In Sermon Illustrations: "Spirit"

Santification  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 29, 2004

Santification: Sanctification is a mysterious word to many. We know it is part of the work that God is doing in our lives and that involves being cleansed from sin. I like to illustrate sanctification with a cast iron skillet. A lot of modern day skillets and frying pans are coated with ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General, Holy Spirit Attributes

In The Fields Of France There Are Many Rolling ...  PRO

Contributed by W F on Sep 20, 2004

In the fields of France there are many rolling green hills and open fields, some of you may have seen them. Yet beneath many of these picturesque landscapes lies the horror of hundreds of mass graves - remnants of the many battles fought there. Imagine just one of these graves being opened soon ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: *other

J. B. Phillips Writes In The Preface To The ...  PRO

Contributed by Duane Smith on Jul 18, 2005

J. B. Phillips writes in the preface to The Young Church in Action, that one cannot spend several months in close study of this book, “without being profoundly stirred and, to be honest, disturbed. The reader is stirred,” he says, “because he is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Tags: Pentecost, Holy Spirit, Church, Unity

Denomination: Baptist

In His Sermon, "A Dangerous Pentecost," Halford ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

In his sermon, “A Dangerous Pentecost,” Halford Luccock tells of Lorenzo de’Medici, the great Florentine patron of the arts who was very proud of the spectacles he staged for the citizenry. Among his productions were several amazingly realistic religious pageants performed in church. But one ...read more

Tags: Pentecost, Holy Spirit In Believers, Today

Sputtering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

SPUTTERING A man in North Carolina bought a new car with a voice-warning system. ... At first he was amused to hear the soft female voice gently remind him that his seat belt wasn’t fastened. ... Edwin affectionately called this voice the "little woman." He soon discovered his little woman was ...read more

Scripture: John 14:26

Tags: Direction, Holy Spirit, Rebellion, Conscience

The Wealthy, Unhealthy Church

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2014

THE WEALTHY, UNHEALTHY CHURCH Many writers have told the traditional story of the thirteenth century Catholic theologian, Thomas Aquinas, who visited the Vatican in Rome. He was escorted through the fine buildings housing the vast Papal treasury. The Pope, referring to himself as Peter’s ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:1-10

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Healing, Power

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power For Holy Living

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 30, 2014

Ludwig Nommensen traveled to begin mission work with a tribe in southeast Asia. The village chief welcomed Ludwig and said, "You have 2 years to learn our customs and convince us you have a message worth hearing." After 2 years, the tribal leader asked the missionary how Christianity differs from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Tags: Holy Spirit, Law, Holy Living

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus They lived a comfortable life in the upscale part of town, the children were teen and pre-teen then and had most anything their hearts desired. They had begun to recite their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude, Serving Others, Giving Spirit

Denomination: Charismatic

Love  PRO

Contributed by Roger Whipp on Dec 31, 2014

Love is one of the most powerful emotions we have. The actress Joan Crawford once said “Love is a fire but whether it warms your heart or burns your house down, you can never tell!” Love can motivate, give pleasure, hurt even destroy. It can make us do bold, even stupid things. During the 17th ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-31, Romans 5:8

Tags: Love, Holy Spirit, Love And Obedience

Denomination: *other

I Was Driving Home One Sunday From Trinity Of...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I was driving home one Sunday from Trinity of Gentilly, where I was serving. I was on Napolean headed toward the river and had just passed Pascale Manales when I saw Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of St. Charles Ave. I then had a vision of younger families in the Uptown and Garden ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance, Visions

Denomination: Methodist

God Communicates Through Dreams

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

God still speaks in dreams today. In the second year of serving at Gretna, I had a dream that the 2 acres next door where a pediatrician’s office was located was going to be sold and become townhouses. The owner Dr. Jerry Fortino attended the WestBank Rotary Club which met at the church every ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:1-10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Dreams, God's Leading

Denomination: Methodist

On Being A Friend!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 28, 2021

NASCAR driver Bill Elliot won the most popular driver award 16 times. In 2003 he withdrew his name from the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit, Encouragement, Friendship, Kindness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facts About Fasting

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

BASIC REMINDERS --- to those who are fasting or considering a fast: (1) This is not about FOOD. It is about spending more time alone with God. It is about showing Him that there are no other gods before him. He is Lord of all areas of our life. (2) Do not become PROUD and brag to others about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:23

Tags: Fasting, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revival Begins In The Prayer Closet

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

E.M. Bounds, who was born in 1835, began his three-hour prayer routine at 4am. To him, prayer was not a prelude; it was a priority. Edward Payson, who ministered during the Second Great Awakening, was said to have worn grooves into his hardwood floors as a result of prayer. Adoniram Judson ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Prayer, Revival, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing Power Of The Church

Contributed by Mark Mitchell on Jan 22, 2023

A YOUNG couple got married and was on their way home from the honeymoon. A tractor-trailer pulled out in front of them suddenly and the young groom swerved to avoid it. The car went into a tailspin and crashed. The groom was okay, but his new bride was bleeding profusely. He knew if he didn’t get ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Healing, Gospel

Denomination: Baptist

Make Sure Your Ax Is Sharpen

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Feb 16, 2023

When we were young we did not have central heating and air. As a matter of fact I do not remember us having a window unit. What we had was a fireplace in the winter time and a screen door in the summer. I remember that old fire place. If it was real cold we would put a blanket over the door ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:10

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sharpening Your Ax

Denomination: Church Of God

Funny Prayers

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

I found this collection of funny prayers on-line: • Lord, I ask that you give me the superpower to eat as much pizza as I want without gaining any weight. It would truly be a miracle and make my life complete. Amen. • Lord, I ask that you make all the calories in donuts and ice cream disappear, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Food, Prayer, Flesh

Denomination: Methodist

Patience With Those Who Reject Our Savior

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 5, 2023

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Endurance, Patience, Forbearance, Fruit Of The Spirit, Waiting On God, Evangelism, Grace, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can't Stick Your Tongue Out At God's Children!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

A busy young father came home late from work and his two young daughters ran to the car to meet him. The oldest daughter got their first and jumped into Daddy's arms telling him how much she loved him while the youngest watched. As they walked into the house, the oldest daughter looked back ...read more

Tags: Bitterness, Hate, Critical Spirit, Division, Kids, Love, Father, Holy Spirit, Anger  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecost And Babel Contrasted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-7

Tags: Tongues, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Judgment, Babel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational