In Sermon Illustrations: "Rest"

The Meaning Of The Cross

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 25, 2011

THE MEANING OF THE CROSS In the 19th century, Armenian Christians, under a Turkish Muslim government, experienced a tremendous amount of persecution. The government lifted the ban on Muslims converting to Christianity in 1856. Then just eight years later, they began arresting these Muslim converts ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-19

Tags: Persecution

Titanic: Code Of Honor

Contributed by Mark Adams on Sep 10, 2011

TITANIC: CODE OF HONOR I bet a lot of you remember the movie Titanic. That song came out, and for a few days we loved Celine Dion, until we'd heard it so many times we started wishing we could put her on that boat to sink with the rest of them. Titanic was a movie that was loosely based on the ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Golden Rule: Is It Original?

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 12, 2011

THE GOLDEN RULE: IS IT ORIGINAL? There are people in this world who think Jesus’ Golden Rule was nice but not original. They try to say that Jesus merely borrowed the idea from others. I once saw a poster that tried to say that. * Confucius (some 500 years before Jesus) said: "DO NOT unto ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

At Christmas All Roads Lead Home

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

AT CHRISTMAS ALL ROADS LEAD HOME Marjorie Holmes writes, "At Christmas, all roads lead home. The filled planes, the packed trains and overflowing buses all speak eloquently of a single destination: home. Despite the crowding and the crushing, the delays, the confusion, we clutch our bright ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Methodist

Unforgettable Bombs - All We Can Do Is Pray?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 30, 2019

Elmer Bendiner, a crewmember in a World War II B-17 bomber, the Tondalayo, was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion, the gas tanks were hit. Later Elmer reflected on the miracle of a 20 mm shell piercing the fuel tank without touching ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11, James 5:15, Psalm 34:15

Tags: Prayer, Power In Prayer, Intersession, Watchman Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Man Of God Who Spoke To Eli, The High Priest

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 23, 2020

Text: 1 Samuel 2:27: And there came a man of God (identity unknown) unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? Thoughts: This unnamed man of God was one of the first to be called a “man of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:27

Tags: Eli, Man Of God

Denomination: Baptist

Sing On: Emperor Penguins

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 4, 2022

LET US STUDY BRIEFLY THE EMPEROR PENGUINS… If you ever study the EMPEROR PENGUIN LIFE JOURNEY you will understand how important SINGING is to them. EMPEROR PENGUINS LOVE TO SING. When the emperor penguins are courting the male and the female BOW and SING to each other. The female sings a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-4, Job 35:10

Tags: Praise, Sing

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Our Family Dog Happy Is A Big Baby! For Such A ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Oct 25, 2007

Our family dog Happy is a big baby! For such a big dog, she is afraid of some of the silliest and smallest things. Recently my wife and I were at the store and our two year son Sebastian saw a toy that he just had to have. It is a plastic ball that has little raised numbers and farm animals on ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Every Branch That Bears Fruit Must Be Pruned To ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jun 14, 2008

Every branch that bears fruit must be pruned to bear much more fruit. I have a tomato plant that has been living for over two years now. Every winter the cold weather and heavy breeze kill more than half of the vines and leafs. If I don't prune the dead, it will spread and kill the whole plant. ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13, John 17:13-21

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Grasping Your Place Greet One ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Grasping Your Place Greet One Another A Necessity in Corporate Worship Christians who get the most out of congregational worship services have learned the joy of greeting their brothers and sisters in Christ. At least four times in the New Testament Christians are told to “Greet one ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:16

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Only I Could Sleep Again

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

"If Only I Could Sleep Again" Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision had advanced leukemia, but he went to visit a colleague 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. She was dying of cancer and had ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale Was A 30 Year ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale was a 30 year old Substitute teacher and bartender in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He and his buddies spent most Sunday afternoons in the Fall either playing football at the park or watching the Philadelphia Eagles play on tv. Week after week they had high hopes, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2023

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-12, Philippians 2:1-11, John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Book Of Life, Return Of Christ, Preachers, Poems, Jesus, Church, Children, Advent, Second Coming, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Expecting Answers To Prayer

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Jun 25, 2024

Several years ago, there was a drought in one city and the pastor of the Church called for a prayer meeting to pray for rain. The prayer meeting was held on a hot summer evening. All the members came out dressed in cool summer clothes since they would be there for a while praying. When Sister Betsy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Expectations, Beliefs

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Only A Few Days Ago I Saw A Video Of The Bradford ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Holdcroft on Nov 8, 2003

Only a few days ago I saw a video of the Bradford City fire disaster, as part of a fire training exercise at work. I was eight years old when it happened, and had heard about it, but I had never seen the footage, that was captured live, by a shocked camera crew who just kept filming. On Saturday ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Pentecostal

David's Demons

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 16, 2010

DAVID'S DEMONS Many years ago I worked in an organisation called SCILS - Sunshine Coast Independent Living Skills. We worked with people who had mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. David (not his real name) was helped to find a place to rent in the community. He had been in danger of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:43-45

Tags: Demons

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[065]. A Message From A Poem – Earth Is Going To Reap Its Sinfulness

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 22, 2025

[065]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EARTH IS GOING TO REAP ITS SINFULNESS “You will get what you deserve!” “I hope you get into lots of trouble.” These may be the sayings of children and the thoughts of adults. What they are all looking to is retribution. Retribution is usually associated with ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 2:2-3

Tags: Retribution, Recompense, Revenge, Accountability, Sinfulness, Sowing, Reaping, Vengeance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 B]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 2

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Nov 1, 2025

[237 B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 2 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39, Luke 15:11-32, John 2:1-11, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 14:22-31, Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Poems, Poetry Reading, Barley Loaves, Mary At The Tomb, Parables, Nicodemus, Temptation Of Christ, Stories, The Sower, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The American Businessman Was At The Pier Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 4, 2001

The American businessman was at the pier of a small costal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them. ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11, John 2:1, Acts 7:54-60, Ecclesiastes 5:18

Tags: Stand

Tony Campolo Tells Of Being Invited To Speak At A ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 10, 2001

Tony Campolo tells of being invited to speak at a ladies meeting. There were 300 women there. Before he spoke the president of the organization read a letter from a missionary. It was a very moving letter. In the letter the missionary expressed a need for $4,000 to take care of an ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ