In Sermon Illustrations: "Speak Positively"

A Few Years Ago There Was A Series Of Commercials ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 3, 2001

A few years ago there was a series of commercials featuring a man wearing a flannel shirt and jeans who would be telling people how much he cared for them, often getting teary-eyed as he said with all the emotion he could muster, “I love you, man!” And the person he was speaking to in that ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-34

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Gift, Worship

Denomination: Wesleyan

Was That A No?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 22, 2005

WAS THAT A NO? A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:33-37

Tags: Parable General

Lying, Cheating, And Stealing Are Becoming An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2005

Lying, cheating, and stealing are becoming an "acceptable norm" among high-school and college students, says Ralph Wexler, speaking for the Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics. In a recent survey, the Institute reported that 61 percent of the high-school and 32 percent of the college ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Death Is A Huge Chasm. But Jesus Bridged That ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Apr 15, 2006

Death is a huge chasm. But Jesus bridged that too. It is his sacrifice that is the bridge. Many stories allude to the power of sacrifice, one of the most recent is the Chronicles of Narnia, where the Lion Aslan, won’t stay dead! {Video Clip: Chronicles of Narnia- Start: Chp.20:1:52:34 - End: ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian Church

A Proud Young Man Walked Into A Room Looking For ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Oct 27, 2002

A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over to his waiting ...read more

Tags: Humility, Temptation Pride

From Stress/Unstress By Keith W. ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jan 16, 2003

ILLUSTRATION… From Stress/Unstress by Keith W. Wehnert, 1981, Augsburg Symptoms of Stress Overload 1. Decision-making becomes difficult (both major and minor kinds). 2. Excessive daydreaming or fantasizing about “getting away from it all.” 3. Increased use of cigarettes and/or alcohol. 4. Increased ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lorica Of St. Patrick  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 7, 2003

THE LORICA OF ST. PATRICK I arise today Through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, God's Provision, God's Omnipotence

A. The Story Is Told Of A Pig Farmer Down South ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A. The story is told of a pig farmer down south who called a local church and asked to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough. 1. The church secretary said, “If you are referring to our minister, you are welcome to call him Brother, or Reverend if you are so inclined, but it would be improper to refer ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Take A Clear Glass Or Cup And Fill It With Dirty ...  PRO

Contributed by Weston Blankenship on Jul 28, 2007

Take a clear glass or cup and fill it with dirty water. Say this is a type of our sinfull soul before God’s forgiveness. Then dump it out in a bucket and say this is Christ forgivness, He cleans out all the sin. Then wash in the cup in a clean bucket. This is a type of baptism in Jesus name. Then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Apostolic

Fresh Faith, Fresh Gospel

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 16, 2009

FRESH FAITH, FRESH GOSPEL The dictionary defines "fresh" as that which is newly made or obtained; that which does retain the original properties without any degradation. Conversely, "staleness" is defined as: having lost the freshness, effervescence, or palatability; lacking originality or ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: *other

The Church's Greatest Troublemakers  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

THE CHURCH'S GREATEST TROUBLEMAKERS Preacher and Bible commentator, John Stott, said this in his exposition of Paul's letter to the Galatians: "To tamper with the gospel is to trouble the church... Indeed the church's greatest troublemakers (now as then) are not those outside who oppose, ridicule ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-10

Tags: False Teaching

The Word ‘love’ Conjures Up So Man ...

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Jul 9, 2010

The word ‘love’ conjures up so man different things today. A modern dictionary lists 28 various uses for the word: tender affection, warm attachment, intimate passion, strong predication, & amorous benevolence. Yet not of these are complete to define / describe what the Bible speaks of as a ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

Erickson's Thoughts On God The Father

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

ERICKSON'S THOUGHTS ON GOD THE FATHER And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent' (John 17:3) Dr. Packer's devotional approach to theology is evident from his choice of textbook which is Millard Erickson's 'Christian Theology'. Here's an ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Tags: God The Father

The History Of Happy Birthday

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 4, 2011

THE HISTORY OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY In the secular world, Happy Birthday is the best known song in the English speaking world. The song's base lyrics have been translated into at least 18 languages. It was written in 1893 by 2 sisters: Mildred J. Hill came up with the tune, and her sister Patty added ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Brethren

Love Her!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2012

LOVE HER! I recently heard a preacher speaking of his efforts to counsel a man who was having marital trouble. He said to the man, "The Bible says husbands love your wives." "But I do not love her anymore," he replied. "Then love her as your sister in the Lord." "But I don't think she is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25-33

Tags: Marriage Struggle

The World's Worst Predictions.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jan 3, 2015

The book The World’s Worst Predictions lists some of history’s all-time prophetic goofs. King George II said in 1773 that the American colonies had little stomach for revolution. An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm’s newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21

Tags: Prophecy, Predictions False

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Prayer For Preachers

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 10, 2019

A Prayer for Preachers O God, our Father; you love all your children. Those at home and those away from home. As I proclaim the gospel, may your voice be heard, calling. May Christ our Lord be praised. Good news; hope for the hopeless Good news; love for the broken Good news; forgiveness at the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Tags: Preaching, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When Joseph Ton Was A Pastor In Romania He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

When Joseph Ton was a pastor in Romania he was arrested by the secret police for publishing a sermon calling for the churches to refuse to submit to the Communist government’s demand for control over their ministries. When an official told him he must renounce his sermon, he replied, "No, sir! I ...read more

Tags: Endurance

In The Power Of The Spirit  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 30, 2002

IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT As a young man, Oswald Chambers, who wrote the materials that became My Utmost For His Highest, battled a persistent sense of barrenness in his Christian life. He finally wrote: I was getting desperate. I knew no one who had what I wanted; in fact I did not know what ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Think It's Jesus In The Liimo

Contributed by Joe Tilton on Jun 4, 2013

I THINK IT'S JESUS IN THE LIMO The Oklahoma Conference Leader Bishop Hayes is returning home after a speaking engagement. When his plane arrives, there is a limousine there to transport him to his home in Oklahoma City. As he prepares to get into the limo, he stops and speaks to the driver. "You ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: *other