In Sermon Illustrations: "Overcoming Fear"

It Is Never Safe To Look Into The Future With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It is never safe to look into the future ...read more

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

I Didn't Recognize You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Humanity Of Christ

Amdrei Bitov, A Russian Novelist, Grew Up Under ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jun 6, 2003

Amdrei Bitov, a Russian novelist, grew up under the atheistic Communist regime. But God got his attention one dreary day. He recalls, “In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) I was overcome with a despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, ...read more

Tags: God's Love, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Recently Had A Nursery Operator Inform Me That ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Sep 13, 2010

I recently had a nursery operator inform me that keeping my young fruit trees tied up so that the wind would not “damage” them was, in actuality, damaging them! They told me that the strong winds strengthened the fibers of the tree’s trunk and limbs so that it could withstand the fury of nature. ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Nazarene

Foster: Five Percent Spirituality

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2012

FOSTER: FIVE PERCENT SPIRITUALITY Richard Foster writes this: Many of us live in a kind of inner apartheid. We segregate out a small corner of pious activities and then make no spiritual sense out of the rest of our lives. We become so accustomed to this way of living that we fail to see the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

Tags: Christian Disciplines

I Will Change Your Name (Lyrics Of Song)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 20, 2026

There is a song that is often used at baptisms ...that seems so appropriate ... to help portray this new birth ... in Christ. I will change your name You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid I will change your name Your new name shall be Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, John 1:42, Acts 5:29, Matthew 26:33, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: New, Name, Face, Change, New Creation, Baptism, Creation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Generations Differ Researcher George Barna Cites ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Generations Differ Researcher George Barna cites varied generational response to authority (older Americans accept it, Boomers want to control it, Busters ignore it), handling contradictions (elder citizens ignore them, Boomers strive to solve them, Busters appreciate them), and life fears ...read more

Tags: Truth

I Want To Matter

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 19, 2009

I WANT TO MATTER I once asked a friend of mine what was his biggest fear? After listening to his response, I told him that my biggest fear in life is being insignificant. If I can’t make a difference in the lives of those around me, and impact their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, then my ...read more

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Methodist

Walter Cronkite Or God?" Joshua 1:1-9 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 21, 2005

“Walter Cronkite or God?” Joshua 1:1-9 Key verse(s): 5:“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Why is the world such a fearful place? It seems these days people are afraid of more ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Lutheran

Light A Candle! (07.12.05--Tomorrow--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 10, 2005

Light a Candle! (07.12.05--Tomorrow--John 21:18-19) You know what is the best thing about the future? The way things have been going lately I have no doubt. The best thing about tomorrow is that tomorrow only comes one day at a time. We’ve all had times in our lives when what we feared the most ...read more

Scripture: John 21:18-19

Tags: Death, Guilt

Denomination: Lutheran

Calm The Storm, Calm Your Heart  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Mar 15, 2005

CALM THE STORM, CALM YOUR HEART One pastor’s wife was very afraid to take flights. Husband asks her to pray. Fear was controlling her. "Let Him know you’re afraid of flying, and God will help you." Over time, she overcame the fear. One day, she was flying with her friend through a violent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Tags: Faith General, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Generations Differ: Researcher George Barna Cites ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Generations Differ: Researcher George Barna cites varied generational response to authority (older Americans accept it, Boomers want to control it, Busters ignore it), handling contradictions (elder citizens ignore them, Boomers strive to solve them, Busters appreciate them), and life fears ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

God Wants To Trade

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 7, 2019

God wants to trade your dry barren ground for a fertile garden ; He wants to trade your weeds for beautiful flowers ; He wants to take our anxiety and give us assurance (everything is all right) ; He wants to give us faith instead of fear ; He wants to take your curses and give you blessings ; He ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 41:8-20

Tags: Trade, Blessings

Denomination: Pentecostal

Act With Determination Not To Be Turned Aside By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Act with determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the ...read more

Tags: Endurance

If Your Desires Be Endless, Your Cares And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If your desires be endless, your cares and ...read more

Tags: Desire

Worry Is A Circle Of Inefficient Thoughts ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Worry is a circle of inefficient thoughts whirling ...read more

Tags: Guilt

It Is The Function Of Speech To Free Men From ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

Not By Might! (10.08.05--Beginning Again!--2 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 6, 2005

Not By Might! (10.08.05--Beginning Again!--2 Kings 5:12) “That’s simple--too simple!” I thought. I had been looking for a simple solution to overcoming a seemingly complex problem for a long time now. How could I get better mileage and performance on an engine that was nearly 40 years old? I had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:12

Tags: Sin General, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Lutheran

According To A Poll On Prayer For Newsweek ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 6, 2001

According to a poll on prayer for Newsweek (3/31/97), the following percentage said: They ask for health or success for a child or family member when they pray -- 82 They ask for strength to overcome a personal weakness -- 75 They never ask for financial or career success -- 36 God answers ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer, Prayer Of Faith, Prayer General, Provision  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Church Of God

In His Retirement, Thomas Jefferson Founded The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2001

In his retirement, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. Because Jefferson trusted that students would take their studies seriously, the code of discipline was lax. Unfortunately, his trust proved misplaced when the misbehavior of students led to a riot in which professors who ...read more