In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastoral Leadership"

Of Unchurched Americans, Two-Thirds Believe In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Of unchurched Americans, two-thirds believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and that he was resurrected from the dead. The belief that Jesus Christ will return to earth someday is held by 62 percent of all Americans. Of the total American adult population, nearly half believe in creationism, and 37 ...read more

Tags: Faith General

John Maxwell States, "It's Amazing What Can ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 11, 2006

John Maxwell states, “It’s amazing what can happen to and through an ordinary man when God pours a little hardship and the power of the Holy Spirit into the mix…One ordinary man, a little persecution, and a touch from the Spirit of God led to massive conversions in the city of Samaria. As Jesus had ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Late Bishop Edwin Hughes Once Delivered A ...

Contributed by Carl Kolb on Oct 24, 2009

The late Bishop Edwin Hughes once delivered a rousing sermon on "God’s Ownership" that put a rich parishioner’s nose out-of-joint. The wealthy man took the Bishop off for lunch, and then walked him through his elaborate gardens, woodlands, and farm. "Now are you going to tell me," he demanded when ...read more

Tags: Worship General, God's Ownership

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Objectivity,"" Or The Breath Of ...

Contributed by Lonnie Erwin on Oct 5, 2007

Illustration: "Objectivity," or the Breath of Hell A young Englishman ... was in Germany when Nazis degraded the Jews in the streets. At first he was sick at the sight and rushed down a side street. The next time he felt he could look, and stopped for a full minute. The third time he watched. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Church Is Not An Audience

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 2, 2007

A Church Is Not An Audience A sharp distinction ought to be made between a church and an audience. · An audience is a group of unrelated people drawn together by a short-lived attraction. A church is a group of born again believers drawn together by a Savior. · An audience is a crowd. A church is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

During The War Between The States, A Northern Pow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2008

During the war between the states, a northern pow escaped from his captors. For hours and days he wandered through the woods seeking the union lines and the safety of his companions. Finally, he approached a camp trying to figure out if it was friend or foe. Within minutes, he was surrounded by the ...read more

A Young Eight-Year-Old Boy Lost Part Of His ...

Contributed by Kelly Grant on Sep 10, 2003

A young eight-year-old boy lost part of his right arm in a tragic accident at home. The boy soon began to struggle with great sadness and depression because of his injury. As he recovered at home the new pastor of his church came to his house to pay a visit. The boy’s father announced that the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

An Evangelist Went To A Back Woods Church In The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Mar 24, 2003

An evangelist went to a back woods church in the hills of Tennessee not knowing it was a snake handling church. He was setting up on the podium with the pastor when a couple of men brought in a box full of snakes and dumped them out in front of the evangelist. The evangelist turned to the pastor ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Once Upon A Time, A Congregation Outgrew Their ...

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on Jan 4, 2008

Once upon a time, a congregation outgrew their church building. Everyone agreed that they needed to build a new church; but they couldn’t agree on a blueprint, a budget or a building site. In desperation, the pastor invited everyone to join him for an evening of special prayer. One woman came, ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Tony Campolo Confronts Congregations Lack Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

Tony Campolo Confronts Congregations Lack of Compassion If you can be concerned about something as trivial as a plant, should I not be allowed to be concerned about something as important as these people-not to mention their livestock? Jonah’s resentment had distorted his perspective and it will do ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Compassion

Forgiveness In Action  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 6, 2004

Forgiveness in Action Pastor Hayes a man in his middle forties, was well-loved by his congregation, and faithful to God and to his family. He enjoyed a successful ministry in an exuberantly vital, growing church. Just when everything seemed to be going well, a cloud came over this man and his ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Heard The Story Of The Minister Who Was Leading ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Sep 12, 2005

I heard the story of the minister who was leading a building campaign in his church and need to raise some additional funds. Sound familiar? One day, the minister was checking the store room (we know this isn’t a story about Benton United Methodist Church because there ain’t no store room!), and ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Methodist

I Can Remember When We First Arrived As The ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Aug 9, 2004

I can remember when we first arrived as the pastor’s family at Ravenna, there was only a handful of people. In fact, within the first couple weeks it became evident that the Ravenna congregation couldn’t even pay the pastor’s salary. But instead of crying to the conference for help or making the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

When I Think Of Stewardship (Humor)  PRO

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 29, 2008

When I think of stewardship it brings to mind a story about a small Church located in a farming community. The pastor of the church would call on every member of the congregation as part of the annual pledge campaign. The next home he was going to visit was Farmer Brown’s. Now Mr. Brown was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:18, Proverbs 3:9, Hebrews 7:1, Matthew 6:21, Malachi 3:8-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Giving, Stewardship

Denomination: Anglican

What Are We Voting For?

Contributed by Dan Thompkins on Jan 11, 2008

WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR? A parishioner had dozed off to sleep during the morning service. “Will all who want to go to heaven, please stand?” the pastor asked.” – All stood, except the sleeping parishioner. After they sat, the pastor continued, “Well, will all who want to go to the other place ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:43-48

Tags: Death, Heaven, Salvation

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Father's Role  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

A FATHER'S ROLE James Dobson and Gary Bauer in their book Children at Risk articulate the importance of the father’s leadership and his role in the children’s emotional development and moral education: “Fathers must be there to tame adolescent boys, to give a young son a sense of what I means to ...read more

But I Just Have To Give!  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Oct 28, 2002

BUT I JUST HAVE TO GIVE! Eric Hulstrand writes in Leadership magazine: "While I was preaching one Sunday, an elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance. As they strapped her to a stretcher and got ready to ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Church Practices

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mobilization Is Not Filling Slots," Claims Carol ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

“Mobilization is not filling slots,” claims Carol Davis, veteran church leadership trainer, “Mobilization is activating the incredible capacity of Christ’s church to serve the purposes of God in our own generation. Mobilization happens when I’m being used as an activator. I listen to and watch for ...read more

Tags: Church General

Jesus And Unity

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 24, 2009

JESUS AND UNITY Jesus knew that people contribute their uniqueness to churches and therefore they make it stronger. Each person in the body (on the team) contains a host of knowledge, insight and experiences to a scenario, or a situation. Mike Murdoch makes this observation, "Look at those who ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Was Said That Those Who Worked With President ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was said that those who worked with President Dwight D. Eisenhower found him very bright, tough and commanding. But Ike liked to verbalize his leadership role in a softer way: He said “I am not one of the desk-pounding type that likes to stick out his jaw and look as if he is bossing the show. I ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ