In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal Transformation"

Still Going Strong

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 7, 2010

STILL GOING STRONG I was speaking to a man yesterday who is 95 years old. He still has all his mental faculties and is fascinating to speak with. Many old people can be rigid in their thinking but he has an ability to be flexible, and when you speak with him, you know that He has a deep ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Most Frequent Question Asked Of Ann Landers ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2010

Most Frequent Question Asked of Ann Landers Answered by Billy Graham When Ann Landers was alive she received 12 million letters a year. 12 million! She was asked what’s the most frequent question she is asked. She said, “What’s wrong with me?” It’s not uncommon to find Billy Graham’s article on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:9-18

Tags: Sin General

Loss Of Original Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

LOSS OF ORIGINAL PURPOSE In the town of Delburne, Alberta, there was an old water tower built in 1926. Standing empty, the building was bought by two men who wanted to turn it into a dining and cocktail lounge. Plans called for a bar to be built on the second floor. Something similar has already ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:1-2

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Internal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

Internal Audit My wife Tina is an internal auditor for T. Marzetti. When she walks into a plant to do an audit she can tell a lot about that plant by what she sees. If she finds that the financials, employment records, inventory, and quality control aspects of the plant are good it is an indication ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:33-37

Tags: Tongue, Guarding Your Heart

Evangelism: Making Disciples

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2011

EVANGELISM: MAKING DISCIPLES If you walk out into the parking lot this evening and someone says to you, "How do I get to Atlanta?" You say, "Well, get in your car." Well, that’s good advice. That’s the start of it. But you also need to say, "Start your car and head south and a little bit east ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Evangelism How To

Who Is John Three-Sixteen?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

WHO IS JOHN THREE-SIXTEEN? A few years ago the principal of the English Mission College at Cairo, Egypt, received a letter from a Japanese Buddhist of the city whose children were attending his school. "Who is John three sixteen? My children are always talking about him?" The principal sent a ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12-30

Tags: Jesus Christ

The "Wrapping" Of Pentecost

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 5, 2012

THE "WRAPPING" OF PENTECOST We must put this in proper perspective. Those who see Pentecost's main significance as miraculous powers are missing the new thing that was being done, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is like someone who receives a beautifully wrapped birthday gift. After ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Flexible ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

A FLEXIBLE SERVANT All of his life, David Livingstone wanted to be a missionary to China. Even in his old age he longed to have the opportunity to go and minister there. But God sent him instead to Africa, where he worked and died opening up that large continent to missions work, much as William ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

Tags: Servanthood

Lucille Ball On What's Wrong With Families

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

LUCILLE BALL ON WHAT’S WRONG WITH FAMILIES Lucille Ball, shortly before her death, did a remarkable TV interview with Merv Griffin. He asked her a very serious and pointed question: "Lucille, you’ve lived a long time on this earth and you are a wise person. What’s happened to our country? What’s ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:21

Tags: Father's Day

He Will Quiet You With His Love!

Contributed by Bala Samson on May 24, 2013

He will quiet you with His love! Zephaniah 3:17”………..He will quiet you with His love…” When I was admitted for an operation, the next room woman delivered a baby with a hole in her heart, the family did something which was horrendous and incredible, they decided to abandon her. The little infant ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Conquering Ourselves  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jul 15, 2013

Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have been able to conquer an empire, but I have ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:28

Tags: Self-Control, Self-Discipline

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Atheism To Ben Hur

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 19, 2016

FROM ATHEISM TO BEN HUR "After six years given to the impartial investigation of Christianity as to its truth or falsity, I have come to the deliberate conclusion that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the Jews, the Savior of the world and my own personal Redeemer." -- General Lew Wallace, one-time ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:1

Tags: Conversion, Testimony, Jesus Christ, Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Death Of Billy Graham

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

It is indisputable that Billy Graham was the biggest name in Christendom for the last half-century. A few numbers that speak to the span of his influence: - 2.2 billion – the number of people who heard him preach (in person and broadcasts). - 185 – the number of countries and territories where ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Impact, Billy Graham

Denomination: Baptist

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

10 Reasons To Study The Scriptures

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

TEN REASONS TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES 1. Will strengthen your personal life (1 John 2:14). 2. Will strengthen your assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13). 3. Will strengthen your confidence in your relationship with God (1 John 5:14). 4. Will undergird the effectiveness of your prayers (John 15:7). 5. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Scripture, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fooled By Our Emotions

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 17, 2023

One of the most difficult things, all Christians must surely admit, is to differentiate between a truly spiritual fervor and a carnal, animal zeal and enthusiasm. Natural animal spirits and temperament may very well make one fervent and zealous.... There is nothing of which a preacher needs to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Spirituality, Enthusiasm, Martin Lloyd Jones

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Afghan Spiritual Harvest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

AFGHAN SPIRITUAL HARVEST In his book What Good Is God?, Philip Yancey writes: "This is a true story from Afghanistan that took place in the early 1970s, before the Russian occupation or the Taliban regime. At the time, the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-11, Mark 19:1-20

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Kindness: The Closing Of A Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 25, 2011

KINDNESS: THE CLOSING OF A LIFE Because I drive the night shift, my cab often becomes a moving confessional. Passengers climb in, sit behind me in total anonymity, and tell me about their lives. I encounter people whose lives amaze me, some ennoble me, others make me laugh and sometimes make me ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-8

Tags: Kindness

He Was Described As A Man Who "Dangled The Power ...  PRO

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Nov 17, 2006

He was described as a man who “dangled the power of life and death over his fellow countrymen and murdered anyone who stood in his way...” By the end of the 1970s, Manuel Noriega had earned a reputation as the most feared man in Panama. In 1983 he promoted himself to general and gained control of ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Chains--His Slavery!" Matthew 20: 20-28 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 2, 2004

“Our Chains--His Slavery!” Matthew 20: 20-28 Key verse(s): 28: “. . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” “Just sign here on the dotted line here Mr. Brunner and we will be done.” As I lifted my hand, grip on pen, ready to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Lutheran