In Sermon Illustrations: "Real Friend"

Spiritual Leadership

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 9, 2007

Spiritual Leadership Samuel Logan Brengle said: Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion, but by prayers and tears. It is attained by much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold, uncompromising, and uncomplaining embracing of ...read more

Denomination: Other

If We Set Ourselves Up As The Judge Of Who Is And ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 11, 2007

If we set ourselves up as the Judge of who is and is not righteous, we’ll get it wrong as often as we’ll get it right. Through the years I’ve had numerous occasions when folks warned me to watch out for other people in a church. The amazing thing is that --- in almost every case --- the people I ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Is Possible To Be A Follower Of Jesus ...

Contributed by Robbie Parsons on Feb 17, 2008

It is possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple; to be a camp follower without being a soldier of the king; to be a hanger-on in some great work without pulling one’s weight. Someone was talking to a great scholar about a younger man. He said, “So and so tells me that he was ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Process-Oriented God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 26, 2010

The following thoughts are from Sy Rogers: God is event and process oriented – Most Christians are only event orientated. But the development of a baby is a process caused by one passionate event in the bedroom. Birth is an event but there is a process of growth and maturity. God will not zap a ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of Uncle George

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 22, 2010

THE STORY OF UNCLE GEORGE Being honest is not always easy. The children in a prominent family decided to give their father a book of the family's history for a birthday present. They commissioned a professional biographer to do the work, carefully warning him of the family's "black sheep" ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Brethren

Flood Stories

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 17, 2011

FLOOD STORIES One evidence that the Genesis flood was a real event is the prevalence of flood stories in other ancient cultures, remnants of the story passed on by Noah’s descendants, stories corrupted as his descendants forgot the one true God. The Mesopotamian flood story describes their gods ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

Signs Only Expose Reality

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 14, 2009

SIGNS ONLY EXPOSE REALITY Signs do not create a reality; they merely expose it. For example, a sign on a highway may read "Chicago: 160 miles". If we changed the sign to read "60 miles" instead, it wouldn't change the fact that Chicago is really 160 miles away. Truth doesn't change, no matter ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Independent/Bible

S. Lewis Johnson Wrote In His Article Entitled ...

Contributed by Doyle Hayes on Jul 7, 2009

S. Lewis Johnson wrote in his article entitled “The Paralysis of Legalism” One of the most serious problems facing the orthodox church today is the problem of legalism. One of the most serious problems facing the church in Paul’s day was the problem of legalism. In every day it is the same. ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Baptist

Gandhi Wanted To Be A Christian...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2021

Gandhi, wrote in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert, since Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Tags: Lost, Last Words, Evangelism, Death, Church, Missions, Witnessing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Words Really Do Matter!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2024

The children in a prominent family decided to create for their father’s birthday a book of the family’s history. They commissioned a professional biographer to do the work, carefully warning him of the family’s "black sheep" problem: Uncle George had actually been executed in the electric ...read more

Tags: Words, Tongue, Obituary, Family, Mouth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer For New Year

Contributed by Samuel M on Jan 4, 2025

Let you find Christ in greater measure this year satisfying your needs, nourishing your heart, guiding and leading you through still and dark waters. Let not a day pass by without seeing the face of Jesus. Let Jesus become real to you and everything else fade away. Let his face be the first thing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7

Tags: Faith, Hope

On The Final Page Of The Final Book Of C. S. ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Oct 24, 2004

On the final page of the final book of C. S. Lewis’ work entitled The Chronicles of Narnia, some of the children who have been to Narnia lament that they once again must return to their homeland. But Aslan (the lion who represents Jesus) has the best news of all for the children. “[Aslan speaks ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Methodist

2. Cal And Rose Samra Share This Story From Holy ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 8, 2005

2. Cal and Rose Samra share this story from Holy Hilarity: From Rev. John L. Wallace. Christmas: It wasn’t long ago that a psychologists started telling us that the ‘holidays’ are not a source of joy for everyone. Like the drunk I encountered on the subway on Christmas Eve, they’ve been told the ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is A True Story, Written By Emory Thomas ...

Contributed by Pat Cook on Oct 16, 2005

This is a true story, written by Emory Thomas Jr., and was printed in the Wall Street Journal. Ernest “Bud” Miller was the president and chief executive officer of Arvida, which is a real-estate company. Mr. Miller closed regional offices, reorganized departments, and laid off half of his work ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

On The Final Page Of The Final Book Of The ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Nov 23, 2005

On the final page of the final book of The Chronicles of Narnia, some of the children who have been to Narnia lament that they once again must return to their homeland—the Shadow-Lands. But Aslan (the lion who represents Jesus) has the best news of all for them: [Aslan spoke to the children,] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Baptist

In The Classic Christmas Movie From 1947, "A ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Dec 24, 2007

In the classic Christmas movie from 1947, “A Miracle on 34th St.,” a young and skeptical girl named Susan goes up to Santa in the middle of Macy’s department store, which this year is not being manned by a fake Santa, but the real Kris Kringle. The little girl goes up to Santa and he says, “Well ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

War On Poverty Fails

Contributed by T D on Dec 28, 2010

WAR ON POVERTY FAILS I don't think any of us would consider ourselves to be wealthy when it comes to the top level of money makers in the USA, and while we clearly are not as well off as we were a year ago, our level of wealth and possibilities of being able to make a living far surpasses most of ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Blood Of Lambs

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

THE BLOOD OF LAMBS I just finished a very moving book called, "The Blood of Lambs" by Kamal Saleem (Howard Books, 2009). He describes his life as a terrorist and how he hated Israel and America. He also couldn't stand Christians--that is, until God brought some Christian men into his life after he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Islam

A Neighbor On The Other Side Of The World  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2004

A NEIGHBOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD Pastor David Jeremiah tells a story about Bob Pierce. Pierce had advanced leukemia. But he went to visit a friend in Indonesia before he died. As they were walking through a small village, they came upon a young girl lying on a bamboo mat next to a river. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Parable Good Samaritan

Joni's Story

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 16, 2009

JONI'S STORY Joni Eareckson Tada is an American Christian author, artist, and founder and CEO of Joni and Friends, an "organization accelerating Christian ministry in the disability community". She wrote an autobiography entitled Joni and appeared in a film of the same name. She has a daily radio ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist