In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastor Cave"

Timothy's Story

Contributed by Timothy Enns on Oct 5, 2011

TIMOTHY'S STORY I want to tell you a story today about a little fellow named Jason. The circumstances that Jason was born into not entirely clear. What we do know is that his birth parents, for what ever reason, decided not to care for him or could not care for him. Instead they decided to place ...read more

Tags: Adoption

Denomination: Nazarene

Are You Missing Jesus?

Contributed by William Akehurst on Dec 18, 2011

ARE YOU MISSING JESUS? During the manger scene of the kids' Christmas presentation, one of the important pieces was missing on the set.  As everyone was looking around, I noticed the bag in which this important part was hidden and went up in the stage area and retrieved it for the part.  The ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lost In The Noise

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012

LOST IN THE NOISE A youth pastor wanted to illustrate something to his students. He placed some valuable objects on small tables around the room. On one of the tables was a Bible. There was a $5 bill on another table. There was a kids' meal from a fast-food restaurant on one table. Other tables ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

How To Promote Good Health In Infants

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

HOW TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH IN INFANTS A person who is "born again" starts a new life similar to that of a newborn infant. Seven rules that promote good health in babies can be adapted and applied to a Christian’s spiritual growth. 1. Daily Food. Take in the "pure milk of the word" through study ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Growth In Christ

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

The Body Of Christ Is Not Divided  PRO

Contributed by Silas Eke on Feb 26, 2015

A Baptist Pastor had a dream and found himself fully dressed with a Bible in hand at the gate of heaven. As he was about to enter, he heard so many people crying and wailing in hell. He went to the gate and met the gate-keeper. He asked the gate-keeper “Who are those crying? Is there a Baptist ...read more

Tags: Denominationalism, Unity In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Was Driving Home One Sunday From Trinity Of...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I was driving home one Sunday from Trinity of Gentilly, where I was serving. I was on Napolean headed toward the river and had just passed Pascale Manales when I saw Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of St. Charles Ave. I then had a vision of younger families in the Uptown and Garden ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance, Visions

Denomination: Methodist

Hero Vs Hero Maker

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 28, 2018

What does it mean to be a hero maker? A hero maker is a leader who shifts from being the hero to making others the hero in God's unfolding story. Real hero makers first die to any vision of personal glory. The dying involves a very real transition, one of grief and loss of ever becoming that ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Leadership, Disciple Making, Leadership Training

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Marriage Is That Much Work....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 23, 2022

Because of a shortage of maids, the minister’s wife advertised for a male servant to help around the house. The next morning, a nicely dressed young man came to the front door of the parsonage. The minister opened the door and jumped right into the conversation. "Can you start breakfast by 7 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Love, Marriage, Work, Humor, Engagement, Singles, Fiancee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Godliness

Contributed by Marc Heatherington on Aug 5, 2021

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness . . 2 Peter 1:5-6 The Greek word for godliness is sometimes translated as piety. Both words have ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:6, 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 6:3, 1 Timothy 6:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Godliness, Perseverance

Denomination: Baptist

[083]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Cs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 21, 2025

[083]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Cs There are 9 poems in this series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the second one in the first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:37, Romans 13:11-12, 2 Peter 1:13, Romans 12:1

Tags: The Flesh, Be Awake, The Old Nature, Compromise, Carnality, Complacency, Poetry, Poem, Take A Stand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Keys To The Kingdom?

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Sep 29, 2009

KEYS TO THE KINGDOM? At a former church, the day I started my job as an associate pastor I was given a set of keys to the church by one of the Trustees, Bill. Bill told me, "Peter, these are not all the keys to the church, we are only giving you four keys: One key to the church building, one key ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rest If You Must, Don't Quit

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 28, 2021

TO ACCOMPLISH GOD’S WILL WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN NEARSIGHTEDNESS. Working with people takes time and much patience. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. In 1981 I accepted the pastorate of a small mission work in eastern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:19, Psalm 37:7

Tags: Patience, Remember Me

Denomination: Assembly Of God

You Might Be In A Country Church If.......  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

You might be in a country church if....... 1. The doors are never locked. 2. The Call to Worship is "Y’all come on in!" 3. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the Ark. 4. The Preacher says, "I’d like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering" and five guys stand up. 5. The ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Country Church, Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Living On The Mountain  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Mar 22, 2002

LIVING ON THE MOUNTAIN Listen to one man’s remarkable discovery at Smokey Mountain near the Philippine capital of Manila: "A gigantic man-made mound, perhaps 100 feet high, ran on before us for a mile or more. Wisps of smoke rose from fissures all over the sides and top of this municipal dump and ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Christian Disciplines, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Pentecostal

This Week I Was Reading The Story Of An ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002

This week I was reading the story of an Australian couple who went to Bangladesh as missionaries. When Stuart and Margaret arrived in the country they were informed, by the Baptist missionaries already there that the Muslim people were impossible to reach with the Gospel message. For the six years ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Culture, Family, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

At A Leadership Conference Several Years Ago I ...

Contributed by Joe La Rue on Feb 12, 2008

At a leadership conference several years ago I heard Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii tell the story about walking into a restaurant over the lunch hour and seeing one of his church members sitting at a table and talking quite excitedly with a man he didn’t ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hymn: Now Thank We All Our God

Contributed by Christian Cheong on May 26, 2008

HYMN: NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD In 1607, a German named Martin Reinkardht wrote “Now Thank We All Our God”, which has become one of the great hymns of praise. He was in Eilenburg, Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Worship Benefits, Gratitude To God

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Dear Abby Letters – How To Dress In Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

DEAR ABBY LETTERS – How To Dress In Church Dear Abby: May I respond to your reply regarding attire in church? As a priest and pastor, I’m appalled at how some people come dressed for Sunday worship. You said that “Dress codes have been greatly relaxed in recent decades,” which I find to be ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ