In Sermon Illustrations: "Self Righteousness"

The Story Is Told Of An Aspiring Artist Who Was ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jan 26, 2009

The story is told of an aspiring artist who was commissioned to do a large sculpture for a famous museum. At last he had the opportunity to create the masterpiece he had long dreamed of. After laboring over the work for many years, he saw it grow not only in shape but in beauty. But when it was ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Other

William Gladstone, In Announcing The Death Of ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Feb 9, 2009

WILLIAM GLADSTONE, IN ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF PRINCESS ALICE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, TOLD A TOUCHING STORY. THE LITTLE DAUGHTER OF THE PRINCESS WAS SERIOUSLY ILL WITH DIPHTHERIA. THE DOCTORS TOLD THE PRINCESS NOT TO KISS HER LITTLE DAUGHTER AND ENDANGER HER LIFE BY BREATHING THE CHILD’S BREATH. ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Baptist

I Want To Show You Another Subtle Lie That I Was ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 25, 2009

I want to show you another subtle lie that I was held captive by in my teens. It is the doctrine of suffering from Buddhism, one of the three biggest religions in the world. It says that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, (sounds pretty good ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In, Heart's Desires

Christ Is

Contributed by Dr.w.samuel Legon on Jun 27, 2009

**Christ is ** Alive He is our God We should worship him He should be our icon He should be the one we weep for not man We should buy his book Listen to his music Come from far and wide to worship him We need to praise God not man The way of life not death With us in spirit and truth Christ love ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The New Command Is Simple Enough For A Toddler ...

Contributed by Jason Jones on Jan 7, 2010

The new command is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate, profound enough that the most mature believers are repeatedly embarrassed at how poorly they comprehend it and put it into practice: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another…The more we recognize ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, D.a. Carson

Denomination: Baptist

Insuring Your Voice

Contributed by John Perry on Dec 13, 2010

INSURING YOUR VOICE Friends of George Burns have always kidded him about his singing. Burns, a master of self-deprecating humour, decided to take advantage of this and insure his voice for a million dollars. He thought it would be a wonderful publicity stunt. "I was so excited," said Burns, "I ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Greed Trap

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

THE GREED TRAP It is true that sin is a self snare. In a move against the Mafia’s control of the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, the case was broken open when investigators discovered that the mob boss had transferred $168,000 from a high interest fund to a low interest bank account so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-18

Tags: Greed

Quotations On Humility

Contributed by Billy Nale on Apr 20, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON HUMILITY "I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:3, James 4:10

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Baptist

Quotations On Pride

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON PRIDE Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it. - "Uncle" Bud Robinson It is out of self-love that all other evil passions spring. - Alexander Whyte Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow. - William Barkley None are so ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Pride

Economy Funnies

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Feb 16, 2012

ECONOMY FUNNIES Even as dark clouds of depression hang somberly above the American economy (is anyone not aware?), we do see some "silver linings" of humour in them. For instance take this self-deprecatory cartoon humour of a bulging, balding entrepreneur quite used to striking big business ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: *other

The Monkey In The Quicksand

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: You cannot pull yourself out of sin. Verse: “…no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law…” (Romans 3:20 NIV). Illustration: A little monkey fell in the quicksand. As he was sinking into the sand, a monkey on the bank started giving him advice. He said, ...read more

Tags: Need For Christ, Sin, Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

Traits Of The Antichrist

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8. Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5. Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17. Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20. Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19. Economic ...read more

Tags: Antichrist, Man Of Lawlessness, The Beast, The Great Tribulation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maturity

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Automatic behaviour is the hallmark of immature people bent on survival, they accept few challenges and experience little growth. Immature people react with a small part of themselves to a small part of the world. They limit themselves by paying attention only to what is close-up, by focusing on ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Maturity, Immaturity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

3 Types Of People In The Wilderness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 17, 2023

THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS (Joshua 1, I Corinth. 2:13-3:3) * THOSE LIVING IN EGYPT (NATURAL MAN) - unbelievers in bondage to sin. Christ is on the outside of their life. Those in Egypt were freed from slavery by the blood of a sacrificial Lamb, a picture of Christ on the Cross, ...read more

Tags: Promised Land, Wilderness, Carnal, Canaan, Natural Man, Spiritual Man, Backsliding, Spiritual Victory, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Cain Refused To Bring A Blood Offering

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

God's having made for man coats of skin presupposes the slaying of animals; and doubtless implies that Abel's sacrifice of an animal life was an act of faith which rested on God's command (though not expressly recorded) that such were the sacrifices He required. If it had not been ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Jesus, Blood Covenant, Offerings, Blood Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Characteristics Of People In The Last Days

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS (II Timothy 3:1-4) Self-Centeredness: People will love only themselves and their money. Pride and Disobedience: They will be boastful, proud, scoff at God, and disobedient to their parents. Lack of Gratitude: Ungratefulness will prevail. Lack of Love ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4

Tags: Rapture, False Teachers, Tribulation, Signs, False Prophets, Return Of Christ, Deception, Antichrist, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heart Transplant

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Feb 3, 2026

A heart transplant doesn’t make a sick heart healthier. It removes the failing heart completely and replaces it with a living one. After surgery, the patient doesn’t just act alive— they are alive. They don’t breathe because they’re disciplined. They breathe because they have a new source of life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: New Creation, Faith

Denomination: Other

There’s Another Beautiful Picture Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Edward Frey on Jul 18, 2001

There’s another beautiful picture of baptism given here: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Did you catch it? Baptism clothes us with Christ. We’re wrapped up in Jesus and all of his goodness in baptism. We’re clothed with his work and his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17, Galatians 3:27, Luke 1:39-56

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Baptism, Church Practices, Come, Cross, Follow, Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

An Overwhelming Thirst  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

AN OVERWHELMING THIRST During the liberation of Palestine in WWI, a combined force of British, Australian, and New Zealand soldiers was closely pursuing the Turks as they retreated from the desert. As the allied troops moved northward past Beersheba they began to outdistance their water-carrying ...read more

Scripture: John 7:37-38

Tags: Discipleship, Lordship Of Christ, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He's Forgotten—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on May 24, 2002

HE’S FORGOTTEN- COMMUNION MEDITATION She was crazy. Everyone knew it because she had the habit of talking to herself in public and it was known that she believed she even talked to Jesus - and Jesus talked back to her. A new preacher came to town and, hearing of the crazy woman, thought that he ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ