In Sermon Illustrations: "Psalm 31 1 4 15 16"

Golf Immortal Arnold Palmer Recalls A Lesson ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2001

Golf immortal Arnold Palmer recalls a lesson about overconfidence: It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-11

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Emotions, Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Man Wrote This To His Girlfriend. ...  PRO

Contributed by John Walls on Jan 31, 2001

A young man wrote this to his girlfriend. “Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18

Tags: Holiness, Unconditional Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Man Once Approached Socrates To Ask If ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

A young man once approached Socrates to ask if the philosopher would teach him the gift of oratory. His request was then followed by an incessant stream of words until, finally, Socrates placed his hand over the inquirer’s mouth and said, “Young man, I will have to charge you a double ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4

Tags: Patience

Simple Confession, Profound Forgiveness  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

SIMPLE CONFESSION, PROFOUND FORGIVENESS In 1818 one out of six women who had children died of something called "childbirth fever." A doctor’s daily routine back then started in the dissecting room, where he performed autopsies, and from there he made his rounds to examine expectant mothers. No one ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Forgiveness, Cleansing, Confession Of Sin, Lord's Supper, Mothers, God's Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Streams Of Living Water, Richard Foster Told ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 8, 2001

In Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster told of Billy Graham preaching at Cambridge in 1955. For three nights he tried to make his preaching academic and enlightened, but with no effect. Graham finally realized that presenting the intellectual side of faith was not his gift and began preaching ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Tags: Apologetics General, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Agape Love, The Highest Form Of Love, Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Feb 9, 2001

AGAPE LOVE, THE HIGHEST FORM OF LOVE, IS REFERENCED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 137 TIMES AS ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Christian Love, God's Provision

Denomination: Free Methodist

I Heard A Story Some Time Ago Of A Missionary In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

I heard a story some time ago of a missionary in Africa who gave a Bible to one of the African men. When it was given to him, the man hugged it close & expressed great appreciation for the precious gift of God’s Word that the missionary had given him. But when the missionary saw him a few days ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Bible, Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

It Is Said That Cyrus, The Founder Of The Persian ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Mar 16, 2001

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:16-18

Tags: Living For God, Life, God's Will, Godly Living, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Kurt Cobain Died About 8 Years Ago. I Remember ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

Kurt Cobain died about 8 years ago. I remember the day I picked up the newspaper and read about it. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock group "Nirvana." His death was a suicide. He took a shotgun, pointed it to his head, and killed himself. The newspaper was filled with the words of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Tags: Hope, God Brings Purpose, God Brings Hope, Meaning, Self-Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Puppy  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

I saw this in Reader’s Digest, - On the last day of school, children were bringing gifts to their teacher. The florist’s son brought the teacher a bouquet. The candy store owner’s son brought the teacher a pretty box of candy. Then the liquor store owner’s son brought a big, heavy box. The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:9

Tags: Giving General, Peace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Little Girl Walking In A Garden Noticed A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 26, 2001

A little girl walking in a garden noticed a particularly beautiful flower. She admired its beauty and enjoyed its fragrance. “It’s so pretty!” she exclaimed. As she gazed on it, her eyes followed the stem down to the soil in which it grew. “This flower is too pretty to be planted in such dirt!” ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Tags: Perseverance, God In The Hardships, Gods Will, Contentment, Purpose, Trial  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Father And His Son Were Seated At The Dining ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

A father and his son were seated at the dining room table, while the mother was finishing the final preparations on the family’s dinner. While the father and son were seated, the father asked the son if he would say the prayer for the meal. The youngster nodded his head, and said that he would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Dinner, Joy, Prayer, Prayer Adoration  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Rabbi's Conversion  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 28, 2001

Illus.: “A Rabbi’s Conversion” Rabbi Slostowski, a professor at a seminary in Tel Aviv, hated the Lord Jesus Christ. So great was his resentment that he sharply criticized a young student who was reading a Hebrew New Testament. The young man replied by giving him the copy. That night, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:7-13

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Apologetics The Bible, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Wesleyan

Winston Churchill's First Speech ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 13, 2001

[Illustration: Winston Churchill’s first speech to the house of commons three days after becoming prime minister, at the beginning of World War II] "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:57

Tags: Endurance, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Come With Me In Your Imagination To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Flynn on May 17, 2001

Come with me in your imagination to the battlefield of Saratoga in New York where in 1777 two battles of the Revolutionary War took place. You will notice on that battlefield an obelisk or pillar standing as a monument to what happened there. At the base are four deep niches for the bronze figures ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-22

Tags: Independence Day, Disciples, Faith

Denomination: Adventist

The Great Violinist, Niccolo Paganini Willed His ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 31, 2001

The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin has today become worm-eaten ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:13

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Servanthood, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Water Baptism  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Jun 7, 2001

Dr. M.R. DeHaan put it this way: In the early days of the church. . . , baptism was a declaration that the believer was definitely identifying himself with that group of people who were called Christians and were despised and hated. To be a Christian meant something. To identify yourself with those ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-22

Tags: Baptism, Call Of The Disciples, Bridge

Denomination: Baptist

Forgive And Forget. Easier Said Than Done, Right? ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2001

Forgive and forget. Easier said than done, right? Well, now studies are showing forgiveness is not only good theology, but good medicine as sell. According to the latest medical and psychological research, forgiving is good for our souls-and our bodies. People who forgive: benefit from better ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Tags: Fulfillment, Anger, Anxiety

Are Fathers Necessary?, Citation: Charles ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jun 15, 2001

[Are Fathers Necessary?, Citation: Charles Colson, How Now Shall We Live (Tyndale, 1999)] In How Now Shall We Live, Chuck Colson notes the disturbing realities that plague children who grow up without a father: Children in single-parent families are five times more likely to be poor, and half the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:12-14

Tags: God With Us, Father's Day, Family, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational