In Sermon Illustrations: "Persecuted Church"

The Story Is Told Of A Minister Of A Church In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The story is told of a minister of a church in a small community, retiring after 40 years of service to the church and that community. 1) It was a big day, grand celebration, as an expression of gratitude for all he had done. A young man from the community who had made it big in the theater came ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

There Was A Little Church Located In A Small ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a little church located in a small town and there were few people attending. They didn’t want to close it down because there wouldn’t be any church for miles around. The church board decided to go to every house in the community and ask, “Would it matter to you if we closed the church ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Ten Rules For Improving The Church

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 3, 2022

TEN RULES FOR IMPROVING THE CHURCH 1. Tell yourself over and over that since you are not perfect you would not fit into a perfect congregation, if one existed. 2. Instead of picking out the worldly members to point to, pick out the sincere, dedicated, spiritual members and thank God for them. You ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Peter 4:8, Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Church, Encouragement, Judgementalism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Church Is A Battleship, Not A Cruise Ship!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Adrian Rogers said "We are in a spiritual war! And the Church is not a cruise ship with the Senior Pastor as the Master of Ceremonies! Indeed, the Church is not a showboat…...it is a battleship. We, in the Body of Christ, are called to see Satan's strongholds crumble under the ...read more

Tags: Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Revival, Victory, Demons, Strongholds  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When A Thief Was Surprised At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, something strange happened one Christmas that I will never stop laughing about. Because it was a Christmas holiday, we were at home with our family taking a break from our normal ministry schedule. We did not go to the church campus for the weekend. But, while we ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Pastors, Tithing, Robbing God, Stealing, Surprises, Church, Giving, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church That Voted God Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The story is told about a poor woman who lived across the tracks and wanted to join a very fashionable church. She talked to the pastor about it, but he sought to discourage her. He suggested she go home and think about it carefully for a week. At the end of the week she came back. He said, “Go ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Tags: Church, Revival, Favoritism, Pastors, Membership, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Church's Mission Drives Its ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

A CHURCH’S MISSION DRIVES ITS MORALE John Polak in his book, The Future in Past Tense, says: "A study of the history of the people of God reveals an interesting fact--the wellbeing of the believing community was directly proportional to their obedience to God’s mission for them. When the people of ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

32% Of Evangelical Protestant Churches Are In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

32% of evangelical Protestant churches are in a strong financial position vs. 13% ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

The Church Is The Ekklesia: The Group Of Elders ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on May 18, 2009

"The church is the ekklesia: the group of elders who sit at the city gates, discussing how they ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Church Of God

The Church Must Serve The Truth

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 8, 2009

THE CHURCH MUST SERVE THE TRUTH The Church does not have technical solutions to offer [10] and does not claim 'to interfere in any way in the politics of States.' [11] She does, however, have a mission of truth to accomplish, in every time and circumstance, for a society that is attuned to man, to ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Catholic

The Setting Is The Front Of A Small Church. The ...

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 3, 2009

The setting is the front of a small church. The pastor says from the pulpit, ‘I’ve misplaced my sermon notes, so I’m just going to read from this devotional—if I can find it here. While I look, maybe the choir can lead us in a hymn’. He glances at the choir which has one person. The choir ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Nicolaitan Compromise With Idolatry In Church Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Nicolaitan Compromise with Idolatry in Church of Pergamum Bruce Longenecker's book, "The Lost Letters of Pergamum" (pp. 165-166) illustrates their teaching in a story about a Nicolaitan (Kalandion) that attended the Pergamum church. Kalandion is visiting a Christian who has been imprisoned for ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Tags: Idolatry, Reputation

Church Cake Cover-Up  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 19, 2009

CHURCH CAKE COVER-UP It was time for the annual cake sale at a Presbyterian church not much different than our own. Ms. Billings always made the most beautiful cakes...she was expected to make another one this year. However, Ms. Billings was a very busy woman with the time she spent with her ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

Tags: Hypocrisy, Cake

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (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: Church, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Power, Pastors, Programs  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What The Church Needs Today

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

E.M. Bounds is right when he says, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use— men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Anointing, Pastors, Simon Peter, Acts 2, Ministry, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Church Is Called To Minister In The Marketplace.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 4, 2022

Return the Cross to Golgotha I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; But on a cross between two thieves: on a town garbage ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Gospel, Cross, Great Commission, Marketplace, Wintessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Church That Does Not Listen For God In The ...

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Jan 13, 2010

"A church that does not listen for God in the Bible and treat the Bible as the unique touchstone of truth about God and about us is losing its identity, it’s raison ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Anglican

Should Christians Attend Church?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

SHOULD CHRISTIANS ATTEND CHURCH? An old question: "Can I be a Christian without joining the church or attending worship?" Answer: "Yes, it is possible. But it is something like being: a. A student who will not go to school; b. A soldier who will not join the army; c. A citizen who does not pay ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Church Confronts The World With A Message ...

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Mar 18, 2010

"The Church confronts the world with a message the world craves for but resents, because it comes through ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Pentecostal