In Sermon Illustrations: "Start Right"

Return Good For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. He was a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement." Perkins started a church, then a Bible Institute, a radio program, followed by a health clinic, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

The Test Of Getting To The ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 24, 2009

THE TEST OF GETTING TO THE TEST In the late 1980’s I was interviewing at various corporations in the San Francisco Bay Area for a position in one of the fast track executive programs that were being offered to recent college graduates, of which I was one. In many of these corporations I would go ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Think God Gives Us Opportunities Like That To ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 4, 2009

I think God gives us opportunities like that to help us build our trust in Him. I used to go hiking and camping a lot by myself in the wilderness (not a good idea I know). But I remember getting lost once, and this was before I was even a Christian. I had literally no idea how to get back, and I ...read more

Tags: Trust

Conversion Of A Communist

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Leonard Ravenhill tells the story of preaching an 8-day crusade in a large church in Glasgow, Scotland starting the first day of World War II. That shattered his meetings and no more than 50 people showed, so they started to meet in a side room instead. Despite this, he preached his heart out every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Resurrection, Power

Denomination: Methodist

I Believe No Challenge Is More Important To The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I believe no challenge is more important to the character of America than restoring the right to life to all human beings. ...read more

Tags: Learning

2. The Element Of Persistence Is Implied Even ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

2. The element of persistence is implied even in... a. The present progressive tense of the verbs for "ask", "seek", and "knock" (literally, "keep on asking", "keep on seeking", and "keep on knocking" b. The progressive relation between the words: 1) One normally starts out by "asking" 2) As they ...read more

Tags: Endurance

One Of My Friends Who Pastored In The Phoenix ...

Contributed by Don Jones on Jan 27, 2007

One of my friends who pastored in the Phoenix area left to go do new work in another state. God had laid on his heart the desire to start new churches. The plans were laid for him to begin with the cooperation of two established churches. Funds and families were in place to further the kingdom. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Compassion

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 9, 2018

My Pastor in Calcutta, Pr. Mark Buntin came to India in 1954. He started a series of project for the poor in Calcutta. In 1964, the Buntains opened their first school for 200 children. A year later, they began a feeding program, starting with free school lunches of milk and parathas. One day as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8

Tags: Sympathize, Compassion For Poor, Compassion

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Idea That The Public Interest Supersedes ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The idea that the public interest supersedes private interests and rights can have but one meaning: that the interests and rights of some individuals ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Last Week's I Talked About The Need For The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 21, 2008

Last week’s I talked about the need for the church to give up some of their rights for the sake of the weaker ones in Christ. Today no one wants to be held responsible for their actions. I looked up the word “Responsible” and discovered this: The state of being responsible, accountable, or ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where Adam Used To Live

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 18, 2017

Adam and his two sons, Cain and Abel, were out hunting one day when Adam turned and started staring at something beautiful afar off. It was the Garden of Eden. Then Adam broke down and starting weeping. The boys didn’t understand. Finally, Abel asked his father, "Dad, why are you crying over ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12

Tags: Marriage, Sin, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trouble? Joe Was Trouble...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 25, 2023

TROUBLE? JOE WAS TROUBLE! SOMEONE IS HURTING! I had taught school in Virginia several years. I was assistant principal. I often observed the kids in the younger classes and thought someday I will teach that child. There was a young boy named Joe. Joe was in the office pretty often in some kind ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:8, Mark 12:29

Tags: Help, Trouble, Ministry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Remember The Words Of Thomas Jefferson? He Said ...

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Sep 12, 2005

Remember the words of Thomas Jefferson? He said we were endowed with certain inalienable rights "among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." So maybe we don't have the right to be happy, but we certainly have the right to pursue happiness, don't we. Benjamin Franklin said ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Methodist

I Spent Many Years As A Teacher In Further ...

Contributed by Joanna Beveridge on Feb 2, 2007

I spent many years as a teacher in Further Education. My subject was business studies and one of the topics that I taught was marketing. It is said that to market any product or service successfully you have to pay attention to the 4 ps. These stand for Product, Price, Place and Promotion. In ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Invitation

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Bob Goff tells the story of he and his friend Brandon going to Washington DC on business and being close to Capital Hill at midnight. They saw a bunch of cars awkwardly parked around the Library of Congress and barricades and so they decided to investigate. They discovered that it was a set for the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:21

Tags: Invitation, Gospel, Chosen

Denomination: Methodist

Recently, I Heard The Story About A Young ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Recently, I heard the story about a young Baptist minister who started a new ministry. He was stopped by one man in the church before he ever started preaching his first Sunday. The man said, “I run this church. I have money. I sent the last ...read more

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

Randy Travis Released Song In 2002 Entitled Pray ...

Contributed by Bobby Mcdaniel on Apr 28, 2010

Randy Travis released song in 2002 entitled Pray for the Fish. Listen to the 2nd verse and the lyrics. Well, the preacher ducked him under that cool clear water, then he did it again. Eddie came up yellin': "Lord in Heaven, hallelujah! I'm a brand new man! Well, the water got to bubblin', sky got ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Sarah  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2002

"Sarah" I’m Sarah, I’m sixteen; Last night I failed. I prayed for more strength, So why did I yield? He said he loved me, Brought me flowers and all; Then he took me upstairs And caused me to fall. I feel so ashamed, So dirty inside. He’s taken my heart; ...read more

Tags: Purity, Sin Separates From God, Set Apart, Sexuality, Holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Use What Is There  PRO

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Mar 22, 2011

USE WHAT IS THERE My son Omri is large, extremely smart and very active. He has not met a tree or roof that he has not at least mentally pondered climbing. Omri's teacher runs up to me the other day and says, "Your son almost made me lose my mind, my religion and my job." This is not unusual, so I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:8

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: United Methodist

The Branch Of The Vine Does Not Worry, And Toil, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2006

"The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:5-8, John 15:4-10

Tags: Jesus Christ