In Sermon Illustrations: "Two Olive Trees"

Persecution

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

John Stott has pointed out that “persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.” That clash is what we are seeing now, and it is ultimately between those who believe, trust, and love the God of the Bible and those who do not. The changes afoot today represent a ...read more

Tags: Persecution Of Christians, Cultural Warfare

Denomination: Lutheran

Sort Of Dead To Sin  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 24, 2003

Sort of Dead to Sin] In a classic Leadership cartoon by Mary Chambers, two couples are seated in a living room engaged in Bible study. One of the women is speaking. "Well," she says, "I ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A National Park Ranger In British Columbia Has ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

A National park ranger in British Columbia has two sets of huge antlers, as wide as a man’s reach locked together. Evidently 2 bull moose began fighting, their antlers locked, and they could not get ...read more

Tags: Anger

You Expect Far Too Much Of A First Sentence. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"You expect far too much of a first sentence. Think of it as analogous to a good country breakfast: what we want is something simple, but nourishing to the imagination. Hold the philosophy, hold the adjectives, just give us a ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

If We Would Only Give, Just Once, The Same ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want out of life that we give to the question of what to do with a two weeks vacation, we would be startled at ...read more

Tags: Miscellaneous

Remember, If You Ever Need A Helping Hand, You'll ...

Contributed by Noel Atkinson on Jul 8, 2010

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm ... As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist

John Hildebrand Who Has Lived In The Artesian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

John Hildebrand who has lived in the Artesian Valley, near Fowler, Kansas, since he was two years old, remembers why the valley has the name it does. "There were hundreds of natural springs in this valley. If you drilled a well for your house, the natural water pressure was enough to go through ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith

I Look At A Stonecutter Hammering Away At A Rock ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Nov 23, 2002

I look at a stonecutter hammering away at a rock a hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow it splits in two. I know it was not the one blow that did ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

Psa 91 – Engineer Unit (1943-45)their Chaplain ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Dugal on Jul 20, 2003

Psa 91 – engineer unit (1943-45)Their chaplain encouraged them to carry a copy of this Psalm with them as they went into battle. During two years and over 20 intense battles, the unit expereinced no deaths. During Operation ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crime: Gallup's Annual Crime Poll Reports Nearly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Crime: Gallup’s annual crime poll reports nearly 1 in 3 households experienced some type of crime during the past year, including 18% with one incident and another 14% with two or ...read more

Tags: Sin General

When Nothing Seems To Help, I Go And Look At A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Every Politician Knows That When You Dont Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Every politician knows that when you dont have anything to say, shout it out. This is the Democrat strategy in the two big food fights consuming Washington this week, plotted by the Democrat firm of Obstruction, Encumbrance, ...read more

Tags: Government

If We Would Only Give, Just Once, The Same ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want to get out of life that we give to the question of what to do with a two weeks vacation, we would be startled at ...read more

Tags: Workplace

A Speech Is A Solemn Responsibility. The Man Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

A speech is a solemn responsibility. The man who makes a bad thirty-minute speech to two hundred people wastes only a half-hour of his own time. But he wastes one hundred hours of the ...read more

Tags: Communication Speech

Providence

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 18, 2010

PROVIDENCE The word 'Providence' is made up of two words: * "Pro" means "Before" and "Video" means "to see"; * The word 'Providence' simply means "to see before" * So when we talk about the ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: Brethren

I Remembered A Story Pastor Dan Rhodes Told Me. ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

I remembered a story Pastor Dan Rhodes told me. Dan is the pastor of two rural churches in Colorado and stays busy. Like most pastors, he has plenty to do, but by being the pastor of two churches, he has twice the committee meetings, and twice the worship services. As Dan tells the story, his ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Parenting, Workplace Balance

Denomination: Baptist

Thomas Carlyle, The Noted Historian, Had Just ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2001

Thomas Carlyle, the noted historian, had just spent two years writing a book on the French Revolution. On the day he finished his manuscript he gave his only copy to a colleague, John Stuart Mill, to read and critique. But, then the unthinkable occurred. Mill’s servant used Carlyle’s ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Peace, Starting Over, Workplace

New York Events  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Sep 12, 2001

New York events. It was the day of the tragic events in America when the New York twin towers and the Pentegon had suffered such terrible attack. That night I took the church annual meeting - He came into the meeting late. He was stooped and grey yet young for his eighty five years. The former ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

He Sent His Son  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Dec 10, 2001

HE SENT HIS SON Pastor Clifford S. Stewart of Louisville, Kentucky, sent his parents a microwave oven one Christmas. Here’s how he recalls the experience: “They were excited that now they, too, could be a part of the instant generation. When Dad unpacked the microwave and plugged it in, ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day Three Men Were Walking Along And Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

One day three men were walking along and came upon a raging, violent river. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do it. The first man prayed to God saying, "Please God, give me the strength to cross this river." Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-14, Exodus 2:10-20, Joel 3:14-15

Tags: God's Omniscience, Marriage General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ