In Sermon Illustrations: "Source Of True Love"

If There Is Anything Good In Us, It Is Not Our ...

Contributed by Dr. Madana Kumar, Phd on Apr 28, 2009

If there is anything good in us, it is not our own, it is a gift of God. But if it is a gift then it is entirely a debt one owes to love. And if it is a debt owed to love, then I must serve others with it, not myself. Thus my learning is not my own, it belongs to the unlearned and is the debt I ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Stubborn Joy—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Dec 1, 2001

STUBBORN JOY--Communion Meditation "No man had more reason to be miserable than this one – yet no man was more joyful. His first home was a palace. Servants were at his fingertips. The snap of his fingers changed the course of history. His name was known and loved. He had everything – wealth, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-13

Tags: Human Body, Humanity Of Christ, Joy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Perpetual New Year's Resolutions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2002

PERPETUAL NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Share a funny story with ...read more

Tags: New Year's Day, Bucketlist, Christian Values

A New Heart, A New Life  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Jan 19, 2003

A NEW HEART, A NEW LIFE It was March 18. Leanne tried not to think about the fact that Melvin would have been 39 today. The face of the man driving the van flashed in her mind. She tried not to feel the anger. Once more the scream of brakes, the crash and then the silence replayed itself in her ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Repentance

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Anybody Here Heard Of A Rich Man Called John ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Feb 21, 2004

Anybody here heard of a rich man called John Davis who lived in Hiawatha, Kansas? Davis, was a farmer and a self-made man. He began as a lowly hired hand and by sheer determination and frugality he managed to amass a considerable fortune in his lifetime. In the process, however, the farmer did not ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Giving General

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Tomorrow's Trivia! (02.24.06--Do Not Worry!--Luke ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 22, 2006

Tomorrow’s Trivia! (02.24.06--Do Not Worry!--Luke 22:24) An average person’s anxiety is focused on: 40% -- things that will never happen, 30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed, 12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue, 10% -- about health, which gets worse with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:24

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

The Lady In A Faded Gingham Dress And Her ...

Contributed by Paul Humphrey on Sep 3, 2006

The lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston and walked timidly, without an appointment, into the president of Harvard’s outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

No Record

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

"NO RECORD" Several years ago Bob Sheffield of the Navigators told a moving story picturing the essence of what it means to receive God’s forgiveness. Before he became a Christian, Bob played professional hockey in Canada. He was tough, loved to fight and found himself in jail one night after a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22

Tags: Atonement

Joseph: The Portrait Of Christ (Bible Gateway)

Contributed by William Akehurst on Jan 4, 2025

Joseph: the Portrait of CHRIST (Bible Gateway) The Life of Joseph Genesis 30:24 – Genesis 50:26 1. A shepherd. 2. Loved by his father. 3. Sent unto his brethren 4. Hated by his brothers. 5. Prophesied his coming glory. 6. Rejected by his brothers. 7. Endured unjust punishment from his brothers. 8. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 30:24, Genesis 50:26

Tags: Jesus, Joseph, Comparison

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Asked A Theologian What Was The Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 26, 2003

Someone asked a theologian what was the most profound truth: "Jesus loves me, this I ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Creation Of Something New Is Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The ...read more

Tags: Art

Mother Nature Is Providential. She Gives Us ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Mother Nature is providential. She gives us twelve years to develop a love for our children ...read more

Tags: Children

Happiness, At Best, Is An Illusory Goal. It Is ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Happiness, at best, is an illusory goal. It is not a destination; it is a manner of traveling. Happiness is not an end in itself. It is a ...read more

Tags: Joy

All Americans Believe They Are Born Fishermen. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man to admit a distaste for fishing would be like ...read more

Tags: Sports

Only As Genuine Christian Holiness, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Only as genuine Christian holiness, and Christlike love are expressed in the life of a parent, can the child have the ...read more

Tags: Parenting

A Babe In The House Is A Wellspring Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A babe in the house is a wellspring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on ...read more

Tags: Baby Dedication

Don't Aim For Success If You Want It; Just Do ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

Truth Is So Obscure In These Times, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love ...read more

Tags: Truth

A Wise Lover Values Not So Much The Gift Of The ...

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

"A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver." - Thomas A ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: *other