In Sermon Illustrations: "Spirits Work"

Bill Hybels: Why People Are Lonely

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

BILL HYBELS: WHY PEOPLE ARE LONELY Why do we have a sense of loneliness today? Bill Hybels explains it this way: "It is a "me-first” mind-set. This mind-set says indulge yourself, fulfill your desires, satiate your appetites, pursue pleasure, take off all restraints. As much as we might want to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

The Liberty Bell

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 6, 2011

THE LIBERTY BELL One of the most, iconic symbols of our national heritage --the Liberty Bell --hangs magnificently in the city of brotherly love. In 1751, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the bell to commemorate the commonwealth's fiftieth anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of ...read more

Tags: Hope, Independence Day

Denomination: Lutheran

Do You Believe The Easter Story?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

DO YOU BELIEVE THE EASTER STORY? I heard a story about a family that tragically lost three of their four children within just two weeks to a deadly, virulent disease. One child was left--a four year old boy. The family had buried the third child just two weeks before Easter. On Easter morning ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-49

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Happiness Is Not Found In More Things....

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 19, 2016

HAPPINESS IS NOT FOUND IN MORE THINGS... If having more would make us happy, we would never need the Tenth Commandment - "You shall not COVET.’ It is written especially for unhappy people who think that happiness is found in more things. Have you heard the story about the king who fell into a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Tags: Happiness, Materialism, Ten Commandments, Coveting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Our Faith Be In God And Not In The Things Of This World.

Contributed by Greg Burcham on Sep 2, 2016

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20 NKJV What a beautiful verse! Jesus declares His desire to be your Savior and friend. This verse comes at the end of Christ’s rebuke of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Laodicea, Open Door, God Cares For You

Denomination: Baptist

Relaxing Our Grip On Troubles

Contributed by Jerry Stephens on Mar 18, 2017

Recently I was praying at bedtime. I felt overwhelmed by the things I didn’t get done that day; things that would be facing me the moment I opened my eyes the following morning. As I recited my litany of woes, I sensed the Holy Spirit asking me which among them I thought he couldn’t handle. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Trust, Prayer, Prayer General, Trouble

Denomination: Vineyard

Beatitudes For Marriage

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

We all know and love the Beatitudes for what they mean to our own personal lives, but recently I sensed the Lord leading me to write down how these guidelines for Kingdom citizens affected the lives of married couples. The results were received very powerfully by our amazing church family: Poor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Marriage, Prayer, Beatitudes, Couples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul's Persuasion

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

A pastor asked a dying man, "My friend, what persuasion are you?" The man replied, "I am of Paul’s persuasion." The pastor said, "I am afraid you didn’t understand me. Of what persuasion are you?" The man answered, "Oh, I understood you. I am of Paul’s ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-9, Romans 8:28-39, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Assurance, Pastors, Denominations, Faith, Death, Heaven, Salvation, Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are You Weeping?

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 29, 2024

Note: – This a small dialogue between God and you. Why are you weeping? Dear ______, Is my grace not sufficient for you? Is my hand is not strong enough to lift you out of your valleys? Is my blanket of love not large enough to envelop you and your family? Are my feathers not enough to keep ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Tags: Sorrow, Weeping

The Heartbeat And Bloodline Of Praying African American Mothers

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on May 8, 2025

Legacy of Blood and Heartbeat From the heartbeat of ancestors long gone, Rises a rhythm—a sacred song, Passed through blood, through bloodlines deep, A legacy rooted in faith to keep. Mothers praying in quiet nights, Holding on through struggles and fights, Their voices rising, fierce ...read more

Tags: Poem, Call To Action

Denomination: Methodist

Quote: "The One Concern Of The Devil Is To Keep ...

Contributed by N A on Apr 6, 2008

QUOTE: “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. The devil fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. The devil laughs at our toil, ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: *other

Bill, A Carpenter Said, "A Friend Is Someone Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Randy Croft on Nov 14, 2002

Bill, a carpenter said, "A friend is someone who tells me the truth about me. I want to know when my work stinks or I’m being hurtful or ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Yet God Is Bigger Than Our Suffering. We Can Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Shawn Williams on Jun 19, 2004

Yet God is bigger than our suffering. We can have hope as we place our trust in Him —in His faithfulness and in His ability to work out in our lives His purposes ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Howard Books Has Taken Top Honors As The Best ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 17, 2006

Howard Books has taken top honors as the Best Christian Place to Work in America for the 4th year. The Best Christian Workplaces Institute survey canvassed more than ...read more

Tags: Entertainment

On A More Serious Note Of Influence, "Dr. John ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

On a more serious note of influence, “Dr. John Geddie went to Aneityum in 1848 and worked there for God for 24 years. On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: When he landed, in 1848, ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

There Is An Old Saying Among Evangelists: "The ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Feb 4, 2008

There is an old saying among evangelists: “The hardest work is not getting folks saved, but getting them lost.” John Piper adds: “The hardest thing is not to satisfy thirst, but to make people ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Budget Should Be Balanced. The Treasury ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The budget should be balanced. The treasury should be refilled. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of officials should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest we become bankrupt. The ...read more

Tags: Government

What Counts Most, As I Look Back Over The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"What counts most, as I look back over the years, are not my accomplishments but rather the friends who worked with me as partners in these accomplishmentsThe quality and quantity of these accomplishments are fuzzy and ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Bearish Schedule--Bullish Timing!" Galatians 5: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 4, 2004

“Bearish Schedule--Bullish Timing!” Galatians 5: 22-24 Key verse(s): 22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Part of the fun of living are those times and events in our lives that happen spontaneously; that ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Lutheran

See Cookie Will Sneak

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 29, 2022

For more years than I care to remember, I have been on a diligent pursuit, and I won’t stop until I reach my goal. My quest is to find a cookie I don’t like. Throughout the years, I have eaten every cookie I could find and loved them all. My biggest obstacle in this pursuit is The Gracious ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:38

Tags: Temptation, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance