In Sermon Illustrations: "Scandal Of Grace"

There Is An Ancient Door On Display In St. ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 14, 2004

There is an ancient door on display in St. Patrick’s cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. The rough hewn door has a rectangular hole hacked out in its center. It is called the “Door of Reconciliation,” and gives rise to the Irish expression of “chancing one’s arm.” In 1492, two prominent Irish ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

A Few Years Ago My Mom Began Feeding The Birds On ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 24, 2001

A few years ago my mom began feeding the birds on a regular basis in our backyard. At first, some of the birds were greedy. They weren’t sure if there would be enough food to go around. The starlings were especially mean, which doesn’t surprise anyone familiar with birds. They would attack the ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Call Of God, Unity, Sharing My Testimony

A Reminder From The Military  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Mar 11, 2002

A REMINDER FROM THE MILITARY Matthew Rogers writes about attending a military funeral for Vernon “Slim” Paaren. The key symbol was the American flag. As it was being folded by the service people, one of the Veterans who had fired the three shot gun salute began to speak. He said the flag is ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper, Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Calling Others To God

Contributed by Dennis Jones on May 28, 2007

CALLING OTHERS TO GOD A few years ago a man began feeding the birds on a regular basis in our backyard. At first, some of the birds were greedy. They weren’t sure if there would be enough food to go around. The starlings were especially mean, which doesn’t surprise anyone familiar with birds. They ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Calling Others To God

Contributed by Dennis Jones on May 28, 2007

CALLING OTHERS TO GOD A few years ago a man began feeding the birds on a regular basis in our backyard. At first, some of the birds were greedy. They weren’t sure if there would be enough food to go around. The starlings were especially mean, which doesn’t surprise anyone familiar with birds. They ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

It Takes More Than Just One Pastor In The Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It takes more than just one pastor in the church to maintain a spiritual hospital where lost souls can be born again, receive a powerful thirst for the Word of God and learn to say “Jesus teach me to pray.” Jesus knew this and that is why in today’s Scripture He exhorts us to pray for laborers for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:37

Tags: Prayer How To

One Of God's Great Partners In The 1930's And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of God’s great partners in the 1930’s and 40’s who did exactly this – helped lead people to belief – was Dr. Harry Ironside. Not only did he author more than 60 books (and one hymn, Overshadowed), but he also pastored Moody Memorial Church in Chicago for 18 years. On one occasion while he was ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Eight-Year-Old Frank Had Looked Forward For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Eight-year-old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing, if the weather were suitable. There hadn’t been any rain for weeks and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident of the fishing trip. But wouldn’t you know it, when ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

If You Ever Paid Attention To Authors And ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 24, 2007

If you ever paid attention to authors and composers when we used to sing out of the hymnals, you may remember the name Phillip P. Bliss. He was the second most famous Christian song writer in history. Had he lived as long as his peers, Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley and Ira ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Twas The Month Before Christmas When All Through ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Dec 10, 2007

’Twas the month before Christmas when all through our land, Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand. Why the PC Police had taken away, The reason for Christmas - no one could say. The children were told by their schools not to sing, About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

As Clayton J. Schmit Put It In His Commentary On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

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 of baby food and diapers, sleepless ...read more

Gianni Poli Of Italy Won The 1986 New York ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

GIANNI POLI OF ITALY WON THE 1986 NEW YORK MARATHON IN 2:11:06 AND ON MARCH 2, 2003, MARK YATICH OF KENYA WON THE LOS ANGELS MARATHON IN 2:09:52, BUT TO ME, THE REAL HERO OF BOTH MARATHONS WAS THE MAN WHO FINISHED DEAD LAST IN BOTH MARATHONS. HIS NAME IS BOB WIELAND A FIFTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD VIETNAM ...read more

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

K ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2008

Kite Once on a time a paper kite Was mounted to a wondrous height, Where, giddy with its elevation, It thus express’d self-admiration: “See how yon crowds of gazing people Admire my flight above the steeple; How would they wonder if they knew All that a kite like me can do! Were I but free, I’d ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Other

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

Seeing Far Enough Ahead

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

SEEING FAR ENOUGH AHEAD Eight-year-old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing if the weather was suitable. There hadn’t been any rain for weeks, and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident of the fishing trip. But, ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

The Wondrous Cross  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 18, 2009

THE WONDROUS CROSS Gal. 6:14 inspired Isaac Watts to compose one of modern Christendom’s favorite hymns. While preparing for a communion service in 1707, Isaac Watts wrote this deeply moving and very personal expression of gratitude for the amazing love that the death of Christ on the cross ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Other

Security

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 28, 2009

SECURITY Consider this story in relying upon God: The 3-year-old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, “Deeper and deeper and deeper,” as the water rose higher and higher on the child. ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Other

Chutzpah– Obnoxious Aggressiveness

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 8, 2009

CHUTZPAH– Obnoxious Aggressiveness Are you familiar with the Yiddish word "chutzpah"? It means "supreme self-confidence, boldness, nerve, audacity." Esther Schwartz was in front of a hotel in Miami with her three-year-old grandson, Jacob. She absolutely adores Jacob. She bought precious little ...read more

Tags: Arrogance

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Brother And A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

A BROTHER AND A SINNER For more than 600 years, the Hapsburgs held great political power in Europe. When Franz-Josef I, the emperor of Austria, died in 1916, his was the last of the very extravagant imperial funerals. A processional of dignitaries and elegantly dressed members of the imperial ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 49:16-17

Tags: Humility