In Sermon Illustrations: "Pride Destroys"

One Of The Powerful Figures In Wall Street Fell ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 29, 2001

One of the powerful figures in Wall Street fell in love with an actress. For many months he was always seen escorting her about in the fashionable circles of town. Deciding to marry her, he first put a private detective to the job of looking into her former dealings and friends in order to guard ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42

Tags: Holiness, Gossip, Judgment, Romantic Love, Reputation, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Of All The Classical Spiritual Disciplines, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Apr 8, 2002

Of all the classical Spiritual Disciplines, service is the most conductive to the growth of humility. When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of other and is for the most part a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirit. Nothing disciplines the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Servanthood, Pride, Christian Disciplines, Call Of The Disciples, Arrogance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

Oh Please Don't Hit The Ball To Me!" Psalm ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 7, 2005

“Oh Please Don’t Hit the Ball to Me!” Psalm 116:1-6 Key verse(s): 3:“The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.” There is no greater temptation than separation from God. There are many things in this life that appear tempting and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-6

Tags: Innocent, Honest, Temptation Pride, Temptation Resisting, Truthful  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

No Slackers  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 2, 2013

NO SLACKERS A large company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. This new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning on a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:6-12

Tags: Work Ethic, Labor Day, Pride Before A Fall

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

People Leading To The Flood

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Oct 31, 2022

Genesis 5 Focus is v1…. In v1-2, isn’t God just repeating Himself? – God detailed the 2 types of “man” He created – male and female! What’s significant about v3? – Adam and Eve had other children as alluded to in earlier chapters; v3 indicates that Seth was a special person! Why do you think ...read more

Tags: People, Godliness, Pride, Population, God's Promise, Ages  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Greatest Spiritual Challenges We Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Anger/Bitterness. 5. Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Anger, Spiritual Battles, Lust, Discipleship, Temptation, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get In The Barrel

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Oct 18, 2017

A man was type rope walking across Niagara Falls. As he made his first attempt, it seemed like the draft from the falls would pull him down. With some struggle, he got to the other side and returned. A crowd began to gather. He asked: "how many of you believe I can take this wheel barrel across and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Exodus 14:29-30

Tags: Faith, Obedience, Red Sea, Dry Land, Lord Saved Israel, Lord Destroyed Egypt, True Faith Trust God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Former Under Secretary Of The Interior John C. ...  PRO

Contributed by Tj Tipton on Mar 29, 2001

Former Under Secretary of the Interior John C. Whitaker is reminded of how easy it is to get an out-of-perspective feeling about one’s importance in government whenever he thinks of an 85-year-old woman who has lived her life in one spot in Nova Scotia. The population there swells to nine in summer ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Proverbs 25:6-7

Tags: Temptation Pride, College, Daughter, Humility, Independence Day, Perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship, Human Body

Denomination: Christian Church

Have You Been To The Great Physician?

Contributed by David Goering on Sep 6, 2018

Mr. Pharisee and Mr. Publican lived in the town of Doomsville, both heard that a great Physician was going to be in the neighboring town of Gilead. The great Physician was going to hold a free Health Clinic and give people a free complete examination, and if they passed this examination he would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:10-14

Tags: Justification, Pride, Publican, Pharisee, The Great Physician, Salvation, Humility  (view more)  (view less)

Face The Music

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the Emperor of China, though he could not play an instrument or read music. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would just hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play, but not making a sound. For years he received a good ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3

Tags: Sin, Judgment, Pride, Luke 18, Ii Timothy 3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wanting Without Knowing

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 1, 2022

. As my two sons were climbing into the back seat of our car, Eric, five, yelled, “I call the left side!” That didn’t sit well with Ron, four. “No, I want the left side!” “I want the left side!” “No, I want the left side!” Intervening, I said, “Since Eric is older, he can ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3, 1 Kings 21:1-29

Tags: Ego, Fighting, Wanting, Quarreling, Desiring, Covet, Pride, Winning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Getting Worse

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 12, 2022

There is an old story about a pastor leaving a church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the pillar members, “Don’t be so sad. The next pastor might be better than me.” She ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-20, Ezekiel 28:11-15, Luke 10:17-20

Tags: Humble, Humility, Pride, Arrogance, Ego, Puffed Up, Humbled  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Superman Don't Need No Airplane!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 16, 2023

In Muhammad Ali’s heyday as the heavy weight champion of the world in boxing, he had taken his seat on a 747 jet which was starting to taxi down the runway for take off. The flight attendant walked by and noticed Ali did not have on his seatbelt, and said, “Please fasten your seatbelt, ...read more

Tags: Humility, Demons, Pride, Flesh, Spirit, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Not About Us!" 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 4, 2005

“It’s Not About Us!” 1 Samuel 15:27-35 Key verse(s) 30:“Saul replied, ‘I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.’” We truly live in the age of self and ego. When you stop to think about it, a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:27-35, 2 Chronicles 20:5-15

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Basics Of Christianity, Humility, Obedience, Impatience, Unrepentant, Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

I Once Heard A Humorous Story About The Pope Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Makari on Jan 8, 2001

I once heard a humorous story about the Pope who was on a visit to America for a period of time. On his last day of the visit, he was delayed due to meetings and was unable to break away to catch a flight. Since he couldn’t depend on his Pope Mobile, he phoned for a limousine. When the limousine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-16, Luke 24:13-16

Tags: Mistakes, Patience, Humility, Substitute, Sin General, Scapegoat, Temptation Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

One Day A Woman Was Rushing Home From A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Swinney on May 11, 2001

One day a woman was rushing home from a doctor’s appointment. The doctor had been somewhat delayed at the hospital, and the lab work took a little longer than usual so by the time she left the clinic she was running quite a bit behind schedule. She still had to pick up her prescription, pick up ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:1, Hebrews 11:1-10

Tags: Joy, God's Provision, Prayer, Prayer Answered, Provision, Pride, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Just To Be Noticed  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2003

JUST TO BE NOTICED Every spring, hundreds of Hollywood “stars” gather for the Academy Awards. Very few “slip in the back door:” instead, they make an entrance. They walk down the long red carpet, smiling at the cameras and waving to the people in the stands (who, by the way, all had to apply and ...read more

Tags: Triumphal Entry, Pride, Palm Sunday, Easter Palm Sunday, Easter  (view more)  (view less)

Just The House He Was Looking For

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

Alan Carr tells a story about a man who was tired of his friends owning nicer homes than his, so he went to see a realtor to put his home on the market and began to search for a new one. One day as he was reading the paper, he came across a listing for a home that seemed to be just what he was ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

Tags: Covetousness, Contentment, Satisfaction, Pride, Lifestyle, Materialism, Discontentment, Ten Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Pharisees Don't Care

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

The corrupt heart of the zealous devotion of the Pharisees is illustrated by a group of modern day Orthodox Jews (early, 1992), who let three apartments in an Orthodox neighborhood in Israel burn to the ground while they asked a rabbi whether a telephone call to the fire department on the Sabbath ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3

Tags: Pride, Selfishness, Last Days, Pharisees, False Religion, Lovers Of Themselves  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational