In Sermon Illustrations: "The Old Nature"

Servanthood And Spiritual Growth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

SERVANTHOOD AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH I surveyed my church to see if people saw a relationship between ministering to others and spiritual growth. When asked, "To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?," 92 percent answered positively. None responded that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

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

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

Spiritual Breakthrough.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 14, 2014

During the week I have been looking at a book by John Larsson where he called Spiritual breakthrough where he talks about Samuel Logan Brengle. In his recalling Brengle, Larsson talks of how at the age of twenty-five, Brengle was at a seminary training to be a minister but he was troubled. He ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sanctification, Spiritual Encounter

Denomination: Salvation Army

What Forgiveness Is Not

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT by Dr. Larry Petton (excerpt from my book, "I CAN'T FORGIVE"). Text: Ephesians chapter 4 Ruth Bell Graham described a successful marriage as the "union of two great forgivers." Forgiveness has been described as, “Me not hurting you, because you ...read more

Tags: Forgive Them, Father, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[002] Message From A Poem – A Grain Of Wheat Dies

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 2, 2024

[002] MESSAGE FROM A POEM – A GRAIN OF WHEAT DIES Not very long before the crucifixion Jesus spoke to Andrew and Philip. This is what He said – {{John 12:23-25 and Jesus answered them saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS A GRAIN OF ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-25, Matthew 13:23, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Sacrifice, Parable Of The Sower, A Grain Of Wheat, Dying To Oneself

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[145]. A Message From A Poem – In The World But Not Of It

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 27, 2025

[145]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT We are citizens of this world but we are not bound to that, for as Christians, we have a higher citizenship which is in heaven – {{Philippians 3:20 “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 11:13-14

Tags: Living In The World, Christian Poems, In The World But Not Of It, Citizens Of The World, Strangers, Heavenly Citizenship, Pilgrims, The World, Exiles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's ...

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Aug 4, 2008

GOD’S GARDEN Things that compete with peace are like the weeds competing with your flowers to dominate the space, nutrients, sunlight, water and character of your garden or lawn. Weeds so easily spread, multiply and thrive because they are at their best when they are most shallow. You see, most ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Baptist

Give Thanks In All ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Give Thanks in All Circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:18) Washington, D.C. October 3, 1863 By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On Martin Luther  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 7, 2009

ON MARTIN LUTHER Church history illustrates that if a church quits being renewed and refreshed every day then they slide into apathy -- this leads toward man made religion and deadness. In essence the people of God lose their anointing and their transformational power to see lives changed. The ...read more

Tags: Church Growth

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[081]. A Message From A Poem – Fiery Birth Of Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 13, 2025

[081]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FIERY BIRTH OF LIFE THIS POEM IS STRICTLY COPYRIGHT. IT MUST NOT BE ALTERED OR TAKEN. IF IT IS USED I WOULD APPRECIATE KNOWING THAT. The use in the Lord’s service is why I wrote it. I have had some of my efforts stolen and reproduced in other’s names. This has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:4-5

Tags: Judgment, Fire, Bushfires, Forest Fires, Eucalypt, Eucalyptus Oil, Gidgee Tree, Tall Trees, New Life, Furnace, Poetry, Poem, Flames, Mountain Ash  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

August 22, 1741, Was A Sweltering Day In The ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Mar 27, 2001

“August 22, 1741, was a sweltering day in the city of London. An elderly stooped-shouldered man wandered through the streets. His nightly aimless wandering through the streets of the city had become a familiar ritual. His angry mind raced back to the memories of great adulation and then looked at a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-31

Tags: Sacrifice, God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

The Star Spangled Banner  PRO

Contributed by Michael Gibney on Jun 8, 2002

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Political Freedom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Close With This Story, At First You May ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 31, 2002

Let me close with this story, at first you may not catch my point, but hang in there, when I land you will see a wonderful point. I had been teaching in Virginia, and I resigned my position and accepted a pastorate of a mission work in eastern Kentucky. The area was very poor, and the little church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Tags: Funerals Christian, Death

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[312]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts Based On Psalm 27 - Version 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2026

[312]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS BASED ON PSALM 27 - VERSION 1 Psalm 27 has 14 verses and contains some famous verses such as the following – {{Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defence of my life. Whom shall I dread?”}} {{Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 27:9, Psalm 27:5, Psalm 27:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: David, Faith, Protection, Light, Salvation, Wait, Strong, Deliverance, King David, Wait On The Lord, Enemies, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sleeping In The Cemetery  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2005

SLEEPING IN THE CEMETERY According to a March, 2005 news report, a tramp in Holland has been found using the cemetery as his sleeping quarters. The man was charged by police after they caught him a second time sleeping in the graveyard at Nijmegen. The 43-year old had dug out the earth from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Tags: Easter Resurrection

They Remind Me Of A Story Told By Lee Strobel. ...

Contributed by J.d. Tutell on Mar 31, 2005

They remind me of a story told by Lee Strobel. When he was still a writer for the Chicago Tribune he received a phone call from a father desperate to find his missing 19 year old daughter. She was a good girl, never in any trouble, not much more than an innocent child-and now she was gone. The ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

I Will Fight No More Forever

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Jul 1, 2005

In 1877 Chief Joseph, leader of the Nez Perce Indians… Surrendered to the American Army… There was a movie made in 1975 about Chief Joseph and his battle to remain free… It was entitled, “I will fight no more forever”…. As a teenager in the 70s, I remember this movie… The speech that he gave when ...read more

Tags: Political Freedom

Denomination: Nazarene

The Movie "Thirteen" Retells The Life Story Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bumble Ho on Sep 26, 2005

The movie “Thirteen” retells the life story of a typical thirteen-years-old girl in LA. In one scene, the girl was depressed, so she got into a bathroom and start getting a razor and cut her arms with it and inflicted pain on herself so that she could feel better. “What!” I was shocked and could ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Unity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Team: Together Each Accomplishes More!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 15, 2005

TEAM: Together Each Accomplishes More! I was a student on the LMU campus in the early ’70’s. There was a required course called Music Appreciation. We had to spend hours in the music library listening to Masterpieces from the music greats. One day while digging through some old albums, I ran across ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Assembly Of God