In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of Giving" showing 6,521-6,540 of 8,013

Given The Farm  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2014

The story is told of a farmhand who had worked for a married couple for several years. As time went on, the couple grew older and older and they couldn't do as much they had and the farm was beginning to look a little shabby. The paint on the barn was peeling. The fences had holes in them and slats ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:14

Tags: Servanthood, Attitude General, Heirs Of God, Co-Heirs With Christ

Bitter & Better - The Two 'b's

Contributed by Paddick Van Zyl on Jul 21, 2014

When the water at Marah was bitter, Moses had to cast a tree into the water stream to sweeten the water or make it drinkable. The words: Bitter and Better both start with a B and end with Tter. The only difference is: the letter I and E. Bitter has the focus on I, me, myself, flesh. Better has ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Tags: Water, Sweet, Bitter

Denomination: Pentecostal

Coffee Doesn't Trust Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 25, 2014

My pet finch Coffee runs into a serious problem once in a while. Her claws grow so long she loses the ability to control them. They get stuck in the nest and she can’t get them out. Once we found her nearly dead, hanging for hours upside down with one claw ensnared in her wicker home. Carol rescued ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Surrender, Trust In God, Rest In God, Pruning, God's Care  (view more)  (view less)

The Evangelistic Meaning Of Your Birthday Celebration

Contributed by Joel Israel Shashikumar on Jan 26, 2015

I went to bed with a heavy heart one day. All those news and reports of death for the past few weeks. Only to wake up with a thought of birthday cake and celebration. Now why do we celebrate birthdays, blowing candles and cutting cake. I admit, I do not know the meaning that has been tagged with ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29

Tags: Grace, Birthday

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Doctrinal Differences

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 27, 2017

I began my Christian journey, like most I suppose, with a narrow doctrinal point of view. But, I was curious and did not stay within denominational boundaries. The graduate school of theology that I chose had professors who were from a wide variety of Protestant backgrounds. Professors there tried ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-11

Tags: Unity, Ecumenism, Denominationalism

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Baby Chased Away The Darkness

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: Jesus was a baby that changed the whole world. Verse: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” (Galatians 4:4 NKJV). Illustration: Once upon a time there was a village. In the village there lived many men. They were always mad at each ...read more

Tags: Birth Of A Savior, Salvation, Baby Jesus

Denomination: Charismatic

Growing Potatoes Takes Time

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

Be thankful while you wait. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. My Aunt Grace had a large garden. One time she showed me how to cut seed potatoes so that each piece had at least one eye, and we planted them in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Thankfulness, Patience, Waiting, Being Prepared

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Death Of An Eagle

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 29, 2020

There was a talented young Indian boy that loved hunting. One of his goals was to get an eagle. He so needed the eagle to build his elaborate head dress. All the eagles would fly around the young boy and mock him. He could never be the chief without a beautiful eagle feather head dressing. The ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:26-30, Isaiah 54:17

Tags: Effective, Weapon

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Answer To My Prayers

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 5, 2021

I don’t see as many vending machines around as I used to see. The ones I see now, you can pay with your phone or your smart watch. In the old days, all the vending machines had the food on metal coils that would rotate and move the food forward when you make your selection. Sometimes, that item ...read more

Scripture: John 14:13, Luke 4:38-44

Tags: God, Prayer, Vending Machine

Denomination: Methodist

The Lady In Charge Of The Chicken! Haha!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Jesus wants us to live up to the responsibility that goes with our authority. We each have different levels of authority and responsibility, and he expects us to meet those levels. When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20

Tags: Identity, Leadership, Authority, Commitment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding Justice And Mercy

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 2, 2021

As we consider the call of John and look forward at Christmas to the birth of Christ, let us look at the content of God’s message to us God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Jesus to this earth. The Cross wasn’t a “horrible misjudgement” Rather the reason Jesus came into this world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Tags: John The Baptist, The Birth Of Christ

Denomination: Anglican

The Truth Will Always Come Out.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 18, 2022

We live in a generation of government corruption and evil that is unparalleled. How long will God tolerate this? The Bible says in Luke 8:17 (NLT), "For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to ...read more

Tags: Last Days, Lies, Truth, Reaping, Evil, Government, Corruption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hope Ain't Hoping

Contributed by John Bright on May 27, 2023

I want to give you a shorthand way of remembering the difference between the hope in our Bibles and the hope out in the world. Hope ain’t hoping. Today, folks plan outside events and say, “I sure hope it doesn’t rain.” Every Sunday, some folks may show up here and say, “I sure hope PJ doesn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Hope, Hoping, Faith

Denomination: Methodist

Who's In Charge?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jun 3, 2023

One of the most disturbing movies ever produced is Francis Ford Coppola’s classic reflection on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now. The film tracks an American officer who is sent upriver into the heart of the war-torn countryside in order to find and eventually assassinate a renegade commander who ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-17

Tags: Four Horsemen, God's Sovereignty, Apocalypse, Wrath

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Outline Of Psalm 119 - The Power Of God's Word

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 14, 2023

Psalms 119 - David proclaims the power of God's Word. David in this Psalm describes God's Word in 48 different ways. Here are a few: 1. The Word of God is the source of cleansing - Psalms 119:9 (KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, David, Psalms, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mimic The Owner

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 5, 2023

I read of a wealthy woman that owned a very rare and expensive MACAW. It was so beautiful. It was so smart it could talk unbelievable. Over a period of time the MACAW developed an extremely irritating and terrible hacking cough. The lady called the local vet and they discussed the problem and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:19, Romans 8:28

Tags: Pretender, Wounded

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Willie Stargell And The Pittsburgh Pirates' Family

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Teammates of the late Willie Stargell called him "Pops" because of his leadership both on and off the baseball field. In 1979, when Stargell led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their second World Series title, the team was nicknamed "The Family" because of their close relationship and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Team, Unity, Love, Prejudice, Fellowship, Family Of God, Holy Spirit, Baseball, Body Of Christ, Diversity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

John Smith was a loyal carpenter, working for a very successful building contractor who called him into his office one day and said, "John, I'm putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order all the materials and oversee the whole job from the ground up." John ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7, Numbers 32:23

Tags: Stealing, Sowing, Selfishness, Reaping, Judgment, Cheating  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Traveling To Heaven

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Mar 29, 2024

Throughout my life I had always wanted to go to Germany. It wasn’t until my son moved over there and got married that we finally were able to do so. The trip wasn’t always easy, as we were stranded in New Jersey for a night after a flight was canceled. We were tired from the journey. But once ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:26

Tags: Resurrection, Heaven

Denomination: Lutheran

A Word Of Encouragement For Discouraged Pastors

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

A great evangelist, Dr. Chapman, has often told an amazing story about himself. He had been in business and became minister of a great church in Philadelphia. One Monday he was more than usually dispirited. (Mondays are hard on pastors!). The Sunday had been a poor one, and he felt, as ministers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Faith, Ministry, Hope, Encouragement, Anointing, Discouragement, Pastors, Calling, Quitting, Resigning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational