In Sermon Illustrations: "Positive Thinking"

The Action Of Karma  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 18, 2002

THE ACTION OF KARMA The teaching of karma (literally translated the word means “action”) indicates that karma is something negative, the acting is wrong. Karma is something you must be released from. Karma is the reason for the poverty of the beggar; the illness of the sick, and the hopeless ...read more

In 1944, Leander Mccormick-Goodheart, A Recruiter ...  PRO

Contributed by Lee Proctor on Jun 19, 2002

In 1944, Leander McCormick-Goodheart, a recruiter for the Ford Motor Company, toured fifty universities across the United States to recruit the outstanding graduating student of each institution. At Leigh University, he met a young man named Lee Iacocca and offered him a position at Ford. This ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Todd Beamer And The Others On Flight 93 Had A ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 10, 2002

Todd Beamer and the others on Flight 93 had a choice to make. Sit by and watch it happen, or take action. You all know what choice they made. After Todd had recited the 23rd Psalm and asked if the other guys were ready, they headed into action with the words, “Let’s roll!”¨ Jesus had the same ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Methodist

Clark Pinnock (Flame Of Love, Chapter ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on May 30, 2003

Clark Pinnock (Flame of Love, chapter 5) “salvation is union, conversion is awakening to love… Love woos – it does not compel. Conversion is not coerced. God convicts and moves us towards intimacy. His Word is powerful, but there must be a response to it. God does not overpower but saves those ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

Money Often Comes Between Men And God. Someone ...

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

"Money often comes between men and God. Someone has said that you can take two small ten cent pieces, just two dimes, and shut out the view of a panoramic landscape. Go to the mountains and just hold two coins closely in front of your eyes--the mountains are still there, but you cannot see them at ...read more

Tags: Money, Offering, Coin, Mountain

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Nearly 50 Years Old Before I Learned The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I was nearly 50 years old before I learned the positive definition of mercy in Peter Wagner’s book on spiritual gifts. Let me illustrate it. Long ago a poor woman from the slums of London was invited to go with a group of people for a holiday at the ocean. She had never seen the ocean. When she ...read more

Tags: Cults

We Should Also Note That Single Mothers Are ...

Contributed by Dr. Franklin Kirksey on Jul 3, 2007

We should also note that single mothers are quite often in that position by no choice of their own, due to death, divorce or desertion. Some single mothers do a wonderful job of raising children to know and to serve the Lord. For example, “John M. Webb was born to Dr. Alfred Pellar Webb and Ida ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Man's Pursuit Of Joy, A Quote; "Men Have Pursued ...

Contributed by Ronald Thorington on Jan 1, 2008

Man’s pursuit of joy, a quote; “Men have pursued joy in every avenue imaginable. Some have successfully found it while others have not. Perhaps it would be easier to describe where joy cannot be found: Not in unbelief—Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote; “I wish I had ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Have A Lot Of Friends In Ministry, And One In ...

Contributed by Larry Vinson on Jun 17, 2008

I have a lot of friends in ministry, and one in particular had a chance to say what he had been waiting to say to his now former church when he resigned from his position. He had only been there six months, but it was long enough to realize that there were some problems within that particular ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Odd Disciplines & Behaviors

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 28, 2009

ODD DISCIPLINES & BEHAVIORS What idiosyncrasies might you need to sometimes sacrifice? What rules have you made up that you will not break for anything? In ministry, you often do what needs to be done--period! Alexandre Dumas, the elder, ate an apple at 7 a.m. each morning under the Arc de ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No Tolerance Of False Teaching "Viruses"  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 19, 2010

NO TOLERANCE OF FALSE TEACHING "VIRUSES" I remember hearing about computer viruses. Could a computer catch a germ? I then learned that computer viruses were often malicious programs, developed by evil-doers, to destroy computers. They are often downloaded stealthily, without you knowing it. ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Wasn’t Long After Arriving At This ...

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 20, 2010

It wasn’t long after arriving at this church that I discovered unbeknownst to the leadership that the church had been running a $12,000 a month deficit the two years after Katrina which was supplemented by donations received from across the country which were not dedicated to relief. Then we ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Methodist

Catching Up

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 24, 2010

CATCHING UP A woman who had recently moved into a small village in Wiltshire, was in the backyard hanging out the washing on the line when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. She could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home. As she walked into the house, the dog ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Brethren

Blessing People

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

BLESSING PEOPLE Reggie McNeal tells the story of one man who decided to bless the baristas at the Starbucks he frequents. When he asked them the question, “How can I ask God to bless you?” they were somewhat taken aback. Slowly but surely, they warmed up to him and the employees started to come ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Methodist

Six Kinds Of Toxic People

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

SIX KINDS OF TOXIC PEOPLE Life Coach Cheryl Robinson says there are six kinds of toxic people. There are the blamers who are always complaining about what is wrong in their life and blaming others. Then there are the drainers. They’re like vampires who will come and suck everything out of you ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Methodist

God's Sovereignty Is The Basis Of Our Prayers.

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

"In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hoped for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is ...read more

Tags: Sovereignty Of God, Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Remember, Friend, God Can

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

When you feel unlovable, unworthy, and unclean, when you think that no one can heal you, Remember, Friend, God Can. When you think that you are unforgivable for your guilt and your shame, Remember, Friend, God Can. When you think that all is hidden, and no one can see within, Remember, ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Someone Once Asked Dr. Albert Schweitzer, "What's ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Benjamin on Nov 15, 2001

Someone once asked Dr. Albert Schweitzer, “What’s wrong with men today?” After a brief pause he said, ”The trouble with men today is that they simply don’t think.” “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Henry Ford “Few people think more ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Leadership General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Talking About Heaven

Contributed by John Crowe on Jul 17, 2014

My 5-year-old great – grandson, Travis, and his mother had a conversation about heaven. “Mom, I don’t think I want to go to heaven.” “Sure you do.” “No. I don’t think so.” “But why not?” “I think I’ll be hungry.” “No, baby. Jesus will make sure to feed you.” “I know, but Jesus feeds everybody fish, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5

Tags: Children, Heavenly Things

Denomination: Baptist

A Revealing Exchange Was Recently Captured On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 9, 2001

A revealing exchange was recently captured on the Fox News Channel. Bill O’Reilly, host of the O"Reilly Factor, was interviewing Dan Rather, long time anchorman at CBS. O’Reilly: I want to ask you flat out… Do you think Bill Clinton’s an honest man? Rather: Yes, I think he’s an honest man. ...read more

Tags: Faith, Leadership General, Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ