In Sermon Illustrations: "Save A Life"

In Eastern Lands, People Used Public Baths And ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Mar 30, 2004

In Eastern lands, people used public baths and got dressed again; as they walked in the dusty streets, their feet became dirty. On arriving home, they did not need another bath; they needed only to wash their feet. When the Jewish priests were ordained, they were washed all over (Ex. 29:4), which ...read more

Scripture: John 13:9-10

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Lutheran

A Preacher And His Unbelieving Barber Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Nov 16, 2004

A preacher and his unbelieving barber were walking down the street as their conversation turned to the love of God. Said the barber to the preacher, "If God was as loving as you say, why does He permit all the poverty, disease, and squalor that exists in the world? I cannot believe that a loving ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sin Hurtful To God

Denomination: Baptist

I Think As Christians We're Not Always Aware Of ...

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Sep 8, 2009

I think as Christians we’re not always aware of all that God has given to us. I think this is one reason why we struggle with feelings of discontent so much. We’re like the lady who saved and saved her money for years until she finally had enough to pay for an expensive cruise. All week, while ...read more

Tags: God's Will, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Baptist

Suburban Outreach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

SUBURBAN OUTREACH Calvin Miller teaches in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Beeson Divinity School. He recently wrote a provocative article entitled, "Rethinking Suburban Evangelism," on the challenge taking the gospel to people who sense no need: "Suburbia: the push-button Zion of those who have made ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Tags: Evangelism How To

Faith Connection  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2012

FAITH CONNECTION Spurgeon use to tell a story about two men in a boat. They were caught in a very, very severe rapids and they were going to a place where there was a waterfall and even worse rapids and there was really no way, if they ever hit those rapids, that they would ever live. And they ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-8

Tags: Faith

The Heart Of The Saviour

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2012

THE HEART OF THE SAVIOUR I am reminded of the story of a wee lass who sought baptism and membership in a country church. The elders questioned the child in a perfunctory manner, but they were not inclined to believe that such a young person could actually understand what it meant to be saved. So, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

What Changed At Easter?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 16, 2008

What Changed at Easter? Quest Study Bible notes this about the question, "What changed at Easter, this pivotal point in history?" "The resurrection vindicated Jesus' claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God’s dealings with humankind. No longer would ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Be Content To Speak In A Cottage

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

BE CONTENT TO SPEAK IN A COTTAGE January 6, 1850, was bitterly cold in Colchester, England, a hard-biting blizzard keeping most worshipers at home. At the Primitive Methodist Chapel on Artillery Street, only about a dozen showed up. When it became apparent that even the pastor would not arrive, an ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Same Gospel For The Same ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Feb 26, 2009

“The Same Gospel for the Same Needs” Some months after our arrival in China, an old experienced missionary came to my husband with the following advice: “Do not attempt to speak of Jesus the first time on preaching to a heathen audience. The Chinese have a prejudice against the name of Jesus. ...read more

Tags: Preaching

Denomination: Christian Church

First Of All, What Is A Shepherd And What Does ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

First of all, what is a shepherd and what does he do? I think that Dr. Andrew Bonar, a close friend and biographer of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, says it best when he had this to say to a friend of his about sheep and shepherds. Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would ...read more

Tags: People In Acts

It's A Fascinating Story That ...

Contributed by Kevin Earls on Oct 25, 2006

Illustration: It’s a fascinating story that comes out of the 1989 earthquake which almost flattened Armenia. This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son’s school. When he arrived there he ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Suppose Two Women Were Planting A Vegetable ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2005

Suppose two women were planting a vegetable garden. On the same day, they prepared the earth and planted their seeds. One then neglected her garden and waited for her vegetables to grow. The other woman worked in her garden regularly. She put cages around the young tomato plants, she drove in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27

Tags: Jesus, Midst

The Gift Of Grace And Forgiveness In Our Time Of Greatest Need

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Julian Silva tells the story of working in a Volunteer Corp’s Chaplain Office in Frankfurt, Germany where he met a German named, Carl Scholtz. During WW II, Carl served as a Nazi soldier but not believing in what he was doing, he tried to desert. He failed in his attempt, was captured and thrown ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Denomination: Methodist

Peace

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

PEACE This question was once asked, "If you could choose what you want most in life, what would you ask for?" The most common answer was "Peace." People want peace in their marriages, families, workplaces, country and world. Our country has some of the best medical and psychological treatment ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Way, O Lord?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Way, O Lord? "This is what the Lord says; 'Stand at the crossroads and look... ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) The way many people attempt to determine the will of God would make a great new television ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Contributed by Dean Morgan on Feb 18, 2005

Twas The Night Before Jesus Came Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Pentecostal

Maxie Dunnam, President Of Asbury Theological ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Jan 27, 2004

Maxie Dunnam, President of Asbury Theological Seminary in his book, “This is Christianity” tells a remarkable story about Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon. A man had been injured in a fire while attempting to save his parents from a burning house. He couldn’t get to them. They perished. His ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Free Methodist

--- ‘twas The Night Jesus ...

Contributed by Dan Steadman on Dec 3, 2004

----- ‘Twas The Night Jesus Came ‘Twas the night Jesus came and all through the house, not a person was praying, not one in the house... The Bible was left on the shelf without care… for no one thought Jesus would ever come there... The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Sing When We Face ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 11, 2010

We sing when we face death. Lavena (Beanie) Peters was dying of liver cancer. I was at the hospital with her family, essentially on a deathwatch. Beanie’s pain was excruciating, and the pain medicine kept her in a nearly unconscious state. Others left the room for a moment; only Harriet her ...read more

Tags: Singing Praise, Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unsung Heroes: Paul’s Nephew

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 19, 2024

Introduction: It’s interesting that we know very little about Paul except that he was a Jew, born in Tarsus, receiving an education in Jerusalem, and some of his days as Saul the persecutor of the new Church. We’re never told the names of his parents, siblings—or if he had any other siblings ...read more

Scripture: Acts 23:16-22

Tags: Paul, Unsung Heroes, Paul's Nephew

Denomination: Baptist