In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of Life"

When To Begin Influencing One's Child For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2010

When to Begin Influencing One’s Child For Christ In a mothers’ meeting there was a big discussion on the theme: “How early in a child’s life ought one to begin to influence him toward God?” After a much spirited debate, a visiting grandmother was asked to make a comment. In essence, she said: “I ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Tags: Parenting

Too Important Not To Share

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 14, 2010

TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO SHARE Mercedes Benz was the company who first produced a car body design that absorbed the force of a collision on impact. One Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows their car colliding with a cement wall during a safety test. Since then of course many other car companies have ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Brethren

Isolation Society

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 14, 2011

ISOLATION SOCIETY Here is how Max Lucado rates us as a society: "Call us a fast society, an efficient society, but don't call us a personal society. Our society is set up for isolation. We wear ear buds when we exercise. We communicate via e-mail and text messages. We enter and exit our house with ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Come In Through The Door

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on May 13, 2011

COME IN THROUGH THE DOOR There's an old spiritual. I'm sure you've heard it. It starts out, 'So high you can't get over it, so low you can't get under it, so wide you can't get around it! You gotta come in through the door.' That's what Jesus tells us in this passage from John's ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Peale And Paul

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Aug 3, 2011

PEALE AND PAUL Many of you are familiar with Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Living. It’s a good book. It won’t get you to heaven, but it will really help you approach life with the right kind of outlook. Dr. Vance Havner was asked one time to compare the writings of Norman ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Donald Grey Barnhouse: "Abraham Came To The ...

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Feb 11, 2012

Donald Grey Barnhouse: "Abraham came to the ultimate conclusion that he was going to see a miracle because God cannot lie. He had said that this son would be the one through whom He would fulfill all of His promises. Therefore the son must live or God would be found false. And yet God commands that ...read more

Tags: Miracles General

Denomination: Baptist

Method Is Not What Matters Most  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 1, 2012

METHOD IS NOT WHAT MATTERS MOST "Among the many myths of modernity, none has been more devastating to the church than the belief that method is what matters most in ministry. And nowhere has this myth been more pernicious than in preaching. Steeped in homiletical method, preaching is now more ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Community: "A Part Of Me Loved War"

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 2, 2013

"A part of me loved war. Now, please understand, I am a peaceful man, fond of children and animals. And I believe that war should have no place in the affairs of men. But, the comradeship our platoon experienced in that war provides a moving and enduring memory in me. A comrade in war is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 6:1-13

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Support, Encouragement, Vietnam  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Your Cheatin' Heart

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 12, 2020

Ft. Knox guards $13 billion in gold. During WWII, the original Declaration of Independence, the original copy of the U.S. Constitution, the first printing of the copy of the Guttenberg Bible, and the original copy of Magna Carta were all moved to Ft. Knox. The security is updated constantly. Not ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Obedience, Compromise

Denomination: Baptist

Honesty

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 7, 2022

Blaise Pascal observed that human life is nothing but perpetual delusion; human relationships are based on mutual deception. Martin Buber wrote of the uncanny game of hide and seek we play - in which the soul seeks to hide from itself. Thomas Merton - our minds are deformed with a contempt for ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16, Ephesians 4:15, Matthew 5:33-37

Tags: Deception, Truth, Integrity, Misinformation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Look And Listen

Contributed by David Parks on Oct 11, 2023

Stop Look and Listen Early in the 20th century, with the advent of the automobile, the country's largest railroad became concerned about the many collisions at crossings. The company offered $2,500 for the three best words to use on a warning sign. The top prize winner was paid $833 for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15-21, Romans 10:17, Psalm 19:1

Tags: Faith, Spirituality, Materialism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Conversion Of John Newton

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: In the 18th Century, John Newton was the slave trader. He swore and cursed. He sold slaves. He nearly lost his life in a storm and it was in that storm that he found God. He renounced his evil ways and eventually became a vicar in the Anglican Church. He helped William Wilberforce in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Amazing Grace, John Newton

Denomination: Anglican

Passing Through The Shadows!" 1 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 21, 2005

“Passing Through The Shadows!” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Key verse(s): 26:“‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.” “Smile and the world smiles with you! Cry and you cry alone.” Walking through life with a smile on our faces is something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Jacob's Ladder!" John 20:19-31 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 29, 2005

“Our Jacob’s Ladder!” John 20:19-31 Key verse(s) 19:“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!.’” It’s hard to keep your mind on hope when you are ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Tags: World, Vision, Easter Resurrection, Eagle, Challenge, Breathe, Friend, Hedge, Jesus, May Day, Need  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

I Wish I Had Torn It To Pieces  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“I WISH I HAD TORN IT TO PIECES” On December 26, 2002, Jack Whittaker’s life changed forever Jack had grown up in West Virginia and he knew that it was like to be poor. At the age of 55 all of that had changed. It had changed with a lot of hard work and perseverance. He had managed to scrape ...read more

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

The Spirit Of Power That We Receive Is Not Like ...  PRO

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 28, 2007

The Spirit of Power that we receive is not like the human power that we recognize as strong. It’s a power unlike anything we can do on our own. A young man growing up in the wrong part of Houston became a bully. He would get in fights in school, in the neighborhood, and began mugging people to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:49, Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:57-67, Zechariah 4:6, Psalm 33:16-18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Friend, Friendship

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

False Teaching: Sinlessness  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jul 1, 2012

FALSE TEACHING: SINLESSNESS The Apostle John wrote: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." Now I want to digress for a moment and address a false teaching ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[009]. A Message From A Poem - A Tree Climber

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 6, 2024

[009]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TREE CLIMBER Some people have a burning desire to go to see someone or some event important. Look how many turn out to a Trump rally, or a football final, or who go to see some vain film star. However, some people have a real need and want to meet someone to see ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Luke 19:1-6, Luke 19:8-9

Tags: Zaccheus, Tax Gatherer, Tree Climber, Salvation, Repentance, Sycamore Tree  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 F] [6]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 6

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 24, 2025

[237 F] [6]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 6 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 18:23-35, Matthew 14:22-32, Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 5:1-11, Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Large Number Of Fish, Take My Yoke, My Yoke Is Easy, Ten Thousand Talents, Three Hundred Denarii, Wicked Slave, Washing Nets, Forgiveness, Peter, Nard, Alabaster Box, Jesus Walks On Water, Expensive Perfume, Mary  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On A Blustery, Stormy, Winter Day, At The Broad ...  PRO

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

On a blustery, stormy, winter day, at the broad intersection on a busy trunk highway, I noticed a man standing near the side of the road. I was on my way home for lunch. The next day he was there again at the same place, and the next day, and for days following. Blizzards came, with cold weather, ...read more

Tags: Enemy, Instruction, God Brings Hope, Prayer, Protection  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist