In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastor Appreciation"

The Heart Of Worship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

THE HEART OF WORSHIP In late 1990's in Watford, England, Matt Redman's church had a high caliber praise band and worship team, yet the pastor knew that the congregation had lost its way in worship. So the Pastor asked "When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition

Your God Is Too ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2009

YOUR GOD IS TOO SAFE The words that Mark Buchanan wrote of his own experience in his book entitled "Your God Is Too Safe." He wrote that when he was saved, "I hit the ground running. Immediately, I volunteered for everything, anything, that I felt vaguely interested in and marginally qualified ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-45

Tags: Zeal

When My Father Passed Away, I Remember Going To ...

Contributed by Jeff Kennedy on Sep 9, 2009

When my father passed away, I remember going to church that morning. Our family had only been attending that church for a few weeks, and my dad was on his way to work that morning to put in some overtime, and he was going to meet us at the late service. The pastor later told us that it was the ...read more

Tags: Strength, Grief

Denomination: *other

Evans On The Virgin Birth

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

EVANS ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH Dr. William Evans, who pastored College Church from 1906-1909, was an unusually accomplished man. He had the entire King James Version of the Bible memorized as well as the New Testament of the American Standard Version. Dr. Evans also authored over fifty books. His son, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

A Clergyman From New York, During A Call On ...

Contributed by George Bannister on Jul 1, 2010

A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr. President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so. We are giving you all that we have, the lives of ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Hidden Prayer Results In Revival

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

HIDDEN PRAYER RESULTS IN REVIVAL I heard Brother John Harrell of Bridge City, Texas tell of a church up in the piney woods of east Texas that began to have a tremendous breakthrough revival. An evangelist came in and they started their series of meetings and from the beginning of the meeting, all ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Self-Centered Christianity  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2011

SELF-CENTERED CHRISTIANITY John Koessler pastored for years before becoming a professor in the pastoral studies department at Moody Bible Institute. In 2007 he wrote, A Stranger In The House of God, chronicling his experience in various churches. "Most of the Christians I know are disappointed ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-9

Tags: Church Practices

One Scheme Of The Devil Is To Create A Twisted ...

Contributed by Michael Walther on May 25, 2011

One scheme of the devil is to create a twisted view of God. USA Today ran an article on a very comprehensive religion survey conducted by Baylor University. This survey showed that 96% of Americans believe in some view of God. But of this group 40% , or almost half, believe in a God who does not ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Lutheran

The Lord's Game Plan

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Jan 7, 2012

THE LORD'S GAME PLAN After I had been a Christian for a while, I felt that I was being called ton the ministry. I figured that the Lord had made just about his biggest mistake by calling me. When I told Barbara about what I felt, I rejoiced when she told me that I couldn’t be a pastor because all ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Father's Legacy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2012

A FATHER’S LEGACY Ken Hemphill tells the story of what took place at his church when he was pastor of FBC of Norfolk. He was out on the sidewalk welcoming people as they got out of their cars. About 3rd in line was a father & his teenage son. The father had a golf shirt on, and he evidently was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Father's Day

Statistics On Prayer

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 8, 2012

STATISTICS ON PRAYER Barna research says slightly more than four out of five adults in the U.S. (84%) claim they had prayed in the past week. That has been the case since Barna began tracking the frequency of prayer in 1993. A Newsweek poll titled "Is God Listening?" indicated that, of those who ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Of Hitler's Bodyguards Was A Man Named Kurt ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 28, 2001

One of Hitler’s bodyguards was a man named Kurt Wagner. He adored Hitler and reverenced him as a god. At the end of the war, with Hitler a suicide in a Berlin bunker, Kurt’s faith was shattered and he planned a suicide. Going for a final cup of coffee, he picked up a discarded Gospel tract and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Grace

Denomination: Wesleyan

What God Can't Do  PRO

Contributed by Greg Cooper on Jul 15, 2002

WHAT GOD CAN’T DO A Sunday School teacher was questioning her pupils after a lesson on God’s omnipotence. "Now children," she asked, "is there anything God can’t do?" The Pastors son thrust his hand into the air. The teacher, feeling certain that he had missed the point of the lesson, asked ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

My Labeling System  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2003

MY LABELING SYSTEM I have my own system for labeling homemade freezer meals. Forget calling them "Veal Parmigiana" or "Turkey Loaf" or "Beef Pot Pie." If you look in my freezer you’ll see "Whatever," "Anything," "I Don’t Know," and, my favorite, "Food." That way when I ask my husband what he ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Three Boys Were Talking About Their Fathers ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 22, 2003

Three boys were talking about their fathers exellence. One of them said:my father is a great professor. When he is talking about a subject, only 10 persons in the world can understand him!The second boy said: my father is great brain surgeon, when he is talking about his surgery only 5 person in ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facing Crisis  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Aug 26, 2005

Pastor Andrew Murray of South Africa once faced a terrible crisis. Gathering himself into his study, he sat a long while quietly. Prayerfully, thoughtfully. He wrote this in his journal. 1. I am here by God’s appointment; in that fact I will rest. 2. He will keep me here in His love and ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Human Body

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Want You To Watch A Modern Day Example Of What ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 22, 2005

I want you to watch a modern day example of what we’re talking about in a clip from the movie, Simon Birch (Chapter 8). Notice particularly the contrast between how some people relate to little Simon Birch versus others. If we were looking for an example of how to not win a child to the Lord I ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Charismatic

Church Stats

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Church Stats: · 23.9% of Americans belonged to an evangelical denomination in ’65 compared to 25.4% in ’96. · In ’65, 27.2% belonged to a mainline denomination, in ’96 it was down to 22.1%. · Catholics have declined from 23.9% of the U.S. population in ‘65, to 21.8% in ’96. · In ’90, 65% of ...read more

Tags: Church General

Why People Give According To Dr. Ron L. Jones, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Why People Give According to Dr. Ron L. Jones, pastor, author and VP of development at College of Biblical Studies in Houston people give: (1) Because they feel connected to the cause represented by the ministry. (2) Because they believe the ministry is producing changed lives. (3) Because they ...read more

Tags: Giving General

During The Early 1980's, A Retired British ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 10, 2007

During the early 1980’s, a retired British couple feared that a nuclear holocaust was imminent. They determined they would find the most reasonable place to live on earth, one with a high standard of living, freedom, and unlikely to be a nuclear target. After they found their secluded nest, they ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible