In Sermon Illustrations: "What We Send Out Comes Back"

What Holiness Is Not

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT HOLINESS IS NOT John Charles Ryle, Anglican bishop of Liverpool in the 19th century speaks of holiness. He says, "It is not knowledge...nor great profession...nor doing many things...nor zeal for certain matters in religion..." He continues that holiness is not "morality and outward ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:14

Tags: Holiness

What Is Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? The story is told of a soldier in the army of Alexander the Great, who was brought before the great world-conqueror for court martial. When the emperor had listened to the charges and the evidence, he turned to the soldier facing condemnation and said, "What is your name?" ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Christian Values

What The Name

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

What the Name "Hoover" means in Finland At the end of World War I, Herbert Hoover, later to become President of the United States, led the allied relief efforts in Europe. He kept hundreds of thousands from starving, and a new word entered the Finnish language. In Finland, to “HOOVER” means to be ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12

Tags: Kindness

What Will They Say?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

WHAT WILL THEY SAY? A minister, a priest and a rabbi die and go to heaven for orientation. They are all asked, "When you are in your casket, and friends, family, and congregants are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say?" The minister says, "I would like to hear them say that I ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Brethren

What Is A Martyr?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 30, 2010

WHAT IS A MARTYR? A Christian Martyr is one who: Chooses to suffer death rather than to deny Christ, or His work...Sacrifices something very important to further the Kingdom of God...Endures great suffering for Christian ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Brethren

What's A Burden?

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

WHAT'S A BURDEN? What a "burden" is according to Scribal Law (re: Sabbath observance): * Food equal in weight to a dried fig * Enough wine for mixing in a goblet * Milk enough for one swallow * Honey enough to put upon a wound * Oil enough to anoint a small member * Water enough to moisten an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Tags: Sabbath

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What A Waste...??  PRO

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Jul 8, 2011

WHAT A WASTE...?? There was a young man who grew up just down the block from my wife Jan. I never met him; I can’t even remember his name. But I know about him. I think about him every time I’m in the neighborhood. This boy didn’t attract much notice as he was growing up. He studied mostly. He ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Not To Believe

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 22, 2011

WHAT NOT TO BELIEVE Ben Patterson, campus pastor of Westmont College, tells the story of a retired pastor who began noticing that his former congregation was sliding away from orthodoxy. The pastor saw this as his fault and stated, in two sentences, his great failure as a pastor: "I always told ...read more

Scripture: Romans 16:17-19

Tags: Doctrine

What Is Faith?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Sep 27, 2011

WHAT IS FAITH? Three schoolboys were asked to write their definition of faith. One wrote: "Faith is TAKING hold of God." The second wrote: "Faith is HOLDING onto God." The third ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Brethren

What Is The Bible?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

What is the Bible? "THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be ...read more

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

Tags: Bible, Truth, Word Of God, Memorize The Scripture

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Corruption?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 26, 2021

, A little girl asks her father: "Daddy, what is corruption?" -- Go bring me a beer and I'll tell you. -- But mommy said you should stop drinking! -- Get yourself an ice-cream too ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:1-4

Tags: Sin, Corruption, Dishonesty, Bribe

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Forgiveness Is Not

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 31, 2021

WHAT FORGIVENESS IS NOT by Dr. Larry Petton (excerpt from my book, "I CAN'T FORGIVE"). Text: Ephesians chapter 4 Ruth Bell Graham described a successful marriage as the "union of two great forgivers." Forgiveness has been described as, “Me not hurting you, because you ...read more

Tags: Forgive Them, Father, Forgiveness, Bitterness, Unforgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Kind?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 3, 2022

WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD MY CHURCH BE, IF EVERY MEMBER ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Better, Bitter

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Don't Find Us Lacking!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 24, 2011

DON'T FIND US LACKING! Mexican jails are not known for their tidiness or orderliness. Shortly after having taken office, the then President of Mexico, Luis Echeverria, decided to do something about this. Without giving any advance notice, he chose to visit the jails at midnight. He found guards ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Second Coming

Just In Case

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2013

JUST IN CASE A Louisiana game warden had been tracking Boudreaux, the infamous Cajun poacher, Late one night he stumbled upon the criminal’s cabin. Climbing upon the roof, the game warden waited for the dawn, hoping to jump the poacher as he emerged. The game warden after a fitful night of trying ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51

Tags: Second Coming

You Know Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

YOU KNOW NOT WHEN The people of Martinique sent representatives to that smoldering volcano, Mount Pelee, to see what the condition was. They returned and gave false reports and the city slept on, in all its vice. Nature took warning and the reptiles commenced crawling down the mountainside, birds ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:43-44

Tags: Second Coming

Prayer Is Reaching Out After The Unseen; Fasting ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 8, 2006

"Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Divine ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

DIVINE D-DAY The operation was the largest single-day invasion of all time. Just under 200,000 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel delivered over 130,000 troops along a stretch of the Normandy coast in France. They, in turn, were supported by 12,000 aircraft flying 14,000 sorties. These ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Great Outline On The Hope We Have In Christ's Return

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 4, 2023

The Hope (literally, the "certainty") of Christ's Return and His Glorious Appearance is a… * living hope (1Pe 1:3) * blessed hope (Titus 2:13) * joyful hope (1Th 2:19) * comforting hope (1Th 4:13-18) * hope of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Heaven, Hope, Second Coming, Rapture, Assurance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Spiritual Maturity?

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 29, 2010

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL MATURITY? In our Pueblo group we asked how we could define spiritual maturity? Someone said, "Being spiritually mature probably means you don't try to figure out whether the people around you are spiritually mature or not." Someone else said, "It's all I can do to figure ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ