In Sermon Illustrations: "Take"

Let Me Read One Of Aesop’s Greek Fables; In ...

Contributed by Francis Balla on Aug 24, 2012

Let me read one of Aesop’s Greek fables; In the forest, there lived four oxen. They were very good friends and always went together to graze in the fields. However, every time they went, a hungry lion tried to attack them. The lion longed for their meat. But they withstood his attack by fighting ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Baptist

The 10 Tests Of Abraham

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 6, 2012

THE 10 TESTS OF ABRAHAM Ten Tests of Abraham according to Maimonides: 1. God tells him to leave his homeland to be a stranger in the land of Canaan. (12.1) 2. Immediately after his arrival in the Promised Land, he encounters a famine. (12.10) 3. The Egyptians capture his beloved wife, Sarah, and ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Death Steals From Us

Contributed by Jeffrey Rowe on Dec 29, 2012

Death steals from us in this life by suddenly separating us from the people and things we’ve come to care about. It robs us. A little while back, our church office building was broken into by thieves who took some of our equipment. Personally I’ve had my car broken into a couple of times. I’m ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Holiness

A Story For Peace-Lovers  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 21, 2013

A STORY FOR PEACE-LOVERS (Narrated by Dorothy S. Mclaren) One morning a little girl, dressed in spotless white, with a lovely bouquet of flowers in her hands, passed by a boy who was playing in the dusty street. The sight of this pretty girl stirred the spirit of mischief in the boy’s heart and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:18

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Like Dropping A Penny Into Water

Contributed by Tim Secrist on Feb 22, 2013

IT'S LIKE DROPPING A PENNY INTO WATER On October 28, 1993, the U.S. Space Command watched as a two-ton chunk of a Chinese satellite began to reenter the earth’s atmosphere. According to their calculations, this satellite would plunge into the Pacific Ocean 500 west of Baja, California. When it ...read more

Tags: Technology

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Is Secret Of Spiritual Success?

Contributed by Usman Raza on Mar 15, 2015

We all have questions in our mind, and the Lord Jesus put these key factors in my heart: 1- Faith in God and in His presence (Romans 3:22), (Psalm 42:5) 2- Walking with Him in His Fear (Deuteronomy 6:13,Proverbs 14:2) 3- Continuous Prayers not just for yourself but for your ministry, the people ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:18-19

Tags: Spiritual Success, Spiritual Life

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Purity

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 1, 2015

A mother was concerned when she heard that her son had a live in girlfriend. She went to his house. Her son was the only one home. The son said, “It’s not what you think, Mom. She needed a place to stay. She has her bedroom and I have mine.” The son then showed his mother the guest bedroom ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Tags: Cohabitation, Shacking Up, Sexual Purity, Living Together

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Got Hold On Me !

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 13, 2019

Can you see him running, he is running with all his might. Look at the beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. Each step that he takes is labored; he is exhausted from the struggle. Can you see the fear in his eyes as he looks back over his shoulder? Something’s got a hold on him and won’t let ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:1-21

Tags: Deception, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Temptation

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

TEMPTATION Can you see him running, he is running with all his might? Look at the beads of sweat popping out on his forehead. Each step that he takes is labored; he is exhausted from the struggle. Can you see the fear in his eyes as he looks back over his shoulder? Something’s got a hold on him and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Tags: Sin, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Inner Life - To Few Who Love The Cross

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 22, 2019

Thomas a Kempis wrote: Jesus today has many who love his heavenly kingdom, but few who carry his cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress. Plenty of people he finds to share his banquet, few to share his fast. Everyone desires to take part in his rejoicing, but few are ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Submission, Carry Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Meekness Is Not Weakness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2020

The Greek word for meek in Matthew 5:5 is praus. This word was was also used to describe an animal which has been domesticated, which has been trained to obey the word of a command, which has learned to answer to the reins. It is the word for an animal which has learned to accept control, such as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Meekness, Beatitudes, Gentleness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Sermon On The Mount, Blessed Are The Meek, Matthew 5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank You, Mom, For Being Strong For Me

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on May 4, 2020

It almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch the commercials where the child is growing up and is leaving home for college, or to get married and live in another city. I think about how difficult it must have been for my mom to watch me drive off to college in another city. And then later to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-50

Tags: Mothers Day, Mothers Strength

Denomination: Baptist

Strength In Old Age

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 13, 2020

I use the Bible I had in Bible college when I have my devotions or study. Came across these notes from 1/24/80. I was 27. Joshua 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:11-12

Tags: Faith, Retirement, Strength, Retire, Courage, Old Age  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

There Is The Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Stedman illustrates this point noting that "As the Battle of Trafalgar was about to begin, Admiral Nelson came across two officers of his own flagship who were arguing hotly and about to take sword to each other. Nelson stepped between them and said, "Stop." Then, pointing to the ...read more

Tags: Unity, Body Of Christ, Working Together, Division, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

World Evangelism Statistics

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2022

If you say that Jesus is waiting on the Church to get the Gospel out before His return, let me give you a few statistics on the challenge the Church faces. We have almost 8 billion people on our planet right now. There are almost 2.4 Christians in the world today. If 500,000 people were ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Missions, Witnessing, Lost, Great Commission, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cipa (Congenital Insensitivity To Pain With Anhydrosis)

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Mar 10, 2022

Not far from my home lives a young woman who was born with a very rare disease called CIPA, congenital insensitivity to pain with anhydrosis. Imagine having a body that looks normal and acts normally, except for one thing: You cannot feel physical pain. That sounds as if it would be a blessing. But ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Pain, Prayer

Denomination: Brethren

Here's Your Thanksgiving Joke!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

In Budapest, a man goes to the rabbi and complains, "Life is unbearable. There are nine of us living in one small apartment. What can I do?" The rabbi answers, "Take your goat into the apartment with you." The man is totally upset when he hears this, but the rabbi insists. ...read more

Tags: Griping, Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Perspective, Complaining, Attitude  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Have Spiritual Wax In The Ears?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

JAMES 1:21 - "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." A person must put off every dirty thing and lay it off to the side away from himself. If he enjoys the dirt and filth, then his mind is ...read more

Tags: Followers Of Jesus, Worhsip, Word Of God, Voice Of God, Cleansing, Hearing God, Filth, Listening, Discipleship, Confession  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cast The First Stone

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 6, 2024

Marilyn Helleberg told about being a teenager at church camp. She said an ugly rumor got started there about two of the counselors and it quickly became the talk of the camp. The next day, at Morning Prayer, the minister read the story of the adulterous woman. He spoke of Jesus telling the crowd ...read more

Tags: Gossip, Division, Judging, Forgiveness, Confession, Criticism, Mouth, Words, Tongue, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational