In Sermon Illustrations: "The World"

Abraham Vs. Balaam

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 19, 2010

ABRAHAM VS. BALAAM Whosoever possesses these three qualities belongs to the disciples of Abraham our father: a generous eye, a humble spirit, and a meek soul. But he who possesses the three opposite qualities--an evil eye, a proud spirit, and a haughty soul--is of the disciples of Balaam the ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Number Of Years Ago The National Council Of ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 7, 2010

A number of years ago the National Council of Churches declared a week in October to be “Peace and Justice” week. They created an interesting poster to promote the emphasis. The poster depicted a globe or world held aloft by many different colored human hands. What they didn’t realize is that this ...read more

Tags: Religion

Denomination: Nazarene

The Classical Artist Renoit Is Revered In The ...

Contributed by Grant Sisson on Aug 29, 2010

The classical artist Renoit is revered in the world of art. He left many works of art that are respected and admired the world over. But Mr. Renoit had a problem later in life that caused him terrible pain – he had arthritis in his hands. Arthritis in an artist’s hands is about like a musician ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

You Think You Can Do Better?

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Feb 4, 2011

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER? A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring to him. They were far too behind the times, tiresome tunes and meaningless words. He kept talking about it, for many weeks. One day his father put an end to the discussion by saying, "If ...read more

Tags: Doing God's Will

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Harp String Of Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

THE HARP STRING OF HOPE G.F. Watt has a famous painting entitled Hope. It pictures a poor woman against the world. Her eyes are bandaged so that she cannot see ahead. In her hands is a harp, but all the strings are broken save one. Those broken strings represent her shattered expectations, her ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Tags: God Brings Hope

Road Signs Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 30, 2013

ROAD SIGNS OF THE FAITH The problem Israel faced is a problem people have faced down through the ages. During World War II, during the Battle of the Bulge, there was a group of German soldiers who dressed themselves in the uniforms of the Allies. These German soldiers used American military ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:7-11

Tags: Antichrist

Life's Challenges

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Apr 18, 2017

Whenever I think about how difficult life is, I'm always reminded and encouraged by these two verses, especially this week. Imagine this: Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and God's only Son, who is about to be arrested and crucified for me ... prays for me. What if we treated one another like this ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-12

Tags: Life Challenge, Servanthood, Faith In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Tale Of Two Artists

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 4, 2023

The great Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard told a parable of 2 artists: One bragged, “I have travelled much and seen much in the world, but I have sought in vain to find anyone worth painting. In every face I have seen one or another fault. Therefore I seek in vain.” The second one, on the other ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31, Matthew 25:40-46

Tags: Art, Creativity, Attitude, Kierkegaard

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Deconstruction, Deconstruction, Deconstruct, Decon....

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 20, 2024

One cannot insist that all truth claims are power plays, that all truth claims destroy freedom. C. S. Lewis writes in The Abolition of Man: “But you cannot go on ‘explaining away’ forever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on ‘seeing through’ things ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16, John 18:38, Acts 26:25

Tags: Doubt, Truth, Objective Truth, Deconstructing Faith

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared To Spiritual ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared to Spiritual Brinkmanship It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tags: Holiness

[063]. A Message From A Poem – Drumming And Humming Become Obese

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 18, 2025

[063]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DRUMMING AND HUMMING BECOME OBESE This poem is not my usual style and I need to explain. Imagine the beginnings of something that multiplies itself and grows louder and louder as it advances; then will take over because nothing can stop it . . . . except ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:2, Revelation 6:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-2

Tags: Humming, Drumming, Leaven, Wickedness, Delusion, Poetry, Poem, Advance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Musician's Concert Was Poorly Received By ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A young musician’s concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, ’Remember, son, there is no city in the ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Disappointment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shortly After His Death, Someone Asked John D. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Twamley on Apr 2, 2003

Shortly after his death, someone asked John D. Rockefeller Jr’s chief financial advisor, “He was one of the richest men in the world, how much did he ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Pentecostal

Helen Keller: "I Have Walked With People Whose ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 17, 2004

Helen Keller: "I have walked with people whose eyes are full of light but who see nothing. They see nothing in the woods or sky, nothing in sports, nothing on the street. Their ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Wesleyan

Do You Ever Feel Like Robert Orben Who Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Nov 15, 2004

Do you ever feel like Robert Orben who said, “Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Emotions

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Musician's Concert Was Poorly Received ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

A young musician’s concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, ‘Remember, son, there is no city ...read more

Tags: Peace

To Be At One With God Is To Be At Peace ... ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2006

“To be at one with God is to be at peace ... peace is to be found only within, and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all. Peace lies not in the external ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

John Wesley Said: "If I Had 300 Men Who Feared ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

John Wesley said: “If I had 300 men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and determined to know nothing among men but Christ, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

If There Is The Tiniest Grudge In Your Mind ...

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 18, 2007

If there is the tiniest grudge in your mind against anyone ... your spiritual penetration into the knowledge of God stops. (Oswald Chambers. Edythe Draper, Draper’s Book of Quotations for the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In A Local Mall, Someone Noticed That The ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Nov 17, 2008

In a local mall, someone noticed that the lingerie store with scantily clad women on the windows was next door to a children’s store. Could it be a coincidence that the ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Pentecostal