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2018-04-02T15:48:27-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Great Challenge for Preachers

Last updated on: April 2, 2018 at 3:48 pm By Matt Pearson

From Frederick Buechner: There was a great teacher of the Old Testament at the seminary where I studied for the ministry years ago, and one thing he told us that I have always remembered is that we really canâ€™t hear what the stories of the Bible are saying until we hear them as stories about ourselves. We have to imagine our way into them, he said. We have to imagine ourselves the prodigal son coming home terrified that the door... Read more

General Preaching Resources

2018-03-31T13:10:43-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Because He Lives

Last updated on: March 31, 2018 at 1:10 pm By Matt Pearson

In response to her grandmotherâ€™s question, â€œWhat is your favorite Bible story?â€ A young nine year old girl questioned back, â€œDo you mean what is my favorite story besides Jesus dying on the cross that every kid in church has heard a hundred times?â€ Every person who is or grew up as â€œthat kid in churchâ€ can relate. Every person who knew â€œJesus dying on the crossâ€ would be the right answer to their childhood Sunday School teacherâ€™s questions can... Read more

General Challenge

2018-03-28T20:42:02-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sermon Illustration: Preacher, Please Don’t Do This

Last updated on: March 28, 2018 at 8:42 pm By Matt Pearson

Preacher, this Sunday is April 1st. This Sunday is also Easter Sunday. Thatâ€™s right – Easter Sunday is on April Foolâ€™s Day. For those of you who know me, you know I am ALL about using anything to get peopleâ€™s attention. Even at the risk of being cheesy.Â Sometimes way too cheesy. So maybe this is a warning to myself as much as it is to any preacher who reads this. If you are anything like me, you will be tempted... Read more

Fridays are For Illustrations

2018-03-27T00:02:21-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Preacher, It’s Easter. And You’re Not Alone

Last updated on: March 27, 2018 at 12:02 am By Matt Pearson

Preacher, let these words from a legend encourage you… From Eugene Peterson in his book As Kingfishers Catch Fire: “You may find this hard to believe, but the hardest sermon in the year for me to prepare is this Easter sermon. It has always been that way for me. I keep thinking I will get the hang of it and it will get easier, but it doesn’t. Why isn’t it easier? More people come to worship on this day than... Read more

Preparing to Preach

2018-03-23T17:51:06-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sermon Illustration: What Would YOU Do?

Last updated on: March 23, 2018 at 5:51 pm By Matt Pearson

In an effort to explain God’s harsh treatment of the Egyptians in Exodus 7-10, I asked several questions.Â On the surface, it seems like the Father is being remarkably ruthless. Sure, the Egyptians deserved it. Yes, Pharoah continued to harden his heart time and time again. But why did God proceed to pummel the Egyptians over and over and over again? Reading these chapters in Exodus is like watching a fight where the stronger one refuses to relent or let... Read more

Fridays are For Illustrations

2018-03-16T22:54:06-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Need a Donkey, Please

Last updated on: March 16, 2018 at 10:54 pm By Matt Pearson

I have often wondered what the disciples were thinking when Jesus told them to go get a donkey. Crowds were gathering. Blind men had just received their sight. Excitement was brewing. Vendors were walking up and down the streets with popcorn and cotton candy.Â Neon glow bracelets were selling like hot cakes. The anticipation of what was to come was at an all-time high. Surely the disciples were getting excited, too. I mean, this is what they had signed up... Read more

Biblical Reflections

2018-03-13T22:35:20-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sermon Illustration: Talking to Yourself

Last updated on: March 13, 2018 at 10:35 pm By Matt Pearson

Recently, I began a sermon by pointing out that our salvation is not based on our feelings. God’s love for His children is not determined by how we are feeling at theÂ moment. Hallelujah. However, what we say to ourselves about ourselves is critical to our well-being. So, to set up aÂ sermon challenging the congregation to not be like the Hebrews and Moses in Exodus 6 (see verse 9), I gave two very captivating quotes. First, from Paul Tripp: No one... Read more

Fridays are For Illustrations

2018-03-12T11:12:42-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why Did You Doubt?

Last updated on: March 12, 2018 at 11:12 am By Matt Pearson

Imagine with me a conversation between Peter and his brother Andrew the evening after Peter walked on water (see Matthew 14:22-33)… “Can you believe the nerve of Jesus out there today?” Peter was fuming, venting everything to his brother Andrew. “The lake was incredibly choppy. The wind was severe. We had been rowing at His command all night long. I ask Him for help when I began to sink and He asks me why I would doubt! Who wouldn’t doubt... Read more

Biblical Reflections

2018-03-07T20:35:23-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Fridays are for Illustrations: Gary Said It Would Be Like This

Last updated on: March 7, 2018 at 8:35 pm By Matt Pearson

I used this illustration in a recent sermon on how believers can expect situations and circumstances to not go as planned…especially when obeying the Lord. I grew up in North Alabama. One of the 3 channels we got on our family television was WAAY 31. The weatherman (chief meteorologist) at the time was Gary Dobbs. Everyone loved Gary. Especially our family. Whoever ran the Public Relations for WAAY 31 and Gary Dobbs was an absolute genius. Scattered throughout North Alabama... Read more

Fridays are For Illustrations

2018-03-05T11:46:11-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus Sleeps through the Storm: Imagining with Bartholomew and Naomi

Last updated on: March 5, 2018 at 11:46 am By Matt Pearson

23Â Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.Â 24Â Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.Â 25Â The disciples went and woke him, saying, â€œLord, save us! Weâ€™re going to drown!â€ 26Â He replied,Â â€œYou of little faith,Â why are you so afraid?â€Â Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27Â The men were amazed and asked, â€œWhat kind of man is this?... Read more

Biblical Reflections

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