In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual Encounter"

Kokomo Tribune Columnist Ed Vasicek Wrote, ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 3, 2003

Kokomo Tribune Columnist Ed Vasicek wrote, “Ravenous spenders often work long hours (or take a second job) to support their addiction. Notice that they are NOT willing to give up their purchase binges, but they ARE willing to give up their time and energy. Some of that time and energy COULD ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Was A State Campground Near Old Walker Mine ...

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 14, 2003

It was a state campground near Old Walker Mine in late September. My father and I pulled in about 11:30 at night and setting up camp what I remember most was the night sky. It was black, not dark but black. The stars were clearer, huge, close and more brilliant than I’d ever seen them or could ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gospel Writers Simply Wrote "They Crucified ...

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 16, 2004

The gospel writers simply wrote "They crucified Jesus". Who crucified him? I’ll tell you who crucified him. I did - and you did, and they did, those groups around the cross. The old Negro spiritual asked the question, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" “They” crucified the Lord? It ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Rick Warren Has Said In His Book "Purpose Driven ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Aug 11, 2004

Rick Warren has said in his book “Purpose Driven Life” that there are 2 main problems when thinking about spiritual gifts. One is called “gift-envy”. This means that we compares our abilities and gifts to others. In doing that, we might feel tempted to feel jealous of others or feel dissatisfied ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Baptist

I Have Been A Pastor For Nearly Twenty-Five ...

Contributed by Byron Maynard on Apr 22, 2005

I have been a pastor for nearly twenty-five years. During those years, one thing I have noticed in counseling with people, for many, their minds have become garbage dumps. It is the place where they dump past failures, bad information, broken down relationship experiences, etc. It is the place ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Certain Courthouse In Ohio Stands In A Unique ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 21, 2005

A certain courthouse in Ohio stands in a unique location. Raindrops that fall on the north side of the building go into Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while those falling on the south side go into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. At precisely the point of the peak of the roof, ...read more

Tags: Character

What Do People Want In Their Pastors? A New ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

What Do People Want In Their Pastors? A new study by Hartford Institute researcher Adair Lummis reveals that, first and foremost, lay leaders want a pastor with an authentic religious life. Most lay people define that as a person whose faith combines both head and heart; a person whose lifestyle ...read more

Tags: Church General

Charles Hard Townes, 89, And Columbia University ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Charles Hard Townes, 89, and Columbia University physicist, has been awarded this year’s Templeton Prize for progress or discoveries about spiritual reality. He notes, “I don’t think that science is complete at all. We don’t understand everything and one can see, within science itself, there are ...read more

Tags: Faith General

When Hugh Latimer Was Preaching One Day In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 1, 2007

When Hugh Latimer was preaching one day in the presence of King Henry VIII, he reports that he said to himself, “Latimer! Latimer! Remember that the king is here; be careful what you say.” Then he said to himself, “Latimer! Latimer! Remember that the King of kings is here; be careful what you do ...read more

Denomination: Other

The New Face Of Christianity Will Be "The Black ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2008

The New Face of Christianity will be “the black woman,” claims Kwok Pui Lan of the William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality at the Episcopal Divinity School. In mid ’07, Europe claimed the greatest number of Christians in the world: 532 million, followed by Latin America at ...read more

Tags: Religion

The Daughter's Statement Of Submission Is One Of ...

Contributed by Charles Jones on Aug 24, 2008

The daughter’s statement of submission is one of the most touching speeches in Scripture (Judg. 11:36). She shared her father’s extreme reverence for God, even if it cost her marriage, children, and life itself. No wonder the young women of Israel honored her ever after (11:40). What does this ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tech ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

TECH CHURCH People within the Christian community are just as immersed in digital technologies and social networks as those outside. Both evangelicals and born-agains emerged as statistically on-par with national norms when it comes to technological habits. The one exception is access to spiritual ...read more

Tags: Technology

Neglect Of Community

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jun 15, 2009

NEGLECT OF COMMUNITY "If God designed the Church to function like a body with every member ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit to other members, in regular interpersonal relationship, then would it be surprising to find that the neglect of this regular interpersonal, spiritual ministry ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Walk In The Spirit Defined

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

"WALK IN THE SPIRIT" DEFINED For example, the students of Aristotle were known as the Peripatetics because of their habit of following the philosopher around from place to place as he dispensed his teachings. In Paul’s vocabulary, to "walk in the Spirit" or be "led by the Spirit" means to go where ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Jimmy Carter On Evidence Of Genuine ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2009

Jimmy Carter On Evidence of Genuine Faith In his book Living Faith Jimmy Carter writes: A group of Christian laymen involved in missionary work approached a small village near an Amish settlement. Seeking a possible convert, they confronted an Amish farmer and asked him, “Brother, are you a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:7-18

Tags: Repentance

Confession Is Good For You

Contributed by Jerry Blaxton on Mar 12, 2010

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR YOU We’ve all heard the old saying, "Confession is good for the soul." Even in non-Christian and non-spiritual circles, people believe that to be true. Psychologists or psychiatrists would say that when we confess our wrong actions, words, and thoughts, it’s like a burden is ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Closed For Alterations  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

CLOSED FOR ALTERATIONS Billy Graham tells a story--a simple illustration--that I want to borrow. A preacher once passed a shop which was no longer open for business. A sign hung in the window that said, "Closed for Alterations." The owner had closed shop for a while in order to remodel the store. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Tags: Rapture

What Is Doctrine?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 25, 2025

What is doctrine? “The word translated “doctrine” means “instruction, especially as it applies to lifestyle application.” In other words, doctrine is teaching imparted by an authoritative source. In the Bible, the word always refers to spiritually related fields of study. The Bible says of itself ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 4:16

Tags: Instruction, Belief, Doctrine

Denomination: Methodist

Parent Realizes The Parallel Between Training ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2009

Parent Realizes the Parallel Between Training Children Academically and Spiritually I’d like to invite Dean Ridder to come up and share what he wrote on his blog a couple months ago (see www.pontiacchristian.org/blog/index.php). Dean is a member of PBC, plays in the Praise Band, and is the ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7-9

Tags: Parenting

The Hunger And The Hunt

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 13, 2010

THE HUNGER AND THE HUNT "She was not beautiful but her eyes were magnificient. They were piercing and caught the light as jade shards and occasionally as she passed into shadows you could catch glimses of the hunger betrayed in the depths of their opalescent gaze. As the inquisitive marvelled at ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational