In Sermon Illustrations: "Worship General"

For The Longest Time

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Sep 10, 2020

For the Longest Time Chorus Oh, oh, oh For the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest Verse 1 When you said goodbye to me in March There was still more worship left to bring What else could I do? I'm so inspired by you Church hasn't happened for the longest time verse 2 Once I thought ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22

Tags: Church, Worship, Singing, Pandemic, Covid19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Church Attendance In The Usa At An All-Time Low

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 5, 2022

During the First Great Awakening, 20 percent of the colonial population came to Christ and joined churches. Today, less than 20 percent regularly attend church. Discussed at length in his book The American Church in Crisis, David Olson conducted research showing that only 17.5 percent of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Worship, America, Revival, Church Attendance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where I Used To Go To Church!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 4, 2022

A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally, one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper’s attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man. After a while the sailor asks, ...read more

Tags: Division, Church Splits, Church, Worship, Humor, Strife  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staring At The Great Stone Face

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 2, 2023

Perhaps you remember Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story about the great stone face. A little lad lived in a village where there was a mountain with a rock formation which they called the great stone face. The people had a legend that someday someone would come to the village who would look like the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Glory, Jesus, Worship, Vision, Focus, Looking To Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Joke To Share When Attendance In The First Service Begins To Drop

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 12, 2024

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Church, Worship, Pastors, Attending Church, Dead Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Out Of The Shade And Into The Light

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Feb 6, 2025

It’s been cold outside! Last week I walked into the office and commented that it's not fair that we have to suffer through the hot Texas summers AND these sub-freezing temperatures. But here in Texas the snow and ice quickly melt away—except not in some places. On my commute to church there ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 6:25

Tags: Melt, Revive, Sunlight, Thaw, Light, Worship, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Man Walked Up To A Vending Machine, Put In A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Mar 18, 2002

A man walked up to a vending machine, put in a coin, pressed the buttons labeled, “coffee, double cream, sugar.” No cup appeared, but the nozzles went into action sending forth coffee, cream and sugar. After the proper amounts had gone down the drain, the machine turned off. “Now that’s real ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 12:11, Hebrews 12:11

Tags: Disciplines General, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi Wrote That ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Jamieson on Jan 16, 2003

In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. So one Sunday he ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Tags: Forgiveness General, Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

God And The Rabbit

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

GOD AND THE RABBIT When I was a 4th grader, I went on a spiritual retreat. We had worship one night and the counselor sent us to go find a private spot where we could pray individually. I went by a large tree away from everyone else. As I began to pray and pour my heart out to God, I heard a ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Methodist

I Read An Article Once That Stated That ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Johnson on Apr 26, 2004

I read an article once that stated that waitresses and waiters complained that Sunday was the worst day of the week to work. I thought, as I read this article, that my faith was going to be strengthened by what I was about to read. I thought the article would state how these servers would rather be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have Your Heard About The Recent Experience Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

Have your heard about the recent experience of a pastor who changed the order of worship so that the sermon was given before the offering was taken. This upset a four year old ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Giving General

Denomination: Church Of God

Q ...

Contributed by N A on May 16, 2009

QUOTE: “I tell the Lord my troubles and difficulties, and wait for Him to give me the answers to them,” said one man of God. “And it is wonderful how a matter that looked very dark will in prayer become crystal clear by the help of God’s Spirit. I think Christians fail so often to get answers to ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: *other

Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Will Protect Him

Contributed by N A on Apr 29, 2012

LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP WILL PROTECT HIM Lord of the Rings is a story written by J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Christian who led C.S. Lewis to the Lord. Although he made it clear that his stories are not allegories, he still wrote from a Christian worldview and you can learn good biblical ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: *other

When Love, Acceptance And Forgiveness Prevail, ...

Contributed by N A on Jan 17, 2009

"When love, acceptance and forgiveness prevail, the church of Jesus Christ becomes what Jesus was in the world: a center of love designed for the healing of broken people, and a ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: *other

D L Moody, An American Evangelist Of The Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

D L Moody, an American evangelist of the last century, would quote St Paul’s words, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19): Here is a bank cheque. The firm, "My God"; the promise, "shall supply"; the amount, "all you need"; the capital, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

What Does Living By Faith Mean Today? It Means ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

What does living by faith mean today? It means deciding what is the controlling principle in our lives. Is it luck or chance? I had just parked my car at the office and a lady came up to me and said, "That’s a nice car but I wouldn’t want to drive it!" I was rather puzzled and asked "Why not?" ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist

The Late President Calvin Coolidge Returned Home ...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Prater on Jan 21, 2001

The late president Calvin Coolidge returned home from church one Sunday afternoon and found his wife sitting in the chair. Unable to go that day, she was still interested in what the preacher had to say. She asked her husband what the preacher spoke about and he said, "Sin." Like most women, a ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Baptist

Someone Is Reported To Have Asked A Concert ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Nov 6, 2000

Someone is reported to have asked a concert violinist in New York’s Carnegie Hall how she became so skilled. She said that it was by “planned neglect”. She planned ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Intelligence Is Not The Same As Wisdom.  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Feb 19, 2001

Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-52, James 3:13-18

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Baptist

The Book Of Judges Ends With These Words, "In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

The Book of Judges ends with these words, "In those days there was no king," no law. And because there was no law, "every man did what was right in his own sight." Can you imagine what a world like that would be? Just look at Los Angeles in 1992, or Miami in the 1980’s, or Watts in the 1960’s. ...read more

Tags: Commandments General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ