In Sermon Illustrations: "Rewards For Believers"

Messiah Sighting In Brooklyn

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

MESSIAH SIGHTING IN BROOKLYN In 1993 I saw a news report on T.V. it was about a "Messiah sighting" in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Twenty thousand Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews live in Crown Heights, and many of them believed the Messiah was dwelling among them in the person of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Tags: Jesus Christ

Famous Hoaxes On April Fools Day & Skepticism

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 16, 2018

It’s ironic that this year Easter falls on April Fools day. Have you ever fallen for an April Fools joke or prank? I know as a kid there was always some classmate pulling a prank on someone, with the rest of us in on it and watching that poor soul make a fool of themselves by believing the prank. ...read more

Tags: Doubt, Skepticism, Hoaxes

Denomination: Christian Church

Evidences Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Evidences of Salvation Repentance The truths relating to man’s acceptance of God’s great salvation are reflected through repentance, faith and obedience. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church in Colosse was, “…That [they] live a life ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:10

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes-These Men Of Damascus Saved Saul’s Life!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 22, 2021

Text, Acts 9:23-25, KJV: 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. Thoughts: ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:23-25, 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

Tags: Persecution, Saul Of Tarsus, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

When A Thief Was Surprised At Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 13, 2023

When I was pastoring in Texas, something strange happened one Christmas that I will never stop laughing about. Because it was a Christmas holiday, we were at home with our family taking a break from our normal ministry schedule. We did not go to the church campus for the weekend. But, while we ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Pastors, Tithing, Robbing God, Stealing, Surprises, Church, Giving, Humor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Islam  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2002

ISLAM What’s the main idea? On his many caravan rides along the trading route between Syria and Arabia, a merchant named Muhammad observed people of all kinds of faiths. He became increasingly concerned that people were straying from ethical and moral responsibility. In A.D. 610, ...read more

Tags: World Religions

Note: This Was The Introduction To A Sermon On ...  PRO

Contributed by Anthony Seel on Feb 5, 2006

Note: this was the introduction to a sermon on Elisha’s healing miracle in the cited chapter, and Jesus’ healing miracles in Mark 1:29-39. Title: The CSI Effect- A crime scene investigator from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was dusting for fingerprints in a home that had been ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Lutheran

Stanley Hauerwas And William Willimon Open Their ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 19, 2006

Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon open their book Resident Aliens with the following: Sometime between 1960 and 1980, an old, inadequately conceived world ended…and a new world began. When and how did we change? Although it may sound trivial, one of us is tempted to date the shift sometime on ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-10

Denomination: Wesleyan

Our Need For Pain  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

OUR NEED FOR PAIN There is no tougher dilemma in the Christian life than the problem of pain. It could be the pain of broken relationship, the pain of rejection, or the pain of insults. Or it could just be plain old physical pain. Nothing tests the faith like pain. It was physical pain that ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Ignoring The Barriers Of The Past

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

IGNORING THE BARRIERS OF THE PAST Every four years, the world’s attention turns to the summer Olympic games. For a few days, men and women from around the globe gather to compete against the best. Amazing records are broken and new ones are set at these games. The Four-Minute-Mile: Just a few ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:1-8, Deuteronomy 2:1-3, Ecclesiastes 9:10

Tags: Encouragement

Are You Conected To The Power Source?

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

A missionary named Herbert Jackson ... was a given car when he arrived on ... the mission field. It had one problem... it would not start ... without a push. After pondering his problem, ... he devised a plan. He went to the local school near his home, ... and received permission to take a few ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Power, Force, Overflow, Connected, Beliver, Missionary, Spirit, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

How Much Coffee Is Too Much Coffee?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 15, 2022

I will be the first to confess that I love my coffee, especially in the morning. When anybody asks how much coffee is enough, I usually say, “Just one more cup.” My day cannot get started until I’ve had a sufficient amount of coffee. If I don’t have enough coffee when I meet somebody, they will ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:8

Tags: Coffee, Serial

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroines-The Widow Of Zarephath

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 4, 2022

Introduction: this widow woman probably wasn’t even an Israelite but she believed the words of Elijah, the prophet of the LORD, God of Israel. She received much more than she gave Elijah! Text: 1 Kings 17:8-16, KJV: 8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Widow Of Zarephath, Unsung Heroines, Elijah

Denomination: Baptist

In England, There Is A Paper Factory That Makes ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 9, 2001

In England, there is a paper factory that makes the finest stationery in the world. One day, a man touring the factory asked what it was made from. He was shown a huge pile of old rags and told that the rag content was what determined the quality of the paper. The visitor couldn’t believe ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Becoming A Christian, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Swindoll's Observation: Moses  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Apr 4, 2002

Swindoll’s observation, MOSES p. 107) I believe there are many who have not responded to God’s call on their lives--many who may miss opportunities to flame brightly for Him, like a radiant city shining on a hilltop. I speak to so many who are waiting for some kind of curious sign in the heavens, ...read more

Tags: Moses, Faith, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

Poem: Praise The Lord  PRO

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Nov 11, 2002

Poem: Praise The Lord Praise Him when the sun is shining, When the winds of trouble blow, When you see no silver lining, On the clouds that hand so low. Praise illumines clouds of sorrow, Turns the gray skies into gold, Giving promise of a ‘morrow Bright with blessings manifold. Praise Him when ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Tags: Worship Definition

Denomination: Baptist

Payday Someday  PRO

Contributed by Joel Preston on Nov 15, 2002

PAYDAY SOMEDAY An Atheist farmer often ridiculed people who believed in God. He wrote the following letter to the editor of a local newspaper: “I plowed on Sunday, planted on Sunday, cultivated on Sunday, and hauled my crops on Sunday; but I never went to church on Sunday. Yet, I harvested more ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, God's Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

You And I Were Born Into That Darkness. Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Jan 18, 2003

You and I were born into that darkness. Many people don’t believe that. In fact in a Barna poll 74% of Americans said that people were born neither good nor bad (Forward in Christ, Dec. 2002, p. 28). That illustrates how thick the darkness is. We don’t realize how lost and helpless we naturally ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14-16, Ezra 18:19-22

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Lutheran

It's Only Words, And Words Are All I Have, To ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 24, 2003

“It’s only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away” - The Bee Gees When the Gibb brothers put their heads together in 1968 to write their song, “Words”, they said a lot more than what comes off the surface. In the main line of the song they manage to convey the message that ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Communication General, Romantic Love

Denomination: Orthodox

S. D. Gordon Tells Of A Spring Storm That Broke A ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Nov 4, 2003

S. D. Gordon tells of a spring storm that broke a large limb on his cherry tree. Although it hung by a very slender strand, to his surprise the blossoms came anyway. Later some fruit began to grow as it did on the other branches. He noticed, however, that only those in full contact with the tree ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist