In Sermon Illustrations: "Training Preachers"

Hymns For A Church Feud!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 28, 2019

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Do You Know How To Use The Sword Of The Spirit?

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Oct 26, 2020

Many years ago when I was in Army basic training, I spent many hours on the rifle range. Not just an afternoon on the range like many of you who experience Air Force Basic Training. I spent quite literally two-thirds of my training time on the rifle range. I was issued an M-16 assault rifle for ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Word Of God, Armor Of God, Sword Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Spurgeon On The Gospel's Power  PRO

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 9, 2013

The great English preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher otherwise men would be converters of souls. Nor does it lie in the preacher’s ...read more

Tags: Power, Preaching

Denomination: Baptist

Love Was Bestowed On The World By God, In Order ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Love was bestowed on the world by God, in order to ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Decision And Determination Are The Engineer And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Decision and determination are the engineer and fireman of our train to ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

Ben Merold Said This About Worship: "In Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Kim Huffman on Mar 30, 2004

Ben Merold said this about worship: “In most churches we have the preacher performing, with God as the prompter, and the people as the audience. In truth, worship should be the people ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Sick I Really Was  PRO

Contributed by Michael Luke on Apr 4, 2005

HOW SICK I REALLY WAS A wealthy businessman lay on his deathbed. His preacher came to visit and talked about God’s healing power and prayed for his parishioner. When the preacher was done, the businessman said, "Preacher, if God heals me, I’ll give the church a million dollars." Miraculously, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Must Be Careful Not To Gather Around Us Bible ...

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 12, 2005

We must be careful not to gather around us Bible teachers who will tickle our ears, teaching us what we want to hear, or seeking out ‘Great speakers’. No one has done this to me yet but I heard about the little boy who went up to the preacher at the end of the service and gave him a £5 note. The ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Anglican

The Greed Trap

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2011

THE GREED TRAP It is true that sin is a self snare. In a move against the Mafia’s control of the Fulton Fish Market in New York City, the case was broken open when investigators discovered that the mob boss had transferred $168,000 from a high interest fund to a low interest bank account so that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-18

Tags: Greed

A Friend In Montana Told Me About A Sheepherder ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 13, 2012

A friend in Montana told me about a sheepherder who discovered oil on his land and became enormously rich. One of the first things he bought was a Rolls Royce limousine, the kind usually driven by a chauffeur who sits in front of a glass partition. When the sheepherder brought this splendid car in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:13

Tags: Money, Materialism

Denomination: Baptist

Comedian Flip Wilson Told A Story About A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Comedian Flip Wilson told a story about a preacher and his church. A preacher was trying to get his people to be more enthusiastic about their church. The preacher said in his sermon: "If this church is going to get anywhere, it has to learn to crawl." The people said, "Let it crawl, Rev., let it ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Not Encouraging

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2011

NOT ENCOURAGING A young couple, very much in love, were getting married in church. However, the bride was very nervous about the big occasion and so the preacher chose one verse that he felt would be a great encouragement to them. The verse was 1 John 4:18 which says: "There is no fear in love. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Weddings

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Not To Get Out Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2009

How Not To Get Out of Problems When the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. "What happened to you, Frank?" asked the good reverend. "You ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24

Tags: Money

Pentecostal Dog

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

. A Baptist preacher and his wife decided they needed a dog. Ever mindful of their congregation, they knew the dog must also be Baptist. They visited an expensive kennel and explained their needs to the manager, who assured them he had just the dog for them. When the dog was produced, the manager ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Tags: Healing, Charismatic, Pentecostal

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Circuit Riders

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

In the early years, Circuit riders were most often lay preachers without formal education. They were young, poor, and, for the most part, single. Traveling thousands of miles a year. Though circuit riders eventually represented many different denominations but none were more aggressive or ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35

Tags: Personal Sacrifice, Teaching And Preaching

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Read The Story About A High School Student, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

I read the story about a high school student, who went through an initiation for his sorority. They blindfolded him and tied him to the railroad tracks. What he did not know was there was another set of tracks. All he heard was the train coming. As it approached closer and closer he screamed for ...read more

The Average U.s. Pastor Has Received Continuing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

The Average U.S. Pastor has received continuing education on 3.6 different topics during the last two years. Ellison Research finds even though most ministers have gone through seminars or classes, 36% say their church doesn’t budget for it, and the average church that does so allocates just $1,504 ...read more

Tags: Church General

Perfect Obedience: Arabian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

PERFECT OBEDIENCE: ARABIAN HORSES Arabian horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East. The trainers require absolute obedience from the horses, and test them to see if they are completely trained. The final test is almost beyond the endurance of any living thing. The ...read more

Tags: Obedience

A Little Girl Became Restless In Church As The ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gresham on Jan 10, 2004

A little girl became restless in church as the preacher’s sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist