In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual Fruit" showing 321-340 of 2,718

Staying Where You Started!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

The problem is that Christians do not go on with God. They get saved, give a testimony of their salvation, and that’s all they ever have. They never maintain a serious study of the Word of God, which is essential to growth. They are like the little girl who fell out of bed one night. When the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Running The Race, Perserverance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember The Duck! (Stop Living In Bondage To Satan)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2022

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot made by his grandfather. He practiced trying to hit a tin can, but he could never hit it. As he walked across the yard, he saw Grandma’s pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Confession, Covering Sin, Delieverance, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Let The Devil Hang A Nail On Your Door!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 8, 2022

A Haitian pastor illustrated to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ by sharing this parable: A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Commitment To Christ, Strongholds, Satah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Angel Of Music

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 14, 2023

In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera, a young chorus girl named Christine Daae receives voice training from a mysterious musician she calls the “Angel of Music.” Christine believes this is the angel her dying father had promised to send to complete her musical training. As ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:8, 1 John 4:4

Tags: Satan, Temptation, Spiritual Warfare, Evil, Armor Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Off The Bench And Get In The Game!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

A well-known coach was once asked, “How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?” “Nothing,” the coach replied abruptly. “Why not?” the startled interviewer asked. “Well,” said the coach, “the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13

Tags: Volunteers, Spiritual Gifts, Service, Ministry, Church, Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Achilles' Heel

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2024

The ancient Greeks told a story of a warrior named Achilles. His mother had been warned that he would die of a wound, so she dipped him as an infant in the river Styx. That was supposed to make him invincible. THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM -- she held him by one heel which the protective waters did not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-15

Tags: Lust, Satan, Temptation, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Evil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Emily's 9-5 Struggle

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 19, 2024

Emily, a young woman from the MZ generation, recently started her career with a standard 9-5 job. She quickly finds herself feeling trapped and miserable in this routine. Every morning, the thought of going to work at 9 AM and staying until 5 PM feels unbearable to her. She often voices her ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22

Tags: Comfort, Danger, Purpose, Letting Go, Spiritual Growth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer As Our Heavy Artillery

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 9, 2024

In Ephesians 6:18, Paul has completed the metaphor of Roman armor. But he is not finished teaching about spiritual warfare. In fact, he has come to the most important weapon in our spiritual arsenal. Prayer is the heavy artillery. Through prayer we call down the bombardment of God against our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Intercession, Victory, Armor, Battles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

From East To West

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

How far is the east from the west? Where does the east end and the west begin? A certain state once had this slogan: "Where the west begins and the tall corn grows." The last part of the slogan is true; the first is not. No one knows where the west begins or where it ends. It's all a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Guilt, Condemnation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Is The Key. Joy Is Love Singing. Peace Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Nov 4, 2004

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:14, Luke 2:15-20, 1 Thessalonians 16:14, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 John 4:16, Luke 2:15, Luke 2:15-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Conflict, Fruit, Marriage, Love, Love For God, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Knowledge Of Good And Evil  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 8, 2014

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL Viktor Frankl in his book, "Man's Search for Meaning," describes the reactions of two brothers with the same heredity, the same environment, in the same concentration camp under the Nazis. One became a saint and the other a swine. Frankl tells us the reason why. He ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19

Tags: Good And Evil, Life And Death, Forbidden Fruit, Knowledge Of Good

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Momma, Kiss Me!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 2, 2023

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Sacrifice, Love, Mothers, Children, Agape, Death, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evolution Is The Problem - And The Solution?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 19, 2023

Gov Pritzker (Illinois) gave the 2023 Commencement Address at North Eastern University "… Whenever we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us or love like us, or live like us - the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:23, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 139:14, Romans 7:21-25, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Kindness, Salvation, Humanity, Fruit Of The Spirit, Evolution, Compassion, Education  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Pilot Who Shot Himself Down!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

Chuck Yeager, the pilot who first broke the time barrier, revealed some interesting tidbits from aviation history in his autobiography. One of the most unusual happened at Edwards Air Force Base in the late 50s. A test pilot diving in a Mach-2 fighter actually outraced the shells from his ...read more

Tags: Pace, Patience, Slow Down, Endurance, Fruit Of The Spirit, Gentleness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

3 Types Of People In The Wilderness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 17, 2023

THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THE WILDERNESS (Joshua 1, I Corinth. 2:13-3:3) * THOSE LIVING IN EGYPT (NATURAL MAN) - unbelievers in bondage to sin. Christ is on the outside of their life. Those in Egypt were freed from slavery by the blood of a sacrificial Lamb, a picture of Christ on the Cross, ...read more

Tags: Wilderness, Spirit Filled Life, Spiritual Man, Spiritual Victory, Natural Man, Promised Land, Canaan, Carnal, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Am In A Hurry, But God Isn't!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2023

The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried. The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Called To Be Faithful

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Success, Faithfulness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Roof Of The Church Hall Of A Little Swiss ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 8, 2001

The roof of the church hall of a little Swiss church, at the turn of the 20th century, was falling down. So the members of the church held regular prayer meetings in the hall after the service to pray for funds to repair the roof . There was an old man, known to be very tight with his money, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-13

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Warfare, Humor, Giving General, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

In Warfare, There Is Always An Objective. In ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Mar 11, 2002

In warfare, there is always an objective. In many wars, the objective is land. For example, in the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinians are fighting because they both want to have the same land. In Afghanistan we’re fighting because we want to destroy the power base of terrorism. Hitler fought ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-11, Luke 4:18-19, Matthew 28:18-20, Jude 1:22-23

Tags: Evangelism How To, Evangelism Urgency, What Is Evangelism?, Spiritual Warfare

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship, Human Body

Denomination: Christian Church