In Sermon Illustrations: "Sanctity Of Life"

I've Been Reading A Book By A Pastor Named Erwin ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

I've been reading a book by a pastor named Erwin Rafael McManus. He tells about a conversation he had with his daughter, Mariah. He was explaining that Christians often face danger and even death. His daughter asked, "Has anyone ever tried to kill you, Daddy?" And he answered, "Sort of." She ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Identifies With Our Suffering

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 28, 2008

IDENTIFIES WITH OUR SUFFERING His name was Joseph Damien, and you’ve probably heard his story before, but it bears repeating. A Belgian priest, he was sent in 1873 to minister to lepers in Hawaii. As soon as he arrived on Molokai, he began trying to build friendships with the residents of the ...read more

Tags: Suffering, Submit, Why Suffering, Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Hands Of Ordinary Christians, Small Social ...

Contributed by Stephen Evoy on May 11, 2008

In the hands of ordinary Christians, small social groups are a big spiritual deal. This is because "ordinary Christians" have more credibility than the ordained clergy. A guy named Herb Miller did some great research: * When first-time visitors to a local church receive a "glad you came" visit ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Free Methodist

Some Early Settlers Were Traveling Together ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 14, 2008

Some EARLY SETTLERS were traveling together across the western prairies of the United States. One day they were horrified to see a fire fanned by strong wind coming their way. As the flames raced closer and closer, one man, to the amazement of the others, set fire to a large patch of grass ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

The Famous Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Faced A Conflict ...

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jul 17, 2008

The famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin faced a conflict after returning from the moon. He spiraled into a deep depression that ultimately resulted in him being hospitalized, medicated and put through a battery of psychiatric treatments. Ignorant of the depth of his own disability, once the medicine ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Mennonite

Under New ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT I am reminded of a story where a salesman was driving through town and became hungry. He saw a sign for a restaurant and parked his car and went in. The first thing he noticed was how dirty the windows were, and then he saw how dirty the table tops were. The waitresses were ...read more

Tags: Dead To Sin

Are You A Weed?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

ARE YOU A WEED? I would like to tell you a story about how a little girl helped the neighbor bully change his ways. The bully's name was Todd; his parents were divorced, and he was left to fend for himself. He's rude, and for an eight-year-old he can swear pretty good. When he comes over to ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Jesus Said In John 13: 35, "Your Love For One ...

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Aug 3, 2008

Jesus said in John 13: 35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” A great New Testament example of this being done is in the early church. As Jews began to put their faith in Christ as the Messiah, they began to feel the effects of hostility toward them. They ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist

Victoriously Living Over The Flesh  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Victoriously Living Over the Flesh Romans 8:12-14, "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:12-14

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Iceberg Anger

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 23, 2008

Iceberg Anger Do you know what you are feeling? Can you identify why you are feeling the way you are? This is so huge and complicated that it often takes years of intentional effort to figure these things out. And the more messed up we are, the longer and harder and more painful it can be. An ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Church Of God

According To Tradition, This Is How An Eskimo ...

Contributed by Jonathan Campbell on Oct 13, 2008

According to tradition, this is how an Eskimo hunter kills a wolf. First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds layer after layer of blood until the blade is completely concealed by the frozen blood. Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Sin Wages Of

When I Was In High School Go-Cart Tracks Were A ...

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on Oct 27, 2008

When I was in high school Go-cart tracks were a fad. A friend of mine named Steve went to the local go-cart track a couple of times a week. One crucial fact about high school boys and go-carts: teen age boys will go as fast as that go-cart can possibly go every time. Combine that with the fact that ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: United Methodist

Have Any Of You Read The Book, The Worst-Case ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 19, 2008

Have any of you read the book, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht? It’s a great little yellow book that describes all sorts of ways to get out of even life-threatening situations. Here’s how they describe getting free from an alligator: How to Wrestle ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Wesleyan

Be Truthful - You Sometimes Root For The ...

Contributed by Bob Gillchrest on Dec 8, 2008

Be truthful - you sometimes root for the underdog, don’t you? Whether it’s football, baseball, or basketball; whether it’s college ball or professional players, you root for the underdog, don’t you? I do too. Except maybe if it’s the home team. These days it seems like if we’re rooting for the ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Baptist

Father Forgive Them

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

FATHER FORGIVE THEM There was once a man who was born in a little town back east. He grew up and took on the family business. The only earthly father he had ever known died sometime in his teen years and as the oldest son he took on the responsibility of caring for his mother. He had a good ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Responsibility Comes With The Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH THE GIFT As Clayton J. Schmit put it in his commentary on our text: The moment of birth is one of unspeakable joy. Yet, if parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (which, fortunately, they never do) they might be tempted to turn the gift down. The cost ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Dave's Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

DAVE'S PEACE Dave Dravecky: After he underwent surgery to remove his arm up to his collarbone. His cancerous left arm had been amputated. As he looked in the mirror he said "Okay God. This is what I have got to live with. Put this behind me; lets go forward." A couple of days later he was walking ...read more

Scripture: John 14:23-27

Tags: Peace, If My People

Don't Fear Your Capture

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 26, 2009

DON'T FEAR YOUR CAPTURE We may not see it clearly, but we are ultimately safe. Following Jesus may not always seem like the wisest thing to do, but the trap is the best place to be. Think of yourself as a precious, endangered species. There are few of you left, but you are ill, and the ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Mennonite

Taken Out By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 12, 2009

TAKEN OUT BY WATERMELONS Years ago, I went to the Sultan Centre in Salmiya. This was back in the days when it was the only one in town, and you were still allowed to take your shopping cart up that moving ramp to the second floor. I had gone upstairs after getting some groceries. As I was coming ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

The Evidence Of His ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Mar 13, 2009

“The Evidence of His Claim” There is a story told of a cottage in a little country village, in which lived a family of four: father, mother, and two small children. One evening something happened, what, no one knows – and the little cottage caught on fire. In a few seconds the thatched roof and ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church