In Sermon Illustrations: "Set Free"

Reality Therapy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

REALITY THERAPY Aaron was an eleven-year-old boy whose behavior was described by Dr. William Glasser, his psychiatrist, as horrible. In his book, Reality Therapy, Glasser says Aaron was the most obnoxious child he had ever met. The boy would kick, scream, run away and hide, become withdrawn, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Parenting

Never, Never Be Late  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

NEVER, NEVER BE LATE A local priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner. However, he was delayed so the priest decided to say ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-16

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Harry And The Mountain

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

HARRY AND THE MOUNTAIN On March 17th of 1980, a radical thing took place in the state of Washington, something that hadn’t happened in at least 123 years. It started when an earthquake registering 4.1 on the Richter scale was reported near Mt. St. Helens in S.W Washington. Forest rangers were ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Improving On A Good Design...or Not

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

IMPROVING ON A GOOD DESIGN...OR NOT Years ago I bought a Chevy Caprice at a used car lot. It was a thing of beauty. It was big and stylish and it purred as I drove it down the road. Well, it purred for the first few days. Then it began to cough and sputter and I had difficulty getting above 30 ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

Tags: Church General

Wynton Marsalis: Someone To Play With

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

WYNTON MARSALIS: SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH People are preoccupied with their own thoughts and interests. When we show interest and concern for another person’s interest or concern, it meets a deep need. People feel cared for and valued. Wynton Marsalis is a recognized musician. He is invited to teach ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Tags: Humility

He Keeps Knocking On The Door

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Oct 28, 2011

HE KEEPS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR Despite their self-sufficiency, and despite their self-deception and despite their lukewarmness, Jesus is patiently knocking on the door of the Laodicean church anyway--knocking on a door of people who made Him sick! Isn’t that amazing? I remember a lady in our ...read more

Tags: Lukewarm

Denomination: Baptist

I Recently Read An Insightful Story That Would ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 8, 2012

I recently read an insightful story that would serve as a good reminder for us both as we prepare to part ways. The story is about a group of climbers who set out to scale a large mountain in Europe. The view boasted a breathtaking peak of snowcapped rocks. On clear days the crested point reigned ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Complaining, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Could It Happen Every Day?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

COULD IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY? Jeff Ingle tells the story of spending four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor's Prayer Summit in Wisconsin. He writes, "In my time I've been to many camps, conferences and retreats but never have I been to anything like this. For four days, we met together with no ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

The Boat Is On Fire

Contributed by Jerry Thorpe on Mar 8, 2013

THE BOAT IS ON FIRE Robert E. Lee pleasure boat. Steamed out of Vicksburg. Hundreds of people were aboard. After midnight the boat caught fire. The captain discovered it and told his first mate to rush down through the saloon and down every corridor to wake everyone up. He didn't have time to ...read more

Tags: Rapture, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Church Of God

Authority Vs. Power  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2014

AUTHORITY VS. POWER There's a difference between power and authority. If you have authority, but no power, your authority is useless. A government man was taking geological readings for the Department of the Interior. He approached one farmer and said, "I've been authorized by the government to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-8

Tags: Great Commission, Authority

Managing Time

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 30, 2018

No matter what changes, no matter how much changes, TIME remains the same. And even though we know that, we never seem to have enough time. Consider the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin says to Hobbes, "God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-6

Tags: Investing Your Life, Spending Time Wisely, Time Management

Denomination: Christian Church

Putting Away Childish Things

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 6, 2018

When I was a little boy, I had a whole set of Tonka Toy cars, trucks, dump trucks, tractors, and even an excavator! It seems like we always had a pile of dirt to play in, or at the very least our gravel driveway. I could play with them in the mud; I could play with them in the garage; I could play ...read more

Tags: Maturity, Toys, Growing Up

Denomination: Baptist

Deliverance

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 14, 2019

DELIVERANCE Use your imagination this morning, we are in a small boat with JESUS. We have set sail from Galilee and are heading across the Sea of Galilee to the other shore. We are unsure where Jesus is leading us, but we trust Him and know he has a reason. We are approaching the other shore ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-33

Tags: Deliverance, Possession

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Is Missing!!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

Two young boys in a Christian school had been continually mis-behaving and were sent to the principal’s office on several occasions. The principal knew what they really needed was to have God in their lives, so she brought the first boy in and set him down. “I want to ask you a question. Where is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 46:10, John 3:16, Romans 5:8

Tags: Humor, God's Love, Guilt, Unconfessed Sin, Confusion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fellowship Of The Unashamed

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-12, Romans 1:16

Tags: Testimony, Unashamed, Unafraid, Evangelism, Commitment, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Fellowship Of The Unashamed

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16

Tags: Discipleship, Bold Faith, Unashamed Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preserved And Protected By The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

When my mother used to make jam, I would watch her pour wax over the top of the preserves until it was at the brim of the jar. She would then carefully wipe some wax around the rim itself and place the rubber-lined lid on tight. The wax and the vacuum caused by the cooling preserves would seal that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13

Tags: Protection, Holy Spirit, Preserve

Don't Monkey Around With Eternity!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Tags: Eternity, Commitment, Satan, Discipleship, Temptation, Possessions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

People Leading To The Flood

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Oct 31, 2022

Genesis 5 Focus is v1…. In v1-2, isn’t God just repeating Himself? – God detailed the 2 types of “man” He created – male and female! What’s significant about v3? – Adam and Eve had other children as alluded to in earlier chapters; v3 indicates that Seth was a special person! Why do you think ...read more

Tags: People, Godliness, Pride, Population, God's Promise, Ages  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Greedy Little Monkey

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Greed, Discipleship, Riches, Kingdom, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational