In Sermon Illustrations: "The Price To Follow"

Have You Lost The "scent"?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2021

DEMAS LOST THE "SCENT" A man bought a new hunting dog. Eager to see how the dog would perform, the man took him out to track a bear. No sooner had they gotten into the woods than the dog picked up the trail. Suddenly he stopped, sniffed the ground, and headed in a new direction. He had ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 2:15-16

Tags: Compromise, Worldliness, Backsliding, Values, Loving The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Steinway Pianos Are Crafted

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

THE POUNDER ROOM The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when Henry ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Discipline, Trials, Tests Of Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bridge Builder

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 20, 2022

THE BRIDGE BUILDER By Will Allen Dromgoole An old man going a lone highway. Came, at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and deep and wide. Through which was flowing a sullen tide The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The sullen stream had no fear for him; But he turned when safe ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29

Tags: Builder, Bridge

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Churches Closed Due To Lack Of Power!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Bill Crowder gives us a greatIllustration of Need for the Power of the Holy Spirit: "The first winter that my wife Marlene and I were married was marked by severe blizzards. I can vividly remember one Sunday when we awoke to find that the electricity had been knocked out by an ice storm. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:11

Tags: Holy Spirit, Power, Acts 2, Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give Me All, And I'll Give You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

GIVE ME ALL, AND I’LL GIVE YOU ME In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote: Christ says, "Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Self

Joanie Yoder Wrote,

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 8, 2009

Joanie Yoder wrote, " When my husband and I first went out as missionaries, I recall being concerned about the growth of materialism in our society. It never crossed my mind that I myself could be materialistic. After all, hadn’t we gone overseas with almost nothing? Weren’t we choosing to live in ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Bridge ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

THE BRIDGE BUILDER An old man, going down a lonely highway, Came at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and wide, Through which was flowing a swollen tide, The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The swollen stream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other side, And built a ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-26

Tags: Unity, Christian Unity

The Road To ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 5, 2009

“The Road to Safety” A news correspondent, forced to jump from a crippled plane over New Guinea, landed safely. He sought a way out of the jungle. Up mountains, down the rivers, through the thick jungle growth he traveled, only to return discouraged to his starting point. Day by day, week by ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Christian Church

What's Valuable

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2009

WHAT'S VALUABLE Helen Frankenthaler’s The Bay is an abstract painting on display in the Detroit Institute of Arts. It’s valuable. This work of art is worth about 1.5 million dollars. Or I should say it used to be worth 1.5 million dollars, until a 12 year old boy on a field trip decided to put his ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Noahide Commands

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 31, 2009

THE NOAHIDE COMMANDS A Pagan could become > An Alien Believer > A God-fearer > A Jew (proselyte) A pagan would be an idolater or worship many gods, or one not serving the true God. An alien believer would be a gentile who wanted to be saved, repented from his sins and turned to the God of ...read more

Tags: Israel

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Effects Of Divorce

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

EFFECTS OF DIVORCE Focus on the Family states: With more than 30 years of research, we now know divorce seldom leads to a better life. Consider that: 1. Life expectancies for divorced men and women are significantly lower than for married people (who have the longest life expectancies).3 2. A ...read more

Tags: Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Charles Stanley On Forgiveness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

CHARLES STANLEY ON FORGIVENESS Charles Stanley, in his book The Gift of Forgiveness, states, "A person who has an unforgiving spirit is always the real loser, much more so than the one against whom the grudge is held." He adds, "Un-forgiveness, by its very nature, prevents individuals from ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

General Douglas Macarthur Unique Signature At The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

General Douglas MacArthur Unique Signature at the Japanese Surrender Ending World War II We need to understand not just the pain, but the power to come. We need to appreciate not just the hard times, but the victory ahead. We need to grasp not just the cross, but the crown to follow. On ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-10

Tags: War

Remember Jonah? He Fought The Will Of God. He ...

Contributed by Tim Adams on Dec 1, 2009

Remember Jonah? He fought the will of God. He was miserable in his hometown when he heard the will of God. He ran away to Tarshish and was miserable on the whole trip. When you have to hide in a belly of a ship to get away from the storm you brought upon yourself by disobedience you’re always ...read more

Tags: Jonah

Denomination: Baptist

According To Psychologist William Damon, Respect ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Baptist

A Father Insures The Safety Of His Son In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

A Father Insures the Safety of His Son in a Blizzard A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:18

Tags: Servanthood

Vance Havner On How To Reach The Masses  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

VANCE HAVNER ON HOW TO REACH THE MASSES Preacher Vance Havner used to tell this story: Years ago a convention met in Indianapolis to discuss "How to Reach the Masses." One day during that convention a young man stood on a box on a corner and began to preach. A crowd gathered, mostly workingmen ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

Tags: Evangelism How To

Do You Want To Play Beethoven's Piano?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 5, 2023

J Vernon McGee offers the following illustration of humility of mind and adds a practical application. The story is told of a group of people who went in to see Beethoven’s home in Germany. After the tour guide had showed them Beethoven’s piano and had finished his lecture, he asked if any of them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Lowliness Of Mind, Service, Honor, Humility, Spiritual Gifts, Position, Servants  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Was The Church Chosen To Replace The Fallen Angels?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 24, 2024

Augustine believed that God created the order of angels to exist in a perfect harmonic balance with one another which was subsequently lost due to the fall of Satan (and those who followed Satan in his rebellion). This showed the tragedy which developed as a result of Satan’s rebellion. Not only ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-4

Tags: Spirits, Sovereignty Of God, Devils, Worship, Heaven, Satan, Angels, Demons, Rebellion, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man Called A Pastor's Office At A Church One ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

A man called a pastor’s office at a church one day to inquire into membership in the church. He stated that he would not be able to get involved or anything, but he felt it was important to have some religious affiliation. The pastor advised this man that the church he pastored might not be the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16

Tags: Service, Commitment, Church Body, Membership, Church Body Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)