In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 15:21-28:1"

How Many Of You Know About Billy Sianis' Goat? ...

Contributed by Christopher Roberts on Oct 18, 2003

How many of you know about Billy Sianis’ goat? Sianis, a local tavern owner, tried to bring his goat into Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field, only to be turned away. And so it was that Sianis, whose tavern remains a must-stop for Chicago Cubs’ fans, put a curse on the Cubs, vowing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:7

Tags: Doubt, Faith General

Denomination: Methodist

He Is The Potter; We Are The Clay. He Is The ...  PRO

Contributed by Joseph Rodgers on Dec 15, 2003

He is the potter; we are the clay. He is the shepherd; we are the sheep. He is the Master; we are the servant. No matter how educated we are, no matter how much power and influence we may think we possess, no matter how long we have walked w/ Him, no matter how significant we may imagine ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:39, Jeremiah 18:1-6, Jeremiah 18:1-12

Tags: Knowing God's Will, Doing God's Will

Denomination: Baptist

A Sunday School Teacher Had Just Finished Telling ...  PRO

Contributed by Ken Kersten on Jan 22, 2004

A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing the opening. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus’ first words when He came bursting ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Children

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Do You Remember The Story Of Aron Ralston From ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Archer on Feb 27, 2004

Do you remember the story of Aron Ralston from last year? Aron Ralston loves the outdoors, hiking and trekking in the mountains. Last May he was hiking alone when a boulder fell and pinned him by the arm. For five days he waited for rescue. Then, facing dehydration and death, he took an incredible ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:24-25, Matthew 19:5-6

Tags: Divorce

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

On Their 50th Wedding Anniversary, A Couple ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Decker on May 23, 2004

On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage. The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no ’I’ in the word ‘marriage.’” The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:23-24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:7-8, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 11:11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Marriage General, Oneness, Marriage Commitment, Marriage, Faithfulness, Commitment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Am Trying To Prevent Anyone From Saying The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jun 23, 2004

"I am trying to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-17

Tags: Divinity Of Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Noah Was Like The Guy With The Sandwich Board ...

Contributed by R. B. Hughes on Jul 16, 2004

Noah was like the guy with the sandwich board sign ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-39

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Sunday School Teacher Told Her Class Of 2nd ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 2, 2004

A Sunday School teacher told her class of 2nd graders the story found in Luke 16 of the Rich man and Lazarus. How that when they were here upon the earth the rich man had everything that money could buy and poor Lazarus had to beg for mere crumbs. But when they died, the rich man due to his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:24, Matthew 16:24, Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian Church

Some Time Ago I Read About An Instant Cake Mix ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 4, 2004

Some time ago I read about an instant cake mix that was a big flop. The instructions said that all you had to do was add water and bake and you had your cake. The company couldn’t understand why it didn’t sell -- until their research discovered that the buying public felt uneasy about a mix that ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 25:31-46

Tags: Work, Surrender, Commitment To Christ, Faith, Salvation, Righteousness, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

No Contest  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

NO CONTEST When we get to heaven, there will be no contest to see who was the most deserving of God’s grace because no one deserves it. There will only be one contest in heaven. When we look back and see what we were before, when we see the pit from which he rescued us, when we recall how ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Promises Of God, Parable Vineyard, Grace

Wanted: Movers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

WANTED: MOVERS Suppose that one of the local businessmen had purchased a new building and was planning to move all of his stock into the new store. He placed an ad in the paper offering $100.00 per day to anyone who would come to help him make the move. The first workers were there early on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Grace, Parable Vineyard, Promises Of God

The Real Deal?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

THE REAL DEAL? Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young accountant who was fresh out of school, "What starting salary were you thinking about?" The Accountant said, "In the neighborhood of 100,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16, Romans 3:20-26

Tags: Parable Vineyard, Grace, Labor Day, Workplace

Eric Liddell--Olympic Hero In The 1924 Games Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 7, 2004

ERIC LIDDELL--Olympic hero in the 1924 games who refused to run in heats because they were held on Sunday. Lost the chance to win the gold in twso events but went on to win the 400. Arms thrashing, head bobbing and tilted, legs dancing, Liddell ran to victory, five meters ahead of the silver ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:1

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Athletics, Priorities, Sabbath, Sacrifice, Missionary, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

The If/Then Of Easter  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 7, 2004

THE IF/THEN OF EASTER It’s Easter time. Time to eat all the candy and marshmallow eggs. Time to pig out. There’s gotta be a nicer word for pig out. A euphemism, as it were. Hey, try to think up a nicer word for euphemism. And while you’re at it, think up a shorter word for abbreviation. And a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-20, Matthew 28:1-20

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Go Quickly, Tell

Let's Play ‘let's Pretend'. Let's Pretend That ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

Let’s play ‘Let’s Pretend’. Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 17:1-13, James 1:22, John 19:30-31, John 11:1-45, John 11:45-57  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Priest And A Rabbi From Local Parishes Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 17, 2004

A priest and a rabbi from local parishes were standing by the side of the road holding up signs. The rabbi’s read, "The End is Near!" The priest, on the other side of the road, held up a sign which read, "Turn before it’s too late!" They planned to hold up their signs to each passing car. "Get a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4-13

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Many People Have Trouble With The Concept Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Nov 22, 2004

Many people have trouble with the concept of total depravity. While not denying they are sinners, many people feel that their sin isn’t bad enough to condemn them. What they don’t understand is that any sin is wholly unacceptable to God. Let’s suppose I invite you over to my house this Saturday ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:6-9, Romans 3:9-20

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Basket, Fish And Loaves, Leftovers

Denomination: Baptist

Rick Warren Writes In "The Purpose Driven Life," ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Nov 30, 2004

Rick Warren writes in “The Purpose Driven Life,” “I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, “Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:36-40

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: *other

Our Chains--His Slavery!" Matthew 20: 20-28 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 2, 2004

“Our Chains--His Slavery!” Matthew 20: 20-28 Key verse(s): 28: “. . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” “Just sign here on the dotted line here Mr. Brunner and we will be done.” As I lifted my hand, grip on pen, ready to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Lutheran

Jesus Did Not Ride Into Jerusalem On A White ...  PRO

Contributed by John Stevenson on Dec 26, 2004

Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem on a white stallion, leading His forces against the Roman Empire. And He doesn’t work that way today, either. He comes in a spirit of gentleness. And then He was arrested and dragged before the Sanhedrin and later before Pilate. He was falsely accused, mocked, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:5

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical Free