In Sermon Illustrations: "Past"

The Occult, The Supernatural, And Teenagers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2011

THE OCCULT, THE SUPERNATURAL, AND TEENAGERS In 2006, researcher George Barna came out with the top 12 most significant or surprising faith findings for that year. Coming in second was this report: "Three out of every four teenagers have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:9-13

Tags: Supernatural

Phobias Into Faith

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 5, 2011

PHOBIAS INTO FAITH As most of you have read in my past e mails I hate to camp. I hate the dark. I hate spiders and you show me a snake I am finished. But the Lord has used all these phobias for me to put my faith into practice. If we had everything we ever needed we wouldn’t need God. Left to ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

No One Missed Him

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 7, 2012

NO ONE MISSED HIM There was a story in the papers years ago that occurred in Hamburg, Germany. The skeletal remains of a man were found in his apartment, sitting in front of a TV set, with Christmas lights twinkling nearby. But the lights were from a long past year. In fact, the man had been ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Woman Approached A Well-Known Preacher Who Had ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on May 5, 2007

A woman approached a well-known preacher who had just returned from the mission field in a third world country where occult worship was wide-spread and he had seen a great deal of actual deliverances from demon possession in the power of the Holy Spirit. He had preached on that subject, telling ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Teachers Use Fear To Motivate And Discipline ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 13, 2007

Teachers use fear to motivate and discipline their students. A couple of years ago I spent a few months substituting at a Christian Academy. I taught grades 3rd through 8th as needed. The younger kids at this school were disciplined using color coded cards. Every day they had to go past the ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Brennan Manning Who Is One Of My Favorite ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Brennan Manning who is one of my favorite authors describes it like this. He is a recovering alcoholic and he said, no matter how long I am sober, no matter what I do I will always be a recovering alcoholic. I will always lay that card down on the table, my past does not change. He says, when we ...read more

Tags: Faith

For Years Europeans Have Told The Story About ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

For years Europeans have told the story about citizens who prepared to crown their king. Crowds lined the streets to see the new king pass in procession. A 12 year old boy began pushing his way through the crowd. He was able to get as far as the guards and tried to get past them too. The guards ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer

Recently I Picked Up Kimball's New Book Called, ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 26, 2007

Recently I picked up Kimball’s new book called, “They Like Jesus But Not The Church.” He makes this observation about our young America today: “Our world has changed whether we like it or not!” “We are living in an increasingly ‘post-Christian’ culture. America once was more of a ‘Christian ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Power Of The Resurrection Was ...

Contributed by J. Allen Lucas on Mar 23, 2008

The real power of the resurrection was demonstrated not only 2,000 years ago, but is also demonstrated today in the lives of people who are following Jesus Christ. Those who refuse to give in to the power of darkness and are walking in the light of the resurrection, prove every day that God in the ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Thom Rainer Tells Us In His Book Giant ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

Thom Rainer tells us in his book Giant Awakenings that "71% of breakout churches report an increased emphasis on prayer over the past several years as compared to only 40% of churches which continued on the plateau." Rainer also tells us that "Earle Cairns notes with profound simplicity that ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Dr. James Dobson Reports That The Average ...

Contributed by Shawn Rose on Jul 28, 2008

Dr. James Dobson reports that the average preschool child watches between 30 and 50 hours of television per week while the average time spent interacting with his or her father is 37 seconds per day. He also stated, "There is no higher calling on earth for men than to be a father." Casting Crowns ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Baptist

Defining Moments

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

DEFINING MOMENTS The American director, Ken Burns (Born: 1953), once said; and, I quote: "Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being." The American public servant, Donald Evans (Born: 1946), once said; and, I ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

I Once Heard The Story Of A Man And His Wife Who ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jan 29, 2009

I once heard the story of a man and his wife who decided to go to a drive-in movie. They thought the price was too high and plotted to put one over on the management of the theater. When they were within a short distance of the drive-in, the husband climbed into the trunk of the car. The ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Teachers Important

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

TEACHERS IMPORTANT 64% of U.S. adults believe teaching is one of the most important jobs in America today; 20% disagree. The same survey found 80% of adults say their teachers were at least somewhat important in shaping the direction of their lives. 39% say teachers were very important in that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:7

Tags: Gifts General

God's Mercy

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 2, 2024

Henri Nouwen tells the story of a family from Paraguay. The father spoke out against the military regime and its human rights abuses. The police arrested his teenage son and tortured him to death. Enraged townsfolk wanted to turn the boy's funeral into a huge protest march, but the doctor ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-18, Romans 5:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Mercy, Sin, Evil, Salvation, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Amazing 8-Watts  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on Aug 25, 2002

THE AMAZING 8-WATTS In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, the satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter’s magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Commitment To Christ, Endurance

Denomination: Church Of God

Jesus Lifted Up The Spirit Of A Discouraged ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 10, 2003

Jesus lifted up the spirit of a discouraged preacher who retired early because of what happened to him. "In the Pentecostal Evangel church leader George U. Wood writes: "Have you ever heard a healing take place? I have. I listened to an audiotape of Duane Miller teaching his Sunday school ...read more

Tags: Adversity, Faith, God's Forgiveness, Healing, Overcome, New Ministry, Memories, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Thomas Dorsey Was A Black Jazz Musician From ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Richards on Jun 22, 2005

Thomas Dorsey was a black jazz musician from Atlanta who was known in the early 1920’s for the suggestive lyrics he combined with original music. Then God touched his life and in 1926 he gave up the suggestive music and began to write spiritual music. In 1932 times were hard for Dorsey as they were ...read more

Tags: Death, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

Decision Without Determination

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 28, 2009

DECISION WITHOUT DETERMINATION Some choose and pray a prayer. This is the great heresy of the last hundred years. I made a choice when I was ten. But there is no determination. I have been convinced by the Lord that a decision without determination and effort is absolutely meaningless. In ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Church Of God

Camel Ride Up Mount Sinai

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 29, 2008

CAMEL RIDE UP MOUNT SINAI It is 3:00 in the morning and we are waiting with other pilgrims on the back side of Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the base of mount Sinai. It is a moonless night, pitch black beyond the small light we huddle around. I wonder if I dressed warm enough, I am surprised it ...read more

Tags: Moses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational