In Sermon Illustrations: "Sin Nature"

Newspaper Misprints

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

NEWSPAPER MISPRINTS It does not take a lot to cause misunderstandings. Just listen to these misprints from local newspapers. From the Chichester Evening News: "Miss Hampshire ... is friendly, likeable, and easy to talk to. She has a fine, fair skin, which she admits ruefully comes out in freckles ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: Brethren

Recovery Is Connection

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

RECOVERY IS CONNECTION Henry Cloud in How People Grow writes, "Virtually every emotional and psychological problem, from addictions to depression, has alienation or emotional isolation at its core or close to it. Recovery from these problems involves helping people get more connected to each other ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Husbands Like Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

HUSBANDS LIKE ME Larry Moyer tells the story of a woman who woke her husband in the middle of the night, and said, "Henry, wake up. I just had this terrible nightmare. I dreamed I was at an auction for husbands. One husband brought $10,000 and others sold for sums in the millions." That's all it ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Marriage General

Gratitude For A Savior

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

GRATITUDE FOR A SAVIOR A lady was on a lake steamer when her little girl fell overboard, and the woman was almost frantic. A gentleman on the boat had a large Newfoundland dog. The dog was directed to leap into the water and save the child. He did so and swam ashore with the little girl, part of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-15

Tags: Gratitude

The Greed Trap

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

THE GREED TRAP It is true that sin is a self snare. In a move against the Mafia’s control of the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, the case was broken open when investigators discovered that the mob boss had transferred $168,000 from a high interest fund to a low interest bank account so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-18

Tags: Greed

Trying To Walk Two Roads

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2011

TRYING TO WALK TWO ROADS There is an old West African proverb which says, "The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants." (Janet Weiss, Leesburg, Florida, heard in a conversation by her father, a missionary to the Maninka tribe) That’s the way it is with those who try to live for the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Tags: Worldliness

Quotations On Pride

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

QUOTATIONS ON PRIDE Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the one who has it. - "Uncle" Bud Robinson It is out of self-love that all other evil passions spring. - Alexander Whyte Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow. - William Barkley None are so ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18

Tags: Pride

The Reverend And The Rose

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 30, 2011

THE REVEREND AND THE ROSE Rev. Jerry Parnell, pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church of Anderson, South Carolina, will often conclude one of his sermons with an illustration using a live rose. He tells how that God gives us a fresh flowing in life, but that over the course of time we make bad ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 12, 2012

COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" was written by Robert Robinson. He wrote it early in his life. In stanza three, Robinson speaks of being "prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love". This seems to be a forecast of his later life, when he lapsed into sin, ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

10 Reasons To Study The Scriptures

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

TEN REASONS TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES 1. Will strengthen your personal life (1 John 2:14). 2. Will strengthen your assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13). 3. Will strengthen your confidence in your relationship with God (1 John 5:14). 4. Will undergird the effectiveness of your prayers (John 15:7). 5. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Scripture, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Tests Of True Humility

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

Tests of True Humility - this is "tricky" 1. Do you feel joy when others are honored? 2. Do you honestly and openly admit sin? 3. Do you seek truth from others regarding your weaknesses? 4. Do you accept criticism graciously? 5. Do you turn all worry, anxiety and concern over to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3, 1 Peter 5:5-11

Tags: Godliness, Humility, Honesty, Brokenness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Captain Of The Lord's Hosts

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 17, 2023

The “Captain of the Lord’s Hosts” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. We call this a CHRISTOPHANY. The word translated as, “Angel”, is another word for “Messenger” and does not limit the Divinity of Christ or make him a mere angel. What does Scripture say about the ...read more

Tags: Joshua, Jesus, Christophanies, Worship, Angels, Captain, Sovereignty Of God, Types, Christ In The Old Testament  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Cain Refused To Bring A Blood Offering

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

God's having made for man coats of skin presupposes the slaying of animals; and doubtless implies that Abel's sacrifice of an animal life was an act of faith which rested on God's command (though not expressly recorded) that such were the sacrifices He required. If it had not been ...read more

Tags: Blood Atonement, Sacrifices, Cain, Abel, Blood Of Jesus, Blood Covenant, Offerings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Story Of The Telltale Heart

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 7, 2023

Do you remember Edgar Allen Poe's story, ... The Telltale Heart? In that story, ... the main character committed a murder ... and he buries the body of the victim ...in his basement. Yet ... the murderer is unable to escape the haunting guilt... of his deed. He begins to hear...... the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Tags: Heart, Guilt, Haunt

Denomination: Anglican

To Touch A Scorpion!" Matthew 5: 43-48 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 9, 2004

“To Touch a Scorpion!” Matthew 5: 43-48 Key verse(s): 44 “‘But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” Is it in our nature to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us? Getting even or, in the very least, shunning confrontation with those who would ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Because I Said So!" Romans 11:33-36 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 21, 2005

“Because I Said So!” Romans 11:33-36 Key verse(s) 11:“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Because I said so! If you are a parent the odds are that it is likely at some time in the course of that career you uttered these words with feeling. “Because I said so!” There ...read more

Scripture: Romans 11:33-36

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Birds Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Birds of Feather Flock Together Many in America will tell you that they are Christians because they believe in Jesus Christ. Others attempt to proclaim their faith in Him by becoming members of a local church that they may or may not regularly attend. They have convinced themselves as long as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:10

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ministering To ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Ministering to Christ In The Midst of Disaster “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom… For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before Her Death, Judy Lawson Became A Spiritual ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Before her death, Judy Lawson became a spiritual Mother of scores of hardened criminals. "On her last Mother’s Day," according to Bill Myers, "she received 40 Mother’s Day cards from men whose life she touched." Her prison ministry began eighteen months after her son was brutally murdered. She knew ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist