In Sermon Illustrations: "24 Hours"

Leap Year

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

Like most years, the dates for the Sundays in March are the same as those in February. Every four years, we have a leap year. Why? A year is 365.25 days –more precisely, 365d 5h 48m 47.26s. It used to mess up the solar calendar. That gave rise to the need to reconcile those leftover hours, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7

Tags: Reconciliation, Redemption, Leap Year

Denomination: Methodist

Standing At The Edge Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

STANDING AT THE EDGE OF THE PRESIDENCY In early 1975, Jimmy Carter, the ex-governor of Georgia, began campaigning in Iowa, the site of the first statewide contest in the race for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. Carter knew almost no one in the state, and his first piece of business ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 3:1-17

Tags: Perseverance, Trials And Difficulties

Surprise Reward At The End Of Bill Broadhurst's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2010

Surprise Reward at the End of Bill Broadhurst’s Marathon In July 1981, Bill Broadhurst entered the Omaha, Nebraska, Pepsi 10k. Broadhurst is slowed by a brain aneurysm he suffered 10 years earlier, which left him partially paralyzed on the left side. He made it his goal to finish the 10k despite ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Sports

The "Glue" Of Jesus

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 22, 2011

THE "GLUE" OF JESUS The diameter of the Earth around the equator is 7,926.6 miles. The earth’s circumference is about 25,000 miles. It weighs an estimated 6,000 million, million, million tons. And it just hangs there in mid air. Not held up by anything visible. The earth is spinning 1,000 ...read more

Tags: Creation

The Long Ride Home

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 19, 2020

(Note: I used this illustration as part of a funeral message in January 2017) Back when I was 11 years of age, I really discovered pro baseball! We lived about four hours away from Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time—which was no problem for me! Well, I must have really pestered Dad because he ...read more

Tags: Lazarus, Death Of Believers, Fathers And Sons, Assurance

Denomination: Baptist

The Covenants

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

THE COVENANTS Eternal covenant, Heb 13:20—The redemptive covenant before time began, between the Father and the Son. By this covenant we have eternal redemption, an eternal peace from the ‘God of peace’, through the death and resurrection of the Son. Edenic covenant, Gen 1:26-28—The creative ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Brethren

En Segundo  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2002

Rom 5:8 Cierto dia un niño le pregunto a su padre. Papa podemos vivir un año sin pecar? Su papa le contesto; no creo que sea posible pues un año tiene 12 meses y en 12 mese muchas cosas puede sucer.El niño inclino su su rostro muy triste vovio a preguntar. Papa,podemod-emos vivir un mes sin pecar? ...read more

You Are Not Your ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

You are Not Your Own Purchased at the Highest Price Corporate Worship The first step to enjoying public worship services is to understand that Christians are not their own. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A House Of Cards Economy

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 6, 2008

A House of Cards Economy In fact, our current financial crisis is a direct result of this "entitlement," or "free lunch" kind of thinking. According to Terry Jones of the Investor's Business Daily (posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008), President Carter signed the Community Reinvestment Act in ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Story Of The Gipper

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Feb 2, 2012

THE STORY OF THE GIPPER It was halftime of the 1928 Army vs. Notre Dame Game that legendary head coach Knute Rockne gave his "win one for the Gipper" speech to his beleaguered players. Notre Dame was having one of its worst seasons on record and Rockne was trying to salvage what he could of the ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Consecrated To God From Youth

Contributed by Samuel Reyes on Apr 9, 2012

CONSECRATED TO GOD FROM YOUTH “Los más grandes hombres de la iglesia cristiana fueron vidas consagradas a Dios desde su juventud. -Juan Wesley era un estudiante en Oxford cuando fundó el Club Santo. -Martin Lutero tenía 27 años cuando abrazo el pasaje y fue inspirado en todo su ministerio por el ...read more

Tags: Youth

Denomination: Free Methodist

Over 25,000 Americans Commit Suicide Each Year. ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Jones on Mar 5, 2001

Over 25,000 Americans commit suicide each year. Over one million will try but only one out of fifteen will succeed. It is the tenth highest killer in the U.S. More will die by suicide than by murder. The model age for attempting suicide is 32 for men and 27 for women. The model age of succeeding ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30

Tags: Faith, Freedom, Funerals Non-Christian, God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mel Gibson's Stock High: Two Months After The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Mel Gibson’s Stock High: Two months after the phenomenal success of his film The Passion of the Christ Mel Gibson is being courted by many in Hollywood for his ‘connection to middle America,’ but is still held at arm’s length by others who found his film divisive. In the film world, meanwhile, ...read more

Tags: Television And Movies

The May 1984 National Geographic Showed Through ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The May 1984 National Geographic showed through color photos and drawings the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman Cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A.D. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden that the residents were killed while in their routine: men and women were ...read more

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Arthur Pink, A Theologian From Another ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Aug 24, 2007

Arthur Pink, a theologian from another generation, talks against those who preach about Jesus as a savior from hell rather than a savior from sin. He explained that there are many who are dangerously deceived by this, because there are many who desire to escape the flames of hell, but have no ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Parents Are Taking A More Active Role In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Parents are taking a more active role in the lives of their children than they did 10 years ago, reports the Census Bureau. In '04, 47% of teens had restrictions on TV viewing, up from 40% in '94. 68% of 3-5-year-olds had TV viewing limits in '04 vs. 54% in '94. Kids' 6-11 viewing restrictions grew ...read more

Tags: Parenting

A Lutheran Youth Fellowship '07 Poll Finds 28% ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2008

A Lutheran Youth Fellowship '07 poll finds 28% cite their personal faith as their top concern while 23.8% say the future; 23.3% family relationships; 23.1% college and 16.3% unbelievers. Others included terrorism 9.4% and war 7.9%. 58.4% of respondents said pre-marital sex is always wrong, down ...read more

Tags: Youth

I Was Visiting My Home Town In Romania When One ...

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Jul 29, 2008

I was visiting my home town in Romania when one of my neighbors died. I was attending the visitation. Usually the family and relatives are taking care of the funeral – the body stays in the living room of the house for three days, until the burial. But if they live in a condo or blockhouse, they ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Elevator Magic  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 24, 2008

ELEVATOR MAGIC An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again. The boy asked his father, "What is this, Father?" The father [never having seen an elevator] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Independent/Bible

1 Corinthians ...

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 12, 2009

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul said run to win as if winning is everything. It is, but not in the sense that you find in the sports arena. Running to win only makes sense if you’re chasing the right prize. My daughter, Jen, has a fur-ball with whiskers named Fred. Fred will chase anything that ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: United Methodist