In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastors Appreciation Day"

Mark Hooper Was My Professor Of World Religions ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jan 22, 2010

Mark Hooper was my professor of World Religions in college. He once told the class about a missionary trip he took to India. While he was there he met and befriended a local fellow who was a Buddhist. This man took Dr. Hooper around; showing him the sites and helping him get acquainted with the ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Christian Church

On November 26, 19977 I Was Given A Wonderful ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

On November 26, 1977 I was given a wonderful gift by God, my wife Jan. Those early years of marriage we felt we were living ‘the abundant life’. But on August 17, 1981 I was given the greatest gift, this gift was priceless in nature. It was far greater than a promise to “go to heaven”. This ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Redeeming The Rag, Tag And Bobtail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2010

REDEEMING THE RAG, TAG AND BOBTAIL Luke 19:10 "...the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." In the 3rd-century, a skeptic named Celsus made fun of Origen (a Christian leader of day) "When most teachers go forth to teach, they cry, ’Come to me, you who are clean and worthy,’ and they ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

The Bible Is A Survivor

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

THE BIBLE IS A SURVIVOR The inspiration of the Bible is seen in its unique survival. All through history it has been a hated book for certain people because of its claim to be the word of the living God. But in spite of all attempts at times by emperors, dictators and totalitarian governments to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Influence

Encouragement Can Change A Life  PRO

Contributed by Jorge Acevedo on Feb 17, 2010

ENCOURAGEMENT CAN CHANGE A LIFE Stuart Briscoe tells a story of something that happened to Howard Hendricks when he was in elementary school. Howard had come from a broken family and was a problem kid. During his first day in fifth grade the teacher said, 'Oh, Howard Hendricks. I've heard a lot ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

Mr. Galey Said His Brother Borrowed A Miter Box ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

Mr. Galey said his brother borrowed a miter box from him on one occasion to make a picture frame. A miter is a sloping surface instead of a straight one. In the case of a picture frame, the miter joint would be at a 45 degree angle on each piece of wood. A miter box is a u-shaped object so ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Rest For The Unforgiving

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Mar 19, 2010

NO REST FOR THE UNFORGIVING Somewhere in the recesses of my memory is the recollection of a movie. It’s a Western; I know that much. I can’t remember the title of the movie, but I remember the story line. The hero is a law man, and he is transporting a convicted murderer across the treacherous ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Switching Off The Message  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2010

SWITCHING OFF THE MESSAGE The Word will protect us. No soldier is going to go to battle without his armor and his weapons. Yet many Christians today rarely even pick up their bible. A former park ranger at Yellowstone National Park tells the story of a ranger leading a group of hikers to a fire ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Tags: Bible Influence

Here’s A Story About A Woman Who Was ...

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on May 11, 2010

Here’s a story about a woman who was standing at a bus stop. She had just cashed her tax refund check, so she was carrying more money than usual. She glanced around and noticed a shabbily dressed man standing nearby. As she watched, she saw another man walk up to him, hand him some money, and ...read more

Tags: Kindness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Heart For ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 1, 2010

A Heart for Praise Louis Albert Banks tells of an elderly Christian man, a fine singer, who learned that he had cancer of the tongue and that surgery was required. In the hospital after everything was ready for the operation, the man said to the doctor, “Are you sure I will never sing again?” The ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Baptist

An Unread Note Costs A Commander His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2010

An Unread Note Costs A Commander His Army During the Revolutionary War, a loyalist spy appeared at the headquarters of Hessian commander Colonel Johann Rall, carrying an urgent message. General George Washington and his Continental [A]rmy had secretly crossed the Delaware River that morning and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:9

Tags: Leadership Listening

I Can Remember Things In My Life That Struck Me ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Aug 6, 2010

I can remember things in my life that struck me as if something had changed and would never be the same again. Things that may strike some as a little strange, moments when everything just sort of toppled on a point of balance and fell into a new place. Things would never be the same again. Like ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Salvation Army

No Need To Mention The ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 22, 2010

“No Need to Mention the Name!” One day, crossing a New York City street, a woman became confused, and stepped directly in front of an approaching streetcar. People on both curbs were sick with horror at her sure fate, when a powerful man rushed forward and not only rescued her from the streetcar, ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Christian Church

St. Augustine On The Trinity

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

ST. AUGUSTINE ON THE TRINITY One day when St. Augustine was at his wits' end to understand and explain the Trinity, he went out for a walk. He kept turning over in his mind, "One God, but three Persons. Three Persons--not three Gods but one God. What does it mean? How can it be explained? How can ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-23

Tags: Trinity

Denomination: Brethren

Religion A Vs. Religion B

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

RELIGION A VS. RELIGION B The 19th-century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard identified two kinds of religion--Religion A and Religion B. The first is "faith" in name only (2 Tim. 3:5). It's the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living Lord. Religion B, on the ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: *other

Capture And Control  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 7, 2011

CAPTURE AND CONTROL Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:26, John 8:1-11

Tags: Satan

Don't Waste Your Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper recounts a story his father often told of his days as a fiery Baptist evangelist. It is the story of a man who came to saving faith in Jesus Christ near the end of his earthly existence. Piper writes: "The church had prayed for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Conscience

Cast The First Stone  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2011

CAST THE FIRST STONE A woman named Marilyn Helleberg told about being a teenager at church camp. She said an ugly rumor got started there about two of the counselors and it quickly became the talk of the camp. The next day, at Morning Prayer, the minister read the story of the adulterous woman. ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

I've Got A Flashlight!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2011

I'VE GOT A FLASHLIGHT! Ann Beck of North Carollton, Mississippi, talks about the days when her husband and she taught 2- and 3-year-olds in Sunday school. A Bible verse they helped the pre-schoolers memorize was Psalms 56: "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Their preschool son, Mark, was one ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:3

Tags: Fear And Worry

Prayed Into The Kingdom

Contributed by Michael Walther on May 25, 2011

PRAYED INTO THE KINGDOM Chuck Sackett did not grow up in a Christian home. But he joined the Boy Scouts and wanted to complete the “God and Country” merit badge. So he walked a few blocks to a small church for several weeks. He filled out his papers, and did what he had to do get that badge. ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran