In Sermon Illustrations: "Patriarchs Joseph"

What A Friend We Have In Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Jun 24, 2008

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS Only the Lord and the man in question really know what burdens of sorrow and affliction were heaped upon the writer of this great hymn. One thing we do know, however, is that this beautiful and blessed hymn would never have been penned if the author had not known ...read more

Scripture: John 15:15

Tags: Music

Kidnapped By Hatred  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jul 21, 2002

KIDNAPPED BY HATRED On February 9, 1960, Adolph Coors III, millionaire head of Coors Company, was kidnapped and held for ransom. Seven months later his body was found on a remote hillside. He had been shot to death. Adolph Coors IV was then fifteen years old. He lost not only his father, but also ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15, John 10:1-42, John 5:1-9, Luke 8:43-48, Luke 8:43-48, Luke 8:43-48  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: *other

Despised Because Of His Behavior

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

DESPISED BECAUSE OF HIS BEHAVIOR (Vv. 8-11) Joseph was despised not for doing evil but for doing good. Joseph typifies the Lord in many ways. Sidlow Baxter observes that he was the beloved son, that he was the rejected servant, and also the exalted Savior. The way that he was despised for doing ...read more

Tags: Jealousy

Joseph’s Deliverance Showed God’s Protection. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Joseph’s deliverance showed God’s Protection. (V. 28a) God spared Joseph’s life, and through these adverse circumstances, that are recorded in our text, God is overseeing his safety. This is the sovereign purpose of God at work. The Midianites and the Ishmeelites only saw Joseph as a ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

It’s Not Easy To Step Up Against The ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Field on Aug 7, 2001

It’s not easy to step up against the authorities. Let me illustrate: During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. Once, as he reproached Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Bigger, The Better

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 25, 2007

The Bigger the Better Joseph Stowell recounted a story: I was in West Africa—Timbuktu to be exact—and the missionaries were telling me that in that culture the larger the women were the more beautiful they were thought to be. In fact, a young missionary who had a small, trim wife said that the ...read more

Denomination: Other

Simon Was A Loyal Disciple; He Followed His Rabbi ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on Jan 4, 2008

Simon was a loyal disciple; he followed his rabbi closely, observing and learning. One day, Simon realized that his rabbi was actually the Messiah. He didn’t figure that out by himself. Jesus said: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

What Will You Do With Jesus This Christmas?

Contributed by David Tack on Dec 2, 2011

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS THIS CHRISTMAS? Many years ago in the countryside of Bethlehem the townsfolk prepared for just another day, though this day was quite extraordinary. The shepherds were out tending to their sheep and the Jewish nation was feeling the restraints of Roman oppression. ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

World Hunger Compared To American Diet

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

WORLD HUNGER COMPARED TO AMERICAN DIET Most of us have no idea what it is like to be really hungry. We might use the expression "I’m starving!" But the truth is far from that. • People who starve to death each year in the world: 11 million • Overweight U.S. adults: 34 million • Average calories ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:49-50

Tags: Food

Silent Night Carol

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 6, 2001

Silent Night Carol On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Joseph Franz Mohr (1792-1848) walked the three kilometres from his home - in the Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg - to visit his friend Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Mohr brought ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Heaven

Denomination: Anglican

I Like The Story About A Professor Who Sat At His ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 12, 2003

I like the story about a professor who sat at his desk one evening working on the next day’s lectures. His housekeeper had laid that days mail and papers at his desk and he began to shuffle through them discarding most to the wastebasket. He then noticed a magazine, which was not even addressed to ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Evangelism Fear Of, Knowing God's Will

Suffering For The Right Reasons

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 25, 2009

SUFFERING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS Richard Wurmbrand is the founder of a ministry called "Voice of the Martyrs." Some of you receive their publication. Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Pastor who was imprisoned by the Russians and tortured for his faith in Christ. In May of 1966 Pastor Wurmbrand ...read more

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Baptist

A Small Boy Was Writing A Letter To God About ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 18, 2000

A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. "I’ve been good for six months now," he wrote. But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three". After a pause that was crossed out and he put "two weeks". There was another pause ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent, Christmas, Mary Jesus Mother

Denomination: Baptist

James The Less

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

James the Less Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a former wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful, and accords too much with the Catholic superstition, that Mary never had any other children except our Savior. He was elected to the oversight of the churches of Jerusalem; ...read more

Tags: People In The Gospel, Apostles General

I Think Of David Livingstone, The Pioneer ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

I think of David Livingstone, the pioneer missionary to Africa, who walked over 29,000 miles. His wife died early in their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from his Scottish brethern. He ministered half blind. His kind of perseverance spurs me on. As I run, I remember the words in his diary: ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Girl Of Ten Years Went With A Group Of Family ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Dec 27, 2002

A girl of ten years went with a group of family and friends to see the Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out to look more closely at a beautifully done nativity scene. “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the little girl’s ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

I Think Of David Livingstone, The Pioneer ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 21, 2005

I think of David Livingstone, the pioneer missionary to Africa, who walked over 29,000 miles. His wife died early in their ministry and he faced stiff opposition from his Scottish brethren. He ministered half blind. His kind of perseverance spurs me on. As I run, I remember the words in his diary: ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Praise Him

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Praise Him for the incarnation, for the word made flesh. I will not sing of shepherds watching flocks on frosty nights, or angel choristers. I will not sing of a stable bare in Bethlehem, or lowing oxen, wise men trailing star with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Tonight I will sing praise ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

The Next Time You Feel God Can't Use You....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 4, 2014

Noah was a drunk. Abraham was too old. Isaac was a daydreamer. Jacob was a liar. Joseph was abused. Moses had a stuttering problem. Gideon was afraid. Sampson was a womanizer. Rahab was a prostitute. Jeremiah and Timothy were too young. David had an affair and was a murderer. Elijah was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-11

Tags: Moses, Weakness, Failure, Excuses

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inherited Sin

Contributed by James Dina on Sep 7, 2020

INHERITED SIN The punishment of sin does not always rest in him that committed the sin. The bitter fruits of sin are often transmitted, and handed over to those who had no present hand in them when they were committed. The whole family may ...read more

Scripture: Job 17:5

Tags: Flattery, Inherited Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal