In Sermon Illustrations: "Wolves Among Us"

Wish They Were On Our Team  PRO

Contributed by John Sears on Jul 22, 2011

WISH THEY WERE ON OUR TEAM I played a football when I was in Jr. High School. There was one week of practice that I hated. It was the week we practiced against the High school team. Folks, they were better. They were bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced. They beat up on us all ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian Church

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Three Dimensions Of Pentecost

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

When you stop and consider the work of the Holy Spirit—and that’s what Pentecost is all about—there are three direct dimensions: • First, the Holy Spirit does an INWARD work in us. He is the One who administers justification, regeneration, and the new birth in our lives. He is the One who cleanses ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Revival, Simon Peter

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Violinist, Niccolo Paganini Willed His ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Jack Hyles- Back In World War Ii, I Was A Pa...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 19, 2015

Jack Hyles- Back in World War II, I was a paratrooper. I used to jump out of airplanes. We jumped out of airplanes called C-47’s. After the war was over, I got on a plane, and they said, "Welcome aboard Delta Airlines DC-3 plane." I felt at home on that plane. We got up in the air, and I asked ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:9

Tags: Conversion, Turning Point, Turning To God, Turning

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Basement People Vs. Balcony People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

BASEMENT PEOPLE VS. BALCONY PEOPLE Keith Miller, in his book Passionate People, which he co-authored with Bruce Larson, describes two kinds of people -- "basement people" and "balcony people." "Basement people" are the discouragers in our lives. They may be people from our past, or present, but ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Encouragement

You Have Probably Never Heard Of The Island Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Damien Spikereit on Dec 7, 2000

- You have probably never heard of the island of Molokai. Well, it’s located in the state of Hawaii. And it has quite a history. You have to go way back to the late 1800’s to understand its significance. You see, back then, there was no cure for the highly contagious and deadly disease called ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Compassion, Humanity Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Crystal Michelle, A 10th Grade In Bigelow, ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

Crystal Michelle, a 10th Grade in Bigelow, Arkansas isn’t buying it. She won’t settle for anything but extreme intimacy, here’s an excerpt from an essay she wrote. "Hey, My name is Crystal Michelle. I decided to wait for sex among other things a while back. I have pledged to God that I would not ...read more

Tags: Sexuality, Wait, Love, Marriage Singleness, Intercourse, Intimacy, Affection  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Mr. Horatio G. Spafford Was A Successful Lawyer ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 8, 2002

Mr. Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer in Chicago and a member of the Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Church in that city. In the financial crisis of 1873, he lost most of his property. In the stress and strain of the times, he prevailed on his wife and four daughters to take a trip to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:23-26

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Mixing Music With Self-Control  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on May 13, 2002

MIXING MUSIC WITH SELF-CONTROL James Schaefer of the University of Minnesota did a ten-year study of a bar in Missoula, Montana. (He followed it up with a three-year study of 65 bars around Minneapolis.) His startling conclusion: country-western tunes and alcohol go together. He found that the ...read more

Tags: Addiction, Christian Disciplines, Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

But As We Leave Today I Want You To Forget ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 16, 2010

But as we leave today I want you to forget everything I said for a minute, and think about this (hold up a bag of coins). I have two dollars in change here and I’m giving it away to the first adult that runs up here and gets it. Hey let’s not trample each other. The majority of the world, 53% of ...read more

Tags: Money, Welfare

True Beauty

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

TRUE BEAUTY Carre Otis was once among the world’s top super models for 17 years, beginning her career at the age of 14. To prepare for each photo shoot, she routinely binged and purged, took laxatives and diet pills, and exercised intensely. Being extremely thin made possible a modeling career ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-2

Tags: Servanthood

What Is Great Learning?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2012

WHAT IS GREAT LEARNING? Thomas Fuller was born in Africa about 1710. He was sold as a slave in Virginia in 1724. There is some disagreement about whether someone taught him to count to 100 or if he taught himself. He never had a day of formal education. He taught himself to figure in his head how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Tags: Learning

On The Pharisees

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

Who are the Pharisees? In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East, bringing Greek culture and philosophy to Israel. By 200 BC, Greek philosophy and its worldview called Helenism were significantly impacting Jewish young men. More and more of them were abandoning the Hebrew faith and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-2

Tags: Pharisees

Denomination: Methodist

The Faith Of Stonewall Jackson

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2021

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture Gods and Generals that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never more strikingly ...read more

Tags: Courage, Will Of God, Civil War, Sovereignty Of God, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Molokai

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Molokai You have probably never heard of the island of Molokai. Well, it’s located in the state of Hawaii. And it has quite a history. You have to go way back to the late 1800’s to understand its significance. You see, back then, there was no cure for the highly contagious and deadly disease called ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

A Catholic Sister, Sister Chris Schenk, Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A Catholic sister, Sister Chris Schenk, was shocked when she took theology classes several years ago (1994) that taught Mary Magdalene, “a woman who had been one of Jesus’ most courageous apostles had been turned into a prostitute.” Then Schenk learned there were efforts to restore the reputation ...read more

Scripture: John 20:11-18

Tags: Easter Resurrection

God's Promise To Christ

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

God's Promise to Christ There are many truths to grasp in Isaiah 53. A truth worth grasping today is found in Isaiah 53:10, "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief. If He would render Himself as a guilt offering. He will see His offspring, He will prolong His Days, and the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:10

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Sound Of Silence Can Be Troubling And ...

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 7, 2008

The sound of silence can be troubling and unnerving. But the sound of silence is also necessary for our faith and confidence in Christ to grow and help us truly live for the Lord despite our circumstances. Let ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

Idolatry Is Worshiping Anything That Ought To Be ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 26, 2002

Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that ought ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational