In Sermon Illustrations: "Reason"

Wise Men Came From Afar

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 5, 2010

WISE MEN CAME FROM AFAR Most people know that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, but they really do not understand as much as we think they do. In a small Southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bangedy Bang

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

BANGEDY BANG A soldier in the heat of battle had his gun jam on him. The enemy was charging straight for him and he was defenseless, desperate! For some unknown reason he pointed his finger at the man and said "Bangedy bang" and the guy fell down dead. He looked at his hand and thought, wow! ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: War

When Does The Size Of A House Become Sinful?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

WHEN DOES THE SIZE OF A HOUSE BECOME SINFUL? Several years ago, Millard Fuller of Habitat for Humanity addressed the National Press Club on public radio, on which he recalled a workshop he conducted at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with 200 pastors in attendance. The assembled pastors quickly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Daniel 1:5-16

Tags: Greed

Don't Waste Your Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper recounts a story his father often told of his days as a fiery Baptist evangelist. It is the story of a man who came to saving faith in Jesus Christ near the end of his earthly existence. Piper writes: "The church had prayed for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Conscience

The Difference Between Life And Death  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2012

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH In his book Winning Life’s Toughest Battles, psychologist Julius Segal wrote about the 25,000 soldiers who were held by the Japanese in POW camps during World War II. "Forced to exist under inhumane conditions, many of them died. Others, however, survived and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Tags: God Brings Hope

People Are Special!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 17, 2020

Aug. 13, 2020 (UPI) -- A 95-year-old California man known to neighbors as "Bicycle Bob" was treated to a celebration after he logged his 100,000th mile of cycling… he took up cycling when he retired in the 1990s and has been logging his miles ever since. Mettauer logged his 100,000th ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Tags: Man, Ability, Mankind, Human, Dignity Of Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Effective Greeting

Contributed by Richard Tow on Nov 17, 2020

We are to connect with other people in an attractive way. Evangelism depends on it. The unity of the Body of Christ depends on it. When we lived in Kansas City, we visited Impact Church. As we walked into the foyer of that large church, we were greeted by a lady who drew us in immediately. She ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:21-23, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, Romans 15:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Outreach, Acceptance, Inclusiveness, Greet, Friendliness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Doubt - The Devil's Most Powerful Weapon

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

Have you noticed that the first words we have recorded of Satan was a question of doubt? According to Genesis 3:1, he was trying to plant the seed of doubt in Eve’s heart concerning what God had said. There’s an old fable that says the Devil once held a sale and offered all the tools of his trade ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Salvation, Discouragement, Assurace, Fear, Doubt, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Cannot Swim To Hawaii

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

If you put three swimmers on the coast of California and ask them to swim to Hawaii, the Olympic swimmer might swim 500 miles before she dies. The second swimmer might be a good swimmer and swim 25 miles before he dies. The last swimmer does not know how to swim very well and swims only one mile ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29, John 8:58, Matthew 25:31-33

Tags: Jesus Is The Way, Other Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pierced By The Word Of God - The Hell Fire Club

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 19, 2025

When God wills it, ... his word can pierce anyone. As a certain Mr. Thorpe in 18th century Bristol ... found out. Thorpe was a part of a band of men who called themselves, ... the "Hell Fire Club." Their reason for existence ... was to mock and ridicule the work of the famed ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Pierce, Word, Scripture, Sword

Denomination: Anglican

The Name Auschwitz Brings Terror And Grief To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The name AUSCHWITZ brings terror and grief to the hearts of many people. It is the sight of an infamous NAZI DEATH CAMP where 4 million Jews died during World War II. A half-ton of hair is still PRESERVED. The SHOWERS that once sprayed POISON GAS still stand. Maximillian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

Information Below Taken From J.c. Willke's Book ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 22, 2008

Information below taken from J.C. Willke’s book ABORTION AND SLAVERY: Slavery: Dred Scott 1857 7-2 Decision The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that black people were not legal persons, therefore they had no legal rights. They were the property of the owner. They could choose to sell, buy or even ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Statements From Actual Resumes And Job ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Jul 23, 2008

Statements from actual resumes and job applications – ones you might want to file these under the category of “what not to use” on a resume or application. First this one – it was under the “qualifications” line on a resume. “I was wholly responsible for two failed financial institutions.” That ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Man Learns To Forgive His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Man Learns to Forgive His Enemy The apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). We don’t serve in order to merit God’s forgiveness. We serve because we have already received God’s forgiveness. And our service is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others

When I Was In High School, My Thoughts Were; To ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Aug 30, 2010

When I was in high school, my thoughts were; to graduate, get a really good job and make lots of money and then live happily ever after. So, you can imagine what ran through my mind when I saw my ideal job being advertised in the paper. The ad read something like this: I need one young man who is ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Zeal

Denomination: *other

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

At What Age Should A Pastor Retire?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 3, 2020

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD A PASTOR RETIRE? TEN DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS There are a lot of Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it’s cliché, but they aren’t getting any younger. It’s a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Retirement, Aging, Pastors, Missionaries, Paul And Timothy, Baby Boomers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Like Snow—like Scarlet?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 24, 2024

Introduction: Even a small yet honest mistake can have long-lasting effects! Text: Isaiah 1:18, KJV: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I used to wash my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

Tags: Forgiveness, Sin, Clothes

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago, Bill Cosby Began His Book, ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

ILL. A few years ago, Bill Cosby began his book, "Fatherhood," with these words: "So you’ve decided to have a child. You’ve decided to give up quiet evenings with good books & lazy weekends with good music, intimate meals during which you finish whole sentences, sweet private times when you’ve ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Father's Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lion Was Proud Of His Mastery Of The Animal ...  PRO

Contributed by Bart Leger on Mar 15, 2001

The lion was proud of his mastery of the animal kingdom. One day he decided to make sure all the other animals knew he was the king of the jungle. He was so confident that he by-passed the smaller animals and went straight to the bear. "Who is the king of the jungle?" the lion asked. The bear ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Tags: Emotions, Humility, Temptation Pride

Denomination: Independent/Bible