In Sermon Illustrations: "Shepherding"

When The Wise Men Come To Jesus, They Bring Three ...  PRO

Contributed by Hal Seed on Dec 4, 2007

When the wise men come to Jesus, they bring three gifts: Gold, which is the gift for royalty, a gift for a king. Incense, which was for divinity, a gift you give a God. And myrrh, which is a funeral gift, a gift used for burial. Their gifts show amazing insight. At first hearing, you might think ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-16, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:1-12

Tags: Adoration, Antichrist, Magi, Six Foot Hole

Denomination: Baptist

We Need More Training  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WE NEED MORE TRAINING I have decided to join the US Army. Depending on whether or not I could pass the physical.... Well, let's assume I did. In that case, I figure it should only take me about one week of training and I'll be ready to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. OH COME ON NOW! We all know better ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-27

Tags: Attendance, Church Body Of Christ

Shirley Maclaine On Self

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

SHIRLEY MACLAINE ON SELF Actress Shirley MacLaine said one time, "The most pleasurable journey you take is through yourself...the only sustaining love involvement is with yourself... When you look back on your life and try to figure out where you've been and where you're going, when you look at ...read more

Tags: Self

Don't Just Count Them, Look Them In The Eye

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

DON’T JUST COUNT THEM, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE An item in Leadership magazine illustrates the importance of giving attention to needs, not just to numbers. "During World War II, economist E.F. Schumacher, then a young statistician, worked on a farm. Each day he would count the 32 head of cattle, then ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Explosive Christmas Story  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

THE EXPLOSIVE CHRISTMAS STORY James Martin tells about a trip to the Holy Land. While there, he buys a nativity set for his Sunday School class. It was carved out of olive wood in the town of Bethlehem and had all the traditional figures: sheep and oxen; wise men and the shepherds; Mary, Joseph, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

This Story Broke This Week From The United ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 14, 2009

This story broke this week from the United Kingdom: " LONDON (Reuters) – Gone are the days of shepherds in tea towels and tinsel-clad angels. Britain’s competitive parents are forking out on luxury pashmina shawls and velour dressing gowns to make their child the star of the annual nativity ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Boice On The Virgin Birth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

BOICE ON THE VIRGIN BIRTH One well-known Christian author, James Montgomery Boice, eloquently documents amazing things Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life and sacrificial death accomplished for mankind as an amazing sign of His love. Jesus endured a human birth to give us a new spiritual birth. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Vance Havner On How To Reach The Masses  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

VANCE HAVNER ON HOW TO REACH THE MASSES Preacher Vance Havner used to tell this story: Years ago a convention met in Indianapolis to discuss "How to Reach the Masses." One day during that convention a young man stood on a box on a corner and began to preach. A crowd gathered, mostly workingmen ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

Tags: Evangelism How To

Losing Jesus

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 13, 2010

LOSING JESUS For about 14 years, I have been teaching AWANA. I teach each of our three division, beginning with a puppet skit and then a flannel graph lesson with felt figures. I taught the Christmas Story to the Sparks, K-2nd grade, then I moved everything into the auditorium to teach the Flames ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Running With A Stopwatch

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

RUNNING WITH A STOPWATCH Long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland was an Olympic champion, winning twelve medals (nine of them gold) in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Games. Nurmi was famous not only for his achievements, but also for running with a stopwatch in his hand to check his performance. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-13

Tags: Disciplines General

[048]. A Message From A Poem – Christmas Travesty – Pseudo Christmas

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[048]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTMAS TRAVESTY – PSEUDO CHRISTMAS Walking through a shopping centre at Christmas time was a depressing trip. All around were merchants parading their wares with full commercialisation; fake Santa Claus(es) everywhere and the occasional songs being played – ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7, Luke 2:8-14

Tags: Travesty, Infant Jesus, Pseudo Christmas, False Christmas, Christmas, False, Poetry, Poem, Santa Claus, Commercialism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Work Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Work of Love Aleida Huissen, 78, of Rotterdam, Netherlands, has been smoking for 50 years. And for 50 years she has been trying to give up her harmful habit. But she has not been successful—that is, until recently. She has now given up cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. GOODNESS GRACIOUS! The secret? ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Why So ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

“Why so Cheerful?” On a train to Liverpool a Christian worker found himself in a crowded compartment seated near two soldiers, one a private, and the other a sergeant in his middle thirties. The private was a young lad, ruddy and open of countenance. The Christian worker’s heart went out to the ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:18

Tags: Joy

The Church's Identity And Purpose

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

THE CHURCH'S IDENTITY AND PURPOSE In his book, The Family of God, Batsell Barrett Baxter says the following: "There are some who think of the church as an organization like other organizations. It is true that the church is an organization, but it is not primarily an organization. Rather, it is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 1:21-23

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Putting The Dog In Dogma

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 22, 2010

PUTTING THE DOG IN DOGMA The pit bull, as you may know, is bred to be a fighter. But what you may not know is what they were originally bred to fight with. The pit bull is a actually a mutt that made good -- having terrier and mastiff breeds in its line. From the mastiff side of the tree, they ...read more

Tags: Doctrine

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Unity Of The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Notice the UNITY of the Bible. it is miraculous! * The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years. • The Bible was written by over 40 different authors (Among them were kings, military leaders, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, tax collectors, poets, statesmen, musicians, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Christ, Plan Of Salvation, Unity Of The Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Received The Following Story As One Of Those ...  PRO

Contributed by David Brockhouse on Apr 3, 2008

I received the following story as one of those “dreaded” forwarded emails. I think it’s a fitting way to end a Wednesday Lenten message on Obedience ----from the eyes of a child. Story of God lives under the Bed. I envy Kevin. He thinks God lives under his bed. One night he was praying out loud ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:7-8

Tags: Fear, Doubt, Outreach, Man, Support, Obedience, Wish, Bottle, Genie, Love Others, Shepherd, Help, Trusting God, Goodness, Restoration, Finish  (view more)  (view less)

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

[079]. A Message From A Poem – Faithful, Lord, You Are To Me And Us

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[079]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAITHFUL, LORD, YOU ARE TO ME AND US [THIS IS WHAT I WROTE IN 2022]. Recently I had to go to Townsville for a major ear operation to address a problem I have had for over a year and which would not be treated at the local Queensland State hospital because they ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 25:20, Romans 8:27-28

Tags: Caring God, Help, Poetry, Poem, Problem, Ear Operation, Townsville, Faithful, Victory  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Your Friend Jumped Off A Clift Would You?  PRO

Contributed by Dale Bird on Jan 7, 2006

IF YOUR FRIEND JUMPED OFF A CLIFT WOULD YOU? 450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths By The Associated Press posted: 08 July 2005 11:22 am ET ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) _ First one sheep jumped to its death. Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed