In Sermon Illustrations: "Ups And Downs"

Moses Did Not Describe A Parity Covenant

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Apr 9, 2008

Moses Did Not Describe A Parity Covenant. Par – an equality; on the same level. “Because of his extensive self-study and experience, his knowledge is on a par with those who earned degrees.” When you pay par value for a bond, you pay the face amount, neither discounted nor appreciated. Parity – ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

27 Things Not To Say To Your Spouse

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

27 THINGS NOT TO SAY TO YOUR SPOUSE There is nothing more painful than having unhealthy communication with the one you love. It is through communication that we connect and our spirits touch. If that connection becomes contaminated, it is only a matter of time before the whole relationship is ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Pentecostal

Shortly After The First Edition Of The Miami ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Jun 26, 2008

Shortly after the first edition of the Miami Herald had gone to press on Sunday night, December 29, 1946, Timothy Sullivan answered the telephone on the city desk. “Please help me,” a woman’s voice pleaded. “My husband is bleeding to death.” Sullivan got the entire story. The man’s name was Rudy ...read more

Tags: Kindness

Denomination: Lutheran

Mac Hammond In His Book "Doorways To Deception" ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 3, 2008

Mac Hammond in his book “Doorways to Deception” says, “Satan cannot afflict you with the destructive effects of the curse unless you allow it by choosing, with your own free will, something that opens you up to those effects. Think about it for a moment. Satan is not called the father of ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Deliverance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

DELIVERANCE Stanley Praimnath, Vice President for Fuji Bank, was in his office in the South Tower at the World Trade Center when his phone rang. "Are you watching the news?' asked a woman in their Chicago office. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine" he said wondering why she had called. Just then he ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Fathers, Serve With Intensity  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Fathers, Serve With Intensity" The Bible gives four Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. The second is to live a life that serves with intensity. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Service, Father, Father's Day, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking In The Confidence Of God  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God Self-existent Christians can walk in confidence because this God is self-existent: John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing, God's Way

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 26, 2008

Healing, God's Way Healing takes time, patience and determination to persevere through the long process of healing. It’s not easy, but it is the reality of the healing process. Personal Illustration: My own experience with the healing process of my right knee. About two years ago I had a total ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Flawed Individuals On A Rescue Mission  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

FLAWED INDIVIDUALS ON A RESCUE MISSION The author of the book entitled, "The Word and Power Church: What Happens When A Church Seeks All God Has to Offer," Doug Banister, writes, "The Spring of 1940 found Hitler’s panzer divisions mopping up French troops and preparing for a seige of Great ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-12

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Andrée Seu (Pronounced, Ahn'-Dray Soo) Wrote ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Sep 17, 2008

Andrée Seu (pronounced, Ahn’-dray Soo) wrote about it in an article in World Magazine a couple of weeks ago: “I was accustomed to thinking of discouragement as something that happens to a person. But on closer examination…I have been taken aback by how volitional or ‘active’ it is. To go around ...read more

Tags: Dead To Sin

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Be Someone's Consistent Help  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Sep 20, 2008

Be Someone's Consistent Help Paul, in his letter to the Hebraic Christians, makes this point: "…exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." [Hebrews 3:13] I will be the first to admit that when it comes to the inner-workings ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: *other

There's A Great One Inside You  PRO

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

There's a Great One Inside You During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why Should I Worship A Dead Jew?

Contributed by Christine Forehand on Oct 22, 2008

"Why Should I Worship a Dead Jew?" This challenging question was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by the author and composer of this hymn, Alfred H. Ackley. Mr. Ackley's answer to this searching question, ultimately prompted the writing ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Pentecostal

What Is A Signet ...

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Dec 12, 2008

What is a Signet Ring? For us, in these days of DNA and fingerprints, signatures, endorsements and notaries, the idea of a signet ring is kind of odd. Different cultures have done different things to set official approval on documents. In China, today, they still use a chop. A chop is a rubber ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Mennonite

Kneeling With Runkie

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

KNEELING WITH RUNKIE Have you heard the story of the incident that took place in a Church youth group in Akron, Ohio, at Christmas time? What took place started a tradition in that church, a pattern for us to follow. The high school boy's name was Howard, but he was best known as "Runkie". He had ...read more

Tags: Christmas

8 Reasons You Should Not Expect An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

8 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN INHERITANCE I read an article in the New York Times recently that should sober anyone who is planning on receiving an inheritance. It was titled, “8 Reasons You Should Not Expect an Inheritance.” 1. People live longer and people who live longer spend more of ...read more

Tags: Money

The Nature Of Unbelief

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 21, 2009

The Nature of Unbelief In Ernest Hemmingway’s Green Hills of Africa, he hunts for sable. He shoots a large chestnut-colored cow, and then sees an immense black bull, which he shoots but badly. He finds the cow, but he and his team of trackers and porters search all day for the bull. The language ...read more

Tags: Unbelief

Denomination: Mennonite

The Prince Of Peace And The Pauper

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Feb 2, 2009

THE PRINCE OF PEACE AND THE PAUPER It may be a poor example, but I draw from Mark Twain's classic "The Prince and The Pauper." Ten-year-old Prince Edward, spoiled and bored, finds a pauper boy, Tom Conti, who is his precise double in appearance. The two trade places on a lark, but the Prince ...read more

Tags: Jesus Life

Denomination: Orthodox

The Guilt That Doesn't Go ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

THE GUILT THAT DOESN’T GO AWAY Those of you who know me know that I love fishing. I do not however like hunting. For some reason the thought of shooting an animal is just not appealing to me. That does not mean I do not know how to shoot. When I was a kid I was in a gun club. I competed in target ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19

Tags: Repentance

Children On Silence  PRO

Contributed by Carl Greene on Feb 16, 2009

CHILDREN ON SILENCE Author Kathleen Norris used to play a game with elementary-school children in which she would make a deal with them. "First you get to make noise," she would bargain, "and then you’ll make silence." The time of noise was always predictably chaotic -- shouting, pounding and ...read more

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Methodist