In Sermon Illustrations: "sharpening your ax" showing 321-340 of 10,737

What Occupies Your Heart

Contributed by Scott Carroll on May 20, 2011

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART I squirmed a bit as I forced myself to listen to my friend cataloging her problems. After three hours, I interrupted her gently to ask, "If you were to draw a circle to represent your life, what would be in the center? She thought a moment, then said, "My problems." My ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sign Your Name Or Forget It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2011

SIGN YOUR NAME OR FORGET IT J. Vernon McGee tells of an incident that happened in one of his pastorates. A man came to him and said, "I want to tell you about a certain situation." He told him about a certain man who was involved in a particular sin. The man wanted to do something about it. He ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

Risk Your Life To Save It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2011

RISK YOUR LIFE TO SAVE IT Tyrtaeus, an old Greek poet who lived before the time of Christ, wrote, "The man who risks his life in battle has the best chance in saving it; the one who flees to save it is most likely to lose it." (Walter Bauer, A Greek-English ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Separation From Your Love

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Jun 24, 2011

SEPARATION FROM YOUR LOVE I remember once there was girl I loved so much in my youth, I thought that we would be together forever, and I thought that I could never live without her! But now I hardly ever think about her... the truth is that I really can live without her. So what changed between ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Whatever Gets Your Goat

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 5, 2011

WHATEVER GETS YOUR GOAT "Whatever gets your goat gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention gets your time. Whatever gets your time gets you. Whatever gets you becomes your master. Take care, lest a little thing horn in and ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Not The White House, But Your House

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 28, 2011

NOT THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT YOUR HOUSE As part of a commencement address, former First Lady Barbara Bush said the following to a group of graduating college students: "As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer, or business leader will be, you are a human being first, and those human ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Doubting (Enter Your Name)

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 30, 2011

DOUBTING (ENTER YOUR NAME) The most famous doubter of all time is Thomas. Through history Judas has been the only disciple criticized more than Thomas. Tradition has given him a new name: "Doubting Thomas." He wanted proof that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. But can you blame him? When the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:6-8, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

What Occupies Your Heart?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART? I squirmed a bit as I forced myself to listen to my friend cataloging her problems. After three hours, I interrupted her gently to ask, "If you were to draw a circle to represent your life, what would be in the center?" She thought a moment, then said, "My problems." My ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3

Tags: Death Nearness

You're Beautiful To God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO GOD R.C. Buckner, a big, bold and brash man, lived about 100 years ago in Texas. This imposing figure had a very tender heart for children, starting Buckner's Children's Homes all across the state. The children affectionately called him "Papa Buckner" and would run up to him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Tags: Compassion

When I Was Your Age...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Sep 2, 2011

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE... A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in 9 holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off, an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Baptist

How Big Is Your God?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD? Tony Campolo was once confronted by an atheist who was one of his students. The young man told Campolo, "For me to believe in God, I have to have a God that I can understand." And Campolo replied, "God refuses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 53:1

Tags: Atheism

Setting Your Faith Aside

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 4, 2011

SETTING YOUR FAITH ASIDE Have you ever thought you could separate from God ... just for a little while ... and then later on turn back to God? Unfortunately we all do this ... in big ways or small ways. Any time we decide to live a life INDEPENDENT of God, we run a big risk. I remember a ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Your Adorning Be Hidden

Contributed by David Hodgin on Oct 9, 2011

LET YOUR ADORNING BE HIDDEN Author Jennifer McBride wrote, "Ladies and gentlemen, I exhort you to dress in such a way that does not capture anyone’s gaze, but actually gives others something else, besides your attire, to think about. Discretion is a godly trait. At times, it is better to ...read more

Tags: Beauty

Relax And Lower Your Branches  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 2, 2011

RELAX AND LOWER YOUR BRANCHES Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal carried a story about Sally, an overly conscientious youngster who made herself miserable over the smallest failures and setbacks. Early one fall, while the leaves were still on the trees, there was an exceptionally heavy ...read more

Tags: Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Make God Your Focus

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 18, 2012

MAKE GOD YOUR FOCUS There is a little Anglican Church on the edge of Chichester. UK. I went there with a school to speak & lead their Harvest Festival Service. As you entered the foyer there was a table, and on the table was a plate containing a Latin inscription. (Many Anglican Church buildings ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Brethren

Count Your Many Blessings  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 16, 2012

COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS While on a short-term missions trip, Pastor Jack Hinton was leading worship at a leper colony on the island of Tobago. A woman who had been facing away from the pulpit turned around. "It was the most hideous face I had ever seen," Hinton said. "The woman's nose and ears ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1

Tags: Encouragement

Pray And Read Your Bible

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 29, 2012

PRAY AND READ YOUR BIBLE A man was in prison and was in need of some money. He wrote his mother and asked her to send five hundred dollars immediately. Soon after, he got a package in the mail. It was a Bible. On the top of the Bible, there was a letter that said, "Son, I love you. Pray and read ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Men's Day

Denomination: Baptist

Anger: Strength In Your Claws

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 12, 2012

ANGER: STRENGTH IN YOUR CLAWS The biggest lobster ever caught in Maine, a 27-pounder (12.25 kg) with claws tough enough to snap a man's arm, was released back into the ocean on Thursday after being trapped in a shrimp net last week, marine officials said. The 40-inch (one-meter) male crustacean, ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Times Are In Your Hands

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 12, 2012

MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS This was told by a missionary who was active in China when the country was taken over by communists. The missionary was arrested and subjected to severe questioning and mental torture. Throughout the procedure he would continually utter a quotation from Psalm 31:15, ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Make It Your Aim Not To Sin

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 24, 2012

MAKE IT YOUR AIM NOT TO SIN The whole purpose of John's letter, he says, is that we not sin. One day as I was studying this chapter I realized that my personal life's objective regarding holiness was less than that of John's. He was saying, in effect, "Make it your aim not to sin." As I thought ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist