In Sermon Illustrations: "Small Gifts" showing 741-760 of 4,158

I Heard A Story Of A Missionary In Africa Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 15, 2003

I heard a story of a missionary in Africa who received a knock on the door of his hut one afternoon. Answering, the missionary found a native boy holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here. I've brought you my tithe." As the missionary ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:9, Romans 11:6

Tags: Generosity, Giving General, Gifts Giving

Denomination: Baptist

Baksheesh

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 27, 2018

Donald Barhhouse says, “One of the first words learned by the traveler in India is “baksheesh.” Multitudes of begars hold out their hands and say this one word. Preaching through an interpreter, I had occasion to speak of salvation as the gift of God. I emphasized the word. It is a gift. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3, Titus 3:5

Tags: Salvation, Poor In Spirit, Gift Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jackie Robinson Was The First African American To ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 29, 2000

JACKIE ROBINSON was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him. He stood ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Tags: Friendship General, Love, Christian Love, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Read Recently About A Woman Who Was Driving ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

I read recently about a woman who was driving from Alberta, Canada to the Yukon. She didn’t know that you never travel that way alone, especially in a rundown Honda, Civic. So she set off on a road usually reserved for four wheel drive trucks. Eventually she found herself in a truck stop. Two ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, God's Provision, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Snowflakes Are One Of Nature’s Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Jun 7, 2001

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Warmth Rather Than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Warmth Rather than Light, Citation: Jack R. Van Ens, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 3.] People join churches more because they want warmth than light. We like to think it’s our stunning proclamation of the truth that keeps them in the pews. Sermons may get them into church the ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups, Friendship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Linked At The Roots, Citation: Blair F. ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Linked at the Roots, Citation: Blair F. Rorabaugh, Uniontown, Ohio. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 2] The article "What Good Is a Tree?" in Reader’s Digest explained that when the roots of trees touch, there is a substance present that reduces competition. In fact, this unknown fungus helps link roots ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Help Of The Body, Citation: Watchman Nee, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 21, 2001

[The Help of the Body, Citation: Watchman Nee, Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 3.] Alone I cannot serve the Lord effectively, and he will spare no pains to teach me this. He will bring things to an end, allowing doors to close and leaving me ineffectively knocking my ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember Hearing A Story About A Man Who Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 30, 2001

I remember hearing a story about a man who had missed church for a number of weeks. The preacher had often called him and asked where he was, but the man kept putting the preacher off. Finally, one day, the preacher stopped by for a visit on a cold winter day. The man was sitting in front of his ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Louis Mcburney, In An Article For Leadership ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Louis McBurney, in an article for Leadership Journal, said there are four reasons people reject accountability. 1) I fear rejection, 2) I feel embarrassed, 3) I resent control by ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Leadership General, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Divine Advocacy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Discipleship occurs only in community. Very few people are expert in anything all by themselves. They need a supporting community. Do you know a good musician who was not trained, nurtured and sustained by the music community? Show me an athlete who achieves excellence all alone, apart from the ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

We Must Hang Together, Gentlemen...else, We Shall ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

The Cheering Crowd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

THE CHEERING CROWD Picabo Street first joined the U.S. Ski Team when she was only 17. She went on to become the only American skier to ever win the World Cup downhill championship. In 1996 she tore a crucial ligament in her left knee. The 30 year-old Street went through extensive ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:29, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: God The Father, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Larry Crabb Writes, "A Central Task Of Community ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 21, 2002

Larry Crabb writes, “A central task of community is to create a place that is safe enough for the walls to be torn down, safe enough for each of us to reveal our ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Staying Warm Together  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2003

STAYING WARM TOGETHER In what the news called "The Miracle at Quecreek," nine miners trapped for three days 240 feet underground in a water-filled mine shaft "decided early on they were either going to live or die as a group." The 55 degree (Fahrenheit) water threatened to kill them slowly by ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:24

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Christian Love

A Healing Fool  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 14, 2002

A HEALING FOOL The Gospels depict Jesus as having spent a surprising amount of time healing people… It is significant also that the Greek verb "sozo" was used in Jesus’ day to mean both to save and to heal, and "soter" could signify either savior or physician. Ever since the time of Jesus, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Prayer Answered, Gifts Healing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Off The Bench And Get In The Game!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

A well-known coach was once asked, “How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?” “Nothing,” the coach replied abruptly. “Why not?” the startled interviewer asked. “Well,” said the coach, “the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13

Tags: Service, Ministry, Church, Disciples, Spiritual Gifts, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Welcome And Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 17, 2001

[Welcome and Do-Si-Do, Citation: Cartoonist Sandy Silverthorne in Leadership, Vol. 11, no. 4]. "And now here’s the point in our service where I’d like you all to rise, turn to the person on your right, shake hands, turn ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many Christians Have Been Infected With The Most ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Sep 21, 2001

Many Christians have been infected with the most virulent virus of modern American life, what sociologist Robert Bellah calls "radical individualism." They concentrate on personal obedience to Christ as if all that matters is "Jesus and me," but in doing so, miss the point altogether. For ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Church Small Groups, Renewal

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Following Incident Won The Runner-Up Prize In ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Stewart on Feb 14, 2004

The following incident won the runner-up prize in the 1999 Darwin Awards: A Vermont native, Ronald Demuth, found himself in a difficult position. While touring the Eagle’s Rock African Safari (Zoo) with a group of thespians from St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr. Demuth went overboard to show them ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:5, Romans 7:5

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sin Exposed, Small Groups, Community, Group, Fellowship  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist