In Sermon Illustrations: "Presence" showing 401-420 of 792

Do You Remember As A Kid Being On The Playground ...

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on Jan 27, 2008

Do you remember as a kid being on the playground and choosing teams? I do... I hated it. Anytime we chose teams, I really hated it because I was small as a kid. I almost always got picked last. I wasn’t last, but I was one of the kids that was chose right near the end. “Okay, I’ll take Charles, you ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

He Made His Worst Enemy His Best Friend!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 12, 2023

In the days of the American Revolution there lived at Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a Baptist pastor by the name of Peter Miller who enjoyed the friendship of General Washington. There also dwelt in that town a man named Michael Wittman who was an evil-minded man who did all in his power to oppose this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:24

Tags: Friends, Forgiveness, Enemies, Agape Love, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are You Weeping?

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 29, 2024

Note: – This a small dialogue between God and you. Why are you weeping? Dear ______, Is my grace not sufficient for you? Is my hand is not strong enough to lift you out of your valleys? Is my blanket of love not large enough to envelop you and your family? Are my feathers not enough to keep ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Tags: Sorrow, Weeping

Worship Is Showing Up

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

How does Jesus know we love him, what is the proof? By your witness, your gifts, your tithes, your prayers or presence. Did you know I joined twitter? I think the day I did I read several tweets, but never tweeted, and that was long before the 2020 election, and long before I came to Mt. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Worship, Showing Love

George Barna's Research Of 1996 And 1997  PRO

Contributed by Martin Wiles on Apr 30, 2002

George Barna’s research of 1996 and 1997. 1. Many professing Christians believe that people are inherently good, that our primary purpose is to enjoy life and that our most important responsibility is to take care of our family. 2. 81% believe that the Bible teaches that God helps those who help ...read more

Tags: Truth, Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

What Prayer Is…  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 6, 2002

What Prayer Is… Prayer is coming into the presence of God… Prayer is entering the throne room of the KING of kings and LORD of lords… Prayer is taking our concerns to the one who cares for me Prayer is to stand on holy ground… Prayer is communicating with the creator of the world…(the one spoke ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Authentic Worship  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 12, 2002

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP In his article ’Celebrating God in Authentic Worship’, pastor Glenn Wagner (Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC) points out: "I believe that one of the most evangelistic tools the church possesses, one desperately needed in today’s society, is authentic worship. People want to know, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:24

Tags: Church Practices, Worship Purpose

In His Book "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" Chicago ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2002

In his book "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene chronicles his infoant daughter’s first year of life. When little Amanda began crawling he records: This is something I’m having trouble getting used to. I will be in bed reading a book or watching TV. And I will ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition, Church Practices

In Charlotte Brontë's Classic Book Jane Eyre, ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 6, 2004

In Charlotte Brontë’s classic book Jane Eyre, Jane is an orphan being raised by a wealthy, but cruel, aunt named Mrs. Reed. Her aunt decides to send her to Lowood School which is run by Mr. Brocklehurst — a man who is even more cruel and hypocritical than her aunt. After her arrival, Mr. ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Methodist

I Can Remember Two Separate Mornings In My Life, ...  PRO

Contributed by Brad Froese on Oct 6, 2004

I can remember two separate mornings in my life, when I woke up early because I couldn’t breathe. When I woke, my lungs had stopped breathing and I realized they weren’t taking commands from my brain. So I darted out of bed, standing in the middle of the room with my mouth wide open, prompting my ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Several Years Ago, My Wife Was Going To Take Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 12, 2005

Several years ago, my wife was going to take our son, Ben, to the park. As with most children, Ben simply loved the park. But in order to get to the park, they would have to drive and Ben would need to be placed in his car seat. Ben was a stubborn two year old who was going through a phase in ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

There Is No Fear Of God Before Their Eyes  PRO

Contributed by Bob Hicks on Nov 22, 2005

There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:10-18 (NIV) “Don’t you fear God?” is a great question. It’s a question that I don’t think we hear much anymore. And if we’re not careful, the next generation will miss entirely this all important characteristic of God. That’s why ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Adam Sinned He Ran And Hid Himself From The ...

Contributed by Michael Fritz on Nov 12, 2006

When Adam sinned he ran and hid himself from the presence of God. I heard a Jewish rabbi talking the other night on the radio, and he said that once a very godly Jewish rabbi was in jail. The jailer was interested in the old man. He went to the rabbi and said, “Rabbi, I’ve got a theological ...read more

Denomination: Holiness

With My Last ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WITH MY LAST SONG Louis Albert Banks tells of an elderly Christian man, a fine singer, who learned that he had cancer of the tongue and that surgery was required. In the hospital, after everything was ready for the operation, the man said to the doctor, "Are you sure I will never sing again?" The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Worship General

The Stages Of The Christian Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

THE STAGES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Several years ago I heard someone describe the Christian experience as similar to that of a piano player, and suddenly the commands of the Bible made more sense and seemed less daunting. When a person begins playing piano, do we expect them to play a piece by ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Tags: Growth In Christ

It's Like The Work Done On Various Television ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 25, 2009

It’s like the work done on various Television programmes. Take one run down house or barn crying out for restoration, or a few rooms of a house in desperate need of decoration, or the Vicarage kitchen in need of a refit! Jesus takes us as we are, however run-down, how ever messy our lives might be, ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Anglican

A Few Minutes Before The Services Started, The ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 12, 2009

A few minutes before the services started, the church people were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, Satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from the evil one. Soon ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Psychoanalyst Victor Frankl And His Friends ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 23, 2010

The psychoanalyst Victor Frankl and his friends were imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. It was winter. They had been marched off to work in the morning, spent the day at hard labor, been given only a little thin soup to eat, and then staggered back to camp in the late ...read more

Tags: Hope, Security

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pastor Learns To Trust God When Displaced By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

Pastor Learns to Trust God When Displaced by War During the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Taxes, Trials

My Daddy Is Here!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

MY DADDY IS HERE! David Elkind, a psychologist, tells the story of visiting his middle son's nursery school class, at the request of his teacher. She wanted him to observe a "problem child" in the class. While he was there, he caught a conversation between his son and some other boys. There ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day