In Sermon Illustrations: "Taking Up Your Cross"

Six Kinds Of Toxic People

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

SIX KINDS OF TOXIC PEOPLE Life Coach Cheryl Robinson says there are six kinds of toxic people. There are the blamers who are always complaining about what is wrong in their life and blaming others. Then there are the drainers. They’re like vampires who will come and suck everything out of you ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Methodist

Grits And Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2012

GRITS AND GRACE How blessed is the person whose sin God does not take into account. Even if you don’t deserve it; God provides for you. True story. Two pastors were on their way to Atlanta, Georgia for a large Christian men’s gathering. One of them had never been in the south before. After ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:6-11

Tags: Grace

Who Churchill Wants To Be  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jan 7, 2013

WHO CHURCHILL WANTS TO BE Winston Churchill once attended a formal banquet in London, where the dignitaries were asked the question, "If you could not be who you are, who would you like to be?" Naturally everyone was curious as to what Churchill, who was seated next to his beloved Clemmie, would ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-3

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Baptist

Glutton-Free Communion

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 14, 2014

Our staff recently started a new ministry to our church family by offering "gluten-free" bread for the Lord's Supper. It has been very successful and our staff has received a lot of affirmation because of this ministry. However, we didn't start off very well.......thanks to the Senior Pastor! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Tags: Communion, Preacher Bloopers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When God Speaks

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 7, 2016

WHEN GOD SPEAKS Did you hear about the old golfer who was standing in front of the first tee, a hazardous hole with a green surrounded by water, and wondering if he should use his new golf ball? Deciding that the hole was too dangerous, he chose an old ball that he could afford to lose and placed ...read more

Scripture: John 10:28-30

Tags: The Good Shepherd, Voice Of God, Will Of God, Hearing God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misusing The Good

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 23, 2019

The Gospel does not alter God's promises for Israel. It is not meant for that, just as a laser light has specific purposes but can be misused. Laser pointers are not toys. [https://phys.org/newsstory below:] Concern is growing over the safe use of small, battery powered, hand held lasers. For ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-20

Tags: Expense Of Others, Wreckless, Israel, The Gospel, Damage, Ignorance, Mischief, Charlatans  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hymns For A Church Feud!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 28, 2019

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

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Boat

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on May 13, 2021

A seeker decides to meditate alone, away from his place. He takes his boat out to the middle of the lake, moors it there, closes his eyes and begins his meditation. After a few hours of undisturbed silence, he suddenly feels the bump of another boat colliding with his own. With his eyes still ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Tags: Anger, Boat

Denomination: Other

Meekness: Personal Restraint For The Sake Of Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Years ago, a young man named George Atley was serving in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a group of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The group was completely at his mercy. He could have killed every one of them. But as he assessed the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:15, Psalm 37:11

Tags: Evangelism, Love, Missions, Meekness, Restraint  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

We Have No Sufficient Strength Of Our Own… All ...  PRO

Contributed by Donn Heinrich on Mar 4, 2002

“We have no sufficient strength of our own… All our sufficiency is of God… We should stir up ourselves to resist temptations in a reliance upon God’s ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Once Asked Paul Harvey, The Journalist ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 9, 2001

Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. "I get up when I fall down," said ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Someone Once Asked Paul Harvey, The Journalist ...

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to reveal the secret of his success. "I get up when I fall down," said ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

13 Million Americans Made Donations Online After ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

13 million Americans made donations online after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 7 million set up their own hurricane relief efforts using the ...read more

Tags: Giving General

A Recent Nielsen Survey Finds 27.4 Million People ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2007

A recent Nielsen survey finds 27.4 million people age 55 and older bought something online in the last 6 months, up from about ...read more

Books Are Readily Available, And What ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"Books are readily available, and what companions they are. A good book is the same today as yesterday. It is never displeased when we put it down; it is always inspiring ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

The Intelligence Knob

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 26, 2007

The Intelligence Knob I wish there was a knob on the TV so you could turn up the intelligence. They have one marked brightness, but it doesn’t work, does it? ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Ever Notice A Woman Will Say At A Table, "I've ...

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Sep 7, 2008

Ever notice a woman will say at a table, “I’ve got to go to the restroom, who wants to go?” And they all get up! I’ve never hear a man say, ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Denomination: Baptist

What If I Am A Woman? Is Not The God Of Ancient ...

Contributed by Carl Benge on Nov 14, 2008

What if I am a woman? Is not the God of ancient times the God of these modern days? Did he not raise up Deborah, to be a mother, and a judge in Israel? Did not queen ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-22

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Methodist

Everything That Is Done In The World Is Done By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. No husbandman would sow a grain of corn if he hoped not it would grow up and become seed... Or tradesman would set ...read more

Tags: Faith

You Shouldnt Be Afraid To Fail, But You Should ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"You shouldnt be afraid to fail, but you should learn to fail intelligently. By that I mean, when you fail, find out why you failed, and each time ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life