In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Intros"

In The 1980's And Early 1990's, Nike Corporation ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

IN THE 1980’S AND EARLY 1990’S, NIKE CORPORATION MADE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY MARKETING THE PHRASE “I WANNA BE LIKE MIKE.” 1. SPORTS AND NON-SPORTS FANS ALIKE NEW THAT “MIKE” WAS MICHAEL JORDAN, THE BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR FOR THE CHICAGO BULLS. 2. CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA DREAMED OF BEING THE NEXT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:29

Chuck Colson Writes: "After More Than Twenty ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

CHUCK COLSON WRITES: “AFTER MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS OF HOLDING DEEP ANGER AGAINST MY [BY THEN DECEASED] FATHER, I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO GO ON A JOURNEY OF THE HEART TO FORGIVE HIM. AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF JOURNEYING, MY FORGIVENESS FINALLY CAME. I BELIEVE IT CAME AS A GIFT OF INNER PEACE ...read more

Whenever I Hear The Word "Everlasting" I Am ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Whenever I hear the word “everlasting” I am reminded of Everlast boxing gloves. I recall living in Moberly, Missouri where the Everlast Boxing Equipment company is located. The building where the company first began production has been abandoned for a new facility; however this presented a bit of ...read more

Lay Down The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

LAY DOWN THE LOAD The army of Alexander the Great was advancing on Persia. At one critical point, it appeared that his troops might be defeated. The soldiers had taken so much plunder from their previous campaigns that they had become weighted down and were losing their effectiveness in ...read more

Tags: Sanctification

True Peace And Joy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

True Peace and Joy As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Joy

Putting Up A Fight

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Putting Up a Fight Charles Spurgeon may have been the most evangelistic preacher to ever walk the earth. His heart hurt for lost people like no other preacher that I have read. Listen to what said about hell: "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

A Small Boy Was On The Witness Stand In An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

A small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling you how to testify, has he not?" "Yes," the lad replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now," ...read more

Tags: Truth

A Small Boy Was On The Witness Stand In An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

A small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling you how to testify, has he not?" "Yes," the lad replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now," ...read more

Tags: Truth

Something Really Cheap

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

SOMETHING REALLY CHEAP After being away on business, a man thought it would be nice to bring his wife a little gift. "How about some perfume?" he asked the cosmetics clerk. She showed him a bottle costing $50.00. "That's a bit much," he said, so she returned with a smaller bottle for $30.00. ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Last Chance  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

LAST CHANCE When Bishop Philip Brooks, author of "O, Little Town of Bethlehem," was seriously ill, he requested no friends come to see him. But when an acquaintance of his named Robert Ingersoll, a famous anti-Christian propagandist, came to see him he allowed him to come in right away. Ingersoll ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Witness, Love, Man, Heaven, Stewardship, Valentine, Reporter, God Brings Hope, Dog  (view more)  (view less)

You Will Be Queen Someday

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

YOU WILL BE QUEEN SOMEDAY When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn’t know she was in line for the throne of England. Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn’t motivate her. She just didn’t take her studies seriously. Finally, her teachers decided ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

The World Doesn't Hate You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

THE WORLD DOESN’T HATE YOU After a tough and discouraging day at work, Melvin plopped himself on the couch and began wallowing in self-pity. His moaned to his wife, "Nobody cares about me. In fact, the whole world hates me." Without even looking up from her work, Melvin’s wife replied, "That’s ...read more

Scripture: John 15:18

Tags: Disappointment

Desiring More Of God

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 27, 2023

A. W. Tozer prayed a prayer that I can identify with. Perhaps it resonates with you as well. Here is the first part of his prayer. “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Luke 6:21, Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Zeal, Righteousness, Revival, Passion, Desire, Hunger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Greatest Spiritual Challenges We Face

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. Anger/Bitterness. 5. Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Discipleship, Anger, Lust, Pride, Temptation, Spiritual Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Lies Satan Uses To Trap You Into Addictions

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

What settings are you in when you fall? Avoid them. What props do you have that support your sin? Eliminate them. What people are you usually with? Avoid them. There are two equally damning lies Satan wants us to believe: 1) Just once won't hurt you at all. 2) Now that you have ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Victory, Defeat, Deception, Companions, Addiction, Friends, Lies, Satan, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Traps  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Brother Served His First Parish In Massillion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 12, 2000

My brother served his first parish in Massillion, Ohio, as an associate pastor, with the late Pastor Maurice "Mo" White. Pastor White was a very large, strong and vibrant man. During one Lenten season, one of the older, but faithful members of the church came with her husband to an evening Lenten ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-9

Tags: Death, Funerals Christian, Service

Denomination: Lutheran

My Brother Served His First Parish In Massillion, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Feb 25, 2001

My brother served his first parish in Massillion, Ohio, as an associate pastor, with the late Pastor Maurice "Mo" White. Pastor White was a very large, strong and vibrant man. During one Lenten season, one of the older, but faithful members of the church came with her husband to an evening Lenten ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Death

Denomination: Lutheran

Home Coming  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 20, 2002

HOME COMING That reminds me of the old story about an elderly missionary returning to the United States to retire. He & his wife had spent over 40 years serving in Africa. But now he was alone. His wife & two children had long since found their final resting place in the soil of Africa. As he got ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

One Vote  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

You are wrong if you do not vote. You are to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Our Caesar [in the United States] is a government of the people by the people for the people. One vote may make the difference. ONE VOTE made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and gave ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Political Freedom

I Will Tell Your Name—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 15, 2002

I WILL TELL YOUR NAME- COMMUNION MEDITATION Roland Allen tells about a veteran missionary who came up to him one day after he had delivered his sermon. The missionary introduced himself and said, "I was a medical missionary for many years in India. And I served in a region where there was ...read more

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday, Cross Agony, Lord's Supper