In Sermon Illustrations: "Retreat"

Anxiety And Relationships

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Anxiety can be the ruin or the salvation of our relationships. It is an alarm mechanism. It alerts us to potential danger. But sometimes it goes off too often or quickly. Sometimes we do not seem able to regulate it. Shocked, we lash out, hold our ground, or retreat. However, anxiety can be our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Anxiety, Relationships

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Repentance Is Not A One-Time Event

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

REPENTANCE IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT Doug Tegner tells the story of attending a one-day leadership retreat called to deal with his church's current crisis. Redwood Chapel was founded in 1962 and has since hosted the Bay Area Sunday School convention (BASS), had strong music programs, planted vibrant ...read more

Tags: Repentance

Denomination: Methodist

For Example, In Late Fall Of 1777, General ...

Contributed by J. Martin on Apr 12, 2005

For example, in late fall of 1777, General George Washington and his rag tag army of militiamen suffered 2 defeats at the hands of the British at Brandywine and Germantown. He and his 11,000 men retreated to Valley Forge, PA to establish winter headquarters. It was a dark time for the revolution. ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Goal

Denomination: Assembly Of God

After Hearing And Reading All The Health Warnings ...  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 6, 2007

After hearing and reading all the health warnings the media consistently blesses us with, someone wrote this tongue-in-cheek observation. "Brace yourself. Somewhere, they’re plotting the scare of the week. Air is polluted; water is too. Fish that swim in it are not good for you. Fresh fruits and ...read more

Tags: Worry, Tongue, Gossip

Denomination: Baptist

Hudson Taylor On Contentment  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Hudson Taylor on Contentment "The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One," said A. W. Tozer. 1. You have His assurance - "for he hath said..." Hudson Taylor the founder of China Inland Mission, was facing a lack of finances in his ministry. He retreated to office and read the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Tags: God's Provision

Obedience, Not Understanding

Contributed by Chris Kelly on Sep 29, 2010

OBEDIENCE, NOT UNDERSTANDING Our denomination has a Pastor’s Retreat every year up in the mountains of S. Cal. As I was walking to breakfast one morning, I came across a monument that explained that when Billy Graham first started preaching, he was confused and had some doubts about God’s Word. ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Wesleyan

Picking The Wrong Door

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

PICKING THE WRONG DOOR Stuart Briscoe, in his book Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People, tells the story about a fellow pastor who was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man’s military friends wanted to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Leadership General

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fathers Protect Their Nests

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Fathers Protect Their Nests There was a hunter on a hunting expedition in the Amazon. It was the last day of the trip. He rose early in the morning to enjoy one more day in the jungle. As he was watching the sun rise, he noticed a family of large birds. The mother bird is tending to the baby ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Denomination: Pentecostal

Trust In God's Power Preserves Austrian Town From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

Trust in God’s Power Preserves Austrian Town from Napoleon Napoleon’s army was camped on the hills above the border town of Feldkirch, Austria poised to attack. On Easter Sunday morning, the citizens met to decide whether to try to defend themselves or surrender. The pastor rose and addressed the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 68:32-38

Tags: Trust, God's Sovereignty

The Faith Of Stonewall Jackson

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2021

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture Gods and Generals that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never more strikingly ...read more

Tags: Courage, Will Of God, Civil War, Sovereignty Of God, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Sovereign God Has Fixed The Time For My Death

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 10, 2024

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture, "Gods and Generals", that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Death, Chosen, Election, Free Will, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Man's Choice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Little Boy Was Eagerly Looking Forward To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated to let his son go. The youngster reacted tearfully. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Tags: God's Provision, Philippians

Denomination: Baptist

A Little Boy Was Eagerly Looking Forward To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 5, 2001

A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated to let his son go. The youngster reacted tearfully. ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Napoleon's Armies Swept Across Europe, One ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Jan 14, 2003

"When Napoleon’s armies swept across Europe, one of his generals was preparing to attack the little town of Feldkirch on the Austrian border. It was Easter and the citizens gathered to decide whether to resist or surrender. The pastor told the people that they had been continuing on their own ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Prayer Answered

Denomination: United Methodist

In His Book, "How Great Generals Win", Bevin ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian Atwood on Nov 23, 2004

In his book, "How Great Generals Win", Bevin Alexander tells of "The General Who Beat Hannibal". One of Hannibal’s most effective tactics was the use of elephants in battle. For years Roman soldiers and horses were ineffective against the elephants - until the Roman general Scipio Africanus made ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Baptist

Years Ago, E. Stanley Jones, The Great Methodist ...

Contributed by Michael Snow on Aug 13, 2008

Years ago, E. Stanley Jones, the great Methodist Missionary to India, would conduct special meetings that he called "ashrams." An ashram was a special time set aside for spiritual growth. It’s what we might call a retreat. Dr. Jones always began his ashrams by passing out pieces of paper and ...read more

Tags: Possession

Denomination: Baptist

A Heavily Booked Commercial Flight ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Oct 20, 2008

ILLUSTRATION: A heavily booked commercial flight out of Denver was canceled, and a single agent was rebooking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the front and slapped his ticket down on the counter. "I have to be on this flight and it has to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Humor

Safe Rooms

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2011

SAFE ROOMS Lynne and I and the family were moving to Tulsa from Missouri and were looking at potential homes. One thing we came across was a house with a 'safe room' or actually only a 'safe closet'. A closet, which served as a coat closet near the front door, was built with steel walls and a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Tags: Unbelief

My First Assignment 35 Years Ago Was To An Inner ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 16, 2004

My first assignment 35 years ago was to an inner city parish in Wshington,D.C. Money was stolen from my room; the garage mechanic said my gas tank may have been sabotaged, destroying my engine; one weekend we had 34 windows broken in the school. When a new pastor was sent,the parish held a party ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love