In Sermon Illustrations: "Self Flattery"

Memorizing Vs. Applying Scripture

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

MEMORIZING VS. APPLYING SCRIPTURE Dave Veerman, Campus Life, Wheaton, IL, related this story: A while ago our family began to memorize Scripture, one verse a week. Because my daughters were ages ten and six, I thought this was about the right speed. We keep the verses on cards in the middle of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, James 1:22

Tags: Bible Influence

The Conversion Of George Whitefield

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 29, 2011

THE CONVERSION OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD In the 1730's in England, a young man named George Whitefield desperately wanted to be right before God. As a student at Oxford, he was part of the Holy Club, along with John and Charles Wesley. The members of that club rose early every day for lengthy ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Learned Helplessness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

LEARNED HELPLESSNESS Learned Helplessness is a term I came across in my reading this week. It is a technical term originally used in reference to animal psychology but is also appropriately applied to human behavior as well. Learned helplessness describes an animal or a person who has learned to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-14

Tags: Attitude General

The Reality Of Palm Sunday  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Apr 19, 2011

THE REALITY OF PALM SUNDAY Pope Benedict himself in his homily last Sunday in St Peter’s Square said this about Palm Sunday: "But what are we really doing when we join this procession as part of the throng which went up with Jesus to Jerusalem and hailed him as King of Israel? Is this anything ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Anglican

Philippi And Ebay

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 30, 2011

PHILIPPI AND EBAY How would you rate your self as a Christian on a scale from 1 to 10? Better yet how would your family and friends rate you on the same scale? People see you and I on a different perspective than we do ourselves. For the people who have Internet, I’m sure have encountered eBay at ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Tags: Witness, Christian, Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Consumerism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

SPIRITUAL CONSUMERISM In February 27 2009 article from the website “Slate” titled, “Why American churchgoers like to shop around” also caught my attention. That article cited statistics from a Barna Group survey that revealed that one in seven adults changes churches each year, and another one in ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Tags: Church Practices

Coping With Complaining

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 21, 2012

COPING WITH COMPLAINING How do you cope with complaining, nagging, whine-baby people? Internet discussion board posted this: Why do people complain so much? I know it's a natural thing but it has to be unhealthy. At my job people never stop complaining. Every day it's either too hot or too cold. ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Humorous Definitions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

HUMOROUS DEFINITIONS Definitions matter. Do you know what these words mean? ABDICATE: To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach. ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle. ANTIQUE: An item your grandparents bought, your parents got rid of, and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Words

Ray Bradbury's Message

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

RAY BRADBURY’S MESSAGE Avid readers often will credit this or that writer for luring them into a lifelong love of a genre. For those who love science fiction, it offers grand, cosmic landscapes on which to project the boundless possibilities of life. Yet for one writer, Ray Bradbury (August 22, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Tags: Sin Fall Of Man

Bitter & Better - The Two 'b's

Contributed by Paddick Van Zyl on Jul 21, 2014

When the water at Marah was bitter, Moses had to cast a tree into the water stream to sweeten the water or make it drinkable. The words: Bitter and Better both start with a B and end with Tter. The only difference is: the letter I and E. Bitter has the focus on I, me, myself, flesh. Better has ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27

Tags: Water, Sweet, Bitter

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Story On Complacency And Laziness Bought About By Submitting To Temptatio

Contributed by John Gullick on Feb 12, 2016

Complacency and self indulgence were having a chat the other day. Complacancy was saying. “ my those other Christians are far too serious. “ Eat drink and be merry I say and then explode into heaven Painless death though thank you very much.”.” Laziness said. “ Yes but get someone else to prepare ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Tags: Temptation, Laziness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Life With God On Your Side Should Get Better, Shouldn't It?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Aug 31, 2017

5 Storms in my life changed me intensely. Sometimes a storm will follow a great spiritual event just like these disciples had witnessed. … Many years ago, I was having great difficulties, and that is when I turned to Christ, and then I knew that everything in the bible was true, that Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Doubt, Storm, Difficulties, Confusion, Trials, Doubt And Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Episcopal

Lord Prayer

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Nov 17, 2017

We have defined prayer as breathing out self and breathing in God. We breath in a God who is Abba Father Daddy. I loved to play with the kids. I love to play with the grand children. Lego never had lego as a child so love to do it with the kids I now get my lego out before they come and start to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-3

Tags: Love, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

Willie Stargell And The Pittsburgh Pirates' Family

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Teammates of the late Willie Stargell called him "Pops" because of his leadership both on and off the baseball field. In 1979, when Stargell led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their second World Series title, the team was nicknamed "The Family" because of their close relationship and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Prejudice, Diversity, Body Of Christ, Baseball, Family Of God, Love, Fellowship, Holy Spirit, Team, Unity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hummingbird War  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 5, 2005

Hummingbird War Jay E. Adams writes that under the roof in his backyard hangs a hummingbird feeder that he keeps filled with sugar water. There are four openings in it from which birds may suck the nectar. Yet, day after day, from early morning until after dusk, the feeder is the source of the ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Bible Tells The Story Of Absalom. He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Aug 28, 2005

The Bible tells the story of Absalom. He was the son of King David — Israel’s greatest king. Through a series of circumstances, Absalom began to despise his father and made plans to become king in his father’s place. He surreptitiously sowed seeds of division and rebellion in his father’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Tags: Repentance, Salvation

Denomination: Methodist

At One Time, Mike Tyson Was The Most Feared ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 13, 2006

At one time, Mike Tyson was the most feared heavyweight boxer in the ring. Jon Saraceno interviewed Tyson for USA Today. In the interview, Tyson was honest as he reviewed his life. The article says, “Almost 39, he is anything but at peace. Confused and humiliated after a decadent lifestyle ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

65279;pride Is Dangerously Deceptive. A While ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Prather on Sep 28, 2002

Pride is dangerously deceptive. A while back I had been doing some work on the computer when it crashed and I lost all my work. I came upstairs and Vanessa was amazed at how good my attitude was. She said, “Are you okay after losing your work?” I said, “Well, the computer certainly ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is A Movie That Was Recently Produced That ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Oct 20, 2002

There is a movie that was recently produced that was titled “Shallow Hal”. In that movie, Hal was given a gift of seeing a woman, not as she physically looked but as their heart would appear. There were some who were over weight, some who were not so physically appealing to the normal observer, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-7

Tags: Christian Values, Evangelism The Lost, Romantic Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Breathing In Through A Gentle Answer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 17, 2003

BREATHING IN THROUGH A GENTLE ANSWER On every trip they take, frequent fliers hear these words from the flight attendant: “In an emergency, please make sure your oxygen mask is in place before assisting your child with their mask.” Have you ever wondered why this instruction is given? Because if ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Anger