In Sermon Illustrations: "The Blessed Hope"

How Christians Are Different

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

HOW CHRISTIANS ARE DIFFERENT A Second Century believer, in a letter to his friend, Diognetus, described how Christians are alike and different from others. He wrote, "Though they are residents at home in their own countries, their behavior there is more like transients...Though destiny has placed ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:18-25

Tags: Christian Witness

The Holy Spirit Compared To Hydroelectric ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2012

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMPARED TO HYDROELECTRIC POWER As Christians we may be compared with a reservoir for producing electrical power, like one of those you see when you drive to Niagara Falls. When we accept Christ, construction of our reservoir is complete. We now have the potential to be useful and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

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

Worship In The Thrill And The Agony

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 25, 2012

WORSHIP IN THE THRILL AND THE AGONY The 2012 Olympics gave a great illustration of how Christians can trust God in the thrill of victory AND the agony of defeat. If you watched the Olympics, you probably saw Gabby Douglas's big smile. When she won the Individual Gold in gymnastics. She said, "I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Baptistry

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 13, 2014

Bob Russell wrote of a church who, years ago, bickered over the use of a piano. Some wanted to use a piano during Sunday worship, others did not. The disagreement grew sharp, and the church divided into two sides over the issue. One Sunday, when members arrived for church, they discovered a new ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23

Tags: Disagreeable, Church Unity, Church Conflict

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Contentment

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 11, 2017

Two old friends met each other on the street one day. One looked sad and almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has happened to you, my old friend?” The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.” “That’s a lot of money,” ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13

Tags: Contentment, Satisfaction, Content

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Romans 1:22

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Romans 1:22 Life is so much vanity. We live on the brink of insanity. This is so very, very odd For creation is in the image of God. We plod along in our sin Knowing that we cannot win. Our souls so easily we sell To that pawnbroker of Hell. Instead of singing, "How Great Thou ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:22

Tags: Sin, Vanity, Hypocrisy, Religion, Traditions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Gossip Test

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 1, 2021

Another basic concept – sin creates spiritual blindness. Let me illustrate with my favorite sin to talk about… GOSSIP. I’ll stop right here and make sure you know how I define gossip. Before you tell someone a story about another person (even disguised as a prayer request), it needs to pass all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:37-45

Tags: Sin, Gossip, Spiritual Blindness

Denomination: Methodist

Father's Day - How It Begain

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 13, 2023

Today is Fathers Day, ... and let me wish a Blessed Fathers Day ... to all the fathers and grandfathers ... who are here today. (Pause) Indeed ... It is Fathers Day, ... and the very first national celebration ... of this day .... was on June 19, ... 1924, ... via a proclamation ... of President ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48, Matthew 6:1-18

Tags: Father's Day, Fathers

Denomination: Anglican

While I Was Working In The V Corps Chaplain's ...  PRO

Contributed by Julian Silva on Jan 9, 2003

While I was working in the V Corps Chaplain’s office in Frankfurt, Germany; I came in contact with many wonderful Christian individuals. One of the most inspiring was a German by the name of Carl Scholz. In speaking to him one day, he related to me of how that during the Second World War he served ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God In The Hardships, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Pressure Washing

Contributed by Jack Kale on Apr 6, 2016

Pressure Washing The wooden fence around our yard was black from mildew in parts, but it was mostly sun bleached gray. The grime was heaviest around the sprinkler heads where Florida humidity turns the porous wood into a mildew factory. I had grown accustomed to the funk and had gotten so ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10

Tags: Pressure Washing, Spring Cleaning, Self Examination, Cleansed

Denomination: *other

Nate Saint And Fellow Missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Jan 20, 2001

Nate Saint and fellow missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian had set up camp on a little sandbar in hopes of making contact with the primitive Aucas, known for their fierce infighting and hatred of outsiders. The five missionaries had a deep burden to share the ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Compassion

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Memorial To The Resurrection  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

A MEMORIAL TO THE RESURRECTION Six miles outside of Manilla lies the peaceful but vast Manila American Cemetery. It is 152 acres of gently rising ground set aside to memorialize the military dead who served America during World War II in the Southwest Pacific Theatre. The cemetery is ...read more

Tags: Death, Easter Resurrection, Second Coming

No Talking Him Into ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

NO TALKING HIM INTO IT One lady said: Rushing to work, I was driving too fast and as a result was pulled over by the highway patrol. The state trooper noticed that my shirt had the name of a local high school on it. "I teach math there," I explained. The trooper smiled, and said, "Okay, here’s a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

A Good Word Made A Good Day!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 27, 2019

When was the last time you heard a good word from a total stranger? Some years back, as I was walking from the parking lot to the building where I worked at the time, that very thing happened to me. Usually there isn’t much interaction between people walking and the drivers or passengers, but ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:25

Tags: Respect, Sharing Good Things

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Of Fear

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She has been called “America’s greatest miser.” When she died in 1916, her estate was valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Tags: Fear, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Spirit Of Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Queen Victoria Was Much Loved. She Made ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 26, 2001

Queen Victoria was much loved. She made unexpected calls on the farm folks who lived in cottages. Any day might be a royal day, and the Scots had a chair prepared for her visit. Their houses were kept spotless. They were a clean and wholesome people, but her announced visits added to the joy of ...read more

Tags: Queen Victoria, Second Coming

Denomination: Baptist

Top 10 Signs You Are Broke  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Apr 10, 2001

TOP 10 SIGNS YOU ARE BROKE 10. American Express calls and says: "Leave home without it!" 9. You’re formulating a plan to rob the food bank. 8. Long distance companies don’t call you to switch. 7. You rob Peter...and then rob Paul. 6. You finally clean your house, hoping to find change. 5. You ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Money, Poverty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Risk  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 25, 2001

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool To weep is to risk appearing sentimental To reach out for another is to risk involvement To expose feelings is to risk exposing, your true self To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss To love is to risk not being loved in ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 24:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Fear And Worry, Endurance, Doubt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Perhaps The Greatest Illusionist And Escape ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Caley on Dec 15, 2001

Perhaps the greatest illusionist and escape artists who ever lived was Harry Houdini. He was known for his tremendous physical condition, and could withstand blows to the abdomen by tensing his muscles. While performing in Canada, however, he was challenged by a student who didn’t give him time to ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Assembly Of God