In Sermon Illustrations: "Ransom From Sin"

Warren Wiersbe On True Worship  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2011

WARREN WIERSBE ON TRUE WORSHIP Warren Wiersbe, in his book on True Worship, says, "We must beware of trying to get chummy with God. I know the apostle John leaned on the bosom of Jesus in the Upper Room; but he fell at the feet of Jesus when he beheld Him in His sovereign glory (Revelation 1:17)." ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Worship Definition

What Do Americans Love More Than Money?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2011

WHAT DO AMERICANS LOVE MORE THAN MONEY? Most Americans love money, but we love something even more: security. According to a 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of U.S. adults prefer a job that offers better security over one that offers higher pay but less stability (33 percent). ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Tags: Security

An Everyday Lady

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

AN EVERYDAY LADY On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to obey a bus driver’s order to give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. At the time of her action, Rosa Parks served as the secretary of her local NAACP chapter. But even so, she acted as a private ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Good Timing

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

GOOD TIMING Actress Shirley McLaine a new ager, was conducting one of her seminars at the Long Beach Arena teaching people about their own divinity. During the seminar, she had everyone light a candle. They turned off the lights so those candles could be seen shining in the dark. She said, "Just ...read more

Tags: Atheism

The Sufferings Of The Pilgrims

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 3, 2011

THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PILGRIMS The sufferings of these pilgrims has been a theme often repeated and yet it remains an amazing story. Within three months of the Mayflower landing in December 1620, only about fifty of the original hundred survived. Their graves had to be unmarked and grassed over to ...read more

Tags: Independence Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Love So Faint, Thine So Great

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jul 28, 2011

OUR LOVE SO FAINT, THINE SO GREAT The great hymn writer, Isaac Watts, once asked in a hymn: "Dear Lord, and shall we ever live at this poor dying rate? Our love so faint, so cold to Thee, and Thine to us so great?" Likely so, unless God himself startles us and shakes us free from our complacency. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Focus On Christ

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 25, 2011

FOCUS ON CHRIST The healthiest people do not think about their health; the weak induce disease by morbid introspection. If you begin to count your heartbeats, you will disturb the rhythmic action of the heart. If you continually imagine a pain anywhere, you will produce it. And there are some ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Baptist

A Bankrupt Nation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

A BANKRUPT NATION John MacArthur in his book “Can God Bless America” states that "America wants God's blessing but not God. Our nation has systematically pushed Him out of the national consciousness--rejecting biblical morality, ignoring His Word, and relying on the political and entertainment ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, Romans 1:18-32

Tags: America

The Fellowship Of His Suffering

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Sep 13, 2011

THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING "Paul Marshall of the Hudson Institute estimates that at least 600 million -- and maybe closer to 700 million -- Christians world-wide are experiencing some level of persecution. That means roughly one in every three people who profess the name of Christ is ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Persecution In Nigeria

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Oct 10, 2011

PERSECUTION IN NIGERIA Muslim extremists carried out new attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state in September, killing more than 100 Christians, including entire families, according to Compass Direct News. On Sept. 10, 2011, Muslim extremists stormed Vwang Fwil village at 3 a.m., killing ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Select The Greatest Gift

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 11, 2011

SELECT THE GREATEST GIFT Even people of this world know the value of a thoughtful gift. When Pastor John Bisagno was working as chaplain to the Houston Oilers, the players gave him an autographed football which every player had signed inscribed with a Scripture from the Bible. Whenever he looks ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Veto Power

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 28, 2012

VETO POWER Before democracy arrived in Poland, the country was run by Lords and rich landowners – the nobility from all over the country. The senate filled with these noblemen would make decisions for the country but they always had a hard time getting much done – why? Because every member of the ...read more

Tags: Power

Denomination: Lutheran

A Cat And A Hot Stove

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2012

A CAT AND A HOT STOVE Mark Twain once said, "If a cat sits on a hot stove, that cat will never sit on a hot stove again." He continued, "That cat will never sit on a cold stove either." His conclusion: That cat will associate stoves with a bad, hot experience and say, "Never again!" We all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Paper Mud ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2012

PAPER MUD BALLS I heard of a traveler going through China who visited a temple where the people were making paper mud balls, wadding them up, and throwing them at an idol they were worshiping. If the mud ball stuck to the idol it meant that the idol would answer their prayers. If the mud ball ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15

Tags: Prayer Answered

The Importance Of Having The Right Desires Is ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Dec 29, 2012

The importance of having the right desires is illustrated in the Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This film contains a powerful theme of REDEMPTION. Hollywood could not come up with a film like this today! If you remember the story, George’s life is falling apart because he DESIRES ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Disappointment, Heart's Desires

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Be God's Instrument

Contributed by David Dewitt on Apr 2, 2013

TO BE GOD'S INSTRUMENT Ah to be your instrument O God, like Paul to the Gentiles, like Philipp to the eunuch, like Jesus to the world, to be your instrument. To be like a scalpel in the gentle hands of a surgeon, healing and mending. To be like the plow in the weathered hands of the farmer, sowing ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Church Of God

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

Fail In Order To Succeed

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 15, 2017

An old axiom says that failure is the stepping stone to success. Are we afraid of failure? The road to success is paved with failures. Before the farmer in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) had a successful crop he failed in three areas. We fail in these same areas. We allow the devil to snatch ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Sower, Success, Failure, Parable Of Sower, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Success Is Often Earned On Hard Rough Roads

Contributed by Tim Baker on Dec 21, 2017

I don't always agree with positive thinking ideals. I don't think a person has to believe in themselves, believe that they will be successful before attempting something. I think a person achieves more things then they ever thought they could simply because they attempted them. Sorry Yoda and Star ...read more

Tags: Try Again, Success In Life, Perseverance, Success, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Deer Become Thirsty

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

There are 2 times when a deer develops tremendous thirst - one is when he is running from danger, the other is when he is facing an opponent in combat. When he is hunted, he will take to the river and stay submerged as long as he can hold his breath. He will then swim downstream in the middle so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 42:2

Tags: Psalms, Worship, Deer, Hungry For God, Longing For God, Thirsting For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational