In Sermon Illustrations: "source" showing 961-980 of 2,951

Top Ten Ways You Know You're In A Bad Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2004

TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN A BAD CHURCH 10. The church bus has gun racks. 9. The church staff consists of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor and Socio-pastor. 8. The Bible they use is the "Dr. Seuss Version." 7. There’s an ATM in the lobby. 6. The choir wears leather robes. 5. Worship ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Church General

A Little More  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2004

A LITTLE MORE An interesting article appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It was an interview of six top executives, all of them making six-figure salaries. That means that they made somewhere between $100,000 and $1 million a year. Now you are probably thinking , “If I made even $100,000 a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Where Are The Rotten Ones!?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2004

WHERE ARE THE ROTTEN ONES!? There was once a lady who complained about everything and everybody. Finally, her minister found something that she couldn’t complain about. The lady’s crop of potatoes was the finest for miles around. He said to her, “For once you must be pleased. Everyone is saying ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

Stop Paying The Bully  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2005

STOP PAYING THE BULLY In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Tags: Satan

Make More  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

MAKE MORE One Saturday, as is the custom at the Erickson house in Peoria, IL, Ken Erickson’s wife cleaned out leftovers from the refrigerator. She gave the one remaining portion of tortellini to their 6-year-old son, Jeremy. Their 8-year-old son, Matthew, also wanted some, so bickering ensued. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-44

Tags: God's Provision, Miracles Of Jesus

Really Giving  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

REALLY GIVING The great Alliance preacher and renowned Christian author, A. W. Tozer, makes this observation: “Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!... In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-43, Matthew 9:1, Mark 9:14-35

Tags: Jesus Teachings

William Carey, The "Father Of Modern Missions," ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 6, 2005

William Carey, the “father of modern missions,” wanted to translate the Bible into as many Indian languages as possible. He established a large print-shop in Serampore where translation work was continually being done. Carey spent hours each day translating Scripture, often while his insane wife ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Show Me The Mommy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2005

SHOW ME THE MOMMY One of the latest reality shows in South Africa is called "Show me the Mommy." An eligible bachelor gets to go out with 3 moms and choose which daughter he wants to date based on his opinion of the mother. Which mom would have raised the most enjoyable girl to date? Moms, ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-6

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day

A Wall Or Bridge

Contributed by Allen Patterson on Aug 21, 2006

A Wall Or Bridge They say a wife and husband, bit by bit, Can rear between themselves a mighty wall, So thick they cannot speak with ease through it, Nor can they see across it, it stands so tall. Its nearness frightens them, but each alone Is powerless to tear its bulk away; and each dejected ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Works Vs. Fruit  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 15, 2009

WORKS VS. FRUIT A machine in a factory works and turns out a product, but it could never manufacture "fruit." Fruit must grow out of life, and, in the case of the believer, it is the life of the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). When you think of "works," you think of effort, labor, strain, and toil; when you ...read more

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Other

Stones: Throw, Stumble Or Climb ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

STONES: THROW, STUMBLE OR CLIMB OVER This week, I read a common-sense statement by William Andrew Ward about the way we live together in our world: "We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them." The first three choices (throwing, stumbling and ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

God's Love And The Weather Vane

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

GOD'S LOVE AND THE WEATHER VANE One day, C.H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:38-39, Romans 8:31-39

Tags: God's Love

Discerning God's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL George Mueller’s recommended method for discerning God’s will: 1. Have no will of your own in the matter. (Mark 14:36) 2. Seek the will of God in direct connection with the Word of God (Psalm 119:33-35) 3. Circumstances will agree with the Word of God (Judges 6:36-40) 4. Ask ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Tags: Prayer Answered

Treasure In Christ, But "Out Of Gas"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

TREASURE IN CHRIST, BUT "OUT OF GAS" Several years ago, on New Year’s Day, a beautiful float in the Tournament of Roses parade suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Tags: God's Provision

I'd Give More Praise  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

"I'D GIVE MORE PRAISE" The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

Tags: Encouragement

Love Gives To The Limit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

LOVE GIVES TO THE LIMIT The late great Scots Church of Scotland theologian, educator, author, and radio and television presenter, William Barclay (1907 - 1978), once said, "Love never calculates; love never thinks how little it can decently give; love’s one desire is to give to the uttermost ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13

Tags: Giving General

Faith: A Living, Daring Confidence

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 16, 2009

FAITH: A LIVING, DARING CONFIDENCE "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God’s grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

In December 1903, After Many Attempts, The Wright ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 21, 2009

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." • Katherine hurried to the editor of the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Love For God's House

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Apr 14, 2010

THE LOVE FOR GOD'S HOUSE No wonder the Psalmist longed for God’s House. It is sad that many people, even some who claim to know Christ, take so little interest in His church-—the Church He purchased with His own blood. Some people only show up on important occasions in life. The only time the ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Baptist

The Importance Of Perspective  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

THE IMPORTANCE OF PERSPECTIVE When I think of perspective I am often reminded of a conversation between me and my son in the summer he turned four. That spring, Mark had asked for a spot in the family garden to call his own. He turned the soil, broke the clumps, and planted his favorite ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

Tags: God Brings Hope