Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 7, 2000
based on 151 ratings
| 10,724 views
In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Wesleyan
Contributed by Harold Miller on Dec 14, 2000
based on 156 ratings
| 7,130 views
A pastor was preparing a Christmas message and fell asleep in his study at the church. He dreamed that he was in a world into which Jesus had never come. He walked out on the streets, but no church spires pointed to heaven. He was summoned by a weeping child to visit her dying mother, but on
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Mennonite
based on 243 ratings
| 10,787 views
A little girl was pushing the limits of her mother’s very last nerve. Mom was nearing the end of a hectic season of cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping and church stuff. She was also nearing the breaking point with her little pre-schooler.
Finally the little girl was bathed and ready for bed.
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Scripture:
Denomination:
United Methodist
Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 31, 2000
based on 140 ratings
| 6,832 views
The following illustrates that point. "In a stately church a noticeably untidy man visited the church for the first time. He was met by one of the smartly-dressed ushers who immediately ushered him to a back pew so that his unkept appearance and foul odor would not upset the decorum of the
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Lutheran
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2001
based on 125 ratings
| 3,657 views
Some of us get so used to the adrenaline rush of handling crises that we become dependent on it for a sense of excitement and energy. How does urgency feel? Stressful? Pressured? Tense? Exhausting? Sure. But let’s be honest. It’s also sometimes exhilarating. We feel useful. We feel
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Scripture:
Contributed by David Simmons on Jan 17, 2001
based on 254 ratings
| 6,217 views
Why would God go to all the trouble to endure our bad choices and our flagrant sinning in order to have relationship with us? Hear the story of the lost son from the modern setting as told by Philip Yancey in his book What’s so Amazing about Grace.
Yancey tells the story of a prodigal daughter
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 22, 2000
based on 98 ratings
| 3,315 views
Michael S. Hamilton, Assistant Professor of History at Seattle Pacific University wrote, "In the 1930’s, most missionary agencies emphasized evangelism, church-planting, and discipleship. In 1998, however, four of the five largest overseas ministries specialized in relief,
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 28, 2001
based on 97 ratings
| 6,830 views
One of the powerful figures in Wall Street fell in love with an actress. For many months he was always seen escorting her about in the fashionable circles of town. Deciding to marry her, he first put a private detective to the job of looking into her former dealings and friends in order to guard
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Bill Lobbs on Feb 28, 2001
based on 150 ratings
| 6,292 views
The Japanese introduced a tree to the world that is called a Bonsai tree. It is measured in inches instead of feet as other trees are measured. It is not allowed to reach anywhere near its full growth potential but instead grows in a stunted miniature form. The reason for it growing in stunted form
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Pentecostal
Contributed by Mark Hensley on Mar 14, 2001
based on 205 ratings
| 5,966 views
A small boy had been consistently late for dinner. One particular day his parents had warned him to be on time, but he arrived later than ever. He found his parents already seated at the table, about to start eating. Quickly he sat at his place, and then noticed what was set before him--a slice of
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Mar 19, 2001
based on 165 ratings
| 4,812 views
Leonardo Da Vinci, just before he commenced work on his "Last Supper" had a violent argument with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so bitter that he determined to paint the face of his enemy, the other artist, into the face of Judas, and thus take his revenge by handing the man down in infamy and
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Methodist
Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 4, 2001
based on 151 ratings
| 3,931 views
Writer & speaker Joni Erickson Tada was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident. In her book Secret Strength, Joni wrote about facing temptation.
I was in my late 20’s, single, and with every prospect of remaining so. Sometimes lust or a bit of fantasizing would seem so inviting and so
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Rob Short on Apr 6, 2001
based on 189 ratings
| 9,390 views
In 1994, two Christian missionaries answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics in a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage.
It was nearing
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Tom Lovorn on Apr 9, 2001
based on 177 ratings
| 5,423 views
Young Harold had a really bad case of Attention Deficit Disorder. On Palm Sunday, Harold’s Sunday School teacher sent empty plastic eggs home with each of her students. Mrs. Wilson told them to bring something back in the eggs next Sunday to represent Easter. She really didn’t expect Harold to
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Troy Borst on May 9, 2001
based on 164 ratings
| 12,106 views
OPENING ILLUSTRATION… Mother’s Day Background, Pulpit Helps 1991
It was a woman named Anna M. Jarvis who first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 20, 2001
based on 143 ratings
| 10,373 views
Bamboo
Once upon a time, in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden was wont to walk. Of all the denizens of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Pentecostal
Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 21, 2001
based on 152 ratings
| 7,152 views
There was a certain old recluse who lived deep in the mountains of Colorado. When he died, distant relatives came from the city to collect his valuables. Upon arriving, all they saw was an old shack with an outhouse beside it. Inside the shack, next to the rock fireplace, was an old cooking pot and
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Evangelical Free
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 29, 2001
based on 131 ratings
| 3,291 views
My wife and I were trying to show our grandchildren the importance of thanking God for everything that He had blessed us with. We encouraged them to speak to God whenever they needed to know what they should do. Michael, our 4 year old grandson, enjoyed holding our hands, and with head bowed, he
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Scripture:
based on 300 ratings
| 3,591 views
What is the difference between involvement and commitment?
Perhaps I can best explain this by way of analogy with bacon and eggs
In bacon and
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Scripture:
Denomination:
Anglican