In Sermon Illustrations: "Sunrise Service"

A Paramedic Was Asked On A Local Dallas Tv ...

Contributed by Tim Adams on Dec 1, 2009

A paramedic was asked on a local Dallas TV talk-show program: “What was your most unusual and challenging 911 call?” “Recently,” the paramedic began, “we got a call from that big white church on 11th and Walnut. A frantic usher was very concerned that during their worship service an elderly man ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Baptist

God And...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jul 6, 2010

"GOD AND..." The Heidelberg Catechism puts it succinctly (Q&A #95): Idolatry "…is TO IMAGINE, CLING TO, OR TRUST IN SOMETHING OTHER THAN OR IN ADDITION TO THE ONE TRUE GOD WHO HAS BEEN REVEALED IN GOD’S WORD." Notice that this definition strikes where most of us are – we like to worship 'God and…' ...read more

Tags: Idolatry

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Organist At St Paul's Cathedral (London) ...

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

The organist at St Paul's Cathedral (London) caught sight of Felix Mendelssohn (German composer, 1809-47) in the congregation. He sent the great composer a note inviting him to play the organ after the service. Mendelssohn agreed. The congregation, already shuffling out of the pews to go home, ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

Denomination: Brethren

There Was An Ot Professor Who Taught Young People ...

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 5, 2012

There was an OT professor who taught young people that were preparing for the ministry. At the beginning of the class he would take off his coat and bow. He would bow to the class of his students. Some of his faculty members were upset at this gesture. And he said, "I bow to them because you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-9

Tags: Humility, Luther

Denomination: *other

Indian Martyr

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Oct 31, 2020

Devasahayam Pillai was the first Indian martyr to be beatified. He was born in Nilakandan Pillai (1712-1752) into a Hindu family in the Kingdom of Travancore. Pillai, an upper-caste Hindu nair convert to Christianity, was a member of the royal service and was close to King Marthanda Varma, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6

Tags: Saints, Santihood, Santihood Lives

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pastor, Don't Get Too Excited Over Compliments!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

A NEW MAN AFTER THAT SERMON The minister’s sermon on this particular Sunday was considerably longer than normal. However, it was so well prepared and inspiring that he just knew it would be a big hit with the congregation. At the end of the service he stood shaking hands with the people as they ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Church Members, Compliments, Boring Sermons, Preaching, Humor, Pastors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Loving Congregation

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

This is the greatest need we have in the local congregation today – to be seen as a place where love for on another is present. What does that look like? A quote from St. Francis of Assisi: “Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 4:8

Tags: Love, St Francis Of Assisi

Denomination: Methodist

Sifted Like Wheat

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016

A rooster’s crow announced the dawn. This dawn was not the sunrise, still hours away, but the dawn of Peter’s realization of what he had done. Like the first rays of the sun slicing through the night’s darkness, Peter awakened to his sin and its gravity. It cut him to the core of his being, and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:31-32

Tags: Peter, Betrayal Of Christ, Sifted, Rehabilitation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Man On Vacation Was Strolling Along Outside ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Carson on Mar 29, 2001

A man on vacation was strolling along outside his hotel in Acapulco, enjoying the sunny Mexican weather. Suddenly, he was attracted by the screams of a woman kneeling in front of a child. The man knew enough Spanish to determine that the boy had swallowed a coin. Seizing the child by the heels, the ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Poverty

Denomination: Baptist

: Prayer Life Of General Stonewall ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 10, 2001

Illus.: Prayer Life of General Stonewall Jackson General Stonewall Jackson had in his service a man who had become so accustomed to his ways that he was able to discern whenever the General was about to start on an expedition. Someone asked him how he knew the General was about to depart without ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Way We Live  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 27, 2001

THE WAY WE LIVE Idolatry in its larger meaning is properly understood as any substitution of what is created for the creator. People may worship nature, money, mankind, power, history, or social and political systems instead of the God who created them all. The New Testament writers, in ...read more

I Do Not Know If You Knew This But The Number Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Floyd on Aug 9, 2002

I do not know if you knew this but the number of unchurched people is growing every year. “Only 41% of Americans attend church services on a typical weekend. Each new generation becomes increasingly unchurched. Slightly over one half (51%) of the builder generation (born before 1946) attends ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Church General

Denomination: Baptist

Church Growth Expert, George Barna Found That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Feb 7, 2003

Church growth expert, George Barna found that prayer was the foundational ministry of rapidly growing churches in America. He wrote: “The call to prayer [in these churches] was the battle cry of the congregation: it rallied the troops. These people understood the power of prayer. They actively ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist

Our Seven-Year-Old Daughter Had Just Won $2 For ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 20, 2004

Our seven-year-old daughter had just won $2 for her memory work in Sunday School. After the morning service, the pastor’s wife congratulated her. Our daughter proudly announced, “And I put it all in the morning’s offering!” “My, how wonderful!” the pastor’s wife exclaimed. “I’m sure God will be ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reformed Pastor Michael Horton, In His Book, "A ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 30, 2004

Reformed Pastor Michael Horton, in his book, "A Better Way: Rediscovering the Drama of God-Centered Worship writes: We are repeatedly told these days that music is the most important thing we do in worship. In fact, "worship" usually means singing or enjoying the singing of others. "Let’s just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5, Nehemiah 8:1-18, Nehemiah 8:1-18

Tags: Worship Definition, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sue's Parents Were Very Wealthy. They Attended No ...

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jul 30, 2004

Sue’s parents were very wealthy. They attended no church. A friend of Sue invited her to a church service. She accepted the Lord. When telling her parents, they told her if she attended this church again, she would have to leave home. Being only 16 years old, it was a hard decision. Sue went to ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Baptist

Never Really Connected  PRO

Contributed by Ervin Kimrey on May 21, 2005

NEVER REALLY CONNECTED One night I saw my 7 year old daughter walking around with a cell phone. She was talking away. She would ask questions, wait for a reply, and give answers to apparent questions: "Yes...no...maybe...I’ll have to check on that..." and so on. Finally, worried about the bill ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Baptist

God Values Our Gifts

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Jun 29, 2005

God Values Our Gifts God seeks and values the gifts we bring Him—gifts of praise, thanksgiving, service, and material offerings. In all such giving at the altar we enter into the highest experiences of fellowship. But the gift is acceptable to God in the measure to which the one who offers it is in ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

Teen Eye View Between 1990 And 2000, The Number ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 3, 2006

Teen Eye View Between 1990 and 2000, the number of teens aged 12 to 19 soared to 32 million, an increase of nearly 4.5 million. Mediamark Research reports this 17% growth rate far outpaced the rest of the population. They’re also wielding increasing influence on household purchases. In ‘03, 47% of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Since ‘80 U.s. Mega-Churches Have Grown From A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Since ‘80 U.S. mega-churches have grown from a few hundred to over 20,000. Peter Drucker calls this “the most important social phenomenon in American society in the last 30 years.” They have been successful because they asked, “What is value?” to nonchurch-goers and found answers older churches ...read more

Tags: Church General