In Sermon Illustrations: "Transformation"

Chaplain Ernst Gordon In His Book "Through The ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on May 8, 2006

’Chaplain Ernst Gordon in his book "Through the Valley of the Quai" tells of the hardship prisoners of War during World War II as they were imprisoned by the Japanese army. These men wrote Chaplain Gordon were reduced to skeletons, riddled with disease, and the only way they could survive was by ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Lutheran

In The September 11th Issue Of The Los Angeles ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 12, 2007

In the September 11th issue of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Goldstein wrote an article entitled, ‘Five Years Later: Pop Culture of Denial.’ Its subtitle made a very interesting statement, ‘Our fascination with glitz is unabated, and artists remain cautious. We haven’t come to grips with ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

One Of God's Great Partners In The 1930's And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of God’s great partners in the 1930’s and 40’s who did exactly this – helped lead people to belief – was Dr. Harry Ironside. Not only did he author more than 60 books (and one hymn, Overshadowed), but he also pastored Moody Memorial Church in Chicago for 18 years. On one occasion while he was ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Apostle John

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on May 26, 2009

THE APOSTLE JOHN Here are some of the things we know about John, John was one of the apostles. In fact he was the youngest apostle. His brother was the apostle James who is beheaded in Acts 12. He is the only apostle to not be martyred for his faith. And he walked in the inner circle of Jesus. ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: *other

If It's Not True...  PRO

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Sep 10, 2009

IF IT'S NOT TRUE... The fact is, if Jesus Christ died on the cross and did not rise again from the dead, everything we live for and believe as Christians means absolutely nothing, Ill. 1 Cor. 15:12-20. 1. v.13 Christ Is Not Risen a. He died in vain, Rom. 4:24; 5:10 b. He lied, Mt. 16:21; ...read more

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Apostolic

Focus On Christ

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

FOCUS ON CHRIST This bit of strange news was released by the Associated Press this past week: RIVERTON, Wyo. -- Officials say a magnifying glass set on a stand in a sunny room started a small blaze in a Wyoming home. UPS worker Buddy Armstrong was delivering a package to 84-year-old Thomas ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:1-2

Tags: Growth In Christ

Sing A New Song

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 21, 2011

SING A NEW SONG Boom! Boom! The two-fold pounding of the avalanche cannon awoke me from my slumber. No, we didn't get snow last night, I mused. But sure enough, God dumped nine inches of fresh snow onto the mountains above. Now, I love winter; it's great skiing on fresh powder. However, I ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

All Our Lives God Works On Us, Chiseling Away...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

All our lives God works on us, chiseling away those parts of our life that hinder us from fitting into His eternal temple. Our Christian life is a work in progress. Jesus Christ is changing us from a useless stone to a useful one. Before Michelangelo created the masterpiece we know simply as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-5

Tags: Sculpture, Living Stones, Living Stone, God Is Working

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There's Something About That Name!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken hearted, and raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I've seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child... At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness has ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Worship, Praise, Healing, Prayer, Name Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving It All Away—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 3, 2002

GIVING IT ALL AWAY-- Communion Mediation "In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, "Through the Valley of the Kwai," there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

In 1993 Gerald Sittser, A Professor At Whitworth ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 4, 2001

In 1993 Gerald Sittser, a professor at Whitworth College was driving home from a family outing. In the car was his mother, wife of 20 years and four children. A drunk driver swerved across the center line and hit them head on. In an instant he lost his wife, his two year old daughter and his ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

C. S. Lewis, In The Voyage Of The Dawntreader, ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 29, 2002

C. S. Lewis, in The Voyage of the Dawntreader, part of The Chronicles of Narnia series, tells the story of Eustace, a boy who happens upon a hidden treasure which is guarded by a dragon. He has become alienated from his friends and their values by his own churlishness, and when he finds the ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

True Meaning Of Repentance, Citation: Lesslie ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Feb 27, 2003

[True Meaning of Repentance, Citation: Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ’s Way, pp. 2-3] In Mission in Christ’s Way Lesslie Newbigin (d. 1996), long-time missionary to India, writes about the true meaning of repentance: I remember once visiting a village in the Madras diocese. There was no road ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On New Year's Eve, 2004 Moved Forever Into The ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 13, 2005

On New Year’s Eve, 2004 moved forever into the history books and 2005 opened with the days as blank pages to be written; however more changed than just the date on the calendar. Since 1972 millions of people would join one of Americas biggest New Year’s Eve parties with Dick Clark’s New Year’s ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

It's Not Too Late For Any Of Us. But We Can't ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Mar 10, 2007

It’s not too late for any of us. But we can’t guarantee that for even the next few seconds. When God gives us the one more last chance we ask for, it may really be the last one he plans to give us. Charlene Cothran is the publisher of Venus Magazine, which is a periodical for lesbians of African ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Paul Said Spiritual Metamorphosis Is Accomplished ...  PRO

Contributed by Doane Brubaker on Aug 28, 2007

Paul said spiritual metamorphosis is accomplished “by the renewing of your mind.” The word “renewing” also means renovation. Think of a house. You can make repairs. You know, the cosmetic kind – some paint and carpet – and it looks better, perhaps increases the resale value. But Paul isn’t ...read more

Denomination: Mennonite

Church Unity?  PRO

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Sep 17, 2007

Church Unity? I read about a church that split, and that split began over an argument at a potluck supper when a lady brought a congealed salad she made with Cool Whip instead of real whipping cream. There’s a book entitled War In The Pews that talks about real-life instances which are absolutely ...read more

Tags: E

Denomination: Baptist

Marty Halyburton's Husband, Porter, Was Shot Down ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Mar 25, 2008

Marty Halyburton’s husband, Porter, was shot down during the Vietnam War, and Navy personnel came to her home to tell her he had died in battle. For several days, Marty was too numb to respond. Flags flew at half-staff all over town, and a grave-marker was placed in Porter’s memory in his family’s ...read more

Denomination: *other

But It Doesn't Always Go According To Plan; In ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 5, 2009

But it doesn’t always go according to plan; in fact some days do anything but go according to plan. I can remember a day when I was on faults (I was for years a faults-man in the power distribution industry) I was called out in the wee small hours, to a Ute that had hit a pole and the lines had ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Tags: Suffering Joy In, Planning, Plans, Making Plans

Denomination: Salvation Army

Researchers Discover The Benefits Of Music And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2009

Researchers Discover The Benefits of Music and Singing But there’s another reason why we should sing. Music changes us. It transforms us. Singing isn’t just a declaration of our joy… it has the power to MAKE us joyful. ILLUS: Back in 1998, researchers found that music stimulates the auditory ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:19

Tags: Music