In Sermon Illustrations: "Philippians"

When A Dream Dies

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jan 18, 2009

When a Dream Dies When a dreams dies, the world is not the same You realize in an instant everything has changed Tomorrow will be different The plans will all be new For the dream that you were chasing No longer lives inside of you. To know the race is over and you’ve been left behind Is like a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Being A Parent And A Father Can Be An ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Being a parent and a father can be an interesting and trying experience. Someone said, “Fathers spend the first part of a child’s life urging him to talk and walk, and the rest of his childhood telling him to sit down and keep quiet.” A son who was in college wrote home to his dad. He said, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:2-21

Tags: Children, Father's Day, Challenge, Parenting

3 Feet From My Miracle?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 18, 2021

Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich talked about a gold miner that was three feet from finding gold. The story says a young man dug and dug and never found gold. The Colorado gold mine was a big frustration so after many months he quit. The first minner that quit was only three feet from striking ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Almost, Quitters

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Wanted

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jun 22, 2021

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, The warm days, and the great outdoors. It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air. It was fall, but it was winter I wanted, The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season. It was winter, but it was spring I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Faith, Contentment, Discontentment, Coveteousness

Denomination: Adventist

Humility

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 27, 2021

The Western meaning of humility derives from the usage of the Hebrew speaking Jews, Latin speaking Romans and the Greeks, in particular Greek speaking Christians of the first century. In all three languages the word used to describe humility means "low", as in low to the ground: the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Service, Humility, Power

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Power Of Presence

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 7, 2021

The Neil Diamond song, Sweet Caroline” is played at every Red Sox home game in Boston's Fenway Park before the bottom of the 8th inning. The tradition is said to date back to 1997 when the stadium DJ played it in honour of a newborn baby girl born of one of the staff members. The baby was of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Worship, Incarnation, Singing, Visiting

Denomination: Pentecostal

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Funny Story About Complaining

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

A FUNNY STORY ABOUT COMPLAINING As per his oath of silence, a monk is only allowed to say two words every year. After his first year, he comes before the head abbot to speak his two words: “Better food.” The head abbot understands and obliges the monk, hiring a new chef and improving the food ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Complaining, Murmuring, Griping, Than Ksgiving

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There's Something About That Name!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken hearted, and raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child... At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness has ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Worship, Name Of Jesus, Praise, Prayer, Healing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things You Will Never Hear In Most Churches!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

THINGS YOU WILL NEVER HEAR IN MOST CHURCHES! "Hey! It’s my turn to sit on the front pew!" "I was so excited, I never even noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes!" "Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf." "I volunteer to be the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Murmuring, Pastors, Laziness, Church Members, Church, Complaining, Division, Gossip  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Coming Quietly

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jan 1, 2023

The Lord of all comes as a slave amidst poverty. Choosing for his birthplace an unknown village in a remote province, he is born of a poor maiden and accepts all that poverty implies. He chose surroundings that were poor and simple, so ordinary as to be almost unnoticed, so that people would know ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Humility, Incarnation, Christmas, Poverty

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hank Aaron And Yogi Berra

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at the time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Distractions, Goals

Selfishness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

A while back I was in store getting some groceries as I observed a mother battling with her child. He was screaming at the top of his lungs and lying on the floor kicking and lashing out at his mother. The mother was really embarrassed by the child’s behavior, and she seemed overwhelmed and shocked ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4

Tags: Selfish, Me Focused

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Knowledge Of Jesus

Contributed by Samuel M on May 16, 2024

The knowledge of you (Jesus) changes my understanding of who I am. The words I speak, the way I think, the life I live will radically change when I see you and get to know you Jesus. ‘I’ in me will alter (change or destroy) to become more like you (Jesus). Knowing and seeing you Jesus helps me to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8

Tags: Faith, Knowledge Of God

Extraordinary Impact Through Simple Acts Of Kindness

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

Joanne Turner's Acts of Kindness in Kelowna, B.C. In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, Joanne Turner, a 56-year-old customer service representative at the Real Canadian Superstore in Kelowna, British Columbia, encountered a situation that called for compassion beyond her job ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7

Tags: Humility, Kindness, Impact, Serving

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Arturo Toscanini Demanded Excellence From The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2010

Arturo Toscanini Demanded Excellence From the Symphony Orchestra One of history’s greatest musical conductors was Arturo Toscanini. Born in Parma, Italy, in 1867, Toscanini died in his sleep in New York City in 1957. For years he conducted the National Broadcasting Company’s Symphony Orchestra in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Music

Great Verses For Following Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2020

FOLLOWING JESUS. Beside each passage of Scripture, write down what you think that verse is saying about following Jesus in the coming year. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Philippians ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Discipleship, New Year, Following Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Freedom Isn't ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Freedom Isn’t Free “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5: 1 No, freedom isn’t free. It comes at great cost for those “buying it.” The United States found out just how high the price could be in the final days of World War II when trying to capture a Pacific Island from ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Tags: Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can't Put God In A Box

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

You Can't Put God in a Box Have you heard that before? In a sense, it is certainly true. The eternal Creator God is outside all our finite minds can comprehend. He is not bound by the natural laws that He put into place for His creation. Though WE cannot confine Him or "put God in a box," HE ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 25:22

Tags: God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Blessed Are The Peacemakers "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9) There is a commission from God that is available to every obedient Christian today and that is to be a peacemaker. Argument and discord is a great waste of energies better spent on ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational