In Sermon Illustrations: "Spiritual Success"

Spiritual Fruit

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jan 27, 2008

Spiritual Fruit I have something in my treasure chest that you will recognize today. This small limb is from a very specific tree in my back yard. Do you know what kind of tree it is? Try and guess. This limb is from an apple tree. Every year this APPLE tree gives Vickie and me a lot of ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

Spiritual Carcinogens

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 20, 2011

SPIRITUAL CARCINOGENS When the Challenger went down nearly 20 years ago, the whole country went around draped in a dark cloud of mourning. Soon the shock gave way to outrage and scandal when it was discovered that cost-cutting and carelessness components that didn’t quite meet the required ...read more

Tags: Heresy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Spiritual Consumerism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

SPIRITUAL CONSUMERISM In February 27 2009 article from the website “Slate” titled, “Why American churchgoers like to shop around” also caught my attention. That article cited statistics from a Barna Group survey that revealed that one in seven adults changes churches each year, and another one in ...read more

Scripture: John 4:19-24

Tags: Church Practices

Spiritual Arrhythmia  PRO

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 25, 2012

SPIRITUAL ARRHYTHMIA The primary function of the heart is to supply blood and nutrients to the body. The regular beating, or contraction, of the heart moves the blood throughout the body. Each heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses traveling through the heart. In the normal heart these ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2

Tags: Heart, Spanking Kids

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Acne

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 29, 2012

SPIRITUAL ACNE Have you seen ads for Clearsil, Proactiv, or other acne treatments? They usually exaggerate things and show the face before and aft the application of the "miraculous" product that makes you look good and perfect. They also make sure you get hooked to the remedy so they can bank on ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-27

Tags: Sanctification

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Redwoods

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2012

SPIRITUAL REDWOODS Can you imagine a redwood tree saying, "I’d just rather remain a little bush"? That would seem insane, right? I want to put up on the screen some pictures of redwood trees. They are truly magnificent. My oldest daughter and her husband were married at the foot of redwood that ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14

Tags: Growth In Christ

Spiritual Gambling

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 30, 2013

SPIRITUAL GAMBLING The problem of compulsive gambling may seem foreign to most of us. Yet experts believe that millions of Americans are psychologically addicted to gambling. It gives them the excitement of hope and risk, but it usually ends in defeat. It is indeed a temporary pleasure. For those ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Breakthrough.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 14, 2014

During the week I have been looking at a book by John Larsson where he called Spiritual breakthrough where he talks about Samuel Logan Brengle. In his recalling Brengle, Larsson talks of how at the age of twenty-five, Brengle was at a seminary training to be a minister but he was troubled. He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sanctification, Spiritual Encounter

Denomination: Salvation Army

Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Feb 5, 2024

1 Timothy 3:6 - "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." Recently, a father sat down with his four-year-old son and asked him if he would like the $10 in his right hand or the two Oreo cookies in his left hand. His son immediately chose ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:6

Tags: Talent, Maturity, Novice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Zombies

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

Ephesians 2:1-3 “2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Born Again, Zombies, Spiritually Dead

Denomination: Methodist

Spiritual Dryness

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 18, 2025

When we pray prayers that are not in God's will, we by ourselves enter into seasons of spiritual dryness. We may receive answers to our prayer requests, yet we may become spiritually dry. If you are experiencing a season of spiritual dryness, do check and correct your prayers. Prayers ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Faith, Hope

Success By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

SUCCESS BY ACCIDENT Coca-Cola was the result of an accident. In 1886 a pharmacist named John Pemberton cooked up a medicinal syrup in a large brass kettle slung over an open fire, stirring it with an oar. When he was done, he figured he had created a fine tonic for people who were tired, nervous, ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

Success

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 27, 2022

SUCCESS I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 What is success? “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Success Quotes: If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything. - William Lyon Phelps If at first you don't succeed, remove ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:1, James 4:13-15

Tags: New Year's Resolutions, Direction, Success, Goals, Focus, Determined, New Years  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Seek Spiritual Advice From Spiritually Mature Christians

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

Seek Spiritual Advice from Spiritually mature Christians. Albert Einstein ... had difficulty speaking until he was four years old ... and did not read ... until he was seven. Beethovens music teacher said: .... As a composer, ... he is hopeless. When Thomas Edison was a young boy, ... his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Advice, Spiritual

Denomination: Anglican

Obedience Is The Mother Of Success, And Success ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 7, 2006

Obedience is the mother of success, and success the parent of salvation. Aeschylus (525–456 B.C.), Greek ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

The Problem With Success

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Henry Blackaby: “Moderate success in ministry is a spiritual hazard. It can make us content to live ...read more

Tags: Pastoring, Preachers, Church, Success, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Success Paradox  PRO

Contributed by David Rumley on Nov 8, 2006

The Success Paradox In one national study Barna discovered that people’s views of success had little to do with their faith and spiritual wholeness. People focused on personal accomplishments, family solidarity and emotional fulfillment. Barna notes that only 7% identified spiritual wholeness and ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Beseeching – True Spiritual ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Beseeching – True Spiritual Awakening Unlike the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, a nation that is vigilant has Christians and leaders who are not blinded by their sin. People who have a Biblical understanding about the heart of mankind find joy in what the prophet Joel wrote, “Even ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:12-13

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Never Learns By Success. Success Is The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from upon the straight and ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

Success Is An Idol When Success Becomes An ...

Contributed by William Hooper on Jul 12, 2007

Success is an idol when success becomes an obsession. You may get to the top of the ladder of success, only to discover you’re on the wrong ladder. Success is an idol that can consume you. Many business people are driven. They become workaholics. Doctors in Japan have found a significant ...read more

Denomination: Baptist