In Sermon Illustrations: "Take It Or Leave It"

Burnout In The Ministry Is A Serious Problem.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

Burnout is a serious problem among pastors around the world. Some statistics include: On average, seminary trained pastors last only five years in church ministry. • 100% of 1,050 Reformed and Evangelical pastors had a colleague who had left the ministry because of burnout, church conflict, or ...read more

Tags: Elijah, Ministry, Burnout, Pastors, Simon Peter, Discouraged, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Hildebrand Who Has Lived In The Artesian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

John Hildebrand who has lived in the Artesian Valley, near Fowler, Kansas, since he was two years old, remembers why the valley has the name it does. "There were hundreds of natural springs in this valley. If you drilled a well for your house, the natural water pressure was enough to go through ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith

Fear, Love, Joy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 7, 2003

FEAR, LOVE, JOY In the movie First Knight, Lancelot (played by Richard Gere) is a wanderer and highly skilled swordsman who fights for whoever will pay him. Seeing a princess and her entourage under attack in the woods, he decides to save her. Attracted to the princess, Guinevere, he later visits ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope, Love Of The Disciples, Joy

In A Movie Classic - National Lampoon's Vacation ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 30, 2004

In a movie classic - National Lampoon’s Vacation - Chevy Chase - otherwise known as Clark Griswold - leads his family across the country to their dream vacation at Wally World. Along the way, Clark gets lost several times. One time happened to be in St. Louis. After several wrong turns, the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Lutheran

We Get A Whole Bunch

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

We Get a Whole Bunch Pastor John R Ramsey once wrote, "For some time I have had a person provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that I appreciated, but ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Habits

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

HABITS The American Heritage Dictionary "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition." It comes from the idea "to have, to hold, possess." Roman poet Ovid in 43 BC: "Nothing is stronger than habit." Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, ...read more

Tags: Character

A 3-Year-Old Boy Found A Quarter In The Driveway ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 15, 2002

A 3-year-old boy found a quarter in the driveway as he and his family were leaving to go to church one morning. When they returned home, he pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to his mother. “You can have ...read more

My Dad Says That My Grandma Smith One Day After ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 15, 2005

My Dad says that my Grandma Smith one day after the unexpected passing of my Grandfather, couldn’t get the car started & she began banging on the steering wheel yelling, "Floyd, how could you leave ...read more

Tags: Disappointment

Denomination: Christian Church

Acts 1:4 On One Occasion, While He Was Eating ...

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Jan 15, 2007

Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 1:5 For John baptized ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Step Mom- The Scenario Is Found At The End Of The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 15, 2003

Step Mom- The scenario is found at the end of the movie where she says things to her children that are meant to last the rest of their lives. She is dieing of cancer and she wants to leave them with words of comfort and principles for life. Moms on the go know that their faithful instruction makes ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Philip Melancthon, The Great Reformation ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 12, 2004

Philip Melancthon, the great Reformation theologian, once said to his friend Martin Luther, “This day you and I will discuss the governance of the universe.” What Luther said in response was unexpected: “This day you and I will go fishing and leave the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 18:1-19

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

What Are You Like When You Come Back From ...

Contributed by Richard Francis on Jan 4, 2005

What are you like when you come back from church, Moses shone after his encounters with God so much so that he was asked to cover up all that reflected glory. how about you, will you shine like ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dont Flatter Yourself That Friendship ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Dont flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become. Except in cases of necessity, which are rare, leave your ...read more

Tags: Compassion

The Machine Wears Out

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 8, 2011

THE MACHINE WEARS OUT President Woodrow Wilson experienced the devastation of World War I, he suffered a stroke which severely weakened him, 3 years after leaving office he died. His last words were, "The machinery ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

Coveting Too Early

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 1, 2022

I was admiring my aunt’s necklace when she surprised me by announcing,“I’m leaving it to you in my will.”I was overjoyed, perhaps too much.“Oh!”I shouted.“I’m looking forward to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:1-29

Tags: Money, Prestige, Stealing, Cruelty, Ethics, Covet, Power, Desire, Selfishness, Dishonesty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Chuck Swindoll In His Book, Improving Your Serve, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

Chuck Swindoll in his book, Improving Your Serve, gives a memorable illustration: Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Discipleship, Faith

Let’s Play ‘let’s ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on Jul 11, 2001

Let’s play ‘Let’s Pretend’. Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 26:1-16, James 2:11

Tags: Discipleship, Faith, Bible Study

Denomination: Pentecostal

Let's Play ‘let's Pretend'. Let's Pretend That ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

Let’s play ‘Let’s Pretend’. Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 17:1-13, James 1:22, John 19:30-31, John 11:1-45, John 11:45-57  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let's Play 'let's Pretend'. Let's Pretend That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2008

Let's play 'Let's Pretend'. Let's pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I'm the owner and I'm interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets ...read more

Tags: Action

Didn't You Get My Letters?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

DIDN'T YOU GET MY LETTERS? Let's play “Let's Pretend". Let's pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I'm the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a ...read more

Tags: Discipleship