In Sermon Illustrations: "Spirit Controlled Life"

Caterpillars And Chameleons

Contributed by Nigel Heath on Jul 28, 2009

CATERPILLARS AND CHAMELEONS There are two creatures on earth that I find equally fascinating. One is the caterpillar and the other the chameleon. Chameleons have the amazing ability to alter their appearance in order to blend into their background. Christians who do this have no effective ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Baptist

Heathers And Gratitude

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Nov 6, 2009

HEATHERS AND GRATITUDE Some people think being thankful all the time is like going around with a goofy smile on your face all of the time and being insensitive to other people’s feelings. Some think it means to always be happy. We can be grateful, thankful, without being irrationally "happy" in ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: *other

For Bible Knowledge (The ...

Contributed by Timothy Brown on Jan 23, 2010

Illustration for Bible Knowledge (The Apostles’ Doctrine/Teaching) - Think of the Scriptures as an absolutely accurate map. A map tells you how to get to a certain destination. But just looking at a map won't automatically transport you to Arizona or England or Peru. Getting to those places means ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

John Kevin Hines Is One Of A Handful Of People ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

John Kevin Hines is one of a handful of people who have survived an attempted suicide jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. He claims to have told himself that if any one of the people he rubbed shoulders with on the way to the bridge noticed he was distraught, and asked him what was wrong, he wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Old, Rich Man With A Cranky, Miserable ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on May 8, 2010

An old, rich man with a cranky, miserable attitude visited a rabbi who lived a simple life. The rabbi had an idea on how to get through to him about his negative attitude. He took him over to a window and asked him what he saw. “I see men and women and a few children.” Then the rabbi took him to a ...read more

Tags: Riches, Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Know A Mom Who Denies God's Call Upon Her ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 15, 2010

I know a mom who denies God’s call upon her teenage boy and is constantly trying to lure him by feeding his flesh with earthly things so that he is satisfied with the things of the world and would not focus and pursue God’s call upon his life. She has been going to extents like getting young girls ...read more

Tags: Evil, Father's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not "If"

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 8, 2010

NOT "IF" Wiersbe tells of a counselor who was trying to help a man who had come forward during an evangelistic meeting. "I’m a Christian," the man said, "but there’s sin in my life, and I need help." The counselor showed him 1 John 1:9 and suggested that the man confess his sins to God. "O ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Faith And Icebergs

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 26, 2010

FAITH AND ICEBERGS Sailors in the northern oceans have frequently observed icebergs traveling in one direction in spite of strong winds blowing in the opposite direction. The icebergs were moving against the winds, but how? The explanation is that the icebergs, with eight-ninths of their bulk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:9-11

Tags: Grace

Dwayne Roberts: "We Must Understand That The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 30, 2010

Dwayne Roberts: "We must understand that the greatest treasure is waiting in front of every believer. We've all seen reality shows. I'd even guess that you have imagined winning a million dollars. You may not have phrased it exactly like this, but the question comes down to, 'What would it be like ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

He Began His Ministry By Being Hungry, Yet He Is ...

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 10, 2010

He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. Jesus ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Brethren

Jesus

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

JESUS He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life. Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water. Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest. Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King. Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast out demons. ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Brethren

The Circumference Of Your World

Contributed by Gordon Curley on May 15, 2011

THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF YOUR WORLD The Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson had not enjoyed a single day of good health in 14 years. One day, when he had been forced to set aside his writing because of violent coughing and wracking, his wife said to him, "I ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Brethren

Beware Of Attachments

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2011

BEWARE OF ATTACHMENTS Felipe Massa of Brazil should have won the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore in September 2008. But as he drove off from a refueling stop while in the lead, the fuel hose was still attached. By the time his team removed the hose, he had lost so much time that he finished ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Sin Bondage To

The Longing Of The Soul

Contributed by Charles Jones on Sep 7, 2011

THE LONGING OF THE SOUL Now I want you to imagine this: The moment that you take your last breath, it will be your first breath in Heaven, and the Lord and His angels will be right there to welcome you. One of the first faces you will see is Jesus! He will be there with His arms wide open to ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Pentecostal

House Fire And Marshmallows

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2012

HOUSE FIRE AND MARSHMALLOWS As the coals from our barbecue burned down, our hosts passed out marshmallows and long roasting forks. Just then, two fire trucks roared by, sirens blaring, lights flashing. They stopped at a house right down the block. All twelve of us raced out of the back yard, down ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Neighbor

He's Shaving You!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2014

HE'S SHAVING YOU! An influential man in town was sitting in the barber's chair having a shave and a haircut. He saw a pretty woman who was working in the office there and started flirting with her. "You're cute! How about a date tonight?" he said to her. The pretty woman smiled and said, ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-10

Tags: Pride, Words, Tongue, Flirting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pecans

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

We might be used by God to produce fruit we will never see. Takes time to take a fruit tree from a sapling to a mature, fruit producing tree. Down South, a young man, walking along a dirt path, comes upon an old man bowed to the ground planting pecan trees in a field. He stops and asks the old ...read more

Scripture: John 15:16

Tags: Bearing Fruit, Everlasting, Fruit Of The Vine

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gods That People Manufacture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 13, 2019

THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. In his book, Your God is Too Small, J. B. Phillips describes some of the common gods that people manufacture. One is the grand old man god, the grandfatherly, white-haired, indulgent god who smiles down on men and winks at their adultery, stealing, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-10

Tags: False Gods, Idolatry, Ten Commandments

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christians, We Have No Right To Look Down Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 12, 2008

Christians, we have no right to look down our noses with disdain on unsaved people. We can and should be offended at sin, but not personally offended – offended for God and His holiness. But if we can get it in our heads and in our hearts that when we were dead He gave us life, when we were ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Orthodox