In Sermon Illustrations: "Ot Characters"

A Man For All Seasons

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS In 1966, Robert Bolt's play was made into a movie of the same name. A Man For All Seasons was a movie about Sir Thomas More. More, a member of the elite Privy Council of the Roman Catholic Church, refused to give his okay to King Henry VIII's divorce to his wife and ...read more

Tags: Character

We Need Fixing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

WE NEED FIXING There was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, "All Haircuts for $3.00" Slowly, the barber's ...read more

Tags: Character

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit Seldom in history have so few words been spoken with so much meaning. The Beatitudes of our Lord are powerful, holding before believers and unbelievers alike a descriptive picture of the true disciple of Christ. The Beatitudes cover the glorious hope and are a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn One of the greatest messages ever proclaimed was delivered by Jesus Christ and is referred to as the "Sermon on the Mount." His message is as relevant today as it was when it was first spoken. Our Lord opens this message not with a joke, but with the Beatitudes. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:4

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness "The Sermon on the Mount" explains the true intent of the law which cancels the natural responses of man and calls for supernatural behavior. Righteousness is an attribute of God. Jesus gives Christians a glorious hope and reward that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Merciful

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Merciful In the Sermon on the Mount, we notice that Jesus' subject was not on how people are to be saved, but on the fruit of those who allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. One of the signs or evidences that a person has been converted is that he is now merciful. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Peacemakers "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) There is a commission from God that is available to every obedient Christian today and that is to be a peacemaker. Argument and discord is a great waste of energies better spent on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Way, O Lord?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Way, O Lord? "This is what the Lord says; 'Stand at the crossroads and look... ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) The way many people attempt to determine the will of God would make a great new television ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Salt Of The Earth  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Salt of the Earth Matthew 5:13 says to Christians, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Our Lord is telling His disciples that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Daughter's Statement Of Submission Is One Of ...

Contributed by Charles Jones on Aug 24, 2008

The daughter’s statement of submission is one of the most touching speeches in Scripture (Judg. 11:36). She shared her father’s extreme reverence for God, even if it cost her marriage, children, and life itself. No wonder the young women of Israel honored her ever after (11:40). What does this ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Letter Was Sent To The Irs. "Dear Sirs, Last ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Aug 25, 2008

A letter was sent to the IRS. "Dear Sirs, last year when I filed my taxes I deliberately misrepresented my income. Now I cannot sleep. Enclosed is a check for $150.00. ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Are Three Classes Of People In ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael West on Oct 2, 2008

There are three classes of people in congregations today, unblessed, uncommitted and the committed. Unblessed do not believe sufficiently in God's wisdom to run their lives completely; they know it means surrender and commitment. The uncommitted aren't rebels, but they are the ones who are ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Not For Sale

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Oct 2, 2008

Not For Sale The unknown author of the following story captures the value of a name. "After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich. ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Salvation Army

Ohio State's Legendary Football Coach Woody Hayes ...

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Ohio State's legendary football coach Woody Hayes was asked by a Chicago writer how he continued to attract top players. "It's very simple," replied Woody. "We recruit and coach on a positive basis. We seek the quality, the best kids. I couldn't get along with any other kind. Then we set high ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Pentecostal

Donald Creighton Said That: "History Is The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Donald Creighton said that: "History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstance." My question would be: "Would circumstance overshadow character?" Source: ...read more

Tags: Character

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize The year Pete Rose was about to break Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in spring training, he was being interviewed. One reporter blurted out, "Pete, you only need 78 hits to break the record. How many at-bats do you think you'll need to get the 78 hits?" Without ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Character

You Don't Hear That Old Saying Much Anymore, ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 27, 2008

"You don't hear that old saying much anymore, 'It is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts.' I don't think most people believe it -- or ever ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Signs Only Expose Reality

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 14, 2009

SIGNS ONLY EXPOSE REALITY Signs do not create a reality; they merely expose it. For example, a sign on a highway may read "Chicago: 160 miles". If we changed the sign to read "60 miles" instead, it wouldn't change the fact that Chicago is really 160 miles away. Truth doesn't change, no matter ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Habits

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

HABITS The American Heritage Dictionary "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition." It comes from the idea "to have, to hold, possess." Roman poet Ovid in 43 BC: "Nothing is stronger than habit." Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, ...read more

Tags: Character

The Nobel Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE NOBEL STORY In 1866, Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and built up companies and laboratories in more than 20 countries all over the world. In the process, he amassed a considerable fortune. When Nobel’s brother died, the newspaper made a mistake and ran an obituary for Alfred Nobel. In the ...read more

Tags: Character