In Sermon Illustrations: "Luke 2:41-4:52"

Thank You, Mom, For Being Strong For Me

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on May 4, 2020

It almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch the commercials where the child is growing up and is leaving home for college, or to get married and live in another city. I think about how difficult it must have been for my mom to watch me drive off to college in another city. And then later to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:41-50

Tags: Mothers Day, Mothers Strength

Denomination: Baptist

Mom Left Us More Than Her Insurance Policy

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 2, 2020

Around April 28, 2020, my mother completed her earthly journey and went to be with the Lord. I have to confess, part of me was glad she wasn’t suffering any longer (she had several serious health issues) but of course there was the grief that comes along with losing someone you love. Yes, I know ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15

Tags: Mothers, Inheritance, Insurance

Denomination: Baptist

Why Bad Things Happen

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

So, what should we say then when bad things happen? Some may say God is still all powerful and all knowing so it seems like it’s still God’s plan that this bad thing happened isn’t it? Kinda, sort of or maybe. There is a difference between what God allows and what God wants. I know that sounds ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:4-5

Tags: Follow Gods Instructions, Dont Ignore Gods Instructions

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Carry Your Cross

Contributed by Anitha Jabastion on Aug 4, 2020

A story is told about a boy who desperately wanted to meet Christ. He was praying hard about it. One day, the Lord told him to walk up the mountain carrying his cross. He took his cross and began his journey. In some time, he began to feel the heaviness of the cross. He cut out a small portion of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Denying Oneself, Following Jesus, Carrying The Cross

Doing Nothing Is Harder Than I Thought

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 29, 2020

After being so long in a lockdown situation, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage planned a short vacation time for us. It took her quite a while to put all of the pieces together, but she succeeded as always. As I was preparing for this little adventure, my wife looked at me and said, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:31

Tags: Vacation, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Love For Christ And People

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

In the early years, Circuit riders were most often lay preachers without formal education. They were young, poor, and, for the most part, single. Traveling thousands of miles a year. Though circuit riders eventually represented many different denominations but none were more aggressive or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-5

Tags: Service, Servant, Dedication

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Being Nice Does Have Its Rewards

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 21, 2020

It was one of those weeks. It seems that every week of mine is "one of those weeks." Just when I think everything was looking fine, I discovered I was looking in the wrong direction. I should know better than thinking. Several problems developed with my vehicle, and I had to take it to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Tags: Nice, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Christmas Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 8, 2020

One Christmas my husband put an assortment of beauty products in my stocking. I tried one of the facial masks, and was about to wash it off when my eight-year-old son, Callum, walked in. I explained to him that it was a present from his dad and it would make me beautiful. He patiently waited by my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-18

Tags: Christmas Present, Christmas, Children, Cute, Honesty, Gifts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Christmas Is More Than Jingle, Jingle

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 12, 2020

I have been trying lately to remember my first Christmas. I know my memory isn't perfect, but I thought maybe I could bring up some old memories of my first Christmas. Unfortunately, I couldn't think of a thing about that first Christmas of mine. Of course, it might be that I was only five ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7

Tags: Holiday, Christmas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroes: The Shepherds Of Bethlehem

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 14, 2020

Introduction: the Christmas story, the birth of Jesus Christ into this world, is one of the most beautiful ever told. Many believers and others are more or less familiar with Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and how Jesus was born in an inn and laid in a manger because there ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Tags: Mary, Birth Of Jesus, Shepherds, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Front Row Revival

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

Luke 8:19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. You will know when revival has come when people come ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:19

Tags: Revival, Front Row, Back Row

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

Luke 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. People will climb a wall to catch a foul ball at the game, but find any excuse to miss church. Revival will be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:3

Tags: Desire, Priority

Denomination: Baptist

Anxiety And Relationships

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Anxiety can be the ruin or the salvation of our relationships. It is an alarm mechanism. It alerts us to potential danger. But sometimes it goes off too often or quickly. Sometimes we do not seem able to regulate it. Shocked, we lash out, hold our ground, or retreat. However, anxiety can be our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Anxiety, Relationships

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unsung Heroes: Simeon Of Jerusalem

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 27, 2020

Introduction: Mary and Joseph weren’t the only ones eagerly awaiting the birth of Jesus. Under the Law of Moses, every male child was to be circumcised. Joseph and Mary took Baby Jesus to the Temple where this surgery would be performed on the Baby. While they were in the Temple, they received ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:25-35

Tags: Joseph And Mary, Birth Of Christ, Simeon, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

Boy Eating Apple

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:28

Tags: Bible, Understanding

Denomination: Methodist

Can You See It?

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 24, 2021

We are surrounded by things we can’t see, so are they real? It was really windy here this week. Did you see it? Of course not! We can’t see the wind. I saw the trees moving. I heard the wind chimes on the porch. I felt it on my skin. I never saw it… so is the wind real? Last week, during ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:35

Tags: Demons, Light, Invisible, Gravity, Wind, Physics  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Knock, Knock; Someone’s In Trouble

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 27, 2021

For some reason, the last several weeks we have been getting many visitors at our door. I'm not sure if this is a general trend or if it is just our door. Some of them have been salesmen, religious people, scam artists, and a host of other people. They only had one goal in mind, and that was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:31

Tags: Knocking On Doors, Money, Telemarketers

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

And Then, There It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on May 7, 2022

In getting older, I have discovered, I pay a little more attention to my dietary habits. Or, maybe I should say, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage pays more attention to my dietary habits. As we get older, she is more obsessed with vegetables than anything else. But, for the life of me, I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38

Tags: Unity, Cookies, Cooperation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroines-Susanna

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 20, 2022

Introduction: Susanna is only mentioned once in Scripture, but it’s in a very positive light. She was one of the unsung heroines who ministered to Jesus and the disciples during His days of ministering on this earth. Text: Luke 8:1-3, KJV: 1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:1-3

Tags: Unsung Heroines, Susanna

Denomination: Baptist

Lazy -Apathy Cost

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 22, 2022

STORY: ONE EVENING THERE WAS AN OLD WISE MAN SITTING ON HIS PORCH WHEN A YOUNG MAN APPROACHED HIM. The young man said: HOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING AND RICHES. The sun was setting. The old man said saddle that horse. The young man saddled the horse. The old man gave him two ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:17-19

Tags: Unfaithfulness, No Passion

Denomination: Assembly Of God