In Sermon Illustrations: "Opportunity"

Comfortable In Hell  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 6, 2002

COMFORTABLE IN HELL Jeff Strite tells this story about his Dad. My Dad was what was known as "a rounder." A man’s man. Hard worker, hard fighter, and a hard player of baseball and basketball. He was attractive to women and he loved to go out and dance. Now, it’s not that dad was a stranger ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Hell, Jesus Teachings, Parable Lazarus

In December 1994 Syndicated Columnist Bob Greene ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jan 15, 2003

In December 1994 syndicated columnist Bob Greene told the inspiring story of Rob Mouw. Rob played on the soccer team in his senior year at Wheaton Christian High School. In the final seconds of a big game against favored Waubonsie Valley, with his team behind by one goal, Rob was dribbling the ball ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

In North Shore Baptist Church, In Chicago, The ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 12, 2006

In North Shore Baptist Church, in Chicago, the Sunday School Director and one of the deacons in the church was a man named James L. Kraft. As a young man, just beginning, he wanted to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He was going to be rich and famous, and he ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

In His Brilliant New Book, Catching The Light, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

In his brilliant new book, Catching the Light, quantum physicist Arthur Zojanc writes of what he describes as the "entwined history of light and mind" (correctly described by one admirer as the "two ultimate metaphors of the human spirit"). For our purposes, his initial chapter is most helpful. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Your Before And After Doesn't Have To Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Your before and after doesn’t have to be complicated. It is simply sharing from your heart what God has done for you and leaving the results with God. Listen to the story of Spud Webb. At 5’ 6” Spud was like Zaccheus in the NBA where the average height is 6’ 8”or 6’ 9”. Spud played for 9 years in ...read more

Tags: Paul

The Value Of Life In The Womb

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 26, 2007

The Value Of Life In The Womb Susan Shelley writes in Marriage Partnership, “I was thrilled when the doctor told me our baby-to-be was a boy. I decided to keep the news a secret because I wanted to see Marshall’s face when our son was delivered. “In the fifth month, our doctor recommended a Level ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Saw That Kind Of Wellspring Of Abundant Life ...

Contributed by Steve Miller on Mar 16, 2008

I saw that kind of wellspring of abundant life this week on the internet when I saw Nick Vujicic. He’s a 25 year old man, born without arms or legs, but has a marvelous wellspring of Abundent life like no other I’ve seen… [Play clip from http://lifewithoutlimbs.org/ or read the following excerpt ...read more

Denomination: *other

Go To God – He Is The Source Of Our Goodness On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

Go to God – he is the source of our goodness on this earth. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Story: This story about Hudson Taylor – a well known missionary ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Fathers, Serve With Intensity  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Fathers, Serve With Intensity" The Bible gives four Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. The second is to live a life that serves with intensity. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Service, Father, Father's Day, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Questions For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION Andrew Murray, whose devotional books are still popular nearly a century after his death, said this: "It is when we face ourselves and face Christ, that we are lost in wonder, love and praise. We need to rediscover the almost lost discipline of self-examination; and ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

Good Gifts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

GOOD GIFTS Go to God--he is the source of our goodness on this earth. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! This story about Hudson Taylor, a well-known ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Higher Standard Of God

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 6, 2009

HIGHER STANDARD OF GOD Paul very much emphasized that we are responsible to others. Not responsible for them but to them. We are held to a high standard (at least we should be) by our own conscience, by others, and by God. Too often we make excuses such as not knowing that something was ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

Denomination: Church Of God

Years Ago I Was Invited Out To A Farm In West ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 25, 2009

Years ago I was invited out to a farm in West Wyalong, in NSW. It was night when we arrived and after eating, the farmer invited us out to the barn. He had a large torch and shone it around the floor. At first I didn’t realize what I was looking at. The floor seemed to be moving in waves. The waves ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cinderella Man Tells The True Story Of Boxing ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 4, 2010

Cinderella Man tells the true story of boxing legend James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), who made an incredible comeback during the Great Depression. Injured and arthritic, Braddock’s promising career was cut short, and he had to go on public assistance when he couldn’t get work at the docks in New ...read more

Tags: Strength

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Purest Most Average Things In Life Are The ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

PUREST MOST AVERAGE things in life are the best. In high school I had the opportunity to spend a week on a working dairy farm with a couple other high school kids from my church. Though it was a family operation it was a big dairy farm. The farm milked cows 24 hours a day. They had so many cows, ...read more

Tags: Purity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

False ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2010

False Healers Shortly before I came to the United States in 1983 I attended a “healing” meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. It was winter and the meeting was held outside in a very large tent. We all wore winter coats. The preacher, who had a large following in South Africa, preached a message that ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:12-13

Tags: False Teaching

Holiness Is Developed In Community

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

HOLINESS IS DEVELOPED IN COMMUNITY In the 3rd and 4th Centuries, and even to some extent today, the popular image of holiness was solitude, silence and severity. The really (quote) "holy people" back then were those who lived like hermits, wandering in the desert alone -- fasting, praying and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-10

Tags: Holiness

I Wish I Could Live Life Over Again

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jun 14, 2011

I WISH I COULD LIVE LIFE OVER AGAIN I remember when I was an assistant pastor in TN visiting a man who had lived his whole life in sin and selfishness. He finally came to the Lord in his sixties. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I went to visit him at his home shortly before his death. The day ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

Misapplied Scriptures: "God Is No Respecter Of Persons”, Acts 10:34

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 25, 2023

Introduction: “God is no respecter of persons!” How many times have we heard that during an invitation? It’s sad, but this is another verse that’s been misapplied over the years. Text: Acts 10:34, KJV: 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:34

Tags: Salvation, Peter, Cornelius

Denomination: Baptist

The Courage Of Shannon Wray  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 11, 2002

THE COURAGE OF SHANNON WRAY After winning a hard fought battle over an attempt to censor religious references from her speech, Shannon Wray delivered her non-censored salutatorian speech on Friday during the Hollidaysburg Area High School graduation ceremony. Shannon was represented by Mat ...read more

Tags: Humility, Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational