In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of Life"

Love Or Achievement

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 9, 2019

I once heard a woman give a remarkable account of achievement. An early feminist, she gained renown in the male-dominated field of endocrinology. She brushes shoulders with Nobel laureates and world leaders, and has lived as full and rich a life as any I have known. At the end of her story she ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8

Tags: Love, Success, Meaning Of Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ashamed When It Counted The Most

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 18, 2019

Ashamed when it counted the most My two sisters, when they were somewhat younger, liked to play the piano and took lessons for some time. I like music, too, but not all the practicing that went along with it! We found out there was going to be a “recital” where all of the students in their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 1 John 2:28

Tags: Christian Life, Shame, Rewards

Denomination: Baptist

Relationships

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8 Quotes about friends. A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. (Unknown) Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. (Eleanor Roosevelt) Relationships ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8

Tags: Friendships, People In And Out Of Life

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Republican, Democrat, And Libertarian Arrive At Heaven

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Aug 31, 2022

A Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and an unassuming man all arrived at the gates of Heaven. First the Republican spoke to St Peter, “I am sure am glad I made it here, I was sure to give plenty of money to the poor.” St Peter replied, sorry sir, your name is not in the book. Then the Democrat ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-4, Revelation 20:11-15

Tags: Heaven, Politics, Book Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Hint Of Heaven

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 22, 2025

“At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, John 14:1-4

Tags: Faith, Heaven, Eternal Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ways To Know Your Church Is Unfriendly  PRO

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jun 3, 2003

Ways to know your church is unfriendly. When the sign out front says – For members only When the parking lot has a sign that says – unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners expense. When the church lobby has a sign that says – no loitering When you say “Praise the Lord” and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12

Tags: Funny, Church General, Church, Church Purpose Of, Quotes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What About The Foundation?, Citation: Ravi ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 27, 2001

[What About the Foundation?, Citation: Ravi Zacharias, "If the Foundations Be Destroyed," Preaching Today, Tape No. 142.] A few weeks ago, I did a lectureship at Ohio State University. As I was being driven to the lecture, we passed the new Wexner Art Center. The driver said, "This is a new art ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, God Brings Purpose, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Out Of Those Missionaries Comes Another Name To ...

Contributed by Julian Silva on Jan 9, 2003

Out of those missionaries comes another name to mind, that of Jack Hetzel. Another name commonly heard throughout the Frankfurt area. Having a choice to remind in the States, or go abroad...Jack, being a man of vision, decided to go to Europe and there began a missionary ministry for our Service ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Church Purpose Of, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Baptist

The Exxon Valdez Is An Oil Tanker That Was On Its ...

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Nov 14, 2012

The Exxon Valdez is an oil tanker that was on its way to Long Beach, California. Instead, it crashed into a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The crash resulted in the second largest oil spill in US History. Between 25-32 million gallons of oil spilled into the Ocean. Over 250,000 members of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-10

Tags: Good Deeds, God's Purposes, Fatigue, Rest, Commandments Sabbath  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Fred Douglas Shepard Was Born On September 11, ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jul 27, 2008

Fred Douglas Shepard was born on September 11, 1855 in Ellenburg, New York in Clinton County. His father died while he was very young and his mother spent most of her adult life as an invalid. It was probably through this that Fred became associated with illness and caring for the sick. Fred lived ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Nazarene

Bishop Lindsey's Story  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Sep 26, 2002

Bishop Lindsey’s Story I recently had the opportunity to hear our Bishop, Lindsey Davis, speak. He is an avid golfer, so much so in fact that when we went to Augusta for the North Ga Conference meeting they gave him a green jacket – I’m not sure why – I’m kidding I do know the significance of a ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Sharing Your Faith, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: United Methodist

What's Most Important To You?

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Mar 27, 2018

Next to Billy Graham, Rick Warren and Joel Osteen are probably to most recognizable ministers in America. Warren is the author of the top selling hardcover book of all time, The Purpose Driven Life. It sold 30 million copies. Speaking about his "purpose driven" success, in 2005 Warren told U.S. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Tags: Evangelism, Priority

Denomination: Baptist

Does God Have The Say?

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 13, 2010

DOES GOD HAVE THE SAY? WE HAVE JUST MOVED TO SYDNEY NSW from the Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia. I didn't come seeking a better position, certainly not better scenery or more money. We don't even have our own house to live in at present. When we moved, we moved because we knew that God was ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bread Of Comfort  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2003

THE BREAD OF COMFORT In his book entitled God’s Psychiatry, Charles Allen tells this story: As World War II was drawing to a close, the Allied armies gathered up many hungry orphans. They were placed in camps where they were well-fed. Despite excellent care, they slept poorly. They seemed nervous ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-35

Tags: Bread Of Heaven, Bread Of Life, Lordship Of Christ, Life-Giving, Jesus Teachings  (view more)  (view less)

Thank God For The Delusion!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Someone told a reformed alcoholic that his experience wasn't valid; that his religion was a delusion. He said, "Thank God for the delusion; it has put clothes on my children and shoes on their feet and bread in their mouths. It has made a man of me and it has put joy and peace in my ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 3:1-7

Tags: Changed Life, Forgiveness, Salvation, Word Of God, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Listen To This True Story. Rabbi Michael ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 28, 2001

ILL. Listen to this true story. Rabbi Michael Weisser lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. And for more than 3 years, Larry Trapp, a self-proclaimed Nazi & Ku Klux Klansman, directed a torrent of hate-filled mailings & phone calls toward him. Trapp promoted white supremacy, anti-Semitism, & other ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Galatians 3:1-14

Tags: Racism, Pearl Harbor, Forgiveness For Others, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Love Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR Fred Douglas Shepard was born on September 11, 1855 in Ellenburg, New York in Clinton County. His father died while he was very young and his mother spent most of her adult life as an invalid. It was probably through this that Fred became associated with illness and caring for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Neighbor

When It Comes To Community Ministry, We Finally ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

When it comes to community ministry, we finally put our program where our mouth is. Instead of expecting the community to come to church, we ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Church Purpose Of, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Church Of God

Sunday Morning August 31 1997 We Awoke To The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Whitten on Nov 29, 2001

Sunday Morning August 31 1997 we awoke to the news that seemed to rock the world. It was the of a Princess. Millions watched as news reporters described in great detail the events that caused the of Princess Diana. Up dates told every late breaking tid bit of information. The world sat hungrily ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Great Commission, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Better To Love God And Die Unknown Than To Love ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero; better to be content with poverty than to die a slave to wealth; better to have taken some risks and lost than to ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Kingdom Of God