In Sermon Illustrations: "Colossians 3:1-14" showing 1-20 of 36

Do You Want To Quit?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

There was a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness he came across what he thought was a signpost. It ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Fear, Commitment, Endurance, Apostasy, Perserverance, Quitting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Can't See The Greatness Of God...

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

“If you don't see the greatness of God, then all the things that money can buy become very enticing. If you can't see the sun, you will be impressed with a street light. If you've never felt thunder and lightning, you'll be impressed with fireworks. And, if you turn your back on ...read more

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

Tags: Deception, Vision, Worldliness, Glory Of God, Greatness Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You A Chicken Or An Eagle?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

John McNeil tells the story of a young eagle he had raised with a flock of chickens. The out-of-place bird had never learned to fly. One day McNeil thought he would teach this bird how, so he tried throwing it up in the air. But each time the bird would look down and fall to the ground. Then he had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Holy Spirit, Vision, Spiritual Growth, Eagles, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trapped By Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

A well-known author once told this story of an account he had with sea gulls: “Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were dead fish embedded in the ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-2, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Vision, Temptation, Compromise, Worldliness, Things Of Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

Keep Looking Up!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

A father and son were driving down a country road and saw a watermelon patch a little way off the highway. The father told his son to keep a lookout while he went to get a melon. He snuck into the patch, took a melon and called to the boy, "Is anyone coming? Look both ways." The boy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Temptation, Stealing, Looking Up

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We're On The Same Team  PRO

Contributed by Gaylon Clark on Dec 9, 2013

Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin had every reason as teammates to be friends, but they were not. Incognito harassed and bullied Martin. He called him a racial slur in a voicemail played by every media outlet in the country. He threatened to kill him and his family. Incognito claimed all of this ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6, John 17:20-23, Colossians 3:12-17, Psalms 133:1-3

Tags: Teamwork, Christian Unity, Church Unity, Christian Friendship

Denomination: Baptist

The "Stream Of Forgiveness"  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 14, 2013

THE "STREAM OF FORGIVENESS" Mirosalv Volf wrote a fantastic book on forgiveness titled "Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace." In the book he uses the beautiful imagery of a stream to show how God's character (love) is poured into us by His Spirit and becomes our ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Nazarene

Over-Running The Temple

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012

OVER-RUNNING THE TEMPLE Ta Prohm is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-14

Tags: Sin Wages Of

Eating A Bald Eagle  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

EATING A BALD EAGLE A forest ranger is making rounds in a remote part of the wooded reserve when he comes across an unkempt man, sitting at a make-shift campfire, and, to the ranger's astonishment, eating a fish and a bald eagle. The man is consequently put in jail for the crime. He was soon ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:9-10

Tags: Hypocrisy

I Tithe—he'll Find Me.  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 1, 2011

"I TITHE--HE'LL FIND ME." Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there. So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5-21, Matthew 23:23

Tags: Offering, Tithe, Tithes

Denomination: Wesleyan

C.s. Lewis Wrote, "It Is He Who Thinks Most Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

C.S. Lewis wrote, "It is he who thinks most of the next world that does the most in this world." Where there is no faith in the future, there is no work in the present. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Heaven

Disturb Us, O Lord  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 8, 2011

DISTURB US, O LORD Sir Frances Drake: "Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

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

The Devastating Fruit Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

The Devastating Fruit of Unforgiveness Once upon a time there was a man to whom a great harm had been done. The exact nature is of no consequence, as long as we know the hurt went deep. He felt it continually, the pain was searing and relentless, and even the most basic tasks of life were ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-14

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

The Church: The Balm Of Healing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

THE CHURCH: THE BALM OF HEALING In the book, The Empowered Communicator, Calvin Miller says that most people we come in contact with are silently thinking: • I am loneliness waiting for a friend • I am weeping in want of laughter • I am a sigh in search of consolation • I am a wound in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Slow To Anger...  PRO

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Apr 30, 2010

SLOW TO ANGER... Slow to suspect - quick to trust, Slow to condemn – quick to justify, Slow to offend – quick to defend, Slow to expose – quick to shield, Slow to reprimand – quick to forbear, Slow to belittle – quick to appreciate, Slow to demand – quick to give, Slow to provoke – quick ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13, Colossians 3:12-17

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Christian Church

Restitution And Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Restitution and Forgiveness Keith Drury is a writer from the Wesleyan Church and in one of his books he touches on this whole subject of restoring relationships when talking about restitution. This is what he says. "Restitution deals with more than property. It is also going back and making ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:13

Tags: Forgiveness General

Seductive Idols

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

SEDUCTIVE IDOLS "The seductiveness of a nearby idol for the Christian is that it promises to get things done, to be powerful, to make good changes -- but by means that conflict with God's means." pg. 44, Richard Keyes, No God, But God by Os Guinness "Idols are not just on pagan ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5

Tags: Idolatry

Compassion In An Inner-City ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Compassion in an Inner-City Church Feed the dogs. Touch the dumb, and find faith in places where you least expect it. This is what truly brings pleasure to our Lord, much more than any outward show of self-righteousness. There is church in the inner-city of Chicago that for me demonstrates ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-15

Tags: Compassion