In Sermon Illustrations: "Ransom From Sin"

The Church--A Hospital For Sinners (The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

The Church--A Hospital for Sinners (The Ragamuffin Gospel) "The Ragamuffin Gospel was written with a specific reading audience in mind. This book is not for the super-spiritual...It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls to rules rather than run the risk of living ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Way Back In January Of 2002 We Taught William ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 3, 2010

Way back in January of 2002 we taught William Fay’s approach to sharing the gospel. It was called “Share Jesus Without Fear.” A part of those sessions dealt with handling objections. "There are many religions in the world. How can you know the right one?" Response: "All religions can be divided ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Pentecostal

It Really Is Finished  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

IT REALLY IS FINISHED After suffering on the cross for six hours, Jesus shouted, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Everything that needed to be done to provide salvation had been accomplished. When former President George W. Bush was asked about regrets during his presidency, Bush answered that he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 19:30

Tags: Cross

Not In Vain

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Apr 9, 2011

NOT IN VAIN In Washington, a Sunday school class was disrupted by a boy who wouldn’t behave. He also kept the other children from paying attention. The faithful teacher became discouraged and felt that his efforts were in vain. The mischievous youngster grew to manhood and travelled west, where he ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Grits And Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2012

GRITS AND GRACE How blessed is the person whose sin God does not take into account. Even if you don’t deserve it; God provides for you. True story. Two pastors were on their way to Atlanta, Georgia for a large Christian men’s gathering. One of them had never been in the south before. After ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:6-11

Tags: Grace

Through The Eyes Of A 3-Year-Old

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

Rena was 3 years old when she went to her first baptismal service. It was new for her and a bit mystifying. As events transpired, she looked up at her father with surprise in her eyes, “Daddy, he pushed that guy under the water? Why did he do that?” The father tried to quietly answer her question ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Baptism, Good Works, Water Baptism, New Start

Denomination: Charismatic

The Man In History Who Refused His Own Pardon

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 18, 2021

In the early 1800’s, President Andrew Jackson issued a full pardon to George Wilson, a man sentenced to be hanged for his crime. However, believe it or not, George Wilson refused the pardon from President Jackson. But could he legally refuse the President’s pardon? Supreme Court Justice John ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Salvation, The Gospel, Pardon, How To Be Saved, Choices, Receiving Christ, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saved People Have Two Birthdays!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 4, 2019

Born Again - John 1:12-13 (Also see John 3:1-16) 12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the (power or authority or) right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: 13. who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13, John 3:1-16

Tags: Born Again, Family Of God

Denomination: Baptist

A Sunday School Teacher Once Asked A Class What ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Nov 16, 2007

A Sunday School teacher once asked a class what was meant by the word "repentance." A little boy put up his hand and said, "It is being sorry for your sins." A little girl also ...read more

Watered-Down Social Gospel

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 25, 2011

WATERED-DOWN SOCIAL GOSPEL Richard Niebuhr rightly challenged the liberal social gospel movement of watering down the offense of the cross with the scathing words, "A God without wrath brought me without sin into a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 8:1-13

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Quotations On Envy

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Dec 12, 2012

QUOTATIONS ON ENVY "I defy you to show me an envious man who is a happy man" (Billy Graham). "Of all the 7 deadly sins, envy's the only one that's 'no fun at all'" (Joseph ...read more

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Congregational

I Wish I Could Live Life Over Again

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jun 14, 2011

I WISH I COULD LIVE LIFE OVER AGAIN I remember when I was an assistant pastor in TN visiting a man who had lived his whole life in sin and selfishness. He finally came to the Lord in his sixties. When he was diagnosed with cancer, I went to visit him at his home shortly before his death. The day ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

John D. Rockefeller's Transformation

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 14, 2012

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER’S TRANSFORMATION John D. Rockefeller, Sr., was strong and husky when he was a youth. He early determined to earn money and drove himself to the limit. At age 33, he earned his first million dollars. At age 43, he controlled the biggest company in the world. At age 53, he was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Tags: Giving General

A Christmas Carol

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 22, 2014

Not that it is in the Bible but a story familiar around this time of the year is Ebenezer Scrooge. Ebenezer is a man incapable of joy. Scrooge is rich, but he lives alone in squalor. He takes pleasure in nothing and is indifferent to human suffering. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by a ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:15

Tags: Christmas, Joy, Scrooge, Joy And Gospel

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Judging God's Mirror

Contributed by David Goering on Sep 1, 2018

Suppose a young couple woke up in the morning after a good night sleep and the husband looked in the mirror on the dresser and became very angry at the reflection because of what he saw... his hair was disheveled and he had a sleep wrinkle that ran down the one side of his face, so he took his ...read more

Scripture: James 1:23-25

Tags: Character, Reflection, Mirror, Gods Word

Some Thoughts About The First Easter

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 25, 2019

Before the first Easter, the world was under a number of separations: --Political distinctions: various nations, but in that time, Roman Empire. Provinces, leaders --Geographical: some traveled far, others stayed near their home territory; Jewish males had to make three trips to Jerusalem ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:20, Daniel 12:1-3

Tags: Easter, The Afterlife

Denomination: Baptist

Just As Recently As This Week, I Was Doing Some ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

Just as recently as this week, I was doing some private devotions and during that time, I always try to read things that confront my own life. I happened to get an article from Leadership Journal, written by Gordon MacDonald. His writings always have provoked me, in fact his book Renewing Your ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Historically Profound Moral Understanding  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2002

HISTORICALLY PROFOUND MORAL UNDERSTANDING COMMUNION MEDITATION Dallas Willard writes: "What Jesus had to say about human good and evil was of sufficient depth, power, and justification to dominate European culture and its offshoots for two millennia. Nobody even has an idea of what 'Europe' and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, James 1:18

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ

I Was Shamed This Week As I Read About The First ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 15, 2007

I was shamed this week as I read about the first time a Hindu chaplain, Rajan Zed, attempted to offer a prayer in the Senate. He was booed and shouted down by three Christians who bellowed out Scriptures to the man and anyone else who could hear. They screamed: “No Lord but Jesus Christ,” and ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Will Rogers – "I Don't Know Any Jokes. I Just ...

Contributed by Rev Dr Randall M Deal Sr on Mar 16, 2008

Will Rogers – “I don’t know any jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” THERESA OF AVILA, A SPANISH NUN said “SHE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS!” She used to look for novices who knew how to LAUGH, EAT AND SLEEP. She believed that if they ate heartily they were healthy, if they slept well ...read more

Tags: Rebellion

Denomination: Baptist