In Sermon Illustrations: "Purpose Of The Law"

The Culture Of Complaint  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2010

THE CULTURE OF COMPLAINT In 1991, Robert Hughes, an art critic, wrote a book called The Culture of Complaint. His thesis is that we live in a culture in which we perceive ourselves as being entitled to having all our wants and desires fulfilled. When that doesn't happen, we become "victims," we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-21

Tags: God Brings Purpose

We Are Not Just Ants

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jan 20, 2011

WE ARE NOT JUST ANTS Broadway play: Spider Man Green Goblin has Spider Man in his grip as they fight atop the Chrysler Building in NYC. It is hundreds of feet to the ground. The Goblin says to Spider Man, "Look down there Spider Man. What do you see? Look at all those people. They look like ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

Something Beautiful

Contributed by Barry Edmondson on Feb 5, 2011

SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL In 1502, in Florence, Italy there was a large block of marble given to a church in Santa Maria, the church immediately hired who they thought was a professional to sculpt this enormously huge piece of rock. The man was a professional and soon after commencing this great task ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Pentecostal

Everyone Wants To Be A Winner

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011

EVERYONE WANTS TO BE A WINNER You want to know how bad it was to be a New Orleans Saints. Derland Moore, the Saints nose tackle from 1973 to 1985, once was asked what it was like to be a Saint, and said: "We were the league's doormats. When I went out and people would ask me if I played for the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

Blood Flows In The Bomokande  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2011

BLOOD FLOWS IN THE BOMOKANDE In November 1964, anarchy broke out in the Belgian Congo. Assemblies of God missionary J. W. Tucker knew he was at risk, but he stayed where God had placed him. One day, a mob attacked and killed him with sticks, clubs, fists, and broken bottles. They took his body, ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-34

Tags: Church, Missions, Purpose

The More Excellent Way

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 22, 2011

THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY I remember a sermon – years ago, in fact I think I may have preached it during my time here as an intern – where my opening illustration was the difference between the way my father chopped wood and the way I chopped it. You may remember the scene – me as a skinny 18 ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Whispers Are Ours To Hear

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 31, 2011

GOD'S WHISPERS ARE OURS TO HEAR Bill Hybels' book: The Power of the Whisper: "Throughout history God has spoken. For millennia, he has forged his children’s faith by promising parted waters, empowering unlikely leaders, declaring world-changing prophecies-and imparting last-minute sermons to ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Appreciation

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Sep 17, 2011

IN APPRECIATION In Enterprise, Alabama, you will see one of the most unusual monuments ever built. It is a monument to honor the boll weevil, the little insect that nearly destroyed the cotton on which the town's economy depended. Why a monument to so destructive an insect? Because before the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

You Have Value

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 9, 2012

YOU HAVE VALUE I have a here a $20 bill -- how much is it worth? (WHO WANTS IT?) What if I tear it? What if I crumple it up? What if I throw it on the floor and stomp on it? Why? Because it's still a $20 bill. It has intrinsic value that makes it worth $20. But WHY is it worth $20? Is the ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Dream Center

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012

DREAM CENTER At age 16, Matthew Barnett dreamed of a church that would be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year serving the inner-city’s physical and spiritual needs and bringing a message of hope to the hopeless. In 1994 at the age of 20, he moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles to pastor a small ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

Angels Of Reconciliation  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012

ANGELS OF RECONCILIATION With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17, James 2:15-20

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

What Makes Life Worthwhile Is Having A Big ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012

"What makes life worthwhile is having a big enough objective, something which catches our imagination and lays hold of our allegiance, and this the Christian has in a way that no other person has. For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

When We Think About God

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Nov 12, 2012

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT GOD A. W. Tozer says, "What comes to mind when we think about God is ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Lee Dye On New Year's Resolutions

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

LEE DYE ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS Lee Dye writes, “It’s that time of year again when we resolve to get off our duffs and run around the block more often, maybe even cut back on tall of those things which we know we aren’t supposed to eat, or drink or smoke. Ah yes, New Year’s Resolutions which for ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

We Are Meant To Struggle

Contributed by Spencer Miller on May 13, 2013

WE ARE MEANT TO STRUGGLE You remember the story of the little boy who was playing outdoors and found a fascinating caterpillar. He carefully picked it up and took it home to show his mother. He asked his mother if he could keep it, and she said he could if he would take good care of it. The ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Learning/Growth

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 9, 2019

LEARNING MORE? AM I GROWING? COME AND GO WITH ME: TO COCONUT GROVE, THE YEAR IS 1942, SATURDAY NIGHT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND… Doctor VINCENT SENNA was enjoying a meal at the MELODY LOUNGE. The basement lounge was so crowded with people celebrating the holidays. DOCTOR VINCENT SENNA received and urgent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:45

Tags: Plan, Growth, Purpose

Denomination: Assembly Of God

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Is Your Compass?

Contributed by Scott Jensen on May 1, 2008

WHERE IS YOUR COMPASS? Before the days of modern navigational aids, a traveler made the Atlantic crossing in a boat equipped with two compasses. One was fixed to the deck where the man at the wheel could see it. The other compass was fastened up on one of the masts, and often a sailor would be ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Lutheran

If There Is One Thing God Wants Of Us Very ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 13, 2008

If there is one thing God wants of us very desperately in these days, that one thing is RELATIONSHIP. I sincerely believe God wants to renew our relationship with him and is looking to bridge the distance between us. For some, the first step of bridging the distance is having a relationship with ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Salvation Army

Public Opinion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

PUBLIC OPINION Some of you may have seen the joke that circulated this week on e-mail that tries to explain why Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The punch line of the e-mail read, "Even then, men would not stop for directions." While this may not really explain ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose