In Sermon Illustrations: "Positive Thinking"

Addicted To Unkind ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Addicted to Unkind Words Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal, lectures throughout our country on the powerful and often negative impact of words. He often asks those in his audience if they can go 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to another person. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words

In The Spring Of 1851, He Accepted A Newly ...

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 8, 2009

In the spring of 1851, he accepted a newly created teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in Lexington, Virginia. He became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery. Despite the high quality of his work, he was not popular as a teacher. His ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Changing Our Lives Due To The Harshness Of This ...

Contributed by Michael Hahn on Apr 14, 2012

Changing our lives due to the harshness of this world - Coming or going: leaving or staying? Which one will we be happy doing? The psalmist wrote: "Happy is the man who does not go in the company of sinners, or take his place in the way of evil-doers, or in the seat of those who do not give honour ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-4

Tags: Self

Denomination: Independent/Bible

So What Was It That Drove Thomas To Leave All He ...

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jan 30, 2004

So what was it that drove Thomas to leave all He knew and travel a vast distance and die for the cause? .He is often labeled doubting Thomas, but the evidence in India would suggest He doesn’t deserve this label. I had the privilege to go up to the point where he was murdered for the cause of ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-28

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Pentecostal

Word Of Mouth Is The Biggest Purchase Influence, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Word Of Mouth is the biggest purchase influence, from initial awareness right through to actual purchase, according to new DoubleClick report. Companies that track and encourage positive customer recommendations can count on a 20%-30% revenue bounce over companies that ignore customer ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Npo Mergers About 120 New Nonprofits Are Started ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 19, 2007

NPO Mergers About 120 new nonprofits are started every day and many find funding scarce. As a result there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Non Profit Oorganizations mergers, reports Bob Harrington, Sr. Manager at La Piana Assoc., non-profit merger consulting firm. Merger minded ...read more

A Rubber Band  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 29, 2007

A Rubber Band. A rubber band, if stretched, will return to its normal, relaxed position when the external force is removed. The body’s stress response is also stretched whenever it is subjected to any emergency or demand. The rubber band ought to return to a normal, relaxed state when the demand ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

Active Father Figures Play A Key Role In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

ACTIVE FATHER FIGURES play a key role in reducing behavior problems in boys and psychological problems in young women, according to the peer-reviewed journal Acta Paediatrica. Swedish researchers found regular positive contact reduces criminal behavior among children in low-income families and ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Irritated By The 1971 Canadian Census Form ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 19, 2008

Irritated by the 1971 Canadian census form defining the husband as the Head of the household, I wrote in the space marked Householder comments: “In this family my husband and I definitely share the household equally, and I wish to register my complaint at your archaic wording.” Several days later, ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Just Words

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 21, 2010

JUST WORDS Samuel Clemens (better known by his alias Mark Twain) attended a Sunday morning service. He met the pastor at the door afterward and told him that he had a book at home with every word he had preached that morning. The minister assured him that the sermon was an original. Clemens still ...read more

Tags: Words

Denomination: Brethren

Grant's Focus

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Apr 8, 2011

GRANT'S FOCUS One of the great personalities to come out of the American Civil War was Ulysses S. Grant. One of his strong qualities was his ability to focus. One story is told about him doing some paper work in his tent, and a document he needed was on the other side of tent. So he waddled across ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

Peale And Paul

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 3, 2011

PEALE AND PAUL Many of you are familiar with Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Living. It’s a good book. It won’t get you to heaven, but it will really help you approach life with the right kind of outlook. Dr. Vance Havner was asked one time to compare the writings of Norman ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Michael Plant Was One Of The World's Best ...

Contributed by Michael Leon on Aug 11, 2006

Michael Plant was one of the world’s best yachtsmen. Numerous times he navigated the oceans, gaining skill and notoriety. Then early in the fall of 1992, he decided to go all the way and set out from the East Coast on a solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to France. He purchased a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-3

Tags: Character

Denomination: Pentecostal

Leo Thorsness Was From Walnut Grove, Minnesota ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Dec 28, 2006

Leo Thorsness was from Walnut Grove, Minnesota and fought in the war in Vietnam. He was a Major, U.S. Air Force, in the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron. His bravery occurred over North Vietnam on April 19, 1967. He received his Medal of Honor from President Richard Nixon, on October 15, ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Staying The Course

Contributed by Ken Pell on Feb 12, 2012

STAYING THE COURSE The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Nazarene

Christian Author Max Lucado Tells A Parable That ...

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

Christian author Max Lucado tells a parable that was related to him by a rabbi whom he met on an airline flight. In the parable, a CEO has an office on the top floor of a Manhattan skyscraper. Most people have not seen him, but they have met his daughter, who works in the building for her father. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing Kids For Life: A New Barna Study Finds ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Preparing Kids For Life: A new Barna study finds 50% or more of all adults contend that children are “not being prepared well enough” or are “poorly prepared” for the emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual or moral dimensions of life. Intellectual preparation ranked highest with a mere 18% of ...read more

Tags: Equip, Children

Why Did He Do That?

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

WHY DID HE DO THAT? In his book "Evidence that demands a Verdict," Josh McDowell describes what Jesus went through on our behalf. It started with "a sleepless night with no food. Then Jesus endured the mockery of two trials; He was slapped, mocked, spat upon, and ridiculed with a robe, a ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Baptist

Chief Justice Of Supreme Court Humble Enough To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2009

Chief Justice of Supreme Court Humble Enough to Stand Next to a Chinese Laundryman As Christians, we are to trust God the Holy Spirit by being completely humble. Let me share a story which gives us a picture of humility; maybe you will see yourself in this story: When Charles Evans Hughes was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6

Tags: Humility

A Change Of Words, A Change Of Focus  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

A CHANGE OF WORDS, A CHANGE OF FOCUS Here is a story that I believe show how our journey is made better simply by a change in words. A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign, which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude