In Sermon Illustrations: "Rewards For Believers"

The New Command Is Simple Enough For A Toddler ...

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jan 7, 2010

The new command is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate, profound enough that the most mature believers are repeatedly embarrassed at how poorly they comprehend it and put it into practice: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another…The more we recognize ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, D.a. Carson

Denomination: Baptist

Shallow ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

SHALLOW LIVES A few statistics clarify a problem. The figures I have are from five years ago, but I believe the comparisons are still the same. Americans gave $2.9 billion dollars to overseas missions. That sounds pretty good until you find out that we spend $8.4 billion to see movies, $13 billion ...read more

Tags: Materialism

In A Speck Of Watery Material Smaller Than The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

In a speck of watery material smaller than the dot over this i, all the future characteristics of the child are programmed—the color of his skin, eyes and hair, the shape of his facial features, the natural abilities he will have. All that the child will be physically and mentally is contained in ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Too Close To Where I Got In

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

TOO CLOSE TO WHERE I GOT IN Vance Havner said it this way: "Too many of us today are shaky about what we believe, BUT NOT SHAKEN BY WHAT WE BELIEVE." Our faith doesn’t shake us or have a hold on us. A little boy fell out of his bed. When his mama asked him what happened, he said, "I don’t know. ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Weird Christians

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

WEIRD CHRISTIANS Unchurched Americans think Christians are weird, but it’s not for the reason you might think. Fifty-seven percent of the unchurched wonder why Christian friends and neighbors never talk with them about spiritual matters. To the majority of those outside the church, believers are ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Biblical Truth

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 3, 2009

BIBLICAL TRUTH Both George Gallup and George Barna, eminent pollsters and close church observers, have noted declining biblical literacy in the church. The majority of born-again Christian do not believe in absolute truth. 60% of Americans can’t name five of the Ten Commandments. 50% of high ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Pentecostal

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer, Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Doing What Feels Right  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2002

DOING WHAT FEELS RIGHT Although most Americans claim to be religious, that is they claim to believe in an absolute God of some kind, most live and believe as practical atheists. A recent survey by George Barna discloses some shocking results. Barna wanted to see how American’s opinions had ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14-15

I Just Read The Story Online Of A Guy Who Sold ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 11, 2004

I just read the story online of a guy who sold everything in order to place a bet in Los Vegas. The article explains: “A British man who has sold all his possessions, including his clothes, will stand in a rented tuxedo on Sunday and bet everything on a single spin of the roulette wheel. If he ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Methodist

The Velcro Effect  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 26, 2004

THE VELCRO EFFECT In the book of Ruth, there is illustrated very effectively something I like to term, "The Velcro Effect". I don’t think I have to describe Velcro to you folks as I believe all of us are familiar with what it is! But maybe not all of you are familiar with how it was invented. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Tags: God's Provision, Ruth, Confess

Faith Like A Potato: Don't Give Up Hope

Contributed by Selwyn Robins on Apr 19, 2011

FAITH LIKE A POTATO: DON'T GIVE UP HOPE There is a movie called 'Faith Like a Potato'. It takes place in South Africa. Long story short a farmer w/an anger management issue is converted to a believer (follower) of the word. Needing to bring in money for his family, he decides to plant a crop of ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

Houston Pastor John Bisagno ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

ILLUSTRATION Houston pastor John Bisagno describes a time when his daughter Melody, age five, came to him and asked for a doll house. John promptly nodded and promised to build her one, then he went back to reading his book. Soon he glanced out the study window and saw her arms filled with ...read more

Tags: Faith

Let Me Give You An Example Of The Kind Of Faith ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Let me give you an example of the kind of faith and trust that is necessary to become a Christian. The world-famous acrobat, Blondin, was born in France in 1824. His real name was Jean Francois Gravalet. Over the years, he became famous throughout Europe and America. In London he once played a ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Shopkeeper Seeks Revenge On Bitter ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

Shopkeeper Seeks Revenge on Bitter Rival What you believe about Jesus determines what you do with him. Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-53

Tags: Bitterness

Lucado On John 3:16

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 28, 2009

LUCADO ON JOHN 3:16 Max Lucado describes John 3:16 this way in his book "3:16 The Numbers of Hope" pages 8, 9: "A twenty-six-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to ...read more

Tags: Bible, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus's Presence In The Ordinary

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 22, 2008

JESUS'S PRESENCE IN THE ORDINARY Dr. Dale E. Turner writing for Health Action News in July 1993 tells an interesting story of John W. Gardner, founding Chairman of Common Cause. Turner quotes Gardner as saying that it is “a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Salvation Army

God The Rebuilder  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

GOD THE REBUILDER Three men are hiking and they come upon a large raging river. They need to get to the other side, but they don’t know how. The first man says, "God, give me the strength to cross this river." Poof! God gives him big arms and strong legs, and he swims across the raging river. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1

Tags: Law, Heaven, Sabbath, Regulations, God Is Good, Observing Rules, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

They Don't But You Do  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

THEY DON’T BUT YOU DO Consider the story of Oswald Golter. After ten years service as a missionary in China, Oswald Golter was on His way home. His ship stopped in India, and while waiting for the connecting boat home he found a group of refugees living in a warehouse on the pier. They were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 9:1-5

Tags: Evangelism How To

Four Descriptions Of A Life Without Christ

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 2, 2023

Satan hates God and everything and everyone in the Kingdom of God. He fights the Kingdom on a daily basis and will continue to try to stop the Gospel from spreading (I Thess. 2:18, Ephesians 6:11-12). Paul described the condition of all of those who are unbelievers and living in the Kingdom of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Acts 16:31, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 4:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Satan, Salvation, Gospel, Lost, Unsaved, Spiritual Blindness, Unbelievers, Perishing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Three Levels Of Fruit Bearing

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 2, 2023

Galatians 5:19-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit described by Paul in Galatians 5 is not something that is a goal for Christian living produced by the ability of the believer. No, it is the very character of Christ produced within us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. In ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spiritual Maturity, Leaders, Spirit Filled Life, Fruit Bearing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational