The image of God in Human beings is like a sponge. Sponges are useful creations. They are, we would say, Good. But human beings after the fall are like a sponge that has been dipped in crude oil. The sponge is still there – it is still “good” but there is no where in the sponge that the oil is ...read more

Authority Of Jesus

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jun 21, 2007

AUTHORITY OF JESUS It is obvious that I love the Spurs NBA basketball team. Tim Duncan, who is on the San Antonio Spurs, is at the moment considered one of the greatest players of the sport. Tim Duncan routinely frustrates sports reporters as they interview him. The reporters want Tim to talk about ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During My Undergraduate Studies Some Years Ago, I ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 26, 2009

During my undergraduate studies some years ago, I interviewed a lady whose religious belief was a hybrid of different religions. She spoke of trying to climb to a higher consciousness as her spiritual guide (which was an apparition that looked like an embryo with thousands of tentacles protruding ...read more

Tags: Peace, God's Peace

Denomination: Salvation Army

One Of My All-Time Favorite Teachers Was Don ...

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jun 29, 2009

One of my all-time favorite teachers was Don Wilton. One day in class, Dr. Wilton told us about getting to serve on Billy Graham’s team for a crusade in Korea. Dr. Wilton told about sitting on the platform one night during the invitation, -- right next to Billy Graham. Dr. Wilton couldn’t help ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

I Remember When I Was A Kid And This Is True For ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Sep 1, 2009

I remember when I was a kid and this is true for the vast majority of boys and quite a few girls, getting covered in mud, a rugby game, a decent sized puddle, a building site, mud fights, mud pies any excuse was an opportunity for a wallow. I thought it was great, my mates thought it was great ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Salvation Army

Pulling On Both Oars  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

PULLING ON BOTH OARS An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word "Faith" and on the other oar the word "Works." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of these oars. The old man, being a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, James 5:1-7

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

I'm Now Just Another Number In The System Of

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 22, 2010

I'm now just another number in the system of "New Start". I made a phone call for Unemployment Benefits yesterday, while I am looking for a ministry opportunity. It took me a long time to get through and I was asked by a computer a series of questions before speaking personally to someone. Then the ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Occasionally, I Read A Web Log By A Young Man Who ...

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 26, 2010

Occasionally, I read a web log by a young man who gives only his first name, which is Justin. In a recent post on his blog, which he calls “Uban Idealist,” he says this. He says, “For a long time my reaction to seeing [the broken] areas in my life has been to work hard on them. Try to act more ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Light In Dark Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

A LIGHT IN DARK PLACES A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Light In Dark Places

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

Light in Dark Places A young girl once consulted with her minister. "I cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only Christian in the factory where I work. I get nothing but taunts and sneers. It is more than I can stand. I am going to resign." "Will you tell me," asked the minister, "where ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Evangelism How To

Emptiness

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 23, 2007

Emptiness One of the most common refrains we hear from those who have reached the pinnacle of success is that of the emptiness that still stalks their lives, all their successes notwithstanding. That sort of confession is at least one reason the question of meaning is so central in life’s pursuit. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Journey To See God Face To Face

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 19, 2025

Everyone has a desire to see God face to face, but before that they are some prerequisites that need to checked 1) Am I right with God and others? 2) Are my hands clean? 3) Is my heart pure? We need to get answers to these questions from the Holy Spirit. As we receive the answers and correct ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:8

Tags: Faith, Hope

John Curzon And The Watch  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Oct 28, 2001

John Curzon, a Polish mechanic, who was presented with a gold medal for his inventions, performed a most extraordinary thing when he succeeded in manufacturing a complete watch in the space of 8 hours from materials on which most watchmakers would have looked with contempt. It appears that the ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Baptist