In Sermon Illustrations: "Training Disciples"

Prayer And Chopping Vegetables

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 26, 2010

PRAYER AND CHOPPING VEGETABLES Jan and I were watching a cooking show the other day -- Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa, I think it was -- and I commented on how Ina chops vegetables. In this instance, she was chopping parsley, and she held the knife in one hand while resting her other hand on top ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Your Best Isn't Good Enough

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

YOUR BEST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH A pastor once went to a barber to get a haircut. All through the haircut, the pastor wanted to witness to the barber, but the barber kept talking non-stop and gave the pastor no chance to interrupt. Later, when the pastor was paying for the haircut, he asked the barber ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

You Are Not Alone

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 14, 2010

YOU ARE NOT ALONE Reed Lessing tells the story of a Native American ritual for training young braves: "On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, he was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then he had never been away from the security of his family and tribe. But on ...read more

Tags: Suffering Loneliness

Denomination: Church Of God

Reality Therapy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

REALITY THERAPY Aaron was an eleven-year-old boy whose behavior was described by Dr. William Glasser, his psychiatrist, as horrible. In his book, Reality Therapy, Glasser says Aaron was the most obnoxious child he had ever met. The boy would kick, scream, run away and hide, become withdrawn, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Parenting

Fear Of Witnessing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

FEAR OF WITNESSING Leighton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Page 15: In preparing for this book, I have talked to a lot of people, and the fear issue comes up front again and again. What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears ...read more

Scripture: John 20:21-22

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

There's An Interesting New Phenomenon In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There’s an interesting new phenomenon in the church world today. Churches are starting to hire Church Consultants --- the same way companies have hired consultants for years. Consultants are trained as problem solvers. They provide fresh eyes and new perspectives when businesses or churches face ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Predestination  PRO

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Mar 19, 2012

PREDESTINATION Rather than predetermining a person’s FATE, predestination predetermines a believer’s FOCUS—that is, God’s eternal purposes, goals and privileges for him. Every instance of the word “predestinate” in the New Testament refers to some purpose, goal or privilege that God has ...read more

Tags: Election

Denomination: Baptist

Horse Sense

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 7, 2012

HORSE SENSE I like horses okay, but I am not a horse-person. But for much of history, horses were crucial. As a result, we have developed a lot of idioms involving horses. "Many terms and phrases in the English language harken back to a time not so long ago when horses were of extreme ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Friend Will Find Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 16, 2012

MY FRIEND WILL FIND ME Sam was a great bird dog. If he pointed to a clump of bushes, there surely was a bird in there. He was much more than just a bird dog. Often we’d share together lazy lunches in an abandoned apple orchard, and the snooze that followed. Late one afternoon, Sam and I became ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:7-9

Tags: Trust

The Word Of God Sent Through The Prophets

Contributed by Pastor Amos Dele Dada on Jun 7, 2013

THE WORD OF GOD SENT THROUGH THE PROPHETS You want success - believe the word of God he has sent through his prophets. Period. Imagine The German Army and the USA Army and United Kingdom Army gathered against Canadian Army. And God sends Pastor Dada, call him a Prophet for this purpose to the ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Good Race

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 7, 2021

Many years ago, I coached the High School Swimming team. I had several athletes that went to College on scholarships; but the athlete I was thinking about while I was preparing this sermon, went on to compete in Triathlons. A Triathlon is a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:7

Tags: Freedom, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

President Mckinley Had A Mother Who Taught Him Well

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

As a lawyer, as a congressman, as Governor of Ohio, and as President of the United States, William McKinley had a close relationship with his mother. He either visited her or sent a message to her every day. When she became seriously ill, he arranged to have a special train standing by, ready to ...read more

Tags: Teach Your Children, Godly Mothers, Will Of God, Hymns

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Secret To Happiness

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 22, 2024

Ecclesiastes tells us that the secret to happiness is to choose happiness. Don't kid yourself into believing that if you're not feeling good all the time then there is something wrong. Olympic athlete, poet, and filmmaker Alexi Pappas has some great advice to keep us grounded. One lesson ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 5:19, Ecclesiastes 6:9

Tags: Satisfaction, Expectations, Pain, Happiness, Joy, Happy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Think Before You Speak

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Taking a moment to think before you speak is like installing a verbal facemask —it gives you a chance to avoid regrettable word splatter before it happens. Now, let’s be honest—there are four types of people in this world: 1. Those who think before they speak (a rare and majestic ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 18:21

Tags: Speak, Words, Think Before You Speak

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For Thirty Years, Hiroo Onoda Was Stuck In That ...

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 18, 2008

For thirty years, Hiroo Onoda was stuck in that time warp known as 1944. The rest of the world continued to change around him, but Onoda stayed the same. When he reemerged into our modern world, he was not prepared for what he would see. Onoda, of course, never did travel into space. Instead he ...read more

Tags: Live In Victory

Denomination: Baptist

Taking A Grenade

Contributed by Rick Crandall on May 21, 2011

TAKING A GRENADE A week ago last Tuesday (04/08/08) the Medal of Honor was posthumously awarded to Navy Seal Michael Monsoor. Here is part of what President Bush said to Michael’s family and those gathered at the White House: "In September 2006, Michael laid down his life for his brothers in ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

The Secrets Of Life

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 6, 2024

“Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself.” ~L. Wolfe Gilbert I have a dog named Bella. She is a Blue Heeler. I must confess that at the time Bella came into my life a dog was not on my wish list. My stepson is the “original owner.” ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3

Tags: Beauty, Nature, Mystery, Canvas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Past, Present And Future

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 21, 2024

Harry A Ironside the great Bible teacher was riding on a train in Southern California one Saturday when a gypsy got on and sat beside him. "How do you do, gentleman," she said. "You like to have your fortune told? Cross my palm with a silver quarter, and I will give you your past, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Present, Future, Past, Fortunes

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Karl Barth, A Famous Theologian, Was On A ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Hughes on Feb 8, 2003

Karl Barth, a famous theologian, was on a streetcar one day in Basel, Switzerland, where he lectured. A tourist to the city climbed on and sat down next to Barth. The two men started chatting with each other. "Are you new to the city?" Barth inquired. "Yes," said the tourist. "Is there anything you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Karl Barth, Jesus Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Past Week Our Bishop Wrote In Article In The ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Dec 20, 2004

This past week our Bishop wrote in article in the Michigan Christian Advocate. In it, he talked about his trip to Bethlehem and the effect it had...hear his words... "Nothing before or since prepared this bishop for the surprising emotion I felt upon arrival in the little town of Bethlehem, five ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Methodist