In Sermon Illustrations: "Training"

Trampling Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 6, 2001

TRAMPLING DEATH The early Christians understood that death had been conquered by the resurrection of Christ; this theme recurs repeatedly in their writings. Again and again one is struck with the note of victory in the attitude of the martyrs as they faced death. St. Athanasius wrote of this ...read more

Pascal's Night Of Fire

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 10, 2003

Pascal’s Night of Fire Blaise Pascal was an influential scientist who lived in the 1600’s. He was something of a genius. For example, at the age of twelve, even before he had received any formal training in geomoetry, Pascal independently discovered and demonstrated Euclid’s thirty-two ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day I Received A Telephone Call From A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 22, 2004

One day I received a telephone call from a friend. He was working for his doctorate in one of the most prestigious theological seminaries in America. He asked if I would go with him to call on the head of the seminary, who was also his professor. He explained to me that hisprofessor was a good ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Summer Of 1982, I Was Living By Myself In ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Nov 6, 2006

In the summer of 1982, I was living by myself in a trailer house after graduating from high school, biding my time until leaving for college. One day after getting home from work, I decided to take a quick nap before catching that day’s "Lone Ranger" episode. During that nap I was awakened by ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Homeless Man

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOMELESS MAN There is a big church in North Carolina that has classes every summer to help train people in different ministries. During one such period a few years ago, a young man appeared on campus where hundreds of others were. But this young man didn’t take part in any classes. He was ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Habits

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

HABITS The American Heritage Dictionary "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition." It comes from the idea "to have, to hold, possess." Roman poet Ovid in 43 BC: "Nothing is stronger than habit." Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, ...read more

Tags: Character

Eyes And Toes

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Aug 11, 2009

EYES AND TOES There is a terrific story I once heard in a taped message from a marvelous Baptist pastor named Ron Dunn. Dunn's parable suggested that once upon a time there was a body where the eyes convinced all of the other parts of the body that the gift of SIGHT was the only important gift. ...read more

Denomination: *other

Police Officer Saves Choking ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

Police Officer Saves Choking Child Listen to the story of Les Brown, a San Diego police officer, who was driving down a new section of the interstate - Highway 5 - one day! He heard an emergency alert over his police car radio - a code blue - indicating that someone was dying! The address was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:4

Tags: Heroism

There’s No Way He Should Have Been On The ...

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Mar 1, 2010

THERE’S NO WAY HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE MEDAL STAND A. 19 Yr-Old Speed-Skater JR Celski. 1. Going into final turn the 1,500-meter short-track speed skating final 2. J.R. Celski was fifth – skating behind Apolo Ohno who was in 4th 3. The South Korean skaters had a firm grasp on the gold, ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Church Of God

Survival: What Would You Take?  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 4, 2011

SURVIVAL: WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE? About 20 years ago I went on a training conference when I was working as a Patent Attorney for a Swiss multinational company called Sandoz. And one of the conundrums they set us to test our ingenuity was this: You are in a plane flying over the desert and as you are ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Anglican

Phil Sheldrake's Story

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Apr 10, 2011

PHIL SHELDRAKE'S STORY At the age of 14 Phil Sheldrake was invited by a school friend to attend an event called Festival ’89. The event was being held on Sun Corner in Billericay and hosted by the preacher J. John. That night, Phil came to find a personal faith in Jesus. With his best friend, ...read more

Tags: Youth

Denomination: Anglican

In May Of 1846, 187 Men, Women And Children Left ...  PRO

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Aug 15, 2012

In May of 1846, 187 men, women and children left from Missouri in a wagon train headed to California. There was nothing exceptional about the group or this journey and we would have never known about them had they not made the decision to try a shortcut. The “Hastings Cutoff”, as it was known, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Humility, Repentance, Righteousness, Worship Purpose, Church General, Church Practices, Church Purpose Of, Worship Definition, Worship General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Strength Through Humility

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Jul 7, 2014

And I must say here, this does not come automatically, we have to work at it and develop it, and many times we grit our teeth as we think we fail every now and again, but I will end with this analogy, it is the best I can up with, it is crude … but think of yourself when you give your offering, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-30

Tags: Humility, Strength

Denomination: Episcopal

I Love The Jason Bourne Stories. Jason Bourne Is ...

Contributed by Scott Brewer on Jul 23, 2007

I love the Jason Bourne stories. Jason Bourne is a fictional character created by Robert Ludlum in books and film. The first film, “The Bourne Identity”, is the intriguing story of what it is like when you forget who you are. Jason Bourne is a highly trained, specialized agent of the US government ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-9, Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Titanic's Last Hero

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jan 25, 2008

Titanic’s Last Hero John Harper was born into a Christian family May 29, 1872. He became a Christian 13 years later and had already started preaching by age 17. He received training at the Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, and in 1896 he founded a church, now known as Harper Memorial Church, which ...read more

Denomination: Adventist

God's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“God’s Protection” “Intercession for Our Armed Forces” Psalm 33:16-18 says “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:16-18

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Share With You The Story Of A Lesser Known ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. According to Philip Yancey in his book "Soul Survivor", John Perkins, a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement"(Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor, p 31). Perkins started a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:24-43, Matthew 13:14-40

Tags: Hatred

Many Years Ago There Was An Emperor Who Was So ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jul 9, 2001

Many years ago there was an emperor who was so fond of new clothes that he spent all of his money on them. He did not give himself any concern about his army; he cared nothing about the theater or for driving about in the woods, except for the sake of showing himself off in his new clothes. he ...read more

Tags: Truth, Temptation Pride, Humility

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sowing Seeds Of Peace  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Feb 11, 2002

SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE In Europe, 1934, Hitler’s plague of anti-Semitism was infecting a continent. Some would escape it. Some would die from it. But eleven-year-old Heinz would learn from it. He would learn the power of sowing seeds of peace. Heinz was a Jew. The Bavarian village of Fourth, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:11-15

Tags: God Brings Hope, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Closing Days Of World War Ii, Allied ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 22, 2002

In the closing days of World War II, Allied bombings of the munitions factories around Essen, Germany, became more and more frequent and fierce. When the air raid sirens sounded, armed guards would rush to bomb shelters, leaving the slave laborers (often Jewish and female) to huddle in the rubble ...read more