In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual House"

In One Of His Meetings, D.l. Moody Was Explaining ...

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Jun 18, 2008

In one of his meetings, D.L. Moody was explaining to his audience the truth that we cannot bring about spiritual changes in our lives by our own strength. He demonstrated the principal like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Baptism

Denomination: Holiness

I Know A Fair Amount About President George W. ...

Contributed by John Boquist on Jul 25, 2008

I know a fair amount about President George W. Bush. He is the son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and is now married to Laura, and they have young adult twin daughters. I also know that in his youth, George W. Bush was a little wild and crazy, and that a conversation with evangelist ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

Truth Stats In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

TRUTH STATS IN BELIEVERS A 2002 survey by the Barna Group found that adults, by a 3-to-1 margin believe that truth is relative to each individual person and his or her circumstances as opposed to the concept of absolute truth. And frankly, that isn’t all that surprising. But what is really ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:14

Tags: Truth

How To Get A Sheep To Lie Down

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

HOW TO GET A SHEEP TO LIE DOWN Philip Keller says that in order for sheep to lie down, four things are required: 1. Sheep must be free from all fear. Sheep are very easily frightened. A stray jackrabbit jumping out from behind a bush can stampede a whole flock. When one startled sheep runs in ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian

What Have You Done For Me?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME? Nicholaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf was born into one of Europe's leading families in the year 1700, and he grew up in an atmosphere of prayer, Bible-reading, and hymn-singing. He excelled in school, and seemed to possess all the qualities for national leadership. After ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Tallest Tree Draws The Fire  PRO

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 11, 2009

THE TALLEST TREE DRAWS THE FIRE 1991 U.S. Open – Hazeltine National Golf Course, just outside Minneapolis, MN. A peaceful, calm day. Gray clouds rush swiftly overhead within minutes. Lightning is spotted; a golfer’s worst nightmare. Storm sirens soon blast as a fierce thunderstorm blows in, ...read more

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Baptist

An Admission Of Guilt

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 14, 2023

There once was a governor of the state of Texas who received an invitation to speak at one of the penitentiaries in that state. He spoke to the assembled prisoners and afterwards said that he would be around for a while to listen to anything any of the convicts might wish to tell him. He could take ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-26

Tags: Confession, Testimony, Guilt, Pardon

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gift Of Forgivness - Driving Out Bitterness - Charles Stanley

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

Charles Stanley, a renowned teacher and theologian shared this story called ... The Gift of Forgiveness: "A friend of mine is a fine man and a fine pastor who loves God. His wife had cancer, ... and they sought the best of medical help. The Doctor assigned to her case ... who for a number ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 18:15, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Sickness, Prisoner, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Get Your Mule Out Of The Boat- Faithing

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

When attempting the impossible... you must get your mule ... out of the boat. Peter received a word ... a command from the Lord ... and he got his rear-end out of the boat ... and walked ... walked on the water. (Matthew 14:29) Beloved Simon Peter ... (Slow & Powerful) turned his faith ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:9, James 2:20, Mark 6:48-50, Matthew 14:27-33

Tags: Walter, Faith, Walk, Action, Impossible, Boat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Rach And I Have A Friend Who Is A Source Of Grief ...  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Feb 17, 2005

Rach and I have a friend who is a source of grief for us. It is not that he has done anything to us – he is quite dear to us actually. Rather it is what he has done to himself, what he has chosen to believe. About ten years ago, this friend began absenting himself from church. He was getting ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Substitute Teacher Finally Admits She Doesn't ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

Substitute Teacher Finally Admits She Doesn’t Know Subject Matter Have you ever tried to stand and teach, and there you are in front of the class, and you realize all of a sudden that you are out of your depth and that you haven’t got a clue as to what is going on and what to say? That makes for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

All In

Contributed by Tom Feola on Feb 6, 2012

ALL IN The New York Giants were just a handful of days from the Week 16 game against the New York Jets, with the Giants stuck at 7-7 and their season fast slipping away. Losers of four of their previous five games, it seemed as if the Giants were destined to finish second or even third in the NFC ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-27, Matthew 16:13-20

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Praying The Beatitudes

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

PRAYING THE BEATITUDES Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Heavenly Father, I want the humility not to be impressed with myself and my accomplishments. Increase in me (John 3:30). More of You, God, none of me. I am overwhelmed with the sense of my spiritual need. I recognize my true ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Prayer, Beatitudes, Poor In Spirit, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5, Blessed Are The Pure In Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A New ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A New Commandment In the Book of John 13:34-35, Jesus makes a powerful statement, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (emphasis ours) Often people have ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Saint Francis Xavier

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 20, 2024

Saint Francis Xavier: An Example of Indian Missionary Enthusiasm and Cultural Fusion In India, the 16th century Catholic saint Francis Xavier is revered as a symbol of missionary zeal and cross-cultural harmony. One of the earliest Jesuit missionaries, Xavier was born in Spain in 1506, and he and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Missionary, Mission

Denomination: Other

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Story Of Ernest Gordon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE STORY OF ERNEST GORDON There is a book (and now a movie) called To End All Wars that tells of the extraordinary life of Ernest Gordon, a British Army officer captured at sea by the Japanese at the age of 24. Gordon was sent to work on the Burma-Siam railway line that the Japanese were ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-14

Tags: Heroism

Mona Claren, The Washington Times, 1997) "Lai ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Feb 11, 2001

(Mona Claren, The Washington Times, 1997) “LAI MAN PENG WAS A 22 YEAR OLD CHINESE CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST. IN 1994, AT A MEETING OF ONE OF CHINA’S HOUSE CHURCHES (A NON-GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED PRAYER MEETING), HE AND FOUR OTHER EVANGELISTS WERE SEIZED BY AGENTS OF THE PUBLIC SECURITY BUREAU, CHINA’S ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, World Religions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Remember Reading This Article In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

ILL. Do you remember reading this article in the newspaper, "GIRL ACCUSED OF PRINCIPAL POISONING TRY"? It says, "An 11-year-old girl tried to poison her principal in an attempt to prevent her parents from learning that she had been in a fight at school, police said. The 5th grader had a ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Richie Cunningham Had Been Watching Her Walk By ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 10, 2001

Richie Cunningham had been watching her walk by his house for days. Every day a certain neighbor gal walked by, the more he noticed her long dark hair - her gentle smile - her soft features - they were all things that beckoned his heart to go beyond the living room window and meet this girl of his ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran