In Sermon Illustrations: "Personal"

Forgiveness Quotations

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

FORGIVENESS QUOTATIONS The late great English religious writer and philanthropist, Hannah More (1745 - 1833) once said: "Forgiveness is the economy of the heart...forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits." The late great American Protestant theologian, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Six-Word Memoirs  PRO

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jan 19, 2009

Six-Word Memoirs One of the surprising best-selling books of 2008 is "Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure." Notice that the main title is only six words: "Not Quite What I Was Planning." People were asked to succinctly sum up their life in six ...read more

Tags: Time

Denomination: Baptist

Let The Dead Bury Their Dead

Contributed by John Tung on Feb 12, 2009

LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD To one person who wanted to bury his father before following Jesus, Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (Lk. 9:60) Doesn’t that sound harsh? Someone’s father just died, and the man can’t even go back to bury his ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

People Will Ask You

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

PEOPLE WILL ASK YOU If you commit yourself to taking advantage of opportunities that come your way, you will find that sharing your faith is going to happen naturally. For one thing, People WILL ask you about your connection to God. We had two examples of this just in the last few weeks from ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Restitution And Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Restitution and Forgiveness Keith Drury is a writer from the Wesleyan Church and in one of his books he touches on this whole subject of restoring relationships when talking about restitution. This is what he says. "Restitution deals with more than property. It is also going back and making ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Forgiveness General

Love Me First, Then Witness To Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

LOVE ME FIRST, THEN WITNESS TO ME In our lesson we have seen that faith without works is useless. It cannot be demonstrated, it cannot change a person, it is not perfected, and it is dead! Our faith does not help us, or others, until it causes us to act. Once a chaplain walked up to a wounded ...read more

Scripture: James 2:21-24

Tags: Christian Witness

The Other Day I Met A Man With Inoperable Brain ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 22, 2010

The other day I met a man with INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMORS. John (not his real name) made a commitment to Christ many years ago and has an ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. We had a great conversation together. He is an amazing person. And I prayed for him. When I read Matthew 10, I wonder about John. ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You’ve Heard The Expression "Rally ...

Contributed by Mark Pierce on May 25, 2010

You’ve heard the expression “Rally Around the Flag.” It is where our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” comes from. Francis Scott Key, as a prisoner aboard a British ship, saw the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry in the early morning hours of September 14, 1814. Today we ...read more

Tags: Independence Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Small Step

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jun 26, 2010

ONE SMALL STEP As a boy he was active in the Boy Scouts, and had earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He was only the second person in his family to attend college. In 1950, a week after his 20th birthday, he became a Naval Aviator and then later an ASTRONAUT. Watching television as the dramatic ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Frank Graeff Was A Methodist Pastor, Serving Some ...

Contributed by David Moore on Jul 22, 2010

Frank Graeff was a Methodist pastor, serving some of the leading churches in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And throughout the area, he was known as the “Sunshine Minister,” because of his optimistic attitude. he was an encouragement to everyone who knew him. However, what those people ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Comfort

Denomination: Baptist

Fake Gems

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

FAKE GEMS Anything that is extremely valuable will be counterfeited. Fake gems have been around for thousands of years, but as the technology for making them has advanced, fakes are now harder to detect with the naked eye. Gem buyers today must be aware of three types of gems that are made to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

Tags: False Teaching

The Culture Of Complaint  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2010

THE CULTURE OF COMPLAINT In 1991, Robert Hughes, an art critic, wrote a book called The Culture of Complaint. His thesis is that we live in a culture in which we perceive ourselves as being entitled to having all our wants and desires fulfilled. When that doesn't happen, we become "victims," we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-21

Tags: God Brings Purpose

The Compass That Wouldn't Cooperate  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2011

THE COMPASS THAT WOULDN'T COOPERATE An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused and was unable to find ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:10

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Repentance And Baptism  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 11, 2011

REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM Steve Atkerson states: "John the Baptist explicitly stated the purpose of his baptism when he said, 'I baptize you with water for repentance' (Mt 3:11). Did John baptize them so that they could repent or because they already had repented? That is, was John's baptism a means ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Deliver Us From Evil

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

DELIVER US FROM EVIL Dr. Thomas Dooley gave a chilling example related to this prayer. It came from his experience in Southeast Asia between 1954 and 1960. Dr. Dooley authored three books about conditions there, the most well-known being 'Deliver Us from Evil', published in 1956. The subject was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Tags: Lord's Prayer

Deficiencies

Contributed by Mark Adams on Aug 13, 2011

DEFICIENCIES I want to tell you about a weird thing that used to happen a lot to sailors during the 1600s. Vessels were getting more sea worthy, and adventures were taking people farther and farther from home. You might be on the same ship with the same people, with the same person cooking for ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Risk-Taker For God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 31, 2011

A RISK-TAKER FOR GOD What does it mean to be a risk taker for God, for His Kingdom? 1. It means opening yourself up to change. 2. It is the acceptance of the fact that there is a need for change. 3. It is literally taking the behavioral steps necessary that will result in that change. 4. It is ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Perseverance: Scott, Handel And Spurgeon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

PERSEVERANCE: SCOTT, HANDEL AND SPURGEON In 1826 the London firm of Hurst and Robinson went bankrupt, involving Sir WALTER SCOTT in a personal liability of 118,000 pounds. With noble determination Scott responded: "My right hand and I against the debt." From that time on he wrote novel after novel ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Tags: Endurance

Nuk Nuk Nuk

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 27, 2011

NUK NUK NUK As you know our 12-year-old son Chase is autistic. I have introduced both our boys to a very intellectual series of programs called The Three Stooges. The problem with Chase being autistic is he can do a "Nuk Nuk" almost anywhere at anytime. So the slapstick has started at our house. I ...read more

Tags: Joy

Giving Brings Hope And Purpose

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 29, 2011

GIVING BRINGS HOPE AND PURPOSE I have a friend that called me last night. I have known him for many years and he has been struggling with uncertainty like most folks in his business. He was also questioning, "Is this what the Lord wants me to do?" Well, he just came back from a trip where he was ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose