In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Peter 4:1-1:3"

What I Don't Want To Be

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

WHAT I DON'T WANT TO BE I recall a conversation I once had with a precocious little boy we once had in the church I pastored for 10 years in Wiesbaden. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. "Well," he replied, "I don't want to be a fireman." I'd never had a kid tell me what he was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4-5

Tags: Christian Values

What Will You Need?

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Sep 25, 2011

WHAT WILL YOU NEED? Let's suppose for a moment you are in a place you have never been before. You have no idea how you got there. A person comes out and tells you, "You must go into that room and choose one of four things to take with you on your journey when you leave this place. You may not ask ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

My Life Is In His Hands

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Dec 12, 2011

MY LIFE IS IN HIS HANDS Chuck Colson tells about going to Salem, OR. & preaching to prisoners there. Kathy Trocoli went with him, sang the song, "My Life is in His Hands." After the service was over, one of the inmates came up to Kathy and said, "I really want to thank you for singing that song. ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

The Treasure Of Christmas

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 19, 2011

I agree it is time Christmas “message” time folks! But firstly how about having a round of Quiz? Which is your favorite Tintin comic? Do I hear the answers…Tintin in Tibet, Crab with the Golden claws etc etc. Some would even confide, any comic with Captain Haddock (most spicy character) in it. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:21

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: *other

Architectural Design By Touch

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BY TOUCH Three years ago (2008), Chris Downey had just started a promising architectural job at a successful design firm. A few weeks after he took the job, he noticed that there was something wrong with his vision. The doctors told him he had a tumor wrapped around his optic ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: God In The Hardships

Obstacles To Worship

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

OBSTACLES TO WORSHIP Don Chapman writes, "Recently I visited a church where I had to jump over a few unnecessary hurdles before I finally took my seat in their worship service. There was no sign out front. I drove to the church's location and was surprised not to see a sign. Was I in the right ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

The Recycled ...

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 23, 2013

THE RECYCLED ORCHESTRA In December of last year (2012) NPR told the story of a poor community in Paraguay has formed an amazing orchestra that plays instruments created from recycled trash. The young musicians in a slum that's built on a landfill. More than 1500 tons of trash gets dumped into the ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Nazarene

Astray

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Astray They sing, Farther along we'll understand. Oh, how I wish I'd been a holy man, But I wandered so far astray Now all I can see is Judgment Day. I fell on my knees and begged for Your grace, Then turned around and spat in Your face. I walked along in my foolish will, Now I fear ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:14

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Backsliding

Denomination: Baptist

32 Simple Ways To Make Your Marriage Sizzle

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

32 WAYS TO HELP YOU HAVE A GREAT MARRIAGE..... 1. Communicate with your partner – work hard on listening. 2. Befriend each other’s friends and family 3. Know your spouse’s love language – Touch, talk, time, treasures, tasks 4. Give each other space to breathe without control 5. Take trips ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Love, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Home  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding The Spirit Named Pan

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

THE SPIRIT NAMED PAN Many creatures, or demonic spirits, that have been called mythological gods are not mythological at all. They are real in the kingdom of darkness. Pan’s appearance in mythology is with horns, ears, and legs of a goat on a man’s body. His sudden appearance was supposed to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:11-18

Tags: Pandemic, Spirits, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Demons, Panic, Fasting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Remember The Duck

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. As he practiced in his Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse, he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile only to look up ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:25

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Anointing With Oil In The Name Of The Lord

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 13, 2024

"Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord " (James 5:14) - This literally reads "after having oiled him." Whether this anointing is to be done before or during the praying is not clear from the Greek text. OIl most likely refers to olive oil. What does the oil signify? ...read more

Tags: Oil, Anointing, Health, Elders, Healing, Prayer, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of God's Word In The Philippines

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2024

Joanne Shetler, a dedicated missionary, spent years living among the Balangao people in the Philippines. Her mission was to translate the Bible into their language and share the good news of the Savior. However, progress was slow. One day, Ama, a man who had adopted Joanne as his Balangao ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Genealogies Of The Bible, Bible, Salvation, Missions, Miracles, God's Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Victorious As We Follow God's Redemption Plan.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 20, 2025

I may have mentioned this previously to some of you that as a teen I was not able to even read a passage from a book in class, I could read, but to read out loud was something else, I was very insecure having been told at a young age, around 9 or 10 that I was hopeless and would never amount to ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-17, John 3:1

Tags: Victorious Living, The Spirit Of Truth, Self Estime, Advocate, God's Love, Struggling  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Gossip Test

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Do I get excited when I hear, “Have you heard…?” Does my heart do a little dance when someone starts with, “You won’t believe what I just found out!” If so, you know the answer—it’s gossip. If you find yourself pulling up a chair and grabbing some popcorn, it’s time to rethink your choices. The ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:20

Tags: Prayer, Gossip, Power Of Words, Test

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[120]. A Message From A Poem – He Has Done All This

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 2, 2025

[120]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE HAS DONE ALL THIS What has the Lord done for you? Do you take time to run through what God has made you, and what great promises He has given you, and what future promises await you? It is an excellent exercise because we must always be mindful of our dear ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:19-20

Tags: Great Things, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[281]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord Is

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 31, 2026

[281]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD IS This poem is the second shortest one I think I have written. I use lots of metaphors here – a metaphor is when you say something is another thing. A simile is saying something is like another thing. There is no rhyme scheme in the poem but there is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1, Psalm 18:2

Tags: Metaphor, Christian Poems, The Lord Is

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Team Is Bigger

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 20, 2026

We read about a rebellion in heaven in Revelation 12:7-10: “7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7-10, Revelation 9:1-3

Tags: Holy Spirit, Angels, Demons, Fallen Angels

Denomination: Methodist

Ignoring The Alarm

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

My house has a smoke detector that goes off every single time I cook. Every time. I am not even burning anything. I’m just making eggs and the thing starts screaming like the house is engulfed in flames. After a while, you know what I did? I just started ignoring it. I fan it with a towel and keep ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Anger, Self Control

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Search Committee Report  PRO

Contributed by David Gant on Feb 14, 2004

SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect. Thank you for your suggestions. We have followed up on each one with interviews or by calling at least three references. The ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Practices

Denomination: Baptist