In Sermon Illustrations: "Pure Heart"

The Problem Of Living For Time

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

THE PROBLEM OF LIVING FOR TIME By the time it’s all over, Tom Brady’s will be the fourth face on the Mount Rushmore of New England sports, right up there with Larry Byrd, Bobby Orr and Ted Williams. He is what they were: single-minded, blessed with the ability to lift a team, a cutthroat ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20, Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Tags: Fulfillment

Power Of The Flesh  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Olukoya on Apr 17, 2009

POWER OF THE FLESH A certain man was in very big trouble. He was sacked from five jobs. When he could not feed his family again, his wife ran away, leaving him with three daughters. To worsen his sorrow, his first daughter became pregnant while in form three. When he tried to beat her, she said, ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Pentecostal

Elizabeth Taylor On ...

Contributed by Tim Harlow on May 13, 2009

ELIZABETH TAYLOR ON MARRIAGE Following her wedding to CONRAD HILTON in 1950, ELIZABETH TAYLOR said, "Your heart knows when you meet the right man. There is no doubt that Nicky is the one I want to spend my life with." Following her wedding to MICHAEL WILDING in 1952, she said, "I just want to be ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Marriage And Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Couple Of Weeks Of Ago I Was Playing With A ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on May 29, 2009

A couple of weeks of ago I was playing with a friend’s dog who loves to chase a tennis ball; well Jake will chase most any ball if you throw it for him in fact! After I had thrown the ball for him a couple of times I took the ball, gave it a good wind up, and threw it hard, though I never let go ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Religion

Denomination: Christian Church

D.l. Moody: God Loves Sinners  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

D.L. MOODY: GOD LOVES SINNERS D.L. Moody was a renowned American preacher back in the mid 1800’s. He went to England where he was introduced to a young preacher named Henry Moorehouse. During their short conversation, Moorehouse said he wanted to go to America. Moody, trying to be polite, said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Atonement, Salvation, Cross, Revival, God's Love  (view more)  (view less)

Billy Graham Awarded Golden Congressional Medal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

BILLY GRAHAM AWARDED GOLDEN CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL On Thursday May 2, 1996, Dr. Billy Graham was awarded the Golden Congressional Medal, the highest honor this country can bestow upon an individual - only 263 individuals had ever received this in the history of the United States of America. In his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Attitude General

Frenzied Pace Of Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

FRENZIED PACE OF LIFE A lot of these same gods are still worshipped in America today, aren't they? Our culture also seems to bow down to the idol of busyness. In her book called, "Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families," Ann Kroeker writes this: "America, the land of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:41-42

Tags: Culture

Italian Composer Antonio Rossini Didn't Know Why ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 20, 2009

Italian Composer Antonio Rossini Didn’t Know Why His Watch Was So Valuable You cannot go forward when you have plenty when you are empty on the inside. Harry Emerson Fosdick said that, “No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:16

Tags: Salvation, Cup Of Salvation

Premature Infant Connects Voice Of Grandfather To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 23, 2009

Premature Infant Connects Voice of Grandfather to His Touch A man by the name of Max DePree related the following heart-touching story: Esther, my wife, and I have a granddaughter named Zoe, the Greek word for life. She was born prematurely and weighed one pound, seven ounces, so small that my ...read more

Scripture: John 14:7-15

Tags: Touch, Humanity Of Christ

Mr. And Mrs. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2009

"Mr. and Mrs. Thing" John MacArthur, in his book titled Overcoming Materialism, offers this analysis: Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a very pleasant and successful couple. At least, that’s the verdict of most people, who tend to measure success with a “thingometer.” And when the “thingometer” is put to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Tags: Materialism

God Will Make A Way In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

God Will Make A Way in a Tragedy 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (NIV) In other words, as we depend on the Lord, then we persevere in loving each other like Christ did. As we depend on the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Cinderella Man Tells The True Story Of Boxing ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 4, 2010

Cinderella Man tells the true story of boxing legend James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe), who made an incredible comeback during the Great Depression. Injured and arthritic, Braddock’s promising career was cut short, and he had to go on public assistance when he couldn’t get work at the docks in New ...read more

Tags: Strength

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Importance Of Church In The Face Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

The Importance of Church in the Face of Disillusionment The church has fallen on tough times. Sadly, some of the negative perceptions are the church’s fault. Stories of sexual abuse by a few ministers and avarice and greed by others have tarnished the testimony of the church. I am convinced that ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Church General

Strange Yet Sufficient Answered Prayer

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

"STRANGE YET SUFFICIENT" ANSWERED PRAYER James Gilmour, a missionary to Mongolia, was once asked to treat some wounded soldiers. Although he was not a doctor, he did have some knowledge of first aid, so he felt he could not refuse the request. He dressed the wounds of two of the men, but a ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: *other

Radical Faith  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 24, 2011

RADICAL FAITH I want to read to you the opening story from David Platt's book "The Radical Question" (Multnomah Press). Imagine a scene that took place in Asia not so long ago: A room in an ordinary house, dimly lit, all the blinds on the windows closed. Twenty leaders from churches in the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:10-17

Tags: Persecution, Better Together

Denomination: Nazarene

The Story Of Catherine Lawes

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE STORY OF CATHERINE LAWES "Don’t set foot in the prison," people told her, but Catherine Lawes, whose husband was the warden at Sing Sing in 1921, went anyway. The first time there was a prison basketball game, she went, 3 daughters in tow and sat in the bleachers with the inmates. When she ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Vacant Homes, Vacant Lives  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

VACANT HOMES, VACANT LIVES TIFTON, GA — The most interesting thing about Tifton is an abandoned Victorian house filled with thousands of bats. Tift County declared the once-elegant house in the town’s historic district off limits after a bat specialist said that maybe 20,000 bats had moved in, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11-16, Luke 11:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 84:1-12, John 2:13-23, Luke 7:36-50, John 1:46-56, James 2:14-26, Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45, Matthew 12:44-45  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Influence

Dying For Someone Like That

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 12, 2011

DYING FOR SOMEONE LIKE THAT During the war in Vietnam, a young West Point graduate was sent over to lead a group of new recruits into battle. He did his job well, trying his best to keep his recruits from ambush and death. But one night, when they had been under attack, he was unable to get one of ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

You're Beautiful To God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO GOD R.C. Buckner, a big, bold and brash man, lived about 100 years ago in Texas. This imposing figure had a very tender heart for children, starting Buckner's Children's Homes all across the state. The children affectionately called him "Papa Buckner" and would run up to him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Tags: Compassion

Billy Graham: Growing Old Has Been A Surprise  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 7, 2012

BILLY GRAHAM: GROWING OLD HAS BEEN A SURPRISE Billy Graham, in his book "Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well" (pp. 1-2, Thomas Nelson), he writes: Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life. The young live for the here and now. Thinking ahead seems to be in the form of dreams ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Baptist