In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of Life"

What Is Sixty Years

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

WHAT IS SIXTY YEARS What is sixty years worth? The last sixty years have paid tribute to the election of ten U.S. Presidents. Yuri Gagarin, sixty years ago in April, rocketed into history as the first human to travel beyond the clouds, and to orbit around the earth for nearly two hours. Sixty ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Lutheran

Nothing Is Hidden From God

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2011

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM GOD R.C. Sproul: "There are many things in my life that I do not want to put under the gaze of Christ. Yet I know there is nothing hidden from Him. He knows me better than my wife knows me. And yet He loves me. This is the most amazing thing of all about God’s grace. It ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:13, Hebrews 4:13-16

Tags: God's Omniscience

Strength Won't Do It

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 30, 2011

STRENGTH WON'T DO IT My Dad died in Dec 04. He was the strongest man I ever knew...he was the most honest man I ever knew….he was a good farmer...good mechanic ...good Dad...good husband...but he wasn't strong enough to defeat death. If I could write down the good deeds my Dad done in his life on ...read more

Tags: Sin, Work, Judgment, Saved, Forgive  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Study Of Impatience

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

A STUDY OF IMPATIENCE In March of 2006, the Associated Press and Ipsos surveyed 1,003 adults concerning Americans’ attitudes and behavior regarding impatience. Some of the findings included: • While waiting in line at an office or store, it takes an average of 17 minutes for most people to lose ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit

Martin Sheen's Faith

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 2, 2012

MARTIN SHEEN'S FAITH Former Hollywood bad boy Martin Sheen says watching his son, Charlie Sheen, lead a similarly decadent life fills him with remorse. He worries that he learned to be a father too late. He particularly regrets his failure to share his faith. "I never lost my faith," Sheen says. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

Unaware Of The King's Presence  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2012

UNAWARE OF THE KING’S PRESENCE Steve Brown tells the frustrating story of some British social scientists. Following the end of British rule in India in the 1940s, a group of researchers wanted to study the impact of the end of British rule on the life of the nation. After six months, the British ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-16

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

How To Promote Good Health In Infants

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

HOW TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH IN INFANTS A person who is "born again" starts a new life similar to that of a newborn infant. Seven rules that promote good health in babies can be adapted and applied to a Christian’s spiritual growth. 1. Daily Food. Take in the "pure milk of the word" through study ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Growth In Christ

Marriage Takes Hard Work

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Aug 28, 2012

MARRIAGE TAKES HARD WORK Good marriages are designed in heaven, but they are made on earth. And it takes hard work. It reminds me of the pastor of a big city church who ran an ad for a caretaker/housekeeper. The next day, a well-dressed young man appeared at the pastor's door. But before he ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Critics

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 18, 2013

If there is one glaring fault in my ministry, it has been to allow others to blur my vision and that of the church. To take away any enthusiasm and joy. No matter what you do in life, you are going to have critics. The only people who don’t hear criticism are the ones not doing anything. Paul ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Discouragement, Complaining

Denomination: Christian Church

Where Are The Happiest Kids?

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Feb 7, 2013

WHERE ARE THE HAPPIEST KIDS? Where do the happiest kids in the world live? A study released in 2012 titled "The New Definition of Childhood" produced by an agency headquartered in Chicago found that the happiest kids in the world live in Mexico--despite its many social ills and widespread ...read more

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Baptist

Who Am I?  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Feb 26, 2013

WHO AM I? The German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, used to love to take long walks of a summer evening, meditating and thinking. On one occasion he was seated in a park when a suspicious policeman noticed that he had been there for several hours. The policeman came up to him and said, "What are you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Jesus Used Parables

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 16, 2013

WHY JESUS USED PARABLES The following thoughts reveal why Jesus used the parabolic method (They are adapted from - All the Parables of The Bible by Herbert Lockyer). • Parables attract attention and when fully understood are sure to be remembered. They are a great help for our short-term ...read more

Tags: Parables, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith When Faced With Death?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Sechler on Jan 25, 2014

My son, Micah died in 2012 from kidney disease and complications. As he lay dying I wrote this in my journal: "Sitting at the bedside of my dying son at 3:48 in the morning. Weeping like crazy. Bertrand Russell once said that 'no one can sit at the bedside of dying child and believe in God.' Well ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Faith, Trial, Child Death, Belief In God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Two Upper Rooms

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 24, 2014

In his book Life Looks Up, Charles Templeton remarks how ironic it is that the course of human history has been affected so positively and negatively by events that have occurred in two small upper rooms. One of them is a drab apartment in London's Westside, dirty, curtain less, with stacks of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-28

Tags: Last Supper, Lord's Supper, Upper Room

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believers Throughout Church History – The Early ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 6, 2007

Believers throughout church history – the early church fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans – have been inspired by Scripture to reduce spiritually to two lists known as “the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues” of saintliness. The sin list includes pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lamak Was Born Into A Wealthy, Powerful Muslim ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Jun 7, 2007

Lamak was born into a wealthy, powerful Muslim family in South Asia. His family’s reputation put pressure on him to live like a Muslim. Everything changed when Lamak turned his life over to Jesus Christ while working in Singapore. When he returned home four years later, he accepted the risks ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Read A Fable About A Man Who Was Browsing In A ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 18, 2007

I read a fable about a man who was browsing in a store when he made the shocking discovery that God was behind a sales counter. So the man walked over and asked, "What are You selling?" God replied, "What does your heart desire?" The man said, "I want happiness, peace of mind, and freedom ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Well, In Nascar Racing, Nearly Every Car Has A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Well, in NASCAR racing, nearly every car has a sponsor. Sponsors are the people who supply the racer with the resources to run the race. Often they’ll supply the car, the engine, the tires, and the funding for the pit crew. They are the people that make it possible for the driver to win the race. ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Warren Bennis In "Why Leaders Can't Lead", ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Warren Bennis in "Why Leaders Can’t Lead", writes: "The flying Wallendas are perhaps the world’s greatest family of aerialists and tightrope walkers.... I was struck with (Karl Wallenda’s) capacity for concentration on the intention, the task, the decision. I was even more intrigued when, several ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

The Happy Hypocrite." It Is A Story About A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“The Happy Hypocrite." It is a story about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity. He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. On his way he discovered a beautiful mask that fit his making him look handsome. At first the ...read more

Tags: Grace