In Sermon Illustrations: "Sharpening Your Ax"

Before You Can Know God's Will....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 7, 2016

BEFORE YOU CAN KNOW GOD’S WILL.... When we are asked about knowing the will of God, we usually hurry to Romans 12:1-2 and give info about the "perfect will of God." But we may be missing something if that is the case. The New Testament was originally written in letters, not in chapter formats. ...read more

Tags: God's Will, Surrender, The Glory Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pelagianism A Simple Explaination

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Sep 6, 2017

Pelagius. He was a British Monk who lived in the 4th century. He taught that Adam was created good and everything God creates is good. He went on to say that all human beings could be sinless, an never do an evil action if they chose. Nothing that some men have lived without sin. Adam’s sin, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-24

Tags: Grace Alone, False Beliefs

Denomination: Lutheran

Ten Word Sermon

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Aug 31, 2018

The shortest sermon I know is only ten words. It was preached by my grandfather to a small, country congregation on the story of the Good Samaritan (Mark 10:35-45). He read the account of an outsider who demonstrates true neighbor love by stopping on the road to care for a bleeding and badly ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Tags: Compassion, Good Samaritan

Denomination: Methodist

Grace Of God

Contributed by Sunitha Justin on Dec 30, 2018

Once a man died & went to the gates of heaven. AS he was about to enter in to heaven, Peter stands by the gates and refuses to let him in. Peter says.. tell me why I should let you into heaven. You list out your reasons. I will score you. And If you score 100 points, then I will let you in. So ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:10

Tags: Grace, Heaven

Denomination: Charismatic

Change?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 23, 2019

I had a friend go to the doctor, after the examination the doctor came into the room and say: SIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE SPELL DIET? My friend started: D-I-E… THEN THE DOCTOR TOLD MY FRIEND STOP RIGHT THERE … YOU ARE GOING TO DIE IF YOU DON’T START WATCHING WHAT YOU EAT AND CHANGE YOUR EXERCISE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:24

Tags: Change, Journey

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Stop Offering A Comfortable Christian Message

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Most evangelistic appeals today pitch the gospel as the way to have an abundant life. “Jesus came to offer you abundant life. Trust in Him and He will give you peace, joy, and a truly happy life.” While all of those claims are true if properly defined, what the salesman hasn’t told the potential ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 1:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Truth, Suffering, Greasy Grace, Comfortable Christianity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Prepared For Tough Times?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Lord Joseph Duveen, American head of the art firm that bore his name, planned in 1915 to send one of his experts to England to examine some ancient pottery. He booked passage on the Lusitania. Then the German Embassy issued a warning that the liner might be torpedoed. Duveen wanted to call off ...read more

Tags: Commitment, Preparation, Hardships, Trials, Tough Times  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Make Room For The Tide!

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Mar 12, 2022

"Years ago, a wealthy businessman from London chartered a bus to carry a busload of urban children to the coast. There, the children spent a wonderful day at the ocean. Many of the children had never left the city. Most had never seen the ocean. For one blissful day, they ran unfettered over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Make Room, Spirit Filled, Ocean, Full, Tide  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

His Rightful Place

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 11, 2022

I have a dog named Simba. I named him Simba because he is the color of a lion and he has the personality of a lion even though he is a chihuahua. One afternoon, we were really tired and I decided to take a quick nap with Simba. Simba has a certain place on the bed beside me where he always lays. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Luke 10:41

Tags: Putting God First, Resting, Making Room For God, Making Time For God

Denomination: Charismatic

How To Put Out A Fire

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2022

It was Pentecost Sunday. As the congregation filed into the church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the day's festive spirit. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Tags: Giving, Tithes, Offerings

One Would Think That Selling One's Soul, As ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 3, 2009

One would think that selling one’s soul, as Faust offered his to the devil in Goethe’s Dr. Faustus, is only a figment of literary fiction. Medieval as it seems, however, several cases of soul-selling have occurred. Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university instructor succeeded in ...read more

Tags: Soul

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parts Of A Cake

Contributed by Rev Dr Randall M Deal Sr on Jun 7, 2009

PARTS OF A CAKE A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong, she’s failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

In His Book, Integrity, Ted Engstrom Told This ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jul 20, 2009

In his book, Integrity, Ted Engstrom told this story: For Coach Cleveland Stroud and the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School (Conyers, Georgia), it was their championship season. They had 21 wins and 5 losses on the way to the Georgia boys’ basketball tournament in March, then a dramatic ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Pentecostal

In The Film ‘saving Private Ryan' Soldiers Are ...

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Aug 2, 2009

In the film ‘Saving Private Ryan’ soldiers are sent out to find him and bring him home because his brothers have been killed in the war. It was an act of mercy for his mother’s sake. Several of the soldiers who seek for him are killed – and one whispers his dying words to Private Ryan ‘Earn this’ ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Too Soft On People?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

TOO SOFT ON PEOPLE? A preacher named Ron Rose told a woman who came into his office complaining that his sermons always being about forgiveness and grace. She said he needed to come down harder on the sinners and in her words, "nail them." After her rant, Ron asked, "So, you’ve got forgiveness ...read more

Scripture: John 1:15-17

Tags: Grace

All Roads Lead To Heaven, Travel ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2009

All Roads Lead to Heaven, Travel Agent Max Lucado in a video program based on his book 3:16 Stories of Hope, has a wonderful lesson on the oft heard statement, "All roads lead to heaven". He then gives us an imaginary discussion with a travel agent. " You tell him you need a flight to Rome, Italy. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Universalism

Drunk Asks Priest About The Cause Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2009

Drunk Asks Priest About the Cause of Arthritis Sometimes our words can get us into trouble. A man who smelled like a brewery flopped on a seat at a bus stop next to a priest. The man’s shirt was stained, clothes messy, and a half empty bottle of wine was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:14-30

Tags: Wages Of Sin, Sin Wages Of

Several Years Ago, Carl Reiner And Mel Brooks ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 16, 2009

Several years ago, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks did a comedy skit called “The 2013 Year Old Man”. In the skit, Reiner interviews Brooks, who is the old gentleman who has lived for over 2000 years. At one point, Reiner asks the old man, “Did you always believe in the Lord?” Brooks replied: “No. ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Methodist

Remember Jonah? He Fought The Will Of God. He ...

Contributed by Tim Adams on Dec 1, 2009

Remember Jonah? He fought the will of God. He was miserable in his hometown when he heard the will of God. He ran away to Tarshish and was miserable on the whole trip. When you have to hide in a belly of a ship to get away from the storm you brought upon yourself by disobedience you’re always ...read more

Tags: Jonah

Denomination: Baptist

Synergistic Effect Of Draft Horses Pulling In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Synergistic Effect of Draft Horses Pulling in Pairs Compared to Corporate Prayer My friend, if you are negligent about prayer in this way you are letting your church down. I read this week about a horse-pull in Canada where they hitched this one draft horse and he pulled 9,000 pounds. They hitched ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:12-14

Tags: Prayer General