In Sermon Illustrations: "Running From God"

My Friend Will Find Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2012

MY FRIEND WILL FIND ME Sam was a great bird dog. If he pointed to a clump of bushes, there surely was a bird in there. He was much more than just a bird dog. Often we’d share together lazy lunches in an abandoned apple orchard, and the snooze that followed. Late one afternoon, Sam and I became ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Tags: Trust

Protecting His Bats

Contributed by Ken Pell on May 19, 2013

PROTECTING HIS BATS Japanese-born big-leaguer Ichiro Suzuki is one of the best hitters in baseball. He has led the Major Leagues in regular season hits on seven occasions. To state the obvious, you hit a baseball with a bat. Ichiro Suzuki seems to be more aware of that obvious fact than other ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Nazarene

Where Are The Men?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 1, 2016

WHERE ARE THE MEN? Churches in America are needing more than just a few good men. Here are the statistics from God Facts: *** The typical U.S. Congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61% female, 39% male. *** On any given Sunday, there are 13 million more adult women than men in America’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-10

Tags: Men, Church Attendance, Ministry To Men

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bold Witness

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Hugh Hewitt in his book “The Embarassed Believer” contends that most Christian are embarrassed believers. They do not talk about their faith or church. They don’t have Bibles on the corner of their desks. They never engage others in spiritual conversations. And the result has been the dramatic ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Tags: Witness, Witnessing, Embarrassed

Denomination: Methodist

Punishment In Another’s Place

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment we deserve. Key Verses: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23-25

Tags: Salvation, Propitiation, Sacrifice Of Christ

Denomination: Charismatic

Conscience Or The Holy Spirit?

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

pilot vertigo: My Division Officer in the Navy was also a Naval aviator. On his way home from a mission over Afghanistan he got vertigo (a dizzy confused state of mind caused by the inner ear). His senses were confused. The biggest was his sense of flight. Which can be deadly when landing on an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Tags: Feelings, Facts, What Is Conscience, What Is Holy Spirit

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Meekness: The Cutting Horse And The Mule

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Meekness is strength under control. At one time in my life, I was heavily involved with horses. It is a beautiful thing to watch a well-trained cutting horse work. Just a gently touch of reign on his neck or a shift in the rider’s weight can ignite a quick turn in that powerful animal. He does ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:5, 1 Timothy 6:11, Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Submission, Meekness, Meek, Teachable, Submitted  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Here Is An Acrostic For ...

Contributed by Michael West on Oct 2, 2008

Here is an acrostic for Pastors P-prays, preaches and practices the things of God A-acknowledges, accepts, adheres to the things of God S-Spirit filled, Spirit fed and Spirit led into the things of God T-trusts, tries and teaches the things of God O-obeys, operates and offers the ...read more

Tags: Pastors

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Vote  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

You are wrong if you do not vote. You are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Our Caesar [in the United States] is a government of the people by the people for the people. One vote may make the difference. ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Political Freedom

Hold Up The Light  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 11, 2003

Illustration: Hold Up the Light The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Tags: Christian Love, Faith, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Annie Johnson Flint's Life On Earth Could Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 6, 2004

Annie Johnson Flint’s life on earth could never be measured in any degree by comfort and ease; quite the contrary, from childhood her body endured the onslaught of Rheumatoid Arthritis until she could no longer rise from bed. Over the years the affliction took a great toll, leaving her with no ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Human Body, Perseverance, Mercy, Affliction, Struggles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simon Was A Loyal Disciple; He Followed His Rabbi ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on Jan 4, 2008

Simon was a loyal disciple; he followed his rabbi closely, observing and learning. One day, Simon realized that his rabbi was actually the Messiah. He didn’t figure that out by himself. Jesus said: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

Jesus: The Total Package

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

JESUS: THE TOTAL PACKAGE Last week the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the superstar Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics in exchange for seven players. What does it feel like to know that you are worth seven men? Obviously KG, as he's known among NBA fans, must be pretty good. He is. He's the total ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

On Crowns

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

ON CROWNS Crowns have always been the sign of authority and Kingship. Charlemagne, whom historians say should deserve to be called "great" above all others, wore an octagonal crown. Each of the eight sides was a plaque of gold, and each plaque was studded with emeralds, sapphires, and pearls. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:28-29

Tags: Jesus Christ

In 1996 George Tulloch Led An Expedition To The ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on May 14, 2009

In 1996 George Tulloch led an expedition to the spot where the Titanic sank in 1912. He and his crew recovered numerous artifacts, everything from eyeglasses to jewelry to dishware. In his search, Tulloch realized that a large piece of the hull had broken from the ship and was resting not far from ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Christian Church

Basement People Vs. Balcony People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

BASEMENT PEOPLE VS. BALCONY PEOPLE Keith Miller, in his book Passionate People, which he co-authored with Bruce Larson, describes two kinds of people -- "basement people" and "balcony people." "Basement people" are the discouragers in our lives. They may be people from our past, or present, but ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Encouragement

Missionaries Martyrdom In Turkey At The Hand Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

Missionaries Martyrdom in Turkey at the Hand of Muslims in 2007 On April 18, 2007, five Muslims entered a Christian publishing company and killed three believers in the southeastern province of Malatya. The 3 believers, Tilmann Geske (a German missionary), Turkish Pastor Necati Aydin and Ugur ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Tags: Missions

The Richest Man On The Island

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 4, 2011

THE RICHEST MAN ON THE ISLAND In his autobiography Just As I Am, Billy Graham recalls a story demonstrating that apart from God, we will not gain anything from living wisely. He said: Some years ago Ruth and I had a vivid illustration of this on an island in the Caribbean. One of the wealthiest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Money

Who Is The Shepherd?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 6, 2011

WHO IS THE SHEPHERD? Keith Miller writes, "Years ago, when our daughters were very young, we'd drop them off at our church's children's chapel on Sundays before the eleven o'clock service. One Sunday, just as I was about to open the door to the small chapel, the minister came rushing up. He said ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

Tags: Arrogance

Shoot The Moon

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 17, 2011

SHOOT THE MOON The other day I needed to take my mind off things, so I opened my computer and played a game of hearts. Now, like all card games, no matter how diligent you play, there's time when the unexpected happens, and you're hand turns to disaster. One sneaky move from an opponent and it's ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Lutheran