In Sermon Illustrations: "Unexpected Love"

What Is Religious Syncretism?

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 13, 2011

WHAT IS RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM? Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is "the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief." This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Obviously, this cannot ...read more

Tags: False Teaching

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Holy Spirit: The Forgotten God

Contributed by Brad Henry on Oct 19, 2011

HOLY SPIRIT: THE FORGOTTEN GOD ALL the ruthless Ninevites from the commoner to the King of Assyria repented and God did not send destruction. But why did these ruthless people listen to Jonah who was just one man? I have been struggling with this very question and asked God to help me speak to you ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Spiritual "Glory Hole"

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Dec 8, 2011

SPIRITUAL "GLORY HOLE" On a wall in our home hangs a picture of the GHOST-TOWN of Bodie, Nevada. While out west visiting family my wife stopped by and became intrigued with the place. It became an abandoned town after the gold rush gave out. In its hey-day, it was all anyone could have ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

A Parable On Tithing  PRO

Contributed by Scott Bradford on Apr 25, 2012

A PARABLE ON TITHING Over the last two years I was scanning in old files so that I didn’t have three file drawers full of sermons and documents. I had some old files of my dad and in them I discovered some great old stories. One was a parable on tithing. I found it humorous, I can only hope that ...read more

Scripture: Acts 10:44-48

Tags: Tithes

Denomination: United Methodist

A King's Ransom

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 7, 2012

A KING'S RANSOM I Timothy 2:6 says Jesus "gave himself as a ransom." A ransom is a price paid to purchase someone's freedom. In 1193, the English King Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, was returning from leading a Crusade to the Holy Land. As he returned through Europe, Leopold V ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Tags: Salvation

Commitment Vs. Surrender  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 30, 2012

COMMITMENT VS. SURRENDER In The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority there is an account of a conversation between the late Adrian Rogers and Rev Josef Tson, the Romanian pastor, author, and president of the Romanian Missionary Society who survived years of persecution and exile under cruel ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Please Come Home.

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jul 5, 2012

"PLEASE COME HOME." There was a girl named Christina, who lived in a dusty village of Brazil. In her late teens she was upset with her parents because she thought she was restricted. She had this dream of going to Rio De Janeiro, but her mother knew that she will not be able to take care of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:12-14

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: *other

Humorous Definitions  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

HUMOROUS DEFINITIONS Definitions matter. Do you know what these words mean? ABDICATE: To give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach. ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and is now growing in the middle. ANTIQUE: An item your grandparents bought, your parents got rid of, and ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Words

Just Didn't Work Right  PRO

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Aug 13, 2012

JUST DIDN'T WORK RIGHT My parents bought my 16 year old daughter her first car, a 1970 VW Beetle. While it was cute and a collector car, it wouldn’t run right. Even though it had been a gift from her grandparents, it cost as much in repairs as a new car would have cost in payments. While it had ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

Somebody Help The Boy

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 28, 2013

SOMEBODY HELP THE BOY I was at home alone with Ryan one morning when I suddenly realized that it had been approximately two minutes since my little explorer had made any noise. (When one babysits with Ryan, silence is definitely not golden.) I immediately began looking for him, searching each room ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:20

Tags: Marriage, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

Abandoned At Seventeen

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 8, 2014

One of the characters in Kent Haruf’s novel Plainsong, is Victoria, a seventeen-year-old girl who is four months pregnant. When her boyfriend finds out about her condition, he breaks up with her. And when her mother finds out, she kicks her out of the house and says to her, “You got yourself into ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-13

Tags: Support, Abandonment

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

One Day, After A Near Eternity In The Garden Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Cunningham Iii on Dec 17, 2007

One day, after a near eternity in the Garden of Eden, Adam calls out, "Lord, I have a problem." "What’s the problem, Adam?", The Lord replies. "Lord, I know you created me and have provided for me and surrounded me with this beautiful garden and all of these wonderful animals, but I’m just not ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When My Son Steven Was 5 Years-Old, He Wanted A ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Dec 20, 2007

When my son Steven was 5 years-old, he wanted a Ghost Buster Proton Pack for Christmas. I don¡¦t think the MERCHANTS in the small town of Bowie, Texas where we lived even heard of such a thing. So Brenda and I drove 55 miles to Wichita Falls, Texas in search of this gift for Steven. We went all ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How Many Christians Does It Take To Change A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Mitchell on Jan 31, 2008

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? Charismatics/Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness. Presbyterians: None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times. Roman Catholic: None. Candles only. Baptists: At least 15. One ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

...

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 10, 2008

ILLUSTRATION… http://www.christianglobe.com/illustrationsTwo/a-z/p/promises_gods.htm God’s presence -- "I will never leave thee" (Hebrews 13:5) God’s protection -- "I am thy shield" (Genesis 15:1) God’s power -- "I will strengthen thee" (Isaiah 41:10) God’s provision -- "I will help thee" (Isaiah ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:10-31

Tags: God's Leading

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer Skit Adapted From Something I Heard On ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Smith on Apr 14, 2008

Prayer skit adapted from something I heard on Christian radio Jennifer says --- Ryan, I am going to spend some time in prayer. Please don’t disturb me. (goes across the room and kneels in prayer) “Oh Lord, I am your servant. I want to do your will no matter what it is.” (Ryan pokes his head in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Could Have Been Filled With Bitterness, But ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 12, 2008

Paul could have been filled with bitterness, but he overflowed with the joy of the Lord, and we can too! Our hands are not in chains today. We are blessed far more than most people in the world. But if all of that was taken away, we would still have grace; we would still have Heaven; we would still ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Weed?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

ARE YOU A WEED? I would like to tell you a story about how a little girl helped the neighbor bully change his ways. The bully's name was Todd; his parents were divorced, and he was left to fend for himself. He's rude, and for an eight-year-old he can swear pretty good. When he comes over to ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

National ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“National Prayers” “Urgent Call for Intercessors” 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reasons We ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Reasons We Congregate Psalm 122:1, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’" We are told that this verse can be translated as, “I rejoice whenever they say to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’”. (The Expositors Bible Commentary) Our key text ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational