In Sermon Illustrations: "Punishment"

She Prayed, They Cheered

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 18, 2007

She Prayed, They Cheered Recently, in Houston, Texas, a 16-year-old girl backed down from her decision to lead in voluntary prayer before a high school football game. She had been elected by other students at the school to pray before each of the Santa Fe Indians’ home games. The problem was that ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If Your Right Eye Causes You To Sin, Gouge It Out ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 5, 2007

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Is God The Father?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

WHO IS GOD THE FATHER? In 2006, a sociologist at Baylor University released a study done by the Gallup organization that identified four views people had of God. 31.4 percent believe in an "Authoritarian God," a God who is angry at humanity’s sins. 23 percent believe in a "Benevolent God" who is ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Your Spirit Does Matter

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

YOUR SPIRIT DOES MATTER A preacher wrote: "Today we have people who claim to be Christians shouting ’God hates fags’ at the funerals of soldiers who have died in Iraq, because these ’Christians’ believe God is punishing America for its tolerance of homosexuals. A recent editorial in the paper ...read more

Tags: Anger

Misconceptions

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 3, 2009

Jesus confronts all those misconceptions and says you can pray, this is how you do it (“Our Father”), and God does hear you. God is not out to punish you or play tricks on you by giving you poison when you need and ask for food. You don’t have to jump through all these man-made hoops. Ask, seek, ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Church Of God

In The Spring Of 1851, He Accepted A Newly ...

Contributed by Bruce Rzengota on Dec 8, 2009

In the spring of 1851, he accepted a newly created teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), in Lexington, Virginia. He became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery. Despite the high quality of his work, he was not popular as a teacher. His ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If A Person Sees A House On Fire And Does ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 18, 2010

If a person sees a house on fire and does everything he can to rescue the occupants, he is heralded as a hero. And that’s the way it should be. Why is it, then, that a Christian who accepts what God says in the Bible about hell and tries to warn people is ridiculed as an alarmist? We read about a ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Frederick And The Confession

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 18, 2011

FREDERICK AND THE CONFESSION Truth is we can't please God, that is, not on our terms. Nor does it do any good to try and hide our sin. Like Isaiah, we can only be used by God when we're willing to admit, "I am a person of unclean lips." It reminds me of the story of KING FREDERICK II, an ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Reality Therapy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

REALITY THERAPY Aaron was an eleven-year-old boy whose behavior was described by Dr. William Glasser, his psychiatrist, as horrible. In his book, Reality Therapy, Glasser says Aaron was the most obnoxious child he had ever met. The boy would kick, scream, run away and hide, become withdrawn, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Parenting

Galileo And The Church

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 2, 2011

GALILEO AND THE CHURCH Many of us have heard about the conflict between Galileo and the church of his day. The Church doctrine of that day taught that the sun revolved around the earth. But Galileo discovered that that wasn’t true--it was the earth that revolved around the sun. The Church didn’t ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Leprosy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2012

HOW LEPROSY WORKS According to the Jewish Encylopedia: Priests were in charge of the diagnosis of all diseases. They were not allowed to live in a community that didn’t have a doctor. Those who were diagnosed with the curable strain of leprosy had to appear before a priest every 7 days. Once ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 12:4-15

Tags: Affliction

Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?" Matthew 4:1-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 3, 2005

“Thank You Sir! May I Do Another?” Matthew 4:1-11 Key verse(s): 9-10:“Then the devil left him and angels came and attended him.” “Thank you sir! May I do another?” Crouching on the ground, the recruit seemed barely touched by the sergeant’s rough treatment. He was doing push-ups; and a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

Father Teaches Disobedient Daughter About Grace ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

Father Teaches Disobedient Daughter About Grace and Consequences I’ve given you all the acronym before of “GRACE- God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” I’ll always remember a daddy-daughter moment with my oldest girl when she was maybe three years old. We raised our girls with loving discipline ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:18-25

Tags: Grace

A Reminder From The Military  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Mar 11, 2002

A REMINDER FROM THE MILITARY Matthew Rogers writes about attending a military funeral for Vernon “Slim” Paaren. The key symbol was the American flag. As it was being folded by the service people, one of the Veterans who had fired the three shot gun salute began to speak. He said the flag is ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper, Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At The Beginning Of The World War Ii, Israel ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Kallan on Jan 11, 2003

At the beginning of the World War II, Israel Eugenio was the chief Rabbi of Rome. The Nazis occupied Rome in September 1943. The Nazi officer Kappler demanded 50 kg of gold in place of the Jews. The Jews feverishly managed to collect 35 kg. The chief Rabbi Zolli realized his helplessness. For the ...read more

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Catholic

A Large Downtown Church Had Three Mission ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Mar 31, 2003

A large downtown church had three mission churches in the run-down part of town under its care. They came together for a joint worship service on the first Sunday of the year. At the communion table knelt a judge who belonged to the downtown church and also an ex-convict from one of the mission ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

John Stafford Tells About An Old Well That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 27, 2004

# John Stafford tells about an old well that stood outside the front door of their family farm house in New Hampshire. The water from the well was remarkably pure and cold. No matter how hot the summer or how severe the drought, the well was always a source of refreshment and joy. The faithful ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Bible Study, Discipleship

Denomination: Free Methodist

There Is A Remarkable Prison In Brazil. For Over ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 19, 2004

There is a remarkable prison in Brazil. For over twenty years the government has allowed two Christians to run the prison. The prison is called “Humaita” and it runs on Christian principles. All the work is done by the prisoners, except that which is required by two full-time staff. Families ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Peace

Denomination: Pentecostal

From "Speaking My Mind" By Tony Campolo, Page ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Jan 2, 2005

From “Speaking My Mind” by Tony Campolo, page 109: “I do not want to leave this discussion of what goes on with Christ suffering and cleansing us from our sin in His eternal now without pointing out that all of this should provide a great impetus for living the holy life. Every time I sin, at that ...read more

Tags: Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Mennonite

Nathan Hale, A Great American Patriot During The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Nathan Hale, a great American patriot during the Revolutionary War, was captured and hung by British soldiers. His now famous final words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." He was willing to die for his nation and its freedom. Not long ago, a mother in ...read more

Tags: Aging, Prayer How To