In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of Giving" showing 3,741-3,760 of 8,009

Persistent Sowers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

PERSISTENT SOWERS During a particular drought several years ago, much of the seed that had been planted did not come up. The seed that did produced runty plants that promised a scanty yield, if any at all. Grass burned up in the intense heat, and the cattle nearly starved. Many farmers were forced ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

J. C. Ryle On Zeal  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

J. C. RYLE ON ZEAL Recently I found a book by Bishop J.C. Ryle, the first bishop of Liverpool, England on the subject of zeal. He wrote: "Zeal is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. A zealous man is preeminently a man of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Zeal

The Master's Hand

Contributed by James Kelly on Aug 11, 2012

THE MASTER'S HAND An auctioneer was taking bids on household items. He was tired and wanted to go home. There was only one item left an old violin. It wasn’t much to look at and no sound came from it. It was a seemingly worthless instrument. The auctioneer started the bid who will give me one ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Persuaded By The Mail

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2014

"I GIVE UP!" In the early 1960s, the publishers of Time Magazine were concerned about their declining circulation, so they designed a campaign to send out thousands of letters making an emotional appeal to potential subscribers. In the past, such mailings had been done manually, at a great cost in ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Tags: God's Love, Surrender, Persuasion

Power For Holy Living

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 30, 2014

Ludwig Nommensen traveled to begin mission work with a tribe in southeast Asia. The village chief welcomed Ludwig and said, "You have 2 years to learn our customs and convince us you have a message worth hearing." After 2 years, the tribal leader asked the missionary how Christianity differs from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Tags: Holy Spirit, Law, Holy Living

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hotel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOTEL TEST A Jewish lady named Mrs. Rosenberg many years ago was stranded late one night at a fashionable resort - one that did not admit Jews. The desk clerk looked down at his book and said, "Sorry, no room. The hotel is full." The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Persecution

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Opportunity Definition, Ancient Greek Statue Symbolism Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.” It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor. The brevity of life is a strong argument for making the best use of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Opportunity

Spurgeon On The Final Preservation Of The Saints

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

SPURGEON ON THE FINAL PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS In the words of Charles Spurgeon: When I heard it said that the Lord would keep His people right to the end, --that Christ had said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:24-25

Tags: Calvinism

Letting Children Free To ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2008

Letting Children Free to Develop? I’ve used this illustration before, but I think it speaks so well as to the nature of guidance and children: A Gentleman was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving little children any moral instruction whatsoever. His theory was ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Other

Alistair Maclean Quotes A Story From Tauler, The ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Alistair MacLean quotes a story from Tauler, the German mystic. One day Tauler met a beggar. “God give you a good day, my friend.” He said. The beggar answered. “I thank God I never had a bad one.” Then Tauler said, “God give you a happy life, my friend.” “I thank God,” said the beggar, “I am never ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That's Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

THAT’S GRACE Spurgeon illustrated grace with this story in his book, All of Grace. A man visited a woman he knew to be in great financial need. He visited with a generous gift to help her with her expenses. He knocked at the door. She heard the knock, panicked and hid so no one would know she was ...read more

Tags: Grace

Larry Norman Funeral Was A Going Away Party

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

What a gathering! Over 500 poured into a church this morning to pay our respects to Larry Norman. As we entered, we were handed ‘circus programs’ (instead of a boring pamphlet) that read: "Larry Norman Presents: A Going Away Party." It was a gathering of friends, family and fans ...read more

Tags: Mourning, Heaven, Funerals, Christian Music, Celebration, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Four-Year-Old And A Six-Year-Old Presented ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 11, 2002

A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their Mom with a house plant. They had used their own money and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, “There was a bouquet that we wanted to give you at the flower shop. It was real pretty, but it was too expensive. It had a ribbon on ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day

Denomination: Baptist

On The Steps Of The Altar  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on May 22, 2002

ON THE STEPS OF THE ALTAR C S Lewis in his "Screwtape Letters", the imaginary account of a senior devil giving the benefit of his experience to fellow tempters, has Screwtape saying: "Religion can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close ...read more

Tags: Demons, Satan, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

T.w. Hunt Said In His Book "The Doctrine Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Jul 11, 2004

T.W. Hunt said in his book “The Doctrine of Prayer” “Selfishness brings into our experience a danger so great that God knows He cannot coddle us with answers hostile to the very thing He is working to achieve in us. I would not give a murderer a knife to pamper one of his whims. God will not ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

We Didn't Know That My Father Would Die As Young ...

Contributed by Timothy Schultz on Oct 14, 2004

We didn’t know that my father would die as young as he did: while on a vacation with my mother to Florida. He was 49 years old. His life had some rough times but what a blessing that in mid-life he made a deeper commitment to Christ. Sharing the Lord and giving to others was a regular habit, ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death

Denomination: United Methodist

Remarking On The Breathtaking Wonders Of The ...

Contributed by Bart Leger on Feb 6, 2005

Remarking on the breathtaking wonders of the universe being revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope – wonders many people, including some scientists, say can only be attributed to a Creator God – George Will observed: “Soon the American Civil Liberties Union, or People for the American Way, or some ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

First-Time Mothers Are Working Longer Into Their ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

First-Time Mothers are working longer into their pregnancy and returning to work sooner after giving birth, according to the Census Bureau. USA Today reports 57% of new mothers in 1996-2000 worked full-time while pregnant vs. 40% in 1961-65. Women with a higher education are likely to be in ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Neal Alexander, Publisher And President Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Neal Alexander, Publisher and President of United Methodist Publishing House/Abingdon says, "What is clear is that the yearning and need for spiritual resources is growing. Contemporary life doesn’t make religious experience irrelevant, it makes it indispensable. The further segmentation of our ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

First-Time Mothers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

First-Time Mothers are working longer into their pregnancy and returning to work sooner after giving birth, according to the Census Bureau. USA Today reports 57% of new mothers in 1996-2000 worked full-time while pregnant vs. 40% in 1961-65. Women with a higher education are likely to be in ...read more

Tags: Parenting