In Sermon Illustrations: "X Marks The Spot"

Following The Sunday Morning Service, The Pastor ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Apr 18, 2002

Following the Sunday morning service, the pastor stood at the back of the church, shaking hands with the worshipers as they left. As one man shook hands, he looked intently at the pastor and said, "Powerful sermons, Pastor. Thoughtful, well researched. I can always see myself in them…and I want ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22, John 15:1

Tags: Leadership, Humor, Growth In Christ, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

According To Psychologist William Damon, Respect ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

According to psychologist William Damon, respect for the parent who exercises proper authority leads to respect for legitimate social institutions and to respect for law. In his book The Moral Child, Damon writes, “The child’s respect for parental authority sets the direction for civilized ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:17, John 10:4-16

Tags: Authority, Respect

Why Should I Not Forgive?  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Jul 13, 2002

WHY SHOULD I NOT FORGIVE? Deweese Eunick (mother of a 6 year old girl, killed by a 12 year old boy who was wrestling with her) The boy, Lionel Tate was being sentenced for life in prison for this murder. The mother said to reporters on ABC, "It’s more that he’s a human being, you know?" she ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25, John 5:5

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Baptist

A Light Named Al  PRO

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Sep 2, 2002

A LIGHT NAMED AL On the morning of September 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the television to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, Mark 8:34-37

Tags: Sermon On The Mount, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: United Methodist

The Man Who'd Die For Her—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 2, 2003

THE MAN WHO’D DIE FOR HER-- COMMUNION MEDITATION On the southern border of the empire of Cyrus, there lived a great chieftain named Cagular who tore to shreds and completely defeated the various detachments of Cyrus’ army sent to subdue him. Finally the emperor, amassing his whole army, marched ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45, Isaiah 42:1-9

Tags: Romantic Love, Lord's Supper, Forgiveness In Jesus

Conference After Conference Is Held To Discuss ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 20, 2003

Conference after conference is held to discuss the destruction of the Earth’s environment and to solve the poverty of two thirds of the world’s population but very little gets done when the talking is over. Isn’t it essentially a problem of selfishness, greed and exploitation? Desmond Tutu, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:14, Mark 12:40

Tags: God Brings Hope, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

Seeds In Mustard Plant

Contributed by Nick Scarpa on May 24, 2003

Seeds In Mustard Plant A gardener, prompted by curiosity, counted the seed pods on a medium-sized mustard plant. There were 85. The average number of seeds in each pod was eight. Since two crops in a given year could be matured, the gardener figured that it was possible in the interim between ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-34, Matthew 13:31-33

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

Not Long Before She Died In 1988, In A Moment Of ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 28, 2004

Not long before she died in 1988, in a moment of surprising candor in television, Marghanita Laski, one of our best-known secular humanists and novelists, said, “What I envy most about you Christians is your ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-47, Mark 14:3-9

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Work With It!" Romans 12: 1-8: Key Verse(S): 6 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 10, 2004

“Work With It!” Romans 12: 1-8: Key verse(s): 6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” “All things being equal!” Where that may be the rallying cry of today’s philosophical democratically-driven culture, it wasn’t the impetus for justice in the Brunner household as I was ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-8, Mark 1:21-28

Tags: Family, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Arrogance/Pride: (Mcmanus)in South America, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Miller on Jan 4, 2005

ARROGANCE/PRIDE: (McManus)In South America, the llama is a cultural metaphor for arrogance. To keep a herd of llamas corralled, you don’t even need a fence. All you need is one rope circling around the herd to keep them enclosed. Just by placing it at a height beneath the head and base of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:4, Mark 10:24-25

Tags: Humility

Denomination: *other

A Wanted Man  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 18, 2005

A WANTED MAN "If Jesus had of entered into one of our modern cities, leading the parade, He would have been arrested immediately. He would be a wanted man. The FDA would want Him for turning water into wine without a license; the EPA for killing fig trees; the AMA for practicing medicine ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 20:17-19

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Billy Graham Noted, "Faith Is The Avenue Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Burkey on Jun 23, 2005

Billy Graham noted, “Faith is the avenue of salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a mustard seed, so small you can hardly see it. But if you will put that little faith in the person of Jesus, your ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-34, Matthew 13:31-33

Tags: Faith General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Lutheran

My Wife And I Recently Saw A Television Show On ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ferris on Aug 26, 2006

My wife and I recently saw a television show on The History Channel titled, “The Man Who Predicted 911.” We were both moved by this hour presentation and its focus on one man by the name of Rick Rescorla. Long before September 11th, Rick Rescorla, the 62-year-old head of security at the Morgan ...read more

Scripture: James 5:19-20, Mark 13:1-2

Tags: Lost, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

What Are We Voting For?

Contributed by Dan Thompkins on Jan 11, 2008

WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR? A parishioner had dozed off to sleep during the morning service. “Will all who want to go to heaven, please stand?” the pastor asked.” – All stood, except the sleeping parishioner. After they sat, the pastor continued, “Well, will all who want to go to the other place ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:43-48

Tags: Death, Heaven, Salvation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Servanthood & Father Damien

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

When visiting the Hawaiian Island many tourists will visit the island of Molokai. It has quiet charm, gentle breezes and a soft surf. Father Damien came to the island for a different reason. He came to help people die. He came there because leprosy came there first. No one knows how ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-4, Mark 10:42-45

Tags: Evangelism, Servanthood

Denomination: Lutheran

Unsung Heroines-Salome

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 23, 2022

Introduction: She’s only mentioned in two verses, and only in one of the Gospels. Her deeds of love for Jesus, though, far outweigh any lack of text. Her name is Salome and she’s another unsung heroine of the Bible. Text: Mark 15:40-41, KJV: 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom ...read more

Scripture: Mark 15:40-41, Luke 24:1-11

Tags: Salome, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

Strike While The Iron Is Hot - Engagement

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 1, 2023

There is an old adage ... that you may still hear at times even today: ... Strike while the Iron is hot! The saying is basically telling us .... that when the time is right... you should act... you should seize the moment ... or you will miss out ... on your opportunity. The adage is taken from a ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9, Mark 2:1-12

Tags: Seize, Strike

Denomination: Anglican

You Are My Dear, Dear Child: I'm Delighted With You.

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 22, 2023

A famous movie-maker had a huge legal wrangle with his longtime mentor and guide. The younger man simply couldn't handle criticism and ended up rejecting the person who had helped him so much. When it was all over, a close friend summed up the real problem. "It was all about an ungenerous ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:9-13, Matthew 3:13-17

Tags: God's Love, Loved, Loved By God, Jesus Baptism

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seek Spiritual Advice From Spiritually Mature Christians

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

Seek Spiritual Advice from Spiritually mature Christians. Albert Einstein ... had difficulty speaking until he was four years old ... and did not read ... until he was seven. Beethovens music teacher said: .... As a composer, ... he is hopeless. When Thomas Edison was a young boy, ... his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Spiritual, Advice

Denomination: Anglican

If It Is Impossible It Will Take A Little Longer

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

The Navy branch ... of the service ... called the Seabees ... had a unique slogan ... during World War II, (Pause) If its difficult, ... it will take a day or two. If its impossible, ... it will take a little longer. (Pause) It seems to me ... there are a number of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Difficult, Impossible, Truths

Denomination: Anglican