In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon In The Fire"

When To Let Your Light ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

WHEN TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE A young man who had heard the Gospel accepted Christ. A little while after this, a Christian teacher asked him: "What have you done for Christ since you believed?" He replied: "Oh, I’m a learner." "Well," said the questioner, "when you light a candle do you light it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

The Most Important Discovery  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 14, 2012

THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY Dr. Henry "Fritz" Schaefer earned his Ph.D in chemical physics from Stanford University. For 18 years, he served as professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of more than 800 scientific publications and during the period of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Tags: Jesus Christ

Humility Under Oath

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2012

HUMILITY UNDER OATH "Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have." Henry Augustus Rowland, professor of physics at Johns Hopkins University, was once called as an expert witness at a trial. During cross-examination a lawyer demanded, "What are your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-7

Tags: Humility

Lucille Ball On What's Wrong With Families

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

LUCILLE BALL ON WHAT’S WRONG WITH FAMILIES Lucille Ball, shortly before her death, did a remarkable TV interview with Merv Griffin. He asked her a very serious and pointed question: "Lucille, you’ve lived a long time on this earth and you are a wise person. What’s happened to our country? What’s ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:21

Tags: Father's Day

Why Say No When Everybody Else Is Saying ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2012

WHY SAY NO WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS SAYING YES? Writing in the aftermath of World War II, Elton Trueblood looked back to those few brave German Christians who had the courage to oppose Adolph Hitler. When so many others went along or simply kept silent, a few, a courageous handful, would not go along ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-38

Tags: Love For God

Bertrund Russell's Thoughts On Life And Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2014

Many people fear death because they believe death is the end. Bertrand Russell was a 20th century philosopher and an atheist. As he approached his death in 1970, he wrote: "The life of Man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain, towards a ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Death, Atheism, Worldly Wisdom, Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

The Use Of Wine

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 22, 2018

An aged brother told me jokingly one time regarding the difference between the elders and deacon’s use of wine, in 1 Timothy 3:3. He said Brother Freeman: “It’s simple. The deacon can drink, ‘a little wine’; however, the elder can only sip it, swish it around in his mouth, and then spit it out.” He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Deacon, Member, Wine, Elder, Preacher, Drink  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

And We Can't Even Preach Without A Sound System Today???

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Peter's sermon to such a large crowd of Jews reminds us of stories of how God's Spirit used George Whitefield in the 1700's as an instrument to bring about the First Great Awakening in America. John MacArthur says that "Whitfield preached in Bristol to 20,000 people regularly, ...read more

Tags: Whitfield, Simon Peter, Power Of God's Word, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions, Preaching, Revival, Word Of God, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The 10-10-80 Rule

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2022

Sir John Templeton is a multi-billionaire, one of the wealthiest men in the world. He’s a dedicated Christian in his nineties. He invented the idea of trust funds in investments and started the Templeton Fund. Someone asked him, “How did you make such enormous wealth?” He said, “From the very start ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10

Tags: Offering, Giving, Tithes

Appetite Killers

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

If we want our appetite for righteousness to grow, we must avoid appetite killers. This is true in the natural. Every parent knows that kids who eat too much candy will not have an appetite for the healthy food at dinner time. The same is true with our spiritual appetite. If we snack on the things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Colossians 3:2, Ephesians 4:24, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 42:1-2, Luke 6:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Worldliness, Entertainment, Seek, Hunger, Desire, Righteousness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Fooled By Our Emotions

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 17, 2023

One of the most difficult things, all Christians must surely admit, is to differentiate between a truly spiritual fervor and a carnal, animal zeal and enthusiasm. Natural animal spirits and temperament may very well make one fervent and zealous.... There is nothing of which a preacher needs to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Spirituality, Enthusiasm, Martin Lloyd Jones

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[048]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas Travesty – Pseudo Christmas

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[048]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS TRAVESTY – PSEUDO CHRISTMAS Walking through a shopping centre at Christmas time was a depressing trip. All around were merchants parading their wares with full commercialisation; fake Santa Claus(es) everywhere and the occasional songs being played – ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7, Luke 2:8-14

Tags: Travesty, Infant Jesus, Pseudo Christmas, False Christmas, Christmas, False, Poetry, Poem, Santa Claus, Commercialism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

They Paid The Price  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 24, 2002

THEY PAID THE PRICE Americans, you know the 56 men who signed our Declaration of Independence that first 4th of July--you know they were risking everything, don’t you? Because if they won the war with the British, there would be years of hardship as a struggling nation. If they lost they would ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:29-30, Psalm 119:81-176, Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Political Freedom, Martyr, Independence, Independence Day, History, July, Sacrifice, Christian Disciplines, America, Freedom  (view more)  (view less)

The Cross At Ground Zero  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 10, 2002

THE CROSS AT GROUND ZERO I’m an excavation laborer, and a member of union local 731. Pick-and-shovel work is my trade. I live in New Jersey, but I’m a New York City native, Brooklyn born and bred. After the Towers collapsed, my city was hurting. When I heard they needed guys like me for ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Promises Of God, Lord's Supper

More Than Anyone Else Christian Parents Can Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

More than anyone else Christian parents can have the most influence on their children, because when Christ died upon the Cross the veil was ripped open so they could enter into the presence of God who sits on the Throne of Grace. The call to pray is from God’s Word and we are given a sure promise, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-18

Tags: Faith

Killer Alcohol

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Killer Alcohol Dr. Adolph Lorenz, a famous surgeon, refused a drink at a banquet. He was asked "Are you a tee-totaler?" He responded, "Yes, my success depends upon my brains being clear, my muscles firm, and my nerves steady. No one can take alcoholic liquor without blunting these physical powers, ...read more

Tags: Alcohol

Purpose In Your Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART Wilma was born prematurely. This produced complications that resulted in her contracting double pneumonia (twice) and scarlet fever. But the worst was a bout with polio which left her with a crooked left leg and a foot twisted inward. Metal leg braces, stares from ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance

My Mother And My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2009

MY MOTHER AND MY FRIENDS (Excerpted from Simple Treasures - Garnet Hunt White. Stories for a Woman’s Heart, p. 187.) The Prov. 31 woman has grateful children – “Her children stand and bless her” (Prov. 31:28 NLT). Mother accepted my friends as they were, and they loved her for it. They liked the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Mother's Day

The Cross At Ground Zero After ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

The Cross at Ground Zero After 9/11 A testimony from a worker at ground zero on 9-11 testifies of God’s transforming power. I’m an excavation laborer, and a member of union local 731. Pick-and-shovel work is my trade. I live in New Jersey, but I’m a New York City native, Brooklyn born and bred. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Cross