In Sermon Illustrations: "Punishment"

In 1981, A Minnesota Radio Station Reported A ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Klinedinst on Aug 9, 2002

In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief.On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If, However, We Believe That We Are The Product ...

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jun 5, 2003

If, however, we believe that we are the product of a Creator who made us and set us free, we will conclude as William Ernest Henley in his poem, "Invictus": Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.... It matters ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: *other

Wesley Taught About Prevenient Grace, ...  PRO

Contributed by Donald Stevens on Sep 30, 2004

- Wesley taught about Prevenient Grace, Justifying Grace, and Sanctifying Grace. - And even if we know about those forms of grace that Wesley emphasized, - I think that we still have a hard time understanding what grace really is. - I once heard it explained this way. - Suppose that someone ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Methodist

Stuart Briscoe Tell The Story Of A Friend Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Eldon Reich on Mar 28, 2002

“Stuart Briscoe tell the story of a friend who often used an old fruit tree to escape from his second story bedroom window, especially when his father was about to punish him. One day the father announced that he was going to cut down the old tree because it had not borne fruit in many years. That ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Methodist

In Jerusalem There Is A Holocaust Memorial To ...

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 4, 2000

In Jerusalem there is a Holocaust Memorial to remember the 6 million Jews who died in Nazi death camps. It documents the horrors of these camps with pictures and reports given by the Allies when they liberated the prisoners. The most touching display in this collection is the memorial built in ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In 1875, An Agnostic Named William Ernest Henley ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In 1875, an agnostic named William Ernest Henley published a poem that sums up that kind of attitude. It’s called Invictus: Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have ...read more

Tags: Apologetics The Bible

Keeping Company With God  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Jul 31, 2007

Philip Yancey writes in his book, Prayer, that “… Keeping company with God also includes expressing the times of trial and frustration. In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye keeps up a running dialogue with God, giving credit for the good things but also lamenting all that goes wrong. In one scene he ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Why Did The Philistines Allow Samson's Hair Go ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Steffens on Dec 11, 2007

Why did the Philistines allow Samson’s hair go grow back when they knew it was the key to his great strength? Was it because they blinded his eyes? No, for even a blind but strong Samson could cause severe havoc. Why then did they allow his hair to grown back? Because the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In 1981, A Minnesota Radio Station Reported A ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 9, 2008

In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief. On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sisyphean Task (Sisyphus)

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

A SISYPHEAN TASK (Sisyphus) In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a brilliant rascal who sometimes played tricks on the gods to get what he wanted. He even used trickery to avoid death. Finally the gods had enough and condemned Sisyphus to eternal hard labor -- his punishment: rolling a boulder up a ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

You Are The Whipping Soldier

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 11, 2009

YOU ARE THE WHIPPING SOLDIER A man who was deeply troubled by his sins had a vivid dream in which he saw Jesus being savagely whipped by a soldier. As the cruel scourge came down upon Christ’s back, the dreamer shuddered, for the terrible instrument left gaping wounds upon the bleeding, swollen ...read more

Tags: Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Wesleyan

Italian Poet Dante Alighieri Criticized By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Italian Poet Dante Alighieri Criticized by Enemies During Church Service Deeply immersed in meditation during a church service, Italian poet Dante Alighieri failed to kneel at the appropriate moment. His enemies hurried to the bishop and demanded that Dante be punished for his sacrilege. Dante ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Faults

I Love The Story About The Mom & Dad With A Son ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 17, 2001

I love the story about the mom & dad with a son who was a freshman in college. He blew off his freshman year. He wasn’t very responsible, didn’t make good grades, squandered his money, & finally came back home. His parents told him, “If you go back to school you’ll have to pay your own ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

This 80 Year Old Woman Was Arrested For Shop ...

Contributed by Shane Hargrave on Dec 20, 2007

This 80 year old woman was arrested for shop lifting. When she went before the judge in Florida he asked her, "What did you steal?" She replied, "A can of peaches." The judge then asked her why she had stolen the can of peaches And she replied that she was hungry. The judge then asked her how ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In Understanding The New Reality In Christ With ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 8, 2009

In understanding the new reality in Christ with the law, Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) explained it in this way: “What is God’s law now? It is not above a Christian-it is under Christian. Some men hold God’s law like a rod, in terror, over Christians, and say, “If you sin you will be punished with ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Other

Let's Take A Look At Society's Honest View Of The ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jun 26, 2006

Let’s take a look at society’s honest view of the early church by reviewing this letter from antiquity: For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by country, or by speech, or by dress. For they do not dwell in cities of their own, or use a different language, or practice a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

Twenty Ways To Encourage Your Children To Use ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Davis on Jun 11, 2003

TWENTY WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO USE DRUGS AND BECOME HOODLUMS,TRAMPS AND REBELS. 1. Never eat together as a family. 2. Never have weekly, monthly, or annual family outings that they can look forward to as a family unit. 3. Talk to your children, not ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Baptist

In Texas Last Week, An 18 Year Old Man Was ...

Contributed by Art Good on Jun 7, 2007

In Texas last week, an 18 year old man was arrested for wearing a noose in public. As Jewelry. Seems kind of morbid doesn’t it? A noose is an instrument of an agonizing death. It represents vigilante law, I would never be proud to wear a noose. What about an electric chair? Did you know you ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

President Abraham Lincoln Called For A Day Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

President Abraham Lincoln called for a day of fasting and prayer. His declaration for a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer begins with this thought. And in so much as we know that, by his divine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to the punishments and chastisements in this ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer

When Martin Luther Became A Priest And ...

Contributed by Stewart Holloway on Nov 14, 2006

When Martin Luther became a priest and celebrated his first Mass, in 1507, he trembled so much he nearly dropped the bread and cup. He became so terrified of the presence of Christ that he wanted to run from the altar. Yet that same fear of the holy, led him to be obedient to Christ and His Word ...read more

Denomination: Baptist