In Sermon Illustrations: "Power In Holy Communion"

Spurgeon's Poor Sermon

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 14, 2012

SPURGEON'S POOR SERMON Mr. Spurgeon once preached what in his judgment was one of his poorest sermons. He stammered and floundered, and when he got through felt that it had been a complete failure. He was greatly humiliated, and when he got home he fell on his knees and said, "Lord, God, thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:26

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Baptist

Our Guide Home

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 3, 2012

OUR GUIDE HOME A certain guide in the deserts of Arabia never lost his way. He carried a homing pigeon with a fine cord attached to his leg. If he doubted which path to take or if he was caught in a sand storm, he would release the bird. The pigeon would fly in the direction of home. The guide was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Keeper Of The Springs By Peter Marshall  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

THE KEEPER OF THE SPRINGS by Peter Marshall Once upon a time, a certain town grew up at the foot of a mountain range. It was sheltered in the lee of the protecting heights, so that the wind that shuddered at the doors and flung handfuls of sleet against the window panes was a wind whose fury was ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Sometimes We Need A Steward

Contributed by Francis Balla on Nov 15, 2012

SOMETIMES WE NEED A STEWARD If you ever get to Venice, one of the places to see is Saint Mark's Square, the spot Napoleon called "the drawing room of Europe." But if you go there, make sure your belly is covered up. It’s not that there's exactly a dress code, but there is an expectation of ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Less Room For Me

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 12, 2013

The only way to be filled with the Spirit is to empty myself to me. When I empty me of me, it provides space for the Holy Spirit to fill me. The more he fills me the ...read more

Scripture: John 16:5-15

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Woman Sees A Father Shopping With A Fussy ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

A woman sees a father shopping with a fussy two-year-old in his grocery cart. “Be patient, Billy,” he whispers. “You can handle this, Billy. It’s okay, Billy.” The woman said to him, “I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but I just had to tell you how wonderfully loving and patient you are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-33, Genesis 15:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

When We Are Best For Communities

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 21, 2014

J. K. Jones, professor at Lincoln: "We are best for our communities when we are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:17

Tags: Community, Holiness, Distinctiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simpson's Cocoa Powder

Contributed by Jason Albertson on Nov 8, 2014

There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Tags: Purity, Personal Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Clean Pigeon

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Lester Roloff told about visiting a friend in Massillon, Ohio who had a number of pigeons. During the visit his friend showed him one of the birds and said, “See this bird. She just flew 500 miles from St. Louis to Massillon non stop.” Roloff interrupted his host: Come on, non stop! How do you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Tags: Clean, Holiness, Sanctify

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christians Should Live In The World, But Not Be Filled With It.

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 15, 2016

Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in the water; but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom. So Christians may live in the world; ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3, Romans 12:2, Romans 12:2

Tags: World, Holy Living

Growing Up

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 21, 2018

I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Sanctified, Holiness Walk

Growing Through Pain

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Oct 2, 2020

Paul Tournier, the famous Swiss physician and counselor, reported his surprise in his book Creative Suffering upon reading an article entitled “Orphans Lead the World.” The article appeared in a respected medical journal and surveyed the lives of 300 leaders who had an impact on world history. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

Stopping To Focus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2022

Have you ever wondered why a pigeon walks so funny? According to an interesting article in the Detroit Free Press, a pigeon walks the way it does so it can’t see where it’s going. Because it can’t adjust its focus as it moves, the pigeon actually has to bring its head to a complete stop between ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1, John 15:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dependence

The 100% Solution!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

Since the beginning of time, mankind has craved peace! When Adam and Eve came upon the body of their son Abel, slain by his brother Cain, they no doubt longed for peace. The peculiar thing about peace is this; man has always longed for the time when peace was in his life––yet peace has so seldom ...read more

Scripture: John 14:25-27

Tags: Holy Spirit, Peace

The Agitator

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

Does anyone know what that piece in the middle of the washer is called? The part in the middle that moves back and forth and shakes the clothes back and forth? What is that called? I’m going to call it an Agitator. What is the purpose of the Agitator? As far as I can tell, its sole purpose is to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sanctification

The Early Church Father Turtullian Wrote That, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The early Church Father Turtullian wrote that, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” In a very real sense this is true. In spite of vicious opposition, the church grew and flourished. The early church had partnered for the journey of faith. They had come together… in one accord… ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

My Attempt To Help Bring Clarity And ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Sep 20, 2007

My attempt to help bring clarity and understanding to the commandments may be out done by “The Hillbilly’s Ten Commandments.” These are the simple down home interpretation of the Ten Commandments as posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Louisville, KY. (1) Just one God (2) Put nothin’ ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Bible Influence

Denomination: Assembly Of God

In '97, 30% Of Adults Claimed To Be Pentecostal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

In ’97, 30% of adults claimed to be Pentecostal Christians compared to 36% in ’07. While just 8% of the U.S. population is evangelical, 49% of evangelical adults fit the charismatic definition. 51% of all born-agains are charismatic as are 46% of all adults who attend a Protestant church. 23% of ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Did You Ever Notice That There Are Certain ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Apr 28, 2008

Did you ever notice that there are certain things the Lord doesn't want us to miss? That's the way I feel about Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture." It was simply impossible to miss. I think the first person to email the link to me was Jim Turk, our music director. He sent it with the words, "This ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed