In Sermon Illustrations: "Self Examination"

C.s. Lewis Said, "The Gospel Means We Can Stop ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

C.S. Lewis said, “The gospel means we can stop lying to ourselves. The sweet sound of amazing grace saves us from the necessity of self-deception. It keeps us from denying that though Christ was victorious, the battle with lust, greed, and pride still rages within us. As a sinner who has been ...read more

Tags: Faith, Pretend, Self-Deception, Boasting In Weakness

How Do You Make People Feel About Themselves?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 14, 2022

How do you think the people on your staff, in your family or church, or even close friends would say that you make them feel about themselves?? Consider these great quotes on how we treat others: John Maxwell – "People may hear your words, but above all, they feel your attitude. Your ...read more

Tags: Feelings, Self Worth, Love, Leadership, Importance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Good Intentions Go Wrong

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 15, 2016

Illustration 2: In Tanzania, two guys went for an interview. One was smarter than the other but they were good friends and willing to work together so the less smarter could pass. The educated one said if he went first, he would come back with the answers to the interview questions. It happens that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 26:1-33

Tags: Examine, Dull, Dummy, Ax, Evaluate, Test, Independent, Follower, Repeat, Mess, Ignorant, Stupid, Intention  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Seven Wonders Of Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

SEVEN WONDERS OF GRACE. Text - Galatians 2:20.  There are seven spiritual wonders in this marvelous text: 1. That the Son of God should love a persecutor like Saul. "Who loved me." 2. That the Son of God should be crucified. "Crucified with Christ." 3. That Christ ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Faith, Grace, Discipleship, Christian Life, Death To Self  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Augustine's 3 Stages Of Dealing With Sin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 22, 2024

Augustine's three stages of dealing with sin in the life of a believer: STAGE ONE -- "Lord make me good, but not yet!" STAGE TWO - "Lord, make me good, but not ...read more

Tags: Sanctification, Sin, Growth, Discipleship, Understanding, Maturity, Self  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Being Crucified With Christ

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 11, 2016

As I was typing up the many pages of notes I would use for my weekly podcast sermon, I needed to replace some letters in a name in part of my document with "M-E," so it would read correctly as I recorded. I was trying to use the ’Find & Replace’ command, but it looked a little ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Sin, Flesh, Self, Crucified With Christ, Crucify Flesh, Crucified  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

We Died Before We Came Here

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

When James Calvert went as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship sought to turn him back, crying out “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages” Calvert only replied, “We died before we came here.” In ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:1-11

Tags: Discipleship, Missions, Christian Life, Dying To Self, Crucified With Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Identifying With Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

During the Civil War a man by the name of George Wyatt was drawn by lot to go to the front. He had a wife and six children. A young man named Richard Pratt offered to go in his stead. He was accepted and joined the ranks, bearing the name and number of George Wyatt. Before long Pratt was killed in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-13

Tags: Christ Our Substitute, Identifying With Christ, The Exchanged Life, Crucifixion To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

"Cain slew Abel, but Cain’s worst enemy was himself". - R E Neighbour “There is an old Icelandic legend that contains its own lesson. There was a man who was constantly pursued by a terrible spirit which took the form of a dwarf. His grain ricks were fired, his barns unroofed, his ...read more

Tags: Offerings, Enemies, Murder, Self, Hate, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kurt Cobain Died About 8 Years Ago. I Remember ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

Kurt Cobain died about 8 years ago. I remember the day I picked up the newspaper and read about it. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock group "Nirvana." His death was a suicide. He took a shotgun, pointed it to his head, and killed himself. The newspaper was filled with the words of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7-11

Tags: Hope, God Brings Purpose, God Brings Hope, Meaning, Self-Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Recently, I Saw A Letter Written By A Relatively ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on May 2, 2001

Recently, I saw a letter written by a relatively new Christian to the person whose life had influenced hers so greatly. She actually lists about a dozen qualities she found contagious in the life of this older Christian. Listen to some of what she wrote: You know when we met; I began to discover a ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Self Esteem, Sharing Your Faith, Great Commission

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Make This Muddled World A Better Place

Contributed by David Simpson on Feb 5, 2018

Make This Muddled World A Better Place January 24, 2018 Lanier Christian Church David Simpson The Academy Award Nominations came out yesterday. Of the movies nominated, one of them is about famous British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, entitled: Darkest Hour. Churchill left us with many ...read more

Tags: Bless Others, Give Of Self, Be A Blessing To Oth, Service, Compassion, Winston Churchill  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

The Idolatry Of Cell Phones

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

t’s no surprise that 45% of Americans say that their phone is the most valuable possession. What is surprising is how far our obsessions with cell phones go: Over one-third of Americans (36%) say they’d give up their pets to keep their cell phone. 53% say that in a house fire or other disaster, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-2

Tags: Cell Phones, Lust, Faithfulness, Idolatry, Time, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Victorious As We Follow God's Redemption Plan.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 20, 2025

I may have mentioned this previously to some of you that as a teen I was not able to even read a passage from a book in class, I could read, but to read out loud was something else, I was very insecure having been told at a young age, around 9 or 10 that I was hopeless and would never amount to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-17, John 3:1

Tags: Advocate, God's Love, Struggling, Victorious Living, The Spirit Of Truth, Self Estime  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Stubborn

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 19, 2021

.A customer walked into my clothing shop and asked to see the pants that were advertised in the paper that day. “We don’t have an ad in the paper today,” I told her. She insisted I was wrong, so I got a copy of the paper, and we went through it, eventually landing on an ad for pants from another ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3

Tags: Ego, Stubborn, Admit, Nerve, Self Centered, Truth, Wrong, Pride, Confess, Arrogance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do You Remember The Story About Tony Toto, Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

Do you remember the story about Tony Toto, of Allentown, PA.? He operated a pizza parlor there. Tony Toto survived at least 5 attempts on his life, all arranged for or carried out by his dear wife, Frances, & her lover. Twice she arranged for assailants to beat him over the head with baseball ...read more

Tags: Commandments Adultery, Dignity, Honesty, Marriage Commitment, Unconditional Love, Purity, Respect, Self Honesty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hypocrisy Part Of Human Nature

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

“Since psychological studies first began, people have given themselves top marks for most positive traits. While most people do well at assessing others, they are wildly positive about their own abilities, Dunning said. That's because we realize the external traits and circumstances that guide ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-29

Tags: Criticism, Pride, Hypocrisy, Critical, Arrogance, Negative, Self Esteem, Superiority, Double Standard, Judgementalism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No 'i' In The Lord's Prayer

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 11, 2024

No "I" in the Lord's Prayer You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "I." You cannot pray the Lord's Prayer and even once say "My." Nor can you pray the Lord's Prayer and not pray for one another. And when you ask for daily ...read more

Tags: Brother, Prayer, Selfishness, Lord's Prayer, Self, Others, Daily Bread, One Another, Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tony Evans On Getting Un-Stuck  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Apr 28, 2008

TONY EVANS ON GETTING UN-STUCK Tony Evans, a popular black preacher from down in Texas, spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He said he’d never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 9:1-16, Proverbs 3:5, Acts 20:17-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Daniel 5:1-25, Matthew 1:21-25, Genesis 37:1-14, Hebrews 12:1-2, 2 Samuel 21:1-20, 2 Samuel 21:1-10, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Psalm 116:1-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Blood, Endurance, Tithes, Disciplines, Self-Control, Blood Of Jesus, Strain, Prayer Supplication, Trust In The Lord  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Container Is Defiled

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 24, 2018

Your family and one of your best friends families has decided to go camping, but you forgot to bring a container for water, on your way to the campsite your friend sees a container in the ditch he stops and picks it up, it has a skull and crossbones on the outside of the container, it says poison ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:6, Romans 10:3-4

Tags: Deceitful Heart, Wicked Heart, Righteousness, Jesus Christ, Filthy Rags, Self Righteousness, Evil Heart, Defiled Heart  (view more)  (view less)