In Sermon Illustrations: "Positive" showing 481-500 of 1,024

Stalin: Like Steel Toward God

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 6, 2011

STALIN: LIKE STEEL TOWARD GOD According to Svetlana Stalin, as her father, Joseph Stalin lay dying, he was plagued with terrifying hallucinations. He suddenly sat halfway up in bed, clenched his fist toward the heavens once more, fell back upon his pillow, and was dead. The incredible irony of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Tags: God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Abraham Lincoln: Malice Toward None

Contributed by Michael Mcbrien on Jan 10, 2012

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: MALICE TOWARD NONE Abraham Lincoln, America's most beloved president, was anything but beloved while he was in office. The South hated him. The anti-war activists hated him. Democrats hated him, calling him a widow-maker. The media ridiculed his eyes, looks, and body, calling him ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer Before Battle  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2012

PRAYER BEFORE BATTLE During the 1800s, the French General George Muller Massena who took orders from Napoleon, arrived at a quaint and militarily important Austrian town. His 18,000 soldiers were gearing up for their invasion, as the stunned Austrian citizens were lifeless and terrified. Knowing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Tags: Prayer Supplication

Going Beyond Our Teachers  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 9, 2013

A well-known Bible teacher gives this insight: "Someone on our staff informed me several months ago that a woman had called the ministry office to find out what my 'official position' was on a biblically gray area. When she was told that it's not my policy to make 'official' public statements ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Tags: Legalism, Opinion, Spiritual Growth, Debatable

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reflecting The Light  PRO

Contributed by Everette Pafford on Feb 27, 2014

REFLECTING THE LIGHT A well-known Bible teacher has just finished speaking to a large class of business people on the Christians' responsibility to be light in the world. He had emphasized the as believers we all have the obligation to reflect the Light in the world, the Lord Jesus. After the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Evangelism, Living As Light

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Love Your Enemies

Contributed by David Simpson on Feb 19, 2018

After the horrific school shooting in Broward County, Florida on February 14, 2018, several prayer vigils were held in the community. The vigil on Thursday evening ended with a request for everyone to write one specific act of good that they would perform in the coming days and weeks as a way to ...read more

Tags: Persecution, Tragedy, Bitterness, Love Your Enemies

Denomination: Christian Church

Beatitudes For Marriage

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

We all know and love the Beatitudes for what they mean to our own personal lives, but recently I sensed the Lord leading me to write down how these guidelines for Kingdom citizens affected the lives of married couples. The results were received very powerfully by our amazing church family: Poor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Marriage, Prayer, Beatitudes, Couples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remembering Our Heavenly Connection

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

In one of the YouTube videos, Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his observation that humans, unlike most animals, sleep on their backs, naturally facing the sky. This position may have fostered a deep connection with the heavens. However, from a Christian perspective, this curiosity and upward gaze might ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:16-18

Tags: Celestial Connection, Spiritual, Genesis, Creation, Adam And Eve, Remembrance, Night Sky  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

One Word  PRO

Contributed by Michael Brown on Mar 11, 2008

One Word I sat down one day and began to think about what word I would choose if I could only choose one word to describe myself; one word which would describe me better than any other word. Many words immediately began to pour into my mind. I could think of so many aspects of my life that I ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 27:42-54, Matthew 27:4, Matthew 27:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The Greek Islands, You Can See The Home Of ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Oct 27, 2001

In the Greek Islands, you can see the home of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Near his house there is an olive tree, supposedly dating from his time. The trunk of this tree is very large but completely hollow; it is little more than thick bark. There are a few long, straggling branches, ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

Perhaps Daniel Defoe Gave Us Some Good Advice ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Perhaps Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through his fictitious character Robinson Crusoe. The first thing that Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was to make out a list. On one side of the list he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list he wrote down ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy

Good News/Bad News For Chaplains  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Apr 1, 2002

Good News/Bad News for Chaplains Good News: You baptized seven people today in the river. Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current. Good News: The Protestant Women of the Chapel voted to send you a get-well card. Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30. Good News: Your Chapel Council ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Joy In This World  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

JOY IN THIS WORLD 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 never been ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Joy To The World, Finding Fulfillment, Fulfillment

You Know, For Pastors, Ministry Is A Series Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Harvie Neatherlin on Aug 19, 2002

You know, for pastors, ministry is a series of good news and bad news. Listen to these scenarios: Good news: You baptized seven people today in the river. Bad news: You lost two of them in the swift current. Good news: The Women’s ministry voted to send you a get-well card. Bad news: The vote ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In An Eastern City A Prominent Man Became ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 16, 2003

In an Eastern city a prominent man became greatly concerned about his boy, and consequently went to the boy’s school principal and asked for suggestions. The principal gave this reply: “Resign from the presidency of the chamber of commerce. Leave that position to someone whose family has grown ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let The Lower Lights Be Burning  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 30, 2004

[Illustration] Jesus stressed the positive effect we can have on others when He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 RSV). But if sin dims our testimony so that our “light” is no longer visible, ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Salesman Walked Up To The Receptionist ...

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

A young salesman walked up to the receptionist and asked to see the company’s sales manager. Ushered into the office, he said, "I don’t suppose you want to buy any life insurance, do you?" "No," replied the sales manager curtly. "I didn’t think so," said the salesman dejectedly, getting up to ...read more

Tags: Workplace, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

J. One Rainy Afternoon I Was Driving Along One ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 24, 2004

J. One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I’m thinking of something." This announcement usually meant she ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

State Of The Church: "The Fact That There Has Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

State Of The Church: “The fact that there has not been any measurable increase in church involvement or personal spiritual depth in the past decade challenges the widespread notion that the U.S. is as spiritually healthy and focused as ever. This has been an intriguing year regarding the spiritual ...read more

Tags: Church General

In The Movie "Life Is Beautiful" - Nominated In ...

Contributed by John Tung on Apr 10, 2007

In the movie “Life Is Beautiful” - nominated in 1998 as Best Picture for the Oscars - the main character Guido is placed in a concentration camp by the Nazis. Guido and his son, who is with him, pretend for his son that this horrible place is a game, with rules, so that his son doesn’t get too ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational