In Sermon Illustrations: "unattended effect"

If God Intended Man To Live On Bread, Why Didn't ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 31, 2002

‘If God intended man to live on bread, why didn’t he create a bread tree?’ And the answer, in effect, is that God could have created a tree that produced crusty loaves of bread, but he prefers to offer us a grain and invite us to buy a field and plant the seed. He prefers that we till the soil ...read more

Scripture: John 6:54, John 6:51

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Methodist

Not Everyone Can Teach A One-On-One Bible Study. ...  PRO

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Aug 16, 2003

Not everyone can teach a one-on-one Bible study. And door knocking, although it has some merit, is not the most effective way to set Bible studies or tell someone about Jesus. The Mormon church discovered this. At one you could see young Mormon elders going door-to-door to set Bible studies. ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Family, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On The Slope Of Longs Peak In Colorado Lie The ...  PRO

Contributed by Marvin Walker on Jan 2, 2004

On the slope of Longs Peak in Colorado lie the ruins of a huge tree. Naturalists say that it stood for over 400 years. It had weathered thousands of storms and had been hit with lighting 14 times. At the end, an army of beetles attacked the tree and leveled it to the ground. This tremendous giant, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Worry, Doubt, Guilt

Denomination: Baptist

Sam Jones Was A Preacher Who Held Revival ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 12, 2004

Sam Jones was a preacher who held revival services, which he called “quittin’ meetings.” His preaching was directed primarily to Christians, and he urged them to give up the sinful practices in their lives. Sam’s messages were very effective, and many people promised to quit swearing, drinking, ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 15:17-41

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

The Making Of Me  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2005

THE MAKING OF ME Thomas Edison once said, “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence which has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:11-31, Proverbs 31:11-31

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day

In The Anatomy Of An Illness: As Perceived By The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

In The Anatomy of an Illness: As Perceived by the Patient, Norman Cousins tells of being hospitalized with a rare, crippling disease. When he was diagnosed as incurable, Cousins checked out of the hospital. Aware of the harmful effects that negative emotions can have on the body, Cousins reasoned ...read more

Tags: Joy

Gen-Y Graduates: The Echo Boom Began Graduating ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 10, 2006

Gen-Y Graduates: The Echo Boom began graduating from College last May and they will change our culture. Experience is everything to them. Traditional media won’t work. The most effective businesses offer them an experience, not just a product. Bookstores are popular gathering places for them, but ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Consumer Trends: Two Major Trends Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Consumer Trends: Two major trends of paradigm-shifting proportions are changing the face of the entire consumer retail market today. Every consumer business is going to feel the effects. Trend #1: Connecting replaces cocooning as dominant consumer trend. The cocooning and nesting trend that is at ...read more

Tags: Church General

A Number Of Years Ago Researchers Performed An ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Dec 28, 2004

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the affect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water, and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Hope, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Hope

Contributed by Gary Birch on Dec 6, 2009

THE POWER OF HOPE I read that a few years ago some researchers performed an experiment to see the affect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water, and found that within an hour they had all ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

What Was The Point?

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Apr 1, 2010

WHAT WAS THE POINT? Alan Scholes, a former agnostic, testifies from his experience: "I had often heard my religious friends say, 'Jesus died for our sins' or 'Jesus died to save the world.' I could see how the good example of Jesus’ actions might possibly influence some men and women to live ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And The Continental Congress

Contributed by Curtis Emerson on Jun 8, 2010

PRAYER AND THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS We need to remember Rev. Jacob Duché who, at the first meeting of the Continental Congress in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia on September 7, 1774, was asked to come and open that session with prayer. "He read from the 35th Psalm and prayed for three hours. John ...read more

Tags: Independence Day

Denomination: Lutheran

Sometimes We Come Against Things That Violates ...

Contributed by Pastor Gbenga Shadare on Jun 11, 2010

Sometimes we come against things that violates our core principles and we may not be able to speak up or stand up for what we know we should. But with the conviction and power of faith, we stand up for our beliefs and consequently do the right thing. Doing the right is powered by faith! The bible ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Old-School Church Discipline

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

OLD-SCHOOL CHURCH DISCIPLINE The Amish practice shunning – ignoring, turning away from, avoiding. When a person is disciplined by the community, relationships are severed between parents and children, or brother and sister, or even husbands and wives. Because the Amish are so isolated from those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Church Discipline

Trespasses And Debts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

TRESPASSES AND DEBTS The story is told of two congregations that were located only a few blocks from each other in a small community. They thought it might be better if they would merge and become one united, larger, and more effective body rather than two struggling churches. Good idea ... but ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Tags: Divisions

Hope

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert hit the Louisiana coast. At that time it was considered the “Storm of the century.” It battered the shoreline, severely disrupting the shrimping business. Many shrimp boats were lost, causing great concern for several families dependent on shrimping for their ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-16

Tags: Hope, Hope Deferred

Denomination: Baptist

10 Reasons To Study The Scriptures

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

TEN REASONS TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES 1. Will strengthen your personal life (1 John 2:14). 2. Will strengthen your assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13). 3. Will strengthen your confidence in your relationship with God (1 John 5:14). 4. Will undergird the effectiveness of your prayers (John 15:7). 5. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Scripture, Truth, Bible Study, Word Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Hyde Was Known As "Praying Hyde". He ...

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Jul 23, 2008

John Hyde was known as “Praying Hyde”. He earned this moniker because of the countless hours he spent on his knees pleading for the souls of those he was called to reach in India. Prayer was the power of his ministry. Thousands came to faith in Jesus Christ in direct response to his prayers. ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

Denomination: Wesleyan

John Hyde Was Known As "Praying Hyde". He Earned ...

Contributed by Brian Matherlee on Sep 4, 2008

John Hyde was known as “Praying Hyde”. He earned this moniker because of the countless hours he spent on his knees pleading for the souls of those he was called to reach in India. Prayer was the power of his ministry. Thousands came to faith in Jesus Christ in direct response to his prayers. ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

Denomination: Wesleyan

I Am Not Very Good At Puzzles – They Require A ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jul 1, 2007

I am not very good at puzzles – they require a fair amount of time and patience, not to mention putting pieces in certain places. You cannot force a piece to fit where it does not belong and if you are tempted to cut it so that it will fit, you will unleash a domino effect that will completely ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army