In Sermon Illustrations: "Pastoring" showing 561-580 of 2,457

Why Doesn't God Answer?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her preacher father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day she asked him why. The Pastor was so proud that his daughter was so observant of his mesages. He smiled and answered, "Well, honey, ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Preachers, Pastors, Sermons, Jokes, Children, Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Without The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

David Platt in his book, Radical, has a chapter entitled, "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit?”). This is where I am most convicted as a pastor that I am part of a system ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Power, Pastors, Pentecost, Programs, Church, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Does Your Ministry Rely Upon God's Power?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

David Platt in his book Radical has a chapter entitled "Beginning at the End of Ourselves -- The Importance of Relying on God's Power (Subsection entitled - “Dependent on Ourselves or Desperate for His Spirit”) Platt went on to say, "This is where I am most convicted as a pastor. I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8-11, Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Holy Spirit, Church, Power, Pastors, Pentecost, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Perfect Preacher  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Jan 30, 2003

A PERFECT PREACHER After hundreds of years, a model preacher has been found to suit everyone. He preaches exactly 20 minutes and then sits down. He condemns sin but never hurts anyone. He works from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. In every type of work from preaching to custodial service. He makes $60.00 a ...read more

Tags: Church, Leadership General, Leadership, John The Baptist, Hope, Pastor, Pastors, Qualification, Sin, Thanksgiving, Thanks, Thankful  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Things You Will Never Hear In Most Churches!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

THINGS YOU WILL NEVER HEAR IN MOST CHURCHES! "Hey! It’s my turn to sit on the front pew!" "I was so excited, I never even noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes!" "Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf." "I volunteer to be the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Murmuring, Pastors, Laziness, Church Members, Church, Complaining, Division, Gossip  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bloopers In The Bulletin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 11, 2023

The following are actual church bulletin board bloopers found in churches across the United States. The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church. The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-7

Tags: Pastors, Love For Others, Secretaries, Unconditional Love, Bloopers, Bulletin, Church, Humor, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Gather A Crowd At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

How to Gather a Crowd at Church! A cattle rancher got saved and surrendered to preach. He went to a Bible conference which was all about how to build a crowd. Asked about it later, he said, "It was strange. In all my years as a cattle rancher, I never had to go to a conference to learn how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Churches, Preaching, Pastors, Teaching, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Macarthur On Contemporary Preaching

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

"Many churches today are filled to overflowing with those who want their ears tickled with the myths of easy believism and so called positive thinking. They come to have their egos fed and their sins approved, not to have their hearts cleansed and their souls saved. They want only to feel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:6-17

Tags: The Word Of God, The Bible, Pastors, Preaching, Churches, Liberalism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of God's Word!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

How powerful is the Preached Word of God?  On October 7, 1857, C. H. Spurgeon preached to his largest audience ever, some 23, 654 assembled in the mammoth Crystal Palace for a national day of fasting and prayer. A few days before the event Spurgeon had gone to the huge hall to test the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: The Word Of God, The Bible, Salvation, Pastors, Preaching, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News, Bad News Laughs

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 13, 2022

Good News: You baptised seven people today in the river.Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current. Good News: The women's group voted to send you a get-well card.Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30. Good News: The trustees finally voted to add more church parking. Bad News: They are ...read more

Tags: Churches, Jokes, Humor, Sermons, Sermon Introductions, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A.w. Tozer On The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Great Quote by A.W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit: "If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, much of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on and nobody would know the difference! .I do not believe in a REPETITION of Pentecost, but I do ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Ministry, Church, Pentecost, Pastors, Power  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Does Your Ministry Rely Upon The Holy Spirit?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

"When we rely on organization, we get what organization can do. When we rely upon education, we get what education can do. When we rely on eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. But when we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Power, Pastors, Pentecost, Church, Ministry, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Uncompromising Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 19, 2022

Peter Cartwright, a nineteenth-century circuit-riding Methodist preacher, was an uncompromising man. One Sunday morning when he was to preach, he was told that General Andrew Jackson was in the congregation, and warned not to say anything out of line. When Cartwright stood to preach, he said, ...read more

Tags: Truth, Preaching, Pastors, Boldness, Hell, Evangelism, Faithfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Types Of Preaching Found In The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of preaching described in the New Testament: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Tags: Teaching, Teachers, Pastors, Preachers, Preaching, Church, Homiletics  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When I Passed Out Preaching On Death!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

I met Christ as my personal Lord and Savior when I was 15 years old. I had grown up in church and had faithfully gone to church 3 or 4 times per week my whole life......but I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. After trusting Him as my Savior, I felt that God spoke to my heart ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Death, Heaven, Preaching, Humor, Pastors, Churches, Fainting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank God For Blessed Subtractions!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

Three local pastors were discussing their Easter Sunday results with one another on the Monday after Easter. The Methodist minister said, "Easter services worked out great for us! We gained four new additions at First Methodist!" Praise God! The Baptist preacher grinned ...read more

Tags: Church Growth, Easter, Baptists, Arrogance, Bragging, Revival, Methodists, Pride, Preachers, Pastors, Pentecostals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Discipline, Brokenness, And Strength

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010

DISCIPLINE, BROKENNESS, AND STRENGTH Discipline is a virtue that is in short supply nowadays. We see men and women demonstrating a dangerous lack of self restraint and discipline. People do things just because they feel like it, ignoring the consequences. What there is no restraint, no discipline ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Secret To Success

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010

THE SECRET TO SUCCESS We see the secret to the success of the Man Jesus. He saturated himself with the divine and consequently he excelled. You don't degrees, qualification or a good family name to excel. You need only Christ. Christ is enough! Christ is sufficient! Your excellence is found in ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Let Me Show You A Man Called Peter. The Pebble ...

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 4, 2010

Let me show you a man called Peter. The pebble that became the ROCK. How he failed and then got back up. Failure is going to put you in good company friends. Winston Churchill – the wartime British Prime Minister - failed the 6th grade and was not elected into office till he was 62. Yet he went on ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Don't Crash Or Shut Down

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on May 6, 2010

DON'T CRASH OR SHUT DOWN Two things can happen to a car when it has been involved in a crash. It can either survive with the engine still purring and working or the car’s engine is completely shut down, stopped by fire and the dismembering of its parts. Now, I would like you to carefully consider ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Independent/Bible