In Sermon Illustrations: "Suffering Joy In"

Addressing A National Seminar Of Southern ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Nov 28, 2004

“Addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leaders, George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

The Cost Of True Greatness Is Humble, Selfless, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 12, 2006

“The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service. The Christian who desires to be great and first in the kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. Knowing that time is ...read more

Tags: Humility, Discipleship, Criticism, Self Denial

Denomination: Baptist

If We Consider The Greatness And The Glory Of ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jan 29, 2007

“If we consider the greatness and the glory of the life we shall have when we have risen from the dead, it would not be difficult at all for us to bear the concerns of this world. If I believe the Word, I shall on the Last Day, after the sentence has been pronounced, not only gladly have suffered ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox

Many Years Ago A Young Midwestern Lawyer ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life’s calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, "I am now the most ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Once, As An Experiment, The Great Scientist ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Once, as an experiment, the great scientist Isaac Newton stared at the image of the sun reflected in a mirror. The brightness burned into his retina, and he suffered temporary blindness. Even after he hid for three days behind closed doors, still the bright spot would not fade from his vision. I ...read more

Tags: Trinity

In The Thick Fighting Of The Civil War, General ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the thick fighting of the Civil War, General Grant, in hot pursuit of General Lee’s troops, was half blinded with a sick headache. He stopped at a farmhouse and wrote in his memoirs, “I spend the night in bathing my feet in hot water and mustard and putting mustard plasters on my wrist and the ...read more

Tags: Death

Some Of You Know That When I Was In Liverpool In ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Sep 1, 2007

Some of you know that when I was in Liverpool in 2002 a lady with learning disabilities asked my name; the name I really disliked as a child. When I said, “Warner” she laughed hysterically. When I then said “Pidgeon” she could barely breathe! After the laughter she said, “I like your name” and I ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Community

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 4, 2008

COMMUNITY God calls us to enter into community, which means to be engaged in each other's lives and experiences. It's showing up at the funeral; it's taking time to visit at the hospital; it's making a point of going to the concert performance. The lesson here teaches that we are (or should be) ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Salvation Army

Addressing A National Seminar Of Southern Baptist ...

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jul 25, 2008

Addressing a national seminar of Southern Baptist leader, George Gallup said, "We find there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously...The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Potential Through Pain

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 19, 2009

POTENTIAL THROUGH PAIN Theologian William Barclay comments and illustrates with a story: "Suffering, if accepted in humility and trust and love, can repair the weaknesses of a {person's} character and add the greatness which so far is not there. It is said that Sir Edward Elgar once listened to a ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Salvation Army

Renoir: Pain Passes

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

RENOIR: PAIN PASSES In old age, Pierre Auguste Renoir, the great French painter, suffered from arthritis, which twisted and cramped his hand. Henri Matisse, his artist friend, watched sadly while Renoir, grasping a brush with only his fingertips, continued to paint, even though each movement ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Hate

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 7, 2009

HATE One of the worst cases of hatred I have ever come across is found in a will written in 1935 by a Mr. Donohoe. It says, "Unto my two daughters, Frances Marie and Denise Victoria, by reason of their unfilial attitude toward a doting father...I leave the sum of $1.00 to each and a father's ...read more

Tags: Hatred

Denomination: Baptist

An Everyday Lady

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

AN EVERYDAY LADY On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to obey a bus driver’s order to give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. At the time of her action, Rosa Parks served as the secretary of her local NAACP chapter. But even so, she acted as a private ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Lutheran

Kyle Idleman On Carrying Your Cross

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Carrying Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Closing Story Tells Of A Man Who Did Repent And ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 4, 2003

A closing story tells of a man who did repent and found joy in his life. Not too many years ago newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Lutheran

Charlotte Elliott Learned An Important Lesson ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Charlotte Elliott learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, so when her family held a bazaar in Brighton, England, to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar. That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Character  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration- Character There is a story told among the Cherokee Indians… One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, ...read more

Tags: Faith

Let's Get Back To The Hot Topic Of Music: Gordon ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

Let’s get back to the hot topic of music: Gordon MacDonald stated, “…A piece of music can summon tears of sadness or feelings of incredible joy and well-being. Every culture (perhaps each generation) appears to have developed its own unique musical forms and expressions-the bundling together of ...read more

Tags: Music, Worship General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Would You Join Our Church If We Paid Your Debt?

Contributed by David Vanlandingham on Feb 14, 2010

WOULD YOU JOIN OUR CHURCH IF WE PAID YOUR DEBT? What do you think would happen if we put out the word that on April 1, 2010, all of the debts of every member of the League St. Church of Christ would be paid off by an anonymous benefactor (maybe a Bill Gates, etc)? Would that excite you just a ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Obedience Is What ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 13, 2010

OBEDIENCE IS WHAT MATTERS "… If two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:17-18

Tags: Obedience