In Sermon Illustrations: "The Holy City"

Black Market Sacrifices (Plagiarism)

Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010

After choosing the title of this sermon I began looking for an illustration that captured the sense of what I meant by a “black market sacrifice.” And to my great distress I found one – kind of. The search for an illustration became the illustration. Confused? Let me explain. When I prepare ...read more

Tags: Preaching, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God's Word In A Mental Hospital

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jul 11, 2011

GOD'S WORD IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL I think you'll agree that all true and sincere spiritual movement in your life has been caused and created by the word of God. I served for one year as a part-time chaplain at a mental hospital. One of my duties there was to help people suffering from chemical ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Serving

Denomination: Lutheran

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Give Up—the Case Of Mrs. Ruth Ertel

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

DON’T GIVE UP--THE CASE OF MRS. RUTH ERTEL In 1965 a divorced mother of two, found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris’s steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Endurance

End Of The World Predictions

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2012

END OF THE WORLD PREDICTIONS It's hard to believe it was just a year ago that the head of The Family Radio Broadcasting Network--Harold Camping--predicted, through 2,000 billboards worldwide, that on May 21, 2011 the righteous, which totaled 3 percent of humanity, was to be whisked away to heaven, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:6-8

Tags: Prophecy

Hand Motions For The 10 Commandments  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 10, 2016

HAND MOTIONS FOR THE 10 COMMANDMENTS Here are some easy to learn hand motions I have learned as I started my new teaching series on the Ten Commandments ("The Big Ten"). I believe it will help you and your church family remember the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20: COMMANDMENT #1 You shall have ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Tags: Exodus, Ten Commandments, Memorizing The Word

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book, "Leadership Pain: God’s Classroo...

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

In his book, “Leadership Pain: God’s Classroom for Growth,” Sam Chand writes, “Pain isn’t the enemy. The inability or unwillingness to face pain is a far greater danger.” He then tells the story of Dr. Paul Brand who was treating a four year old named Tanya at the national leprosy hospital in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Tags: Pain, Thankful For Pain

Denomination: Methodist

Any Believer Can Be A "Man Of God”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 7, 2020

Any believer can be a “man of God” Text: 2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God (any believer in Jesus!) may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Thoughts: Only a few people were ever called a “man of God” in the Bible. Some were never known; at least four were never named, and one, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Tags: Paul, Man Of God, Timothy

Denomination: Baptist

Reprove An Erring Brother, Do Not Reproach Him

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPROVE AN ERRING BROTHER, DO NOT REPROACH HIM Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning." (Proverbs 9:8-9) We should have respect ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Reprove, Correct In Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Did Haman Use Wood From Noah's Ark To Build His Gallows?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 28, 2023

We read in the Bible how, at the end of the Great Flood, the Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (which some identify as the Armenian Highlands). Since the Torah doesn’t ascribe any intrinsic holiness to Noah’s Ark, it is not at all surprising that once Noah left it, there isn’t any real ...read more

Tags: Archeaology, Noah, Miracles, Haman, Purim, Jewish Tradition, Gallows, Israel, Ark  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Ready To Meet The Lord?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 22, 2024

Text: Proverbs 29:1, KJV: 1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Thrift and second-hand stores are good places to find items like Bibles and other Christian material—no offense to bookstores, of course. One day I was searching for ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:1

Tags: Thrift Shops, Death, Salvation, Ready To Meet God

Denomination: Baptist

Parachute Failed On Christian At 3500 Feet

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 24, 2025

Parachute failed on Christian at 3500 feet Psalm 144:15 - Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD!" *Daniel Cave certainly proved this to be true. In 2005, Daniel was on his very first skydiving jump in Washington State. On the way down, his parachute failed to open. Daniel didn’t fall ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:15

Tags: High Tower, The Lord Our Rock, Righteous War, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, Joy, Fortress, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Shield, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Christians: We Should Be Jumping For Joy!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 3, 2025

Christians: We Should Be Jumping for Joy! Acts 16:34 says, "Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." The saved jailer rejoiced in His salvation! And that word "rejoiced" has the great ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Evangelism, Paul, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[239]. A Message From A Poem – Sing To The Greatness Of The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 18, 2025

[239]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – SING TO THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD How can I describe this poem? It is a fact and praise poem. I wanted to start the poem with praise, for our God is greatly adored, and has done so much for helpless sinners. The metre used here, 5 - 7 - 5 – 7, gives the poem ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:23-29

Tags: Sing, Greatness Of God, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[243]. A Message From A Poem – God’s Love Is Beyond Compare

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 26, 2025

[243]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOD’S LOVE IS BEYOND COMPARE I think this poem emerged from considering the letter to the church as Ephesus written by the Apostle John. The strategic verse there is this – {{Revelation 2:4 “but I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”}} ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4, John 3:16, Romans 5:5, John 5:42

Tags: Christian Poems, Love, First Love, Comparison, The Love Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mickey Mantle's Salvation Story

Contributed by Tom Feola on Feb 4, 2012

MICKEY MANTLE'S SALVATION STORY The #7 is for the Mick, or Mickey Mantle, who played for the New York Yankees.    Why do I bring this out about Mickey Mantle.  Well 1st of all without a team playing with Him Mick would have won zero World Series.  But because of a team effort Mickey played in 12 ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Atheist Defends Evangelism In Africa

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 31, 2008

AN ATHEIST DEFENDS EVANGELISM IN AFRICA I would like to conclude by reading you an article – that Andrew sent to me - from the Sunday Times dated 27th December 2008 written by Matthew Parris: December 27, 2008 (full article) As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God Missionaries, not aid ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Anglican

Let Me Tell You A Story From Alberta History: ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 12, 2002

Let me tell you a story from Alberta history: Cree Chief Maskepetoon met Rev. Robert Rundle, and at their first meeting declared "I will never become a Christian as long as there are horses to steal and scalps to take." Nevertheless Maskepetoon became a staunch friend to Rundle and his attitude ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20

Tags: Christian Liberty, Anxiety, Forgiveness General, God's Image, Prayer, Moving Forward, Supplication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Following Was Written By Jack Jordan ...  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 20, 2003

The following was written by Jack Jordan newspaper editor recording the events of April 3, 1974. An uneasiness nagged at me as I checked over proofs for the next day’s paper. It was Wednesday, April 3, 1974 about 4 o’clock on a gray afternoon. More than 100 tornadoes had been sighted to the ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John 7:51) Open mouth, insert foot! There are few times in life more embarrassing than when we say something we didn’t mean to say or let something slip that should not have been said. On the occasion of a recent birthday in our household, I was given ...read more

Scripture: John 7:51

Tags: Humility, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran