In Sermon Illustrations: "sonship vs. slavery"

The Pharisees And Teachers Of The Law Competed ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Feb 6, 2002

The Pharisees and teachers of the law competed with one another in strictness. They had atomized God’s law into 613 rules and bolstered these with 1,521 emendations (Yancey 132). We can see the length to which this went from the following facts. For many generations the Scribal Law was never ...read more

Tags: Commandments General, Faith Vs. Works, Grace

Denomination: Baptist

In 1924, The New York Giants And The Washington ...  PRO

Contributed by Sam Martin on Aug 15, 2002

In 1924, the New York Giants and the Washington Senators played in the World Series. It was a very close series. At the end of six games it was tied at three games. The stadium was filled for the deciding game, played in Washington. They came to the ninth inning with the score tied at two. New ...read more

Tags: Faith, Faith Vs. Works, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Baptist

A Businessman Well Known For His Ruthlessness ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Oct 26, 2002

A businessman well known for his ruthlessness once announced to writer Mark Twain, “Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments aloud at the top.” “I have a better idea,” replied Twain. “You could stay ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-27

Tags: Commandments General, Faith Vs. Works, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

St. John Of The Cross (1542-1591) Said, "A ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 25, 2001

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) said, "A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will, Faith Vs. Works, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Cannot Go On Being A Good Egg Forever. You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2001

You cannot go on being a good egg forever. You must either hatch or ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Apologetics General, Commitment To Christ

Sophomore  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 24, 2002

Do you know the meaning of the word "sophomore?" The word sophomore comes from two Greek words "sophos" and "moros." "Sophos" means to be wise. "Moros" is the word from which we get the world "moron." "Moros" means stupid, blockhead, or fool. So the word "sophomore" means wise fool. And ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-28

Tags: Mother Theresa, God's Omniscience, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith And Works Should Travel Side-By-Side, Step ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 6, 2002

Faith and works should travel side-by-side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other. William ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith General, Faith Vs. Works, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

The Percentage Of American Adults Who Preferred ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Aug 11, 2001

The percentage of American adults who preferred no religion in 1991 was 7 percent and that figure doubled to 14 percent in 1998, say Michael Hout and Claude S. Fischer, professors of sociology at the University ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Apologetics General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is There A Difference?  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Jul 26, 2002

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? In their recent book "Unveiling Islam," Emir and Ergun Caner, former Sunni Muslims cite the major differences between Islam and Christianity as the "personalness" of God, and "grace as opposed to works." "Jesus Christ ... is ultimately personal and wants to have a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:6

Tags: World Religions, Faith Vs. Works, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My 4 Year Old Daughter Heard Me Talking About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 20, 2002

My 4 year old daughter heard me talking about a national tragedy with my wife. I made the comment that there truly was evil in this world. My daughter suddenly perked up and said, "Daddy...Evil can only be replaced by good." Thrilled that my daughter had picked up such a profound idea and sure ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, God's Provision, Christian Love

Francois Fenelon Was The Court Preacher For King ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 27, 2002

Francois Fenelon was the court preacher for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?" Fenelon replied, "I had published ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Faith Vs. Works, Worship Definition

Denomination: Mennonite

One Young Man Asked, "I Am In Earnest About ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 27, 2002

One young man asked, "I am in earnest about forsaking ’the world’ and following Christ. But I am puzzled about worldly things. What is it I must forsake?” "Colored clothes, for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, God's Provision, Church Practices

Denomination: Mennonite

Albert Barnes - " It Is Not Enough For Salvation ...  PRO

Contributed by Eric Muldoon on Nov 18, 2002

Albert Barnes - " It is not enough for salvation without the benevolent and holy acts to which it would prompt, any more than the good wishes and kind words of the benevolent are enough to satisfy the wants ...read more

Tags: Poverty, Examples Of Faith, Faith Vs. Works, E

Denomination: Holiness

I Will Save You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002

I WILL SAVE YOU John Piper puts it this way: If we only knew it, every one of us is stranded on an ice face in Greenland, and the wind is blowing fiercely. Our position is so precarious that even if we inhale too deeply our weight will shift and we will plunge to our destruction. God comes to us ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Evangelism The Lost, Lordship Of Christ

One Of The Truths Of The Bible Given Over And ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jun 4, 2005

One of the truths of the Bible given over and over again is you can never be good enough on your own to earn heaven. Because once you sin one time, you can’t brag to a perfect God how good you are. I mean, you don’t impress the engineers of Boeing with the airplane that you made from paper. You ...read more

Tags: Faith, Faith In Action, Faith Vs. Works, Misconceptions

Denomination: Christian Church

The Miracle When Egyptian Christians Were Beheaded!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 24, 2016

THE MIRACLE WHEN THE EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS WERE BEHEADED The month of February marks the one year anniversary of the 21 Coptic Christians who were martyred on a beach in Libya in North Africa, by Islamic State terrorists. Bishop Demetrios, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-31

Tags: Evangelism, Sacrifice, Romans, Martyr, Good Vs Evil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Too Many People Come To Church Three Times ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 31, 2001

Too many people come to Church three times primarily. They're Baptized, they get married, and they have their funeral service at the Church.The first time they throw ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10, Luke 19:1-10, John 21:15-21, Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Faith, Faith Vs. Works, Church General, Apologetics General, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

In Other Words, We Begin Our Christian Life In ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Sullivan on Jul 11, 2001

In other words, we begin our Christian life in God’s grace, and then quickly abandon grace, and try to live our life, and almost to continue to earn our salvation, - by what we do, by our works. Author Jerry Bridges puts it like this: "We tend to give an unbeliever just enough of the gospel to get ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Character, Faith Vs. Works, Grace, Judgment, Sowing, Tares, Weeds  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patience Makes It Happen

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

"The history books are full of stories of gifted persons whose talents were overlooked by a procession of people until someone believed in them. To name a few ... "Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Long Suffering, Flesh Vs Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Zanzibar Is An Old City In East Africa. A City ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregory Fisher on Jul 1, 2004

Zanzibar is an old city in East Africa. A city with an unfortunate past. It is filled with ornate architecture, and it is the home of the Swahili Institute, the official guardians of the Kiswahili language. But, for nearly 300 years it was the home of something else. It was the home of one of ...read more

Tags: Salvation By Grace, Salvation, Redemption, Ransom For All, Ransom From Sin, Missionary, Missionary Work, Gospel Impact, Grace, Grace Of God, Justification, Slavery, Sola Gratia  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare