In Sermon Illustrations: "Power But Fear"

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Saving Private Ryan Tells Us About Our Need For Grace

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 24, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Death, Grace, Fear, Salvation, Legalism, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bruce Wilkinson Has Written An Excellent Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Miano on Mar 10, 2001

Bruce Wilkinson has written an excellent little book called The Prayer of Jabez. In the book, Wilkinson explains the reluctance believers have toward having a greater influence for Christ in their world. He explains this reluctance by using two mathematic equations. The first equation ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Prayer How To, God's Omnipotence, Tongue

Denomination: *other

I Have Mentioned Before That Leaders Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

I have mentioned before that leaders of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association estimate that roughly 10% of people who come forward at the end of a Crusade meeting really become Christians that night. Many already were Christians and lots of others go through the external motions but never ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Apologetics General, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

Normally The Flight From Nassau To Miami Took ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 3, 2001

Normally the flight from Nassau to Miami took Walter Wyatt, Jr., only sixty-five minutes. But on December 5, 1986, he attempted it after thieves had looted the navigational equipment in his Beechcraft. With only a compass and a hand-held radio, Walter flew into skies blackened by storm clouds. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Evangelism How To, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

Courage Is Doing What You Are Afraid To Do. There ...  PRO

Contributed by David Dewitt on May 29, 2001

Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are ...read more

Tags: Cost, Count The Cost, Endurance, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Church Of God

It Is Our Privilege To Have World Evangelism As ...  PRO

Contributed by R. Darrel Davis on Jun 2, 2001

"It is our privilege to have world evangelism as a passion, not our responsibility to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Church Purpose Of, Great Commission

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago The Birmingham, Alabama, Paper ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 21, 2001

A few years ago the Birmingham, Alabama, paper had a headline on the sports page: "The Most Exciting Moment Of My Life." It showed a picture of Jack Nicklaus writing out a $5,000 check for charity. As a matter of fact, it was second $5,000 check that day. It happened because of a game of golf he ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Endurance, Finding Fulfillment, Fear

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Missionary Bible Translators Were Working ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 10, 2001

SOME MISSIONARY BIBLE TRANSLATORS were working very hard to find a word for peace in a primitive tribal language. At last, a native who was working with them found a combination of words that had the concept—“a heart that sits down.” So ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Peace, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Wesleyan

It Seems There Was A Barber In A Small Local Town ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Jul 11, 2001

It seems there was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, “All Haircuts for $3.00” Slowly, the barber’s ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Gifts Encouragement, Gifts Discernment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From A Leadership Seminar Given By Dale ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Aug 9, 2001

From a leadership seminar given by Dale Galloway: A bunch of fleas were hanging out on a blanket, just jumping up & down having a blast. And then someone came up and put a jar over them… Not knowing what happened they still keep jumping BUT after hitting their heads a few times – they got the ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At Times We Probably Feel It Would Be So Much ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 14, 2001

At times we probably feel it would be so much easier if we could be like Lucy in the old Peanuts cartoon: Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I would have made a great evangelist." Charlie Brown answers, "Is that so?" She says, "Yes, I convinced that boy in front of me in school that my religion is better ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Sharing My Testimony, Unity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Years Ago, I Heard A Story About A Preacher Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 29, 2001

Years ago, I heard a story about a preacher who went to a small town to preach a series of gospel sermons. His attempt was to evangelize that little town. He preached for two weeks. During the whole time, only one little girl responded to the invitation at the end of one of his sermons. She ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:13

Tags: God's Omniscience, Faith General, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Night, A Thief Stole A Car Not Realizing The ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Nov 28, 2001

One night, a thief stole a car not realizing the awesome danger he was facing. On the passenger’s seat, the owner had placed a box of crackers laced with rat poison. When the Police were alerted about the stolen VW they tripled their search for the vehicle and the thief. If they did not get to the ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Evangelism Fear Of, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Savage Ways  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Dec 5, 2001

There is the story about a man who visited the Fiji islands. This visitor was skeptical of missionaries. He even spoke with the chief and told him that the missionaries only wanted to get rich from them. The visitor said that nobody believed what the Bible had to say nowadays. He even went as ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: United Methodist

Etiquette Nowadays Often Demands Of A Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 4, 2002

“Etiquette nowadays often demands of a Christian that he should not ’intrude’ his religion on company. Out with such etiquette! It is the etiquette of hell! True courtesy to my fellow’s soul makes me speak to him, if I believe that his soul is in danger. How many, my dear friend, were you ever the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Great Commission, Church Purpose Of, Evangelism Fear Of

Definition Of Mission  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 9, 2002

DEFINITION OF MISSION I think mission was put very nicely by the ’Sunday Times’ journalist Matthew Parris – a man, who is by his own confession, not a Christian. ’The New Testament offers a picture of God, who does not sound at all vague. He has sent His Son to earth. He has distinct plans for ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Anglican

President And Mrs. Benjamin Harrison Were So ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Feb 18, 2002

- President and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were so intimidated by the newfangled electricity installed in the White House they didn’t dare touch the switches. If there were no servants around to turn off the lights when the Harrisons went to bed, ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faithful To Return—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

FAITHFUL TO RETURN--Communion Meditation W. Paul Jones tells the story of women who shared this story from her childhood as a polio victim: “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I like the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

A Man Flew Into Chicago & Hired A Taxi To Take ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

A man flew into Chicago & hired a taxi to take him downtown. As he was riding along they came to a red light & the driver went right on through the red light. The man said, "Hey, the light was red. You’re supposed to stop." The driver said, "Yeah, I know, but my brother does it all the ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, John 8:12

Tags: Holiness, Light, Shine, Darkness, Evangelism Fear Of  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ