In Sermon Illustrations: "Tithe Or Give"

No One Is A Lost Cause

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

Ron Smith was in law enforcement for 20 years. After he retired, he was asked to join a prison ministry of his church. He scoffed at the idea, knowing he had put a lot of those guys in prison and he, above all, knew what types of peoplethey were. But eventually he broke down and joined and God ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Forgiveness, Compassion, Hope, Reconciliation

Denomination: Methodist

The Following Song By "Casting Crowns" ...

Contributed by Gary Miller on May 11, 2007

The following song by "Casting Crowns" illustrates the importance of praising God: Praise You in This Storm words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms I was sure by now, God You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

God Will Often Allow Crises Into ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 29, 2008

Illustration: God will often allow crises into our lives to show us where we put our confidence. There was a farmer who one day went happily and with great joy in his heart to report to his wife and family that their best cow had given birth to twin calves, one red and one white. And he said, “You ...read more

Denomination: Other

Dumb Crooks

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

DUMB CROOKS A Circle-K convenience store was patronized by man requesting change for a twenty dollar bill. As soon as the register drawer was opened, the man pulled a gun and demanded it contents. He fled with all dollars of it, but left his original twenty lying on the counter. A guy walked into ...read more

Tags: Character

Heart Attacks  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

HEART ATTACKS Did you know that tension exhibits itself in the from of stress? And stress is not always caused by negative things; it is also caused by positive things in your life. For instance, Mike Parker was recovering from a severe heart attack, and the doctor said there should be no ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

The Unpublished Hymn

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

THE UNPUBLISHED HYMN The hymn writer Fanny Crosby gave us more than 6,000 gospel songs. Although blinded by an illness at the age of six weeks, she never became bitter. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered ...read more

Tags: Comfort

A Change In Hope

Contributed by Fred Schaeffer on Nov 20, 2008

A CHANGE IN HOPE Ben was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 16 years old. Hope is the one thing that kept his parents, Kevin and Laura moving forward. Hope is what kept them from giving up. His younger sister, Bethany, always kept her sights on the silver lining. He went through a series ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus Is Better Than Santa!

Contributed by Gregg Rustulka on Dec 20, 2008

Jesus is Better than Santa! Santa lives at the North Pole. JESUS is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh. JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water. Santa comes but once a year. JESUS is an ever present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies JESUS supplies all your needs. Santa ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Nazarene

Why Blood?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

WHY BLOOD? On February 16, 1989 the lives of George and Vera Bajenksi of Ontario, Canada were changed forever. It was a very normal Thursday morning. The phone rang at 9:15 a.m. There was an accident involving their son Ben. As they approached the intersection of Adelaide and Simcoe Streets near ...read more

Tags: Atonement, Sacrifice, Cross, Blood Of Christ

On Anger

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

ON ANGER The late great writer, Bede Jarrett (1881 - 1937), once wrote: "The world needs anger. The world often continues to allow evil because it isn’t angry enough." The late great Indian political and spiritual leader, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 - 1948), once said, "Man should forget ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-27

Tags: Anger

No-Cut Auditions

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Mar 5, 2009

NO-CUT AUDITIONS Dick Sanderson is kind enough to give me a subscription to Leadership, Real Ministry in a Complex World. It is an exceptional magazine. This quarter there was an insert that carried a story called "A Cast of Thousands" by Lillian Daniel. She writes: "At my daughter’s ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

We Talk A Lot About Serving And Worshiping Jesus. ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Mar 6, 2009

We talk a lot about serving and worshiping Jesus. But to be able to serve Him, or worship Him, we must know exactly who He is and what He offers. Here is the Jesus I know: ···· Jesus is Christ. He is the living Son of the living God. ···· He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: *other

Moses Wrote,

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Apr 16, 2009

Moses wrote, “…The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25) A Biblical marriage destroys thoughts of self-consciousness, they defeat shame, there is no fear of ridicule, no hang-ups, they can choose to avoid embarrassments and with Christ leading the marriage ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment, Marriage Intimacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have You Ever Seen Those Frequent Flyer Programs ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 14, 2009

Have you ever seen those frequent flyer programs that the airlines have? Fly with us and you will earn points that can get free flights (of course with the restrictions on when you can use those points and on what flights, the only way to redeem them is on a one way flight to Butte, Montana ...read more

Tags: Church Growth, Self

Denomination: Church Of God

David Livingstone,

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

David Livingstone, "I Never Made A Sacrifice" In the mid-seventeenth century, a somewhat well-known Englishman was captured by Algerian pirates and made a slave. While a slave, he founded a church. When his brother arranged his release, he refused freedom, having vowed to remain a slave until he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Servanthood

I'm Only A General, But He's A Son!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 30, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. grew up under the shadow of a large man. His father was the hero of San Juan Hill and the President of the United States. The pressure to excel often caused him problems, but Teddy, Jr. went on to be a highly decorated Brigadier General during World War II, receiving the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:26-29

Tags: Children Of God, Authority, Sons, Mothers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Amazing Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A policeman recounted an incident when he and other officers shot an eighteen-year-old boy and burned the body. Eight years later the policeman returned to the same house and seized the boy's father. The wife was forced to watch as policemen bound her husband on a woodpile, poured gasoline over ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 65:3

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

7 Ways To Build Self-Control

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 27, 2023

To be self-controlled is to restrain ourselves by not giving in to our depraved desires. We can say “no” when everything in us is saying “yes” for all the wrong reasons. We deny worldly lusts when we withhold our consent from them and when we refuse the delight they suggest. God will give us the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Temptation, Character, Fruit Of The Spirit, Discipline, Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Prayer

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Chris Jeffries tells the story of Roy who was feeling frustrated that he was not able to do what he felt he was born to do. So he prayed for Our Father to change something. Then there was a knock at the door and they met two strangers, a married couple. They invited them in and sat them down at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:5-8

Tags: Prayer, God's Will, Confidence In Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

Real Pearls

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 7, 2008

REAL PEARLS The cheerful girl with bouncy curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Her mother checked the back of the little foil box and said, ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational