In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual Gifts"

A Champion Blood Donor

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Nov 10, 2010

A CHAMPION BLOOD DONOR Joe Kerkofsky is America's blood-donor champion. The American Association of Blood Banks will honor the 62-year-old retired security guard at a special presentation in Chicago. Mr. Kerkofsky lost an arm in an accident when he was six. He was thence rejected for military ...read more

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Denomination: *other

Recovery Is Connection

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

RECOVERY IS CONNECTION Henry Cloud in How People Grow writes, "Virtually every emotional and psychological problem, from addictions to depression, has alienation or emotional isolation at its core or close to it. Recovery from these problems involves helping people get more connected to each other ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Is

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Apr 25, 2011

HOPE IS Hope is faith in the immutable promise that miracles prevail when the darkness tries to win-out with cries of despair. Hope is a gift from God that helps us yearn, and live a life that believes and moves with the pledge of a better tomorrow. And what’s more, hope springs-forth ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Lutheran

The World: A Temporary Container

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 3, 2012

THE WORLD: A TEMPORARY CONTAINER The first garbage day after Christmas must be the biggest garbage day of the year. You can tell what most people got for Christmas by just looking at the garbage pile in front of the house. We usually throw out all the boxes--unless you have children who like to ...read more

Tags: Church Discipline

More To Follow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2012

MORE TO FOLLOW Preacher Charles Spurgeon tells of a man to whom was entrusted a large sum of money for the benefit of a poor minister. He thought it would be best to distribute the gift, instead of sending it all at once. So he mailed the poor minister five pounds and, inside the envelope, he ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Men's Day

In His Book, An Anthropologist On Mars, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

In 1856, Auguste Bartholdi Was Inspired To Begin ...

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on May 23, 2008

In 1856, Auguste Bartholdi was inspired to begin working on what would become his most noted work of art. He was approached by the French government to design a lighthouse to put at the entrance of the Suez Canal (Red Sea to the Mediterranean sea). He spent ten years working on the design ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Soldiers In Your Cup

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

Soldiers in Your Cup A sweet little boy surprised his grandmother one morning and brought her a cup of coffee. He made it himself and was so proud. He anxiously waited to hear the verdict on the quality of the coffee. The grandmother had never in her life had such a bad cup of coffee, and as she ...read more

Tags: Family

Things That Will ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Things That Will NOT Save Your Soul 1. Church Membership 2. Baptism 3. The Lord’s Supper / Communion 4. Confirmation 5. Giving money to the poor 6. Giving money to the church 7. Saying prayers 8. Keeping the Ten Commandments 9. Obeying the “Golden Rule” 10. Doing “the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meaningless Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2008

Meaningless Life Mark Twain expressed thoughts about the meaningless of life in view of man’s inevitable death. Shortly before his death, he wrote, "A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Tags: Death Nearness

Could Be Worse  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

COULD BE WORSE It was a few days before Christmas on the Oregon coast. Two men whose families lived next door to each other opted to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. An unexpected storm surprised the weekend sailors. Before long, the sea became angry, and the two had a ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Materialism, Shopping

Handicapped But Complete

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 26, 2007

Handicapped But Complete About two years ago my wife Kay was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Tells The Story Of A Boy Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Jun 24, 2003

Someone tells the story of a boy who was rebelling against his dad constantly. This boy was destroying his own life by his rebellion, but he refuse to heed his father’s words. One day, the dad said to the boy, "I want to show you what you’re doing to your life. I’m going to put a wooden post ...read more

Tags: Sin Wages Of, God's Provision

Denomination: *other

It Is Not Good...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

IT IS NOT GOOD... God made a woman to keep him company and to be his companion. The fact is we men don't do too well without such a companion. Researchers from the Universities of Utah and South Carolina recently collected data from 148 different studies, conducted over three decades, involving ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18

Tags: Marriage General

Baptism  PRO

Contributed by David Fox on Nov 10, 2001

“Baptism” – Comes from the Greek word - “Baptismo” which means to immerse or dunk. Baptismo is a word which was used to describe: a) Sinking ships as they sank water would fill the inside of ship. b) Another usage describes a garment being immersed into dye… the dye penetrates ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Baptism, Baptism

Denomination: Pentecostal

Most Churches Do A Good Job Of Getting People ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 25, 2001

“Most churches do a good job of getting people to first base or maybe even second base. People will receive Christ, be baptized and join the church (that’s getting them to first base). Some churches also do an excellent job of helping believers develop the habits that lead to spiritual maturity ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Growth In Christ, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Church Of God

In My Home Town There Was A Company That ...  PRO

Contributed by Daniel Birchfield on Dec 4, 2001

In my home town there was a company that purchased some land and began to build what was to become a large grocery store. The foundation was laid, the frame of the building was erected, then, for some unknown reason, all work stopped. For years the unfinished building stood as a sort of ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

We Emulate What We Think About. Children ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 9, 2002

“We emulate what we think about. Children pretend they are the heroes they dream about. Teenagers dress like the sports stars or popular musicians they devote so much attention to. But these tendencies don’t disappear when we become adults. Those who concentrate on “making it to the top” read ...read more

In Evangelical Individualism People Think Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

In evangelical individualism people think of their personal relationship with God in isolation (“Just me and Jesus”) and forge their destiny apart from any church authority. While holding relatively low opinions of history, traditions, and the church, they turn to the experiences of self and ...read more