In Sermon Illustrations: "Sermons"

Unexpected ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

UNEXPECTED ANSWERS Sometimes our prayers get answered in very unexpected ways. How exciting that is! Can you remember when you had prayer answered in a way that you never thought of? I would even say that if most of our prayers are answered in a predictable way, we are not praying for the right ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Let Me Share With You The Story Of A Lesser Known ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. According to Philip Yancey in his book "Soul Survivor", John Perkins, a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement"(Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor, p 31). Perkins started a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43, Matthew 13:14-40

Tags: Hatred

Hospitality To Strangers  PRO

Contributed by Susan Babb, Osl on Oct 9, 2008

A. Friend – some years ago B. Sunday worship service, church like ours C. Service begun – member of congregation began worship, no pastor yet D. Man dressed shabbily in a heavy overcoat and wild hair and who could of used a bath came into service 1. Trouble finding a seat, pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45, Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Love, Acceptance, Compassion, Hospitality, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Do Not Keep On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

DO NOT KEEP ON BABBLING Dr. Clarence Bass, professor at Bethel Theological Seminary, early in his ministry preached at a church in Los Angeles. He thought he had done quite well as he stood at the door greeting people as they left the church. The remarks about his preaching were complimentary. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Home For Christmas  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Advent, Second Coming

A Muslim In Africa Became A Christian, And Some ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 19, 2004

A Muslim in Africa became a Christian, and some friends asked him, “Why have you done such a thing?” He answered, “Well, it’s like this: Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn’t know which way to go; and there at the fork were two men - one ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Once Saw The Concrete Block Shell Of A Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 29, 2004

I once saw the concrete block shell of a church someone had started building years earlier. The project had been halted. There was no roof on the building and trees and shrubs had grown inside the shell. One of the pine trees growing inside the uncompleted church was at least 15 feet tall. I’ll ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Love Of God

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Nov 11, 2004

The Love Of God A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Charismatic

Alex Grant, Pioneer Missionary To The Straits ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Peloquin on Jun 23, 2005

Alex Grant, pioneer missionary to the Straits Settlements and China, once got up in a meeting in Singapore, and read solemnly Habakkuk 3:17— “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall...yield no meat: the ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-18

Tags: Joy, Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

What God Looks Like

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 16, 2009

WHAT GOD LOOKS LIKE A preacher once asked the preschoolers in Sunday school to draw pictures of God. He intended to use them as an illustration for his Sunday sermon. Toward the end of class the children were excited to show him their work. They came up with rainbows and men with big hands. ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Christian Church

You Can Worry To Death  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

YOU CAN WORRY TO DEATH Chronic worry can cause serious physical problems, such as ulcers, heart attacks, and high blood pressure. Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famous Mayo Clinic, wrote, "Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands and the whole nervous system. I have never met a man or known ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Anxiety

You Do Not Pull The Shore To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

YOU DO NOT PULL THE SHORE TO YOU Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boathook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-10

Tags: Prayer, Prayer Supplication

Christ's Presence: A Fact, Not A Promise

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

CHRIST'S PRESENCE: A FACT, NOT A PROMISE Dr. G. Campbell Morgan told about an experience in his early Christian life. He would visit several ladies once a week to read the Bible to them. When he came to the end of Matthews Gospel, Morgan read, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Great Commission

Seductive Idols

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

SEDUCTIVE IDOLS "The seductiveness of a nearby idol for the Christian is that it promises to get things done, to be powerful, to make good changes -- but by means that conflict with God's means." pg. 44, Richard Keyes, No God, But God by Os Guinness "Idols are not just on pagan altars, but in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5

Tags: Idolatry

Elderly Woman Endures Arthritic Pain To Attend ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 29, 2009

Elderly Woman Endures Arthritic Pain to Attend Church An elderly Christian lady, who was crippled with arthritis, used to hobble to the services of the church on crutches. It was a great ordeal and required of her a considerable amount of toil and pain. A friend of hers observed her regular and ...read more

Scripture: John 19:46-51

Tags: Endurance

Martin Luther And Corrie Ten Boom On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Martin Luther and Corrie Ten Boom on Loss Corrie ten Boom: “I’ve learned that I must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me!” Martin Luther: I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; But ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:37-39

Tags: Trust

On Regret

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

ON REGRET John Greenleaf Whittier, one of our most astute poets, wrote: For of all the sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been.' That is what Regret is all about. The world is full of people who Regret having thoughtlessly chosen the wrong path. Life is a series ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Disappointment

King Becomes A Peasant

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

KING BECOMES A PEASANT King James V of Scotland would on occasion lay aside the royal robe of king and dress as a peasant. In disguise, he could move freely about the land, making friends and entering into their difficulties, appreciating their handicaps, sympathizing with them in their sorrow. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

What The Name

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

What the Name "Hoover" means in Finland At the end of World War I, Herbert Hoover, later to become President of the United States, led the allied relief efforts in Europe. He kept hundreds of thousands from starving, and a new word entered the Finnish language. In Finland, to “HOOVER” means to be ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12

Tags: Kindness

The Church: The Balm Of Healing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

THE CHURCH: THE BALM OF HEALING In the book, The Empowered Communicator, Calvin Miller says that most people we come in contact with are silently thinking: • I am loneliness waiting for a friend • I am weeping in want of laughter • I am a sigh in search of consolation • I am a wound in search of ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Tags: Church Purpose Of