In Sermon Illustrations: "Two Natures"

I Wanted

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jun 22, 2021

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted, The warm days, and the great outdoors. It was summer, but it was fall I wanted, The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air. It was fall, but it was winter I wanted, The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season. It was winter, but it was spring I ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Faith, Contentment, Discontentment, Coveteousness

Denomination: Adventist

C. S. Lewis, The Great British Christian Writer, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

C. S. Lewis, the great British Christian writer, has another answer in his book The Problem of Pain. Some of you may have seen the Anthony Hopkins’ movie Shadowlands which tells the story of Lewis’s faith and grief at the death of new bride. Lewis married late in life to an American women after ...read more

Bishop Ryle Points Out That Jesus, Through The ...

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Mar 12, 2007

Bishop Ryle points out that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the faithful church, would “raise up a standard of morality and purity and knowledge of which formerly men had no conception.” (Ryle, ibid. p. 159) This was seen in the days immediately following the birth of the early ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Angels

Denomination: Baptist

Skeletons In Our Closets

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

SKELETONS IN OUR CLOSETS The Rockefeller family is considered to be one of the most philanthropic families in the world, helping humanity globally in issues like economics, religion, education and environmental affairs. Yet the Rockefeller family tree is filled with many skeletons. William Avery ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Methodist

One Time I Was Leading A Retreat For Single, ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008

One time I was leading a retreat for single, middle-age people, that is people in their 40s and 50s. When I looked on the roster, there was a man I knew was 75 if he were a day, but he had signed up so I didn’t question his age. He was a regular at the church and had gone on other retreats. I ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Os Guiness Gives A Very Helpful Definition Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

Os Guiness gives a very helpful definition of doubt in his book In Two Minds. He says, "When you believe, you are in one mind and accept something as true. Unbelief is to be of one mind and reject that something is true. To doubt is to waver between the two, to believe and disbelieve at the same ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1, James 1:6-8

Tags: Emotions, Doubt, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Mortification  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Mortification Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could destroy the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fight For Joy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

Fight for Joy John Piper offers 15 Biblical things we must do to fight for joy. (I can only list them today, and commend to you his book, "When I Don’t Desire God.") This list reminds me that faith does not produce inactivity, but God-centered activity: 1) Realize that authentic joy in God is a ...read more

Tags: Joy

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

I Have A Religion!" 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 27, 2005

“I Have a Religion!” 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key verse(s): 11-12:“. . . and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.” In a world where we seek only peace and kindness there is, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Back In The 17th Century, The Dutch Artist ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Feb 25, 2005

Back in the 17th century, the Dutch artist Rembrandt painted two portraits of a famous Roman heroine named Lucretia. One portrait was painted the 1664. Two years later, he painted a second portrait of Lucretia in a different pose. For over 300 years, the two paintings were never seen together. ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Lot Of People Think That Being Saved Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on May 23, 2004

A lot of people think that being saved is a matter of works. But, here it says that you are God’s workmanship. It says you were created (kitzo) for good works. The word created means that refers to the work of God in creating you for a purpose. Think of it this way, if you have a apple tree in ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Baptist

I Recently Had A Nursery Operator Inform Me That ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Sep 13, 2010

I recently had a nursery operator inform me that keeping my young fruit trees tied up so that the wind would not “damage” them was, in actuality, damaging them! They told me that the strong winds strengthened the fibers of the tree’s trunk and limbs so that it could withstand the fury of nature. ...read more

Tags: Stress

Denomination: Nazarene

Are You Prepared?

Contributed by Jimmy Haile on Sep 25, 2011

ARE YOU PREPARED? One day, a king died. His servants spread the unbelievable news all over the palace. He had died in his bed of natural causes. "Where has he gone?" asked one of the king's wisest counselors "Why, to Heaven of course!" answered all the others. "No", said the other gravely, "I ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Baptist

He Who Is

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 22, 2012

He Who is "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15),(21) is Himself the perfect man. To the sons of Adam He restores the divine likeness which had been disfigured from the first sin onward. Since human nature as He assumed it was not annulled,(22) by that very fact it has been raised up to a ...read more

Tags: Incarnation, Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Catholic

The Physics Professor Had Just Finished His ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 9, 2008

The physics professor had just finished his lecture about the pendulum, wherein he had shown the mathematical proof that an untouched pendulum will always swing in ever-decreasing arcs. He then asked for a volunteer to demonstrate this fact by standing against a wall with a pendulum bob against ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

First Fight Three weeks after her wedding day, Joanna called her pastor in hysterics. She was crying, “Pastor, John and I had our first fight together! It was awful. What am I going to do?" The pastor, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head said, "Calm down, Joanna, this isn’t nearly as ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

I Had A Discussion With A Friend Before I Left My ...

Contributed by Grant Sisson on Mar 5, 2009

I had a discussion with a friend before I left my career in the oil industry. We were driving down the road on company business discussing various political issues, and he made the comment, “You can’t legislate morality.” I countered immediately, “Woah – there’s never been a law ever put on the ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

I Read An Article In The Atlantic Journal The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I read an article in the Atlantic Journal the other day; it said, “The world is too big for us. Too much going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will you get behind in the race…It’s an incessant strain, to keep pace… and you still lose ground. Science empties its ...read more

Tags: Death

Phoebe Brown Was A Lady Who Knew How Important ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Phoebe Brown was a lady who knew how important worship is, and how beneficial it can be. Phoebe was a farmer’s wife and she and her husband had several children. So, naturally her days were full of hard work. By the end of the day her body was tired, her nerves were on edge, and her spirit was low. ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits