In Sermon Illustrations: "Two Eternal States"

Discouraging Irresponsibility

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 16, 2008

DISCOURAGING IRRESPONSIBILITY So what should we do about people who won’t take responsibility for their own actions? I believe the answer is simple: Set them free. Give them the freedom to make their own decisions, to face the consequences of their own acts, to see for themselves what their ...read more

Tags: Independence Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Tough Economic Times Maybe You’re Thinking ...

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Jul 21, 2008

In tough economic times maybe you’re thinking about polishing your resume and applying for a different job. If you find yourself looking, let me give you a little help. I came across several statements from actual resumes and job applications – and you might want to take notes and file these ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Public Opinion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

PUBLIC OPINION Some of you may have seen the joke that circulated this week on e-mail that tries to explain why Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The punch line of the e-mail read, "Even then, men would not stop for directions." While this may not really explain ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Gift From The Father  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

GIFT FROM THE FATHER Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time in the German death camp Ravensbruk during WWII. She had smuggled her Bible and a small bottle of liquid vitamins into her barracks. Her sister Betsy was sick and growing sicker, but she demanded that Corrie first give a dose of vitamins to all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-24

Tags: God's Provision

You Are Not Your ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

You are Not Your Own Purchased at the Highest Price Corporate Worship The first step to enjoying public worship services is to understand that Christians are not their own. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Brother Like That  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

A BROTHER LIKE THAT A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked. Paul nodded. "My brother gave ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Christmas

Love Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR Fred Douglas Shepard was born on September 11, 1855 in Ellenburg, New York in Clinton County. His father died while he was very young and his mother spent most of her adult life as an invalid. It was probably through this that Fred became associated with illness and caring for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Neighbor

Is God Waiting For You?  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 12, 2008

Is God Waiting for You? Koinonia is the Greek phrase which describes this spiritual intimacy that is born through having the true knowledge of who God is in a personal way. I must confess, I am the one who made the choice not to experience Koinonia for all those years in my spiritual way with the ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: *other

Genghis Khan's Hawk

Contributed by Ken Mckinley on Sep 20, 2008

Genghis Khan's Hawk Sometimes when The Lord spoils our personal plans, we think He's treating us as an enemy, when in truth, He's acting as our best friend. The legend says that Genghis Khan, the Mongol king of the 13th century, was out hunting one hot summer day with his favorite hawk perched on ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Here Is A Modern Example Of The Tragedy Of Not ...

Contributed by Bobby Bodenhamer on Dec 27, 2008

Here is a modern example of the tragedy of not listening, a modern example of the measure you measured with being measured back to you. In this particular case it’s a college girl pleading with parents to listen. But I think I have already said enough to indicate that it has to work both ways. This ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: *other

A Teen's Plea On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

A TEEN’S PLEA ON LISTENING I want to close now by reading a letter. Here is a modern example of the tragedy of not listening, a modern example of the measure you measured with being measured back to you. In this particular case, it’s a college girl pleading with parents to listen. But I think I ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Charles H. Townes, Who Won A Nobel Prize For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

Charles H. Townes, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in laser technology, opened a talk with a disclaimer: "It’s like the beaver told the rabbit as they stared up at the immense wall of the Hoover Dam: ’No, I didn’t actually build it myself. But it was based on an idea of mine.’" We are often ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Humility

Look Up

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Mar 2, 2009

LOOK UP I love those scenes in action films, comics, or cartoons where you have one set of bad guys pursuing the hero from one end of a tunnel or corridor and another set of bad guys is converging from the other side. You know the hero is in between them, but when the groups of pursuers meet in ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: *other

Redemptive Love Changes People

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

REDEMPTIVE LOVE CHANGES PEOPLE John Ed Mathison, former pastor of Frazier Memorial UMC, tells the story of Tommy Waite, an African-American man serving time in jail and converted through Frazier’s Prison Ministry. They didn’t stop there though. They discipled him and even helped him to get his ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

Unsung Heroines-They Helped Rebuild Jerusalem’s Wall

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 12, 2022

Introduction: The Book of Nehemiah is almost like a report or memoir of what Nehemiah did, and why. He led the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, as these walls were in sad shape. Chapter 3 of his book lists a number of people and groups who did work on these walls. The word “repaired” is ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:12, Numbers 27:1-11

Tags: Nehemiah, Walls Of Jerusalem, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Unsung Heroines-Susanna

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 20, 2022

Introduction: Susanna is only mentioned once in Scripture, but it’s in a very positive light. She was one of the unsung heroines who ministered to Jesus and the disciples during His days of ministering on this earth. Text: Luke 8:1-3, KJV: 1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-3

Tags: Susanna, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

The Deceitful World We Live In

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 7, 2023

In 1939, Hollywood gave the world "The Wizard of Oz." Since then, the movie has become a classic. It tells the story of Dorothy, who is whisked away to the land of Oz, where she meets three friends, faces a wicked witch, and must find how to return home. The movie is filled with colorful ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:2-3

Tags: Deceit, The World

Denomination: Baptist

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 24, 2023

Ordinary Joe – An Unsung Hero There are many characters in the cast of the Christmas story that have gripped the Church’s imagination but there’s one that has rarely had a place in the spotlight. Joseph. There’s the Magi, exotic and somehow still gleaming in their silks after the long, dusty road ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:14-21, Luke 1:27, Luke 3:23-30

Tags: Angel, Christmas, Angels, Joseph, Simeon, Genealogy, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Lost Donkeys That Found A King

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 24, 2025

The Lost Donkeys That Found a King My name? Oh, I’m Dusty—one of the donkeys that belonged to Kish, a farmer from the tribe of Benjamin. Life was simple for us: graze, walk, carry, rest, repeat. I never imagined I’d be part of something royal! But one morning, our fence gate swung open, and off ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:28-31, Genesis 22:3, 1 Samuel 9:3-20, Judges 15:15, Matthew 21:1-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Purpose, Faith, Service, Humility, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Love Loves To Give

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Dec 6, 2025

My first love was my MOM. For Mother’s Day, I worked for a few dollars and we went to Western Auto. They had three little handkerchiefs and a little pearl necklace in a fancy box. I knew I loved my Mom and I wanted to give her a token of my love. The fancy little box was more than I had. I told the ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Love, Give

Denomination: Assembly Of God