In Sermon Illustrations: "Paul And Silas"

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

The Body: The Image Of God

Contributed by Bret Toman on Oct 31, 2012

THE BODY: THE IMAGE OF GOD Paul Brand writing about what it means to be in the image of God in his book In His Image: "We will not explore the psychological and mental attributes in each one of us that might reflect the image of God. Instead, we will center on a community, that group of God’s ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

Your Legacy

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 2, 2014

What is the soil of your heart like? Is it growing and producing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven – are you using your life for eternity? 1. Quote: “I will not waste my life! I will finish my course and finish it well. I will display the Gospel of the grace of God in all I do. I will run my race to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Afterlife, Godly Legacy, Blessed Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Evangelism Tactics

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Apr 9, 2021

Many Christians have a wrong interpretation of 1 Corinthians 9:22. Paul would not have gotten a tattoo, a Mohawk, piercings etc. to witness to a group like that because it would have hindered him in witnessing to other groups. He spoke to them from their frame of reference, like all great teachers, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22, 2 Corinthians 6:17

Tags: Evangelism, Separation, Piercings, Tattoos

Denomination: Baptist

Getting "me" Out Of The Way

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

If we were all honest, we would probably have to admit that we are all guilty of reading a text while we're driving. We see it all the time. People are swerving from their lane into our lane and almost hitting other cars. It can be a serious situation. The way we live can also impact those ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Tags: Selfishness, Selflessness

Denomination: Baptist

Order From Chaos

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 17, 2023

The late Harvard mathematician and philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, maintained that the whole scientific enterprise of the western world rested upon the belief that at the bottom of things science would find order rather than chaos. Where animists were afraid to probe a world enchanted with ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:17, John 1:1

Tags: Alfred North Whitehead, Science, Logos, Reason

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

New Year's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

New Year’s Resolutions The Christmas celebrations are over. Now comes that time of the year when many people make New Year’s resolutions. With fixed determination they try to achieve what they have announced at some party. However, they seldom keep those New Year’s resolutions. Why not? There ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: New Year's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cross Bearing  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Cross Bearing "The Christian's Passion" There is a powerful question that is too often avoided by preachers and church attendees alike, "Who took the rough edges off the Cross?" Modern day Christianity and the world have generally turned the cross into a nice piece of harmless jewelry, all shiny ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

16 Year Old] Nathan Johnson Dreamed Of Starting ...  PRO

Contributed by John Shearhart on Sep 10, 2006

“[16 year old] Nathan Johnson dreamed of starting a revolution for Christ. [He wrote in his diary, “God’s] will for me is to radically impact my school for Him." But before he could see the revolution become a reality, Johnson’s life was cut short by an automobile accident [after] striking a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-13, Colossians 3:1-7

Tags: All Things

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me To ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 26, 2005

A Prayer Nag! (09.28.05--Teach Me to Pray!--Colossians 1:9) Does god ever weary of hearing our prayers? I mean, it’s the same old, same old–day in and day out. Does He really need to hear the same things over and over again? Being a “broken record,” the one that just can’t get over the rut in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Lutheran

One Soul Could Mean Many  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Yandris on Mar 2, 2003

(One soul could mean many) Andrew brought Simon- just one. But that was many, for under God, Simon brought three thousand souls in one day! It has been estimated that probably 95% of church members have never lead anyone to Christ. I like what Paul say’s in 1 Cor 9:19 " I made myself a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27

Tags: Evangelism How To, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Pentecostal

How God Used A Phrase From A Gospel Tract To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 18, 2009

How God Used a Phrase from a Gospel Tract to Bring an Indian to Faith in Christ, the Bread of Life; Paul Harvey on the Meaning of God’s Providence So providence assumes that God is the supreme Creator of all things. And as Creator he prevents the universe from going into non-existence, he guides ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-59

Tags: Bible, Bible Influence

The Absence Of A Loving Father  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

THE ABSENCE OF A LOVING FATHER Dr. Paul Vitz, Professor of Psychology at New York University, studied the lives of more than a dozen of the world's most influential atheists over the last four centuries. As a result, Vitz discovered they all had one thing in common: defective relationships with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day

Gladys Aylward, Missionary To China More Than 50 ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 9, 2001

Gladys Aylward, missionary to China more than 50 years ago, was forced to flee when the Japanese invaded Yangcheng. But she couldn’t leave her work behind. With only one assistant, she led a hundred-plus orphans over the mountains toward Free China. During Glaydy’s harrowing journey out of ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Ot Characters, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Dilapidated House  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

MY DILAPIDATED HOUSE On his eightieth birthday, John Quincy Adams was walking slowly along a Boston street. A friend asked him "How is John Quincy Adams today?" The former president replied graciously, "Thank you, John Quincy Adams is well, sir, quite well, I thank you. But the house in which ...read more

Tags: Death, Funerals Christian

Many Years Ago A Man Conned His Way Into The ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 20, 2002

“Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the emperor of China although he could not play a note. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play but not making a sound. He received a modest salary and enjoyed a comfortable ...read more

Tags: Faith, Truth

Denomination: United Methodist

Faithful To Return—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

FAITHFUL TO RETURN--Communion Meditation W. Paul Jones tells the story of women who shared this story from her childhood as a polio victim: “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I like the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

In A Recent Ncaa Cross-Country Championship Held ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Fordham on Oct 29, 2002

In a recent NCAA cross-country championship held in Riverside, California, 123 of the 128 runners missed a turn. One competitor, Mike Delcavo, stayed on the 10,000 meter course and began waving for fellow runners to follow him. Delcavo was able to convince only four other runners to go with him. ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Giving Yourself, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

Pastor Mark Thompson Of Faribault, Minnesota, ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Apr 13, 2003

Pastor Mark Thompson of Faribault, Minnesota, suffered terrible knife wounds from an assailant in his home, in October 1988. One of the many consequences of his difficult recovery was being forced to miss watching his son Chris run in the state cross-country championship meet. Pastor Thompson ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Pentecostal