In Sermon Illustrations: "Shepherds Life"

Vacant Homes, Vacant Lives  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

VACANT HOMES, VACANT LIVES TIFTON, GA — The most interesting thing about Tifton is an abandoned Victorian house filled with thousands of bats. Tift County declared the once-elegant house in the town’s historic district off limits after a bat specialist said that maybe 20,000 bats had moved in, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11-16, Luke 11:1-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 84:1-12, John 2:13-23, Luke 7:36-50, John 1:46-56, James 2:14-26, Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45, Matthew 12:44-45  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible Influence

[080]. A Message From A Poem – Faithfully He Is Watching

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[080]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAITHFULLY HE IS WATCHING The poem here you will read is one of my top favourites. It resonates so much with me. It just flowed and when it does that it is joyous. I truly hope you can relate to it. This poem was written on the day I received notification that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:6, Job 1:21

Tags: Watching, God Hears, Forsake, Poem, Orphans, Cares, Abandoned, Faithful, Friendship, Deliverance, Merciful, Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before The Birth Of Christ, No Royalty Would Ever ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Tison on Dec 7, 2005

Before the birth of Christ, no royalty would ever show their humility. That would be too human, too common. Kings have parades & entourages to draw the focus toward them. When Queen Elizabeth last visited America, she brought with her the following items • 4000 pounds of luggage – 4 outfits for ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pastor Leadership Styles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Pastor Leadership Styles Shepherding-loving, nurturing, community-driven 55% Bridge Building-good personality, create consensus, being people together 53% Directional-seeks next logical move, searches for right path 44% Team Building, matching people/jobs, expects it done, hands off ...read more

Tags: Church General

M ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Marriage? Through a scheduling mix-up, a man and a woman who had never met before found themselves in the same sleeping-carriage of a train. It’s late, the train is full, and everyone else is already asleep. After the initial embarrassment, they both manage to get to sleep; the woman on the top ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

In December 1903, After A Series Of Failed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

In December 1903, after a series of failed attempts, the Wright brothers were finally successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled by the feat, they sent this telegraph to their sister: "We have actually flown 120 feet. We'll be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Honesty Or Dishonest Gain

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jan 23, 2024

1 Peter 5:1-3 warns against dishonest gain - "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care...not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve." In January 2024 a USA pastor and his wife were charged after hundreds of Christians invested in their cryptocurrency scheme. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-9

Tags: Money, Deception, Greed, Pastor, Integrity, Service  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Newton: What Think You Of Christ?  PRO

Contributed by Stephen Wright on Mar 30, 2003

John Newton: What think you of Christ? is the test, To try both your state and your scheme: You cannot be right in the rest Unless you think rightly of him. As Jesus appears in your view, As he is beloved or not, So God is disposed to you And mercy or wrath is your lot. Some take Him a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:13

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Becoming A Christian, Salvation, Protection

Denomination: Baptist

Limited Vision

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 7, 2022

I once read a lesson about this man, Simeon, he was a shepherd that lived in 390 A.D. He saw how corrupt the world had become. So he decided to LIVE ABOVE ALL THE EVIL and CORRUPTION. So he built a 6 feet tall pillar to be above the evil world. He built a little area and he lived on this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Joel 2:28

Tags: Vision, Dream

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[017] A Message From A Poem - Altogether Lovely One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 21, 2024

[017] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - ALTOGETHER LOVELY ONE There are times when we feel our hearts going out in worship to our Lord. What is the difference between praise and worship? This is not a sermon so I won’t be answering that question here, but I hope you think on it and that it might warm ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11, Isaiah 53:3-4, Psalm 150:1-3

Tags: Worship, Praise, Gold, Magi, Sorrow, Frankincense, Myrrh, Lovely One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My Favorite Christmas Stories, Is About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

One of my favorite Christmas stories, is about a 7th-grade boy by the name of William Spurling. William Spurling was big for his age, & a little slow mentally. But he was a good boy & all the kids liked him. In fact, they wanted him for a friend because he was big enough to take their part if they ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent, Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On The Random Stack Of Things That Magically ...

Contributed by Christopher Kennedy on Jan 22, 2009

On the random stack of things that magically appear outside my office door from time to time, this week I discovered a scrapbook that caught my attention. It was a scrapbook of the first years of Shepherd of the Hills. I was curious to look at the old pictures, letters, bulletins, and other ...read more

Tags: Unity, History

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Adorations  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Christmas Adorations For thousands of years the Israelites had been looking for the coming of the Messiah. There in Bethlehem by the miraculous power of God, Mary, a young virgin, gave birth to the Savior of the world. Most people missed that glorious event, but a few did not. Who are the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:11

Tags: Christmas, Savior

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer Works  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 29, 2002

PRAYER WORKS George Muller was born in Prussia on September 27, 1805. His father was a collector of taxes and George seemed to inherit his father’s ability with figures. When Muller was converted to Christ he was impressed by the many recurring statements of Jesus for us "to ask." At this point ...read more

Scripture: James 4:2-3

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Adoration, Blessed, Blessing

God's Word In A Mental Hospital

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 11, 2011

GOD'S WORD IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL I think you'll agree that all true and sincere spiritual movement in your life has been caused and created by the word of God. I served for one year as a part-time chaplain at a mental hospital. One of my duties there was to help people suffering from chemical ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Serving

Denomination: Lutheran

Saving A ...

Contributed by James Steen on Jul 14, 2008

Saving a Sheep I had an unusual experience last week as I was driving into church. Down the road and at the bottom of the hill from my house lies a sheep farm. As I was driving by, I noticed a lone sheep in the pasture, just standing there with a plastic feed bag over his head and down around his ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Everyone Loves A Parade  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2003

EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE It was October 29, 1927 when Charles Lindbergh was given a ticker-tape parade in New York City in honor of his solo flight of the Atlantic Ocean. 750,000 lbs. of ticker tape poured onto the streets. But the biggest ticker-tape parade was on March 1, 1962, for astronaut ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Praying The 23rd Psalm  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2003

PRAYING THE 23rd PSALM Because Thou art my Shepherd, I commit my needs to Thee. Provide green pastures for me to lie in, Lead me beside still waters. Restore my soul when I’m empty, Lead me in right paths for Your name’s sake. Be with me in danger when I walk, Through the valley of the shadow of ...read more

Tags: People In Acts, Prayer How To

Hat-Tip To SermonCentral Illustration Bank: On ...

Contributed by Jay Winters on Dec 27, 2007

Hat-tip to SermonCentral illustration bank: On Christmas Eve of 1906, off the coast of Massachusetts, ships carrying sailors that would have liked to be someplace else than a boat on Christmas Eve received a message from the coast in morse code. “CQ….CQ” it said, indicating that an important ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

Consider A New Mother Home Alone With Her Baby. ...

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Aug 2, 2009

Consider a new mother home alone with her baby. Suddenly she’s awakened by the smell of smoke. The house is on fire. Her only thought is for her baby. She races down the smoke-filled hall without a thought for her own safety. She grabs him in her arms, shields his face from the flames with her ...read more

Tags: Passion Of Christ

Denomination: Lutheran