In Sermon Illustrations: "2 Samuel 9 3a6 13"

According To A Recent Neilsen's Rating Poll, It ...

Contributed by Tim Shepard on May 12, 2007

According to a recent Neilsen’s Rating Poll, it is the number one watched show among young people between the ages of 13 and 25. The same poll shows that it is also cthe most hated show of their parents. It has been called “A Modern Masterpiece,” “Great Family Fun,” and “A Perfect Satire of ...read more

Denomination: *other

Quote: Of God's Sovereignty Over All Human ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 28, 2007

Quote: Of God’s sovereignty over all human authority, Robert Culver wrote: God alone has sovereign rights. Democratic theory is no less unscriptural than divine right monarchy. By whatever means men come to positions of rulership"by dynastic descent, aristocratic family connection, plutocratic ...read more

Denomination: Other

There Was A "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," On The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," on the other side of town, so a man drove out of his way to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, "I need this in an hour." She said, "I can’t get this back to you until Thursday." "I thought you did dry cleaning in an hour?" "No," she ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

John Ortberg's Quote,

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Sep 11, 2009

John Ortberg’s quote, “Prayer involves an old paradox in our day. Almost everyone talks to God. Newsweek magazine noted that in a recent survey more Americans said they pray in a given week than work, exercise, or have sexual relations. Of the 13 percent of Americans who claim to be atheist or ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What We Really Want

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Feb 22, 2011

WHAT WE REALLY WANT A woman lay in a hospital bed, her body ravaged by cancer. Day after day her pastor and others prayed for her healing. Each day they could see her silent disappointment that she was not being healed. Then one day she said, "Let's not pray that I'll be healed. God knows that I ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grandpa And The Peach

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

GRANDPA AND THE PEACH "Four-year-old Jason was visiting his grandparents. Grandpa was in his study intently reading. Jason walked in carrying a peach, said something Grandpa didn't catch, and handed the peach to him. "Thinking his wife had sent him a snack, Grandpa took it and ate it. Just as he ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

Tags: Children

Trying To Walk Two Roads

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2011

TRYING TO WALK TWO ROADS There is an old West African proverb which says, "The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants." (Janet Weiss, Leesburg, Florida, heard in a conversation by her father, a missionary to the Maninka tribe) That’s the way it is with those who try to live for the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Tags: Worldliness

Grimaldi

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Jan 16, 2012

GRIMALDI A psychiatrist had a patient suffering from severe bout of depression. And the wise doctor’s prescription after examination: "Go and entertain yourself by seeing the famous clown Grimaldi performing in the circus in the town today, his antics are bound make you laugh...you sure would find ...read more

Tags: Comfort

Denomination: *other

We Need To Slow Down  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 9, 2012

WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN A study by the US National Commission on Sleep Disorders blamed half of all traffic accidents on tiredness. Put that together with our penchant for speeding, and the result is carnage on the roads. Annual traffic fatalities now stand at 1.3 million worldwide, more than double ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:2

Tags: Sabbath, Sleep, Traffic, Rest

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

In A Speck Of Watery Material Smaller Than The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

In a speck of watery material smaller than the dot over this i, all the future characteristics of the child are programmed—the color of his skin, eyes and hair, the shape of his facial features, the natural abilities he will have. All that the child will be physically and mentally is contained in ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Hope Brings Survival

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

HOPE BRINGS SURVIVAL Viktor Frankl, Austrian psychologist, survived death camps of Nazi Germany. Frankl was determined to know why some survived and some did not. He looked at several factors: health, vitality, family, survival skills, intelligence. He concluded that none of these factors was ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

The Conductor's Job

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

THE CONDUCTOR’S JOB In a symphony orchestra, a violinist will not go around checking what a trombonist is playing, nor will an oboist worry about whether a trumpeter will come in on time. That is the business of the conductor. These people play their parts and the conductor puts it all together. ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

What Will You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

WHAT WILL YOU DO? Henry Ford gave away millions of dollars to many different causes in his lifetime, but he was notorious for the fact that he refused to give any money at all to schools. He felt that well-meaning but non-businesslike people frequently mishandled those gifts. Now, there was a ...read more

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

The Cost Of Redemption - Hosea Buys Back Gomer

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 27, 2022

One man started the bidding: “12 pieces of silver!” “13!” Said Hosea. “14 pieces of silver!” Hosea’s bid was “15!” The low bidders were beginning to drop out, but one man continued bidding: “15 pieces of silver and five bushels of barley!” Hosea said, “15 pieces of silver, 5 bushels of barley and a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38

Tags: Hosea, Redemption, Covenant Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dying For Treasure

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 11, 2023

Have you ever heard about a man named Forrest Fenn? Forrest Fenn was a pilot in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Major and awarded the Silver Star for his sermon in Vietnam, which flew 328 combat missions within a year. After his service to his country, he ran an art gallery where he made his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Tags: Money, Treasure

Denomination: Brethren

When We Raise Our Hands, God Will Intervene

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

WHEN WE RAISE OUR HANDS, GOD WILL INTERVENE Heavenly Father, I have just realized how Almighty You are, even though I have known this for a long time. Forgive me, Father, for often facing various problems relying only on myself. It turns out that I am limited and have no strength of my own. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:11

Tags: God, Raised Hands

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

More Government Procreation Policies: In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

More Government Procreation Policies: In September, a pro-population town council member in Inari, Lapland (Finland), vowed to give up his political career if only the town’s women produced at least 80 babies next year and 85 the year after. At the other end of the spectrum, India’s Health Minister ...read more

Tags: Marriage General, Television And Movies, Sexuality

Psychologists Are Studying What Makes People ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Thomas on Feb 10, 2004

Psychologists are studying what makes people happy. "Materialism is toxic for happiness," says University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener. Even rich materialists aren’t as happy as those who care less about getting and spending. The article also quoted University of Michigan psychologist ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Beggar

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Nov 11, 2004

ILLUSTRATION ------------ The Beggar On 9–8-82 I saw a man, Jimmy Packer, outside a Safeway store, asking for $1 for wine. Usually I’d brush by or give him a quarter to rid myself of the nuisance, but I told him, “I need to run an errand. If you’re still here in 5 minutes and want to dry out, I’ll ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Charismatic