In Sermon Illustrations: "Understand"

The Noted Historian And Oxford Professor Thomas ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 13, 2009

The noted historian and Oxford professor Thomas Arnold wrote: "The evidence for our Lord’s life and death and resurrection may be, and often has been, shown to be satisfactory; it is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and tens of thousands of ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Other

Here's The Question. Do We Really Want To Get Rid ...

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jun 4, 2009

Here’s the question. Do we really want to get rid of all the devious, carnal, and despicable people around us? C. S. Lewis suggested in his Reflections on the Psalms that we are really only opposed to the enemies of God when they cease to amuse us, flatter us, and serve some utility for us (p. 74). ...read more

Tags: Worldliness

Denomination: *other

The Lord Is Your Shepherd, And That's Enough  PRO

Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009

THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, AND THAT’S ENOUGH One time there was a newspaper office in that always had a practice that if the pastors in that city would call in and give them texts and titles to their messages, they would print them in the paper so all the people in the city would know on what ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I'd Rather Have You

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2009

I'D RATHER HAVE YOU A father and his young daughter were great friends and much in each other's company. Then the father noted a change in his daughter. If he went for a walk, she excused herself from going. He grieved about it, but could not understand. When his birthday came, she presented him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Family

Racecar Drivers Avoid Thinking About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2009

Racecar Drivers Avoid Thinking About Death Scott Goodyear, speaking of race-car drivers who have been killed in crashes at the Indianapolis 500, said; “You don’t go look at where it happened, You don’t watch the films of it on television. You don’t deal with it. You pretend it never happened." The ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:14-15

Tags: Death

On Tuesday Night, We Went Around To A Friend's ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 13, 2010

On Tuesday night, we went around to a friend's place with a group of young leaders to share with them some insights – you know, from the vast accumulated wisdom of our years (Just joking – more like from the mistakes we have made). They did something so precious to us – they gathered around at the ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Freedoms

Contributed by Jim Kane on Feb 27, 2010

FOUR FREEDOMS In January 1941, when the flames of war were consuming Europe and the Far East, President Roosevelt addressed Congress. In that address, he said some things about freedom that has echoed down through the years. The address, now known as the "Four Freedoms" address, contained these ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic

Denomination: Church Of God

If You Can Start The Day Without Caffeine, If You ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on May 20, 2010

If you can start the day without caffeine, if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains ... if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles ... if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it ... if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Baptist

Card-Carrying Authority

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 22, 2010

CARD-CARRYING AUTHORITY A Department of Water Resources representative stops at a Texas ranch and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation." The old rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there." The Water ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Pieces To The Puzzle

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 11, 2010

Why is it that we have more faith that the pieces of a puzzle made by a company in Taiwan will all fit together than we have that the pieces of our life that are presented to us by God will fit together? One person chooses to put like pieces together first, while another chooses to put the edges of ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Un Amigo

Contributed by Rolando Delgado on Sep 22, 2010

Un amigo (Translation follows) Un amigo nos es dado, un amigo incomparable que siempre esta a nuestro lado, con amor insuperable El comprende nuestras penas, Alivia nuestro dolor Y nos hace estar felices con la fuerza del amor Amigo frase sencilla que involucra sentimientos No de los que ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

Maybe If You Listened...  PRO

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 4, 2011

"MAYBE IF YOU LISTENED..." In the middle of an argument, my Mum would say something like this - "Maybe if you LISTENED for a change, you would understand what I am trying to tell you!" So often I am not so much listening but simply waiting for the other person to finish so that I can get across my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:13

Tags: Everyone, Parable Sower And Seed, Problem

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Macarthur States This About Our Text And The ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 25, 2011

John MacArthur states this about our text and the Bible: "Now let me make it as clear as I can to you. The Old Testament is not a collection of the wisdom of ancient men. The Old Testament is not a collection of the best of religious thinking. The Old Testament is not a collection of the good ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Kenya

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Piper's Reading Plan

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

JOHN PIPER'S READING PLAN John Piper is a well-known Christian author and pastor. He tells about a plan that he says has changed his life. Suppose you read about 250 words a minute, and you resolved to devote just 15 minutes a day to some serious theological reading to deepen your understanding ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Tags: Learning

Cleaning Up Our Mess

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

CLEANING UP OUR MESS There is a story about President Ronald Reagan when he "...was in the hospital healing from when he had been shot. One day his Vice President walked in the room to find him on his hands and knees wiping up water. The Vice President said, 'Mr. President, they’ll take care of ...read more

Scripture: John 13:12-17

Tags: Humility

Stop "Supposing"

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 21, 2011

STOP "SUPPOSING" I remember reading the story of a faithful but fairly poor Christian woman. She was always cheerful and smiling and excited about life. But she was so cheerful that a friend of hers decided she was too cheerful. She needed a dose of "reality" and perspective. So the friend said ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Interesting How We Share Faith. We All Have ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Jan 24, 2008

It’s interesting how we share faith. We all have our own way based on our own abilities. I have always been impressed with those who can quote the appropriate scripture in times of crisis. My sister, Jean, can do that. My pastor in San Antonio, Texas, could do that. I just can’t do that. I’m ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Too Busy To Love

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 21, 2008

TOO BUSY TO LOVE A father and his young daughter were great friends and much in each other's company. Then the father noted a change in his daughter. If he went for a walk, she excused herself from going. He grieved about it, but could not understand. When his birthday came, she presented him ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian Church

The Tough Questions

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Sep 11, 2008

The Tough Questions Sandy Perry wrote me on Aug. 15, 2008: Today's paper had an article about the decision of Hope Presybterian to host a tribute to Isaac Hayes. Christians were opposed to the idea of hosting a tribute to a prominent, active Scientologist. One of my coworkers mentioned that all ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Pentecostal

Love As Evangelism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

Love as Evangelism When Henry Stanley went out in 1871 and found Dr. Livingstone, (remember: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?") he spent some months in his company, but Livingstone never spoke to Stanley about spiritual things. Throughout those months Stanley just watched the old man. Livingstone’s ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost