In Sermon Illustrations: "Service"

Sure Is Hot Down Here  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 3, 2007

We have many jokes about the subject of hell. Consider the supposed story of the Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his ...read more

Tags: Vacation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Demonstrate The Gospel  PRO

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 22, 2008

Demonstrate the Gospel R.W. Shambach told the story of a meeting he was in with T.L. Osborn. A young man who was a boxer and had been blinded by severe blows was also in the meeting. Shambach knew the man personally and knew that he was not a believer. Osborn called the man forward and prayed ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:1-4

Denomination: Pentecostal

There Were Two Brothers That Had Had An Argument ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Mar 17, 2008

There were two brothers that had had an argument and decided to never speak to the brother until the other one apologized. They went to the same church but never in several decades spoke more than three words to each other. However, God began working on their hearts. They each had always ignored ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Worship In Spirit And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH When Lawrence of Arabia was in Paris with some of his Arab friends after World War I, he took them to see the sights of the city. His friends showed little interest in the Louvre, the Arch of Triumph, or Napoleon’s tomb. The thing that really interested them was the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23

Tags: Worship General

Little Girl Doesn't Understand Cleansing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Little Girl Doesn’t Understand Cleansing Symbolism of Baptism Pastor Bob Beasley shares a true story told by a father in his church: “Our three-year-old daughter, Rena, sat with us during the baptismal service…which was a new experience for her. She exclaimed in surprise, ‘Why did he push that guy ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Tags: Baptism

Getting The Fruit For Yourself  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Getting the Fruit for Yourself A family was driving to Tampa, Florida. As far as the eye could see, orange trees were loaded with fruit. When we stopped for breakfast, I ordered orange juice with my eggs. "I’m sorry," the waitress said. "I can’t bring you orange juice. Our machine is broken." We ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-14

Tags: Growth In Christ

Selling What You Believe In

Contributed by Warren Whitaker on Feb 10, 2010

Selling What You Believe In My best friend in high school is now a teacher, but when we were in college, he tried his hand at selling things. He worked for Amway, Long Distance Telephone services, all sorts of those door to door, sign-you-up, pyramid-type business. I even remember him selling ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

During Our Ministry In The Middle-East At One Of ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 13, 2010

During our ministry in the Middle-East at one of the underground churches a gentleman used to walk around 5 miles to attend that worship and fellowship. He had a lowly job at a remote construction site in the wilderness and could not afford to buy a conveyance for himself. He did not know any other ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Have Always Loved Talking About Faith. Faith Is ...

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on Jun 11, 2010

I have always loved talking about faith. Faith is not just the substance of things hoped for or the evidence of things unseen or the means through which believers obtain good report. Indeed, faith is much more than that. Faith is the basis; the foundation of our christianity. It is the vehicle ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sabbath Vs. Little League

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 1, 2011

SABBATH VS. LITTLE LEAGUE The NT changes several things about the Sabbath. However, it is wise to observe a time of rest and worship. A couple of years ago Roman Catholic Cardinal John O' Connor took on Little League baseball because many altar boys were missing Sunday services. He wanted ...read more

Tags: Sabbath

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Waste Your Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE In his book Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper recounts a story his father often told of his days as a fiery Baptist evangelist. It is the story of a man who came to saving faith in Jesus Christ near the end of his earthly existence. Piper writes: "The church had prayed for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:24

Tags: Conscience

Bill Hybels: Why People Are Lonely

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

BILL HYBELS: WHY PEOPLE ARE LONELY Why do we have a sense of loneliness today? Bill Hybels explains it this way: "It is a "me-first” mind-set. This mind-set says indulge yourself, fulfill your desires, satiate your appetites, pursue pleasure, take off all restraints. As much as we might want to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

The Impact Of A Mother's Prayer

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE IMPACT OF A MOTHER’S PRAYER Picture an old woman with a halo of silvered hair--the hot tears flowing down her furrowed cheeks--her worn hands busy over a washboard in a room of poverty--praying--for her son John--John who ran away from home in his teens to become a sailor--John of whom it was ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16-20

Tags: Die, Mother's Day

Dedication Is Costly

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 4, 2012

DEDICATION IS COSTLY Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Risk Of Defeating The Enemy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2012

THE RISK OF DEFEATING THE ENEMY During WWII in PNG as the Australian troops were involved in engaging the Japanese in Milne Bay and some of the regions along the North coast, the Australian troops began to realise that if they waited for all the artillery fire to cease that the Japanese in machine ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Tags: War

Almost Giving

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2012

ALMOST GIVING One of the Ad Council's most effective public service commercials is the "Don't Almost Give" campaign. One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of steps. The narrator says, "This man almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38, James 2:16

Tags: Giving General

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and worship leader get into it, stand aside. In one church, the preacher preached one weekend on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The worship leader then led the choir in ...read more

Tags: Church, Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misunderstandings Can Be Hilarious

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 6, 2022

Misunderstandings happen all the time. Here are some: My toddler was about to hit her head on a bar at the playground, so I told her to duck. She quacked at me and then hit her head. A guy ran into a service station and said he needed some 710. They had no idea what he was talking about. So he ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-11

Tags: Humor, Literal, Misunderstanding, Too Literal, Miscommunication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Worship Is Showing Up

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

How does Jesus know we love him, what is the proof? By your witness, your gifts, your tithes, your prayers or presence. Did you know I joined twitter? I think the day I did I read several tweets, but never tweeted, and that was long before the 2020 election, and long before I came to Mt. ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19

Tags: Worship, Showing Love

Be Successful—serve God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

BE SUCCESSFUL--SERVE GOD Our commitment in the service of Lord in very important in building the body of Christ. And I challenge you to commit your life in the ministry: Confidently, wholeheartedly and absolutely for the glory of God. In Yorkshire, England, during the early 1800s, two sons were ...read more

Tags: Endurance