In Sermon Illustrations: "Success In Ministry"

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

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Opened An Unexpected Door For Cliff Barrows

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Dr. James Dobson wrote a book entitled When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and, in his book, he shared an illustration that is very applicable to the point being drawn from this particular verse. Take a moment and reflect upon the following story: In 1945, a young associate pastor named Cliff married his ...read more

Tags: Will Of God, Call To Ministry, Open Doors, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Seed You Sow Today Will Not Produce Crop ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The seed you sow today will not produce crop till tomorrow. For this reason, your identity does not lie in your current results. This is not ...read more

Scripture: John 4:35-38

Tags: Action, Success, Identity, Progress, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

A Determinate Purpose In Life And A Steady ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"A determinate purpose in life and a steady adhesion to it through all disadvantages, are ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success, W. M. Punshon

Helping People Help Themselves

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8, Revelation 1:17-18

Tags: Success, Wise Generosity, Benevolance, Help

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Babel And Pentecost In Contrast

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

"Pentecost was a reversal of the judgment at the Tower of Babel when God confused man’s language (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s judgment at Babel scattered the people, but God’s blessings at Pentecost united the believers in the Spirit. At Babel, the people were unable to understand each other, but at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Ministry, Church, Pentecost, Pastors, Power, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 9, 2023

The story has often been told about the message the founder of the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General William Booth was unable to attend personally because of ill health, so he cabled the delegates a message containing one word: "OTHERS!" In the popular comic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Bearing Burdens, One Another, Others, Ministry, Service, Selflessness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of The Most Memorable Books I Have Ever Read ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

One of the most memorable books I have ever read is A Severe Mercy. This is the story of Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy, who happened to be friends of C. S. Lewis. This couple was deeply in love and they sought to build the ideal marriage. They would only read books that the other wanted to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 Corinthians 13:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment, Success, Marriage General, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Baptist

Talk About Rising To The Top Of Your Field, ...  PRO

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Sep 25, 2012

Talk about rising to the top of your field, Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her influence on modern dance has been compared to Picasso’s on modern visual arts, Stravinsky’s on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s on architecture. We should ...read more

Scripture: John 12:25-26

Tags: Fulfillment, Worldliness, Workplace Balance, Workplace Success

Denomination: Baptist

Fail In Order To Succeed

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 15, 2017

An old axiom says that failure is the stepping stone to success. Are we afraid of failure? The road to success is paved with failures. Before the farmer in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) had a successful crop he failed in three areas. We fail in these same areas. We allow the devil to snatch ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Sower, Success, Failure, Parable Of Sower, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take Me Home

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Take Me Home I've been everything that I want to be. I've seen everything that I want to see. All over this world I did roam. Now, I'm asking you, Jesus, please take me home. I can hear my spirit within me groan. I wan to be sitting at the foot of Your throne. I've had my fill ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:13-14, Philippians 1:23-24

Tags: Homesick, Loneliness, Despair, Failure, Success, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Enriching Every Sphere" By Henry G. Bosch From ...  PRO

Contributed by Ron Newton on Aug 6, 2003

"Enriching Every Sphere" by Henry G. Bosch from Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations Signs of The Times, Assurance Publishers Illus... #2679 “Enriching Every Sphere” "Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ’s 3-year ministry ...read more

Tags: Teaching, Mentor, Jesus Teachings, Jesus' Ministry, Jesus Life, Instruct  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

The Good Samaritan Is A Portrait Of Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

The Good Samaritan bears the features of the Lord Jesus Christ who comes to seek and save the lost. (1). "He came where he was." Christ comes to us right where we are. In our stripped and wounded condition we could do nothing for ourselves (Ro 5:6). (2). "He had compassion on ...read more

Tags: Good Samaritan, Good Deeds, Neighbor, Ministry, Kindness, Types Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Ways To Be A Modern Day Barnabas

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

Below are six ways to encourage someone. When was the last time you encouraged someone in any of the following ways? Have you ignored some gentle promptings by the Spirit to encourage someone? Perhaps today you might ask God to whom you might send a note or make a call? Yes, dear brother or ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:36

Tags: Encouragement, Barnabas, Fellowship, Giving, Ministry To Others, Serving, Support, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anne Landers On Loneliness  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Sep 24, 2003

Quote from Anne Landers: “ I’ve learned plenty, including most importantly what Leo Rostea had in mind when he said, “Each of us is a little lonely, deep inside and longs to be understood.” I have learned how it is with the stumbling tortured people in this world who have nobody to talk to. The ...read more

Scripture: Job 14:1-2

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Success, Evangelism How To, Disappointment, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Mennonite

Jesus Lifted Up The Spirit Of A Discouraged ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 10, 2003

Jesus lifted up the spirit of a discouraged preacher who retired early because of what happened to him. "In the Pentecostal Evangel church leader George U. Wood writes: "Have you ever heard a healing take place? I have. I listened to an audiotape of Duane Miller teaching his Sunday school ...read more

Tags: Adversity, Faith, God's Forgiveness, Healing, Overcome, New Ministry, Memories, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

Son Of Sam Serial Killer Is Now A Servant Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

The story of David Berkowitz, infamously known as the “Son of Sam,” is a remarkable tale of redemption and transformation. 1. Background: In the late 1970s, David Berkowitz terrorized New York City as a serial killer. He shot and killed six young people and wounded seven others during a spree ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Forgiveness, Salvation, Conversion, Redemption, Transformation, Prison Ministry, Saul Of Tarsus, Miracle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Word Of Encouragement For Discouraged Pastors

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

A great evangelist, Dr. Chapman, has often told an amazing story about himself. He had been in business and became minister of a great church in Philadelphia. One Monday he was more than usually dispirited. (Mondays are hard on pastors!). The Sunday had been a poor one, and he felt, as ministers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Faith, Ministry, Hope, Encouragement, Anointing, Discouragement, Pastors, Calling, Quitting, Resigning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Six Kinds Of Biblical Preaching

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of biblical preaching: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) paraklesis, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, Simon Peter, Teaching, Word Of God, Church, Ministry, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What The Church Needs Today

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

E.M. Bounds is right when he says, "What the Church needs today is not more machinery or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use— men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Ministry, Church, Acts 2, Anointing, Simon Peter, Pentecost, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational