In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermon Opener"

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury (3) Tells ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury (3) tells a story of a little girl was wasn’t easy to love. Her name was Phyllis, and her Sunday School Teacher tells this story about her: "Phyllis wasn’t an easy child to love...sometimes I did wish she wasn’t in the particular Sunday School class that I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Tags: Christmas, Children

Not My Job  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

NOT MY JOB The names in this story have been changed out of respect for their privacy. Julie W told her family's story in a magazine article. [My daughter], Allison, came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn't speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 15:20, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Tags: Addiction

Elizabeth Griscom: Freedom Creates Courage  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

ELIZABETH GRISCOM: FREEDOM CREATES COURAGE On January 1, 1752, Samuel and Rebecca Griscom gave birth to a baby girl they named Elizabeth. Elizabeth grew up a Quaker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After completing her formal education, Elizabeth went on to work as an apprentice to John Webster, a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19

Tags: Independence Day

The Durer Brothers: No One Makes It Alone

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2011

THE DURER BROTHERS: NO ONE MAKES IT ALONE Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this big family, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-13

Tags: Giving Yourself

Charles Finney And Daniel Nash--Evangelism And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2012

CHARLES FINNEY AND DANIEL NASH--EVANGELISM AND PRAYER Charles Finney is a name known to everyone who has studied the mighty movements of God in country. A former lawyer turned preacher by the call of God, Charles Finney was one of the key figures during the Second Great Awakening in 19th Century ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Evangelism How To

Adultery And Ivan The Terrible

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2013

ADULTERY and IVAN THE TERRIBLE We need to look at adultery in the light of the manifestations of Ivan the Terrible in order to see how his rise to power, his government, his exploits and his fall closely compare with occurrences connected with adultery. Ivan the Terrible made an impact on Europe ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 7:6-27

Tags: Adultery

Romans 8:28 We Know That In All Things God Works ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Romans 8:28 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, Sometimes we just want things to turn out well – especially in a bad situation. Story: Before Tom left for deployment to Iraq – he prayed that God will guide him in doing good in a land full of violence. ...read more

Tags: Salvation

If I Had A Hammer!" Genesis 32:1-21 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 17, 2005

“If I Had A Hammer!” Genesis 32:1-21 Key verse(s): 9-12:“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-21, Genesis 32:1-12

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Is More Than Jingle, Jingle

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 12, 2020

I have been trying lately to remember my first Christmas. I know my memory isn't perfect, but I thought maybe I could bring up some old memories of my first Christmas. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of a thing about that first Christmas of mine. Of course, it might be that I was only five ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7

Tags: Christmas, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whoever Gets The Son, Gets All The Father Has!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 3, 2022

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13

Tags: Invitation, Evangelism, Faith, Heaven, Salvation, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Regifting Queen Of The Family

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 30, 2023

Sitting around the Christmas tree with my family and opening up Christmas presents, it stirred fond memories of my Aunt Edith. She was known as The Regifting Queen of our family. And believe me, she earned that name quite well. Most of the family didn't catch on to what she was doing. I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Christmas, Gifting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When Rickey Shive Was A Kid Growing Up On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

When Rickey Shive was a kid growing up on the farm, one of the annual jobs he always looked forward to was the "chicken harvest." Apologies should be made in advance for the somewhat graphic nature of this illustration. Nonetheless, he looked forward to the chicken harvest. No, he wasn‘t some ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-14

Tags: Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Sin Deceptive

Glitzy Grammy Gifts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

GLITZY GRAMMY GIFTS The New York Post reports that producers of the 2002 Grammy ceremony showered each of the show’s stars with a personalized gift basket said to be worth $16,000 each. Britney Spears got a pair of $1,900 diamond earrings, a Blackberry pager, an iPod MP3 player, a free two-night ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-14

Tags: God's Provision, Second Coming

A Great Place To Live  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE America is a great place to live. Thousands of people reach its borders everyday hoping to live the American Dream. The Chrisian Science Monitor recently reported a poll that asked the question "If it couldn’t be US, whose citizenship would you want?" Americans, ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Kingdom Of God

Power In The Cross-Communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 7, 2002

POWER IN THE CROSS-COMMUNION MEDITATION There is power in the cross. It's undeniable. Even unbelievers seem to squirm when considering its potential. David Brooks, of the Weekly Standard, reports "of the conniption being thrown by the American Atheist, the group founded by the late ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Tags: Cross Agony, Crucifixion, Lord's Supper

Paid In Full  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 29, 2002

PAID IN FULL Have you ever wished that someone would pay off all your credit card debt? Zero balances—no payments! The Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA is making that wish come true. One Sunday of every month, Bishop C. Vernie Russell Jr., chooses a family from the church ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper, Easter Good Friday, Cross Agony

I'm A Pastor, And Theologically, I Am Not Paid ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 4, 2002

· I’m a pastor, and theologically, I am not paid for the work I do, I am paid so that I may be free to devote myself to the ministry. It makes a difference. · My church does not pay me to preach the Gospel. I do that freely. · My church does not pay me to visit someone in the hospital. I do that ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Historically Profound Moral Understanding  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2002

HISTORICALLY PROFOUND MORAL UNDERSTANDING COMMUNION MEDITATION Dallas Willard writes: "What Jesus had to say about human good and evil was of sufficient depth, power, and justification to dominate European culture and its offshoots for two millennia. Nobody even has an idea of what 'Europe' and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, James 1:18

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ

Gratitude—a Necessary Attitude  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

GRATITUDE- A NECESSARY ATTITUDE A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project" Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:8

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

The Light Of The Christmas Star  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

THE LIGHT OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR In New York’s Hayden Planetarium a special Christmas holiday show was enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree was projected onto the planetarium dome, surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly colored toys which came to life and cavorted to the ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Christmas Eve