In Sermon Illustrations: "A Good Day"

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

Death Of The Son

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jun 4, 2004

DEATH OF THE SON There is an old story about a man by the name of John Griffith, who lived in Oklahoma in 1929 and lost all he had in the stock market. He moved to Mississippi where he took a job as bridge tender for a railroad trestle. In 1937 he was involved in a horrific accident. One day his 8 ...read more

Tags: Atonement, Sacrifice

Denomination: Christian Church

We Are Not ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

WE ARE NOT INVINCIBLE "Humanly speaking, this was a time when God’s glory was discounted, and His people were not a testimony to His great Name." Sinclair Ferguson’s "Isaac’s Storm" is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Habits

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

HABITS The American Heritage Dictionary "A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition." It comes from the idea "to have, to hold, possess." Roman poet Ovid in 43 BC: "Nothing is stronger than habit." Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, ...read more

Tags: Character

Evidence For The Resurrection Is Reliable And True

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

It was the middle of the 1800s and a man by the name of Simon Greenleaf was teaching a class on evidence of law at Harvard University. Greenleaf was considered by many to be the greatest expert on evidence of law the world has ever known. He had been praised for his knowledge and when it comes to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Peter 1:3

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Evidence, Reliability Of Truth, Jesus The Risen Savior  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Fake News Or Truth?

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Sep 30, 2024

Donald Trump has often spoken of what he calls, “fake news” when describing what he considers biased reporting. And it is true that most reporting about Trump is negative, while his opponents receive more favorable treatment. But did you know that the phrase “fake news” was first coined by ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:6-12

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Fake News, Sure Witness, Jesus Is Son Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Sovereign God Has Fixed The Time For My Death

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 10, 2024

There is a scene in the Civil War motion picture, "Gods and Generals", that is telling. The movie follows the rise and fall of Civil War hero General Thomas Jackson, and does not try to hide his Christianity. Throughout the picture, Jackson's dependence on God is shown, but never ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Death, Chosen, Election, Free Will, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Man's Choice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Portfolio For Nobody

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

It was 2017. I had just left a software development company. Cassy was working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens, and we were living in Lubbock, Texas. I started doing freelance graphic design, photography, videography, motion graphics, all of that. But the whole time I felt like I needed to be ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:2, Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John Griffith Lived Through The Great Depression. ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 6, 2000

John Griffith lived through the Great Depression. He got a job on the edge of the Mississippi caring for one of those great, huge railroad bridges that cross that mighty river. John brought his 8-year-old son, Greg, to work with him to see what Daddy did all day. The little boy was wide-eyed ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: United Methodist

Ouch And Thanks A Lot!" 1 Samuel 5:6-10 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 3, 2005

“Ouch and Thanks A Lot!” 1 Samuel 5:6-10 Key verse(s): 6:“The Lord’s hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.” What good is pain anyway! Couldn’t God accomplish a whole lot more in our lives if we were tuned into ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 5:6-10

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Lutheran

The "Broken" Sheepdog And The Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

THE "BROKEN" SHEEPDOG AND THE SHEPHERD Philip Keller tells a story in his book, Lessons from a Sheep Dog, about how a bedraggled collie named Lassie came into his possession. One day he happened to notice an ad in the paper that simply said: "Border collie to good owner. Currently uncontrollable ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

The Parable Of The Fig Tree  PRO

Contributed by Ty Tamasaka on Jul 26, 2011

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE 6 "Then Jesus told this story: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Other

Wheat ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 5, 2012

WHEAT HARVEST I grew up in Wellington, Kansas which is a small farm town of about 8,000 people located 30 miles south of Wichita, Kansas. Wellington’s big claim to fame is being the Wheat Capitol of the World. The farmers of my home town produce more wheat per capita than anywhere else in the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

I'm Not A Christian, So...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 28, 2009

"I'M NOT A CHRISTIAN, SO..." You need to know what is going on in the head of a non-saved or pre-saved person. * "I'm not a Christian, so ... I really don't understand this religious stuff. I did try and read bits of the Bible when I was at school, but found it hard to understand. I never went ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Diverse Disciples

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Apr 25, 2010

THE DIVERSE DISCIPLES I have always been a bit of a loner. I was not the sort of person you wanted in your team. I didn't fit. If Jesus hadn't come into my life, I am sure I would have ended up as a starving artist or at least a hermit - a recluse with a long beard, black jeans, T-shirt and ...read more

Tags: Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Together Communication And Attitude Have ...

Contributed by Ricki Lee Brooks on May 5, 2010

Together communication and attitude have potential... either for good or for evil. Here’s what we mean… It was attitude that took out yet another marriage. They were in their twenties. They were the parents of two beautiful children. He, however, had a miserable problem. She endured it. The ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Misapplied Scriptures: Ezekiel 16:6

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2023

Introduction: Some folks, perhaps well-meaning, will take a verse completely out of its context in order to use the words for something much different than what was intended. This verse is one that to my knowledge has never been used as the person (L, to protect the identity) said to me many years ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:6

Tags: Misapplied Scriptures, Blood, Israel

Denomination: Baptist

[174]. A Message From A Poem – I Was Woken Out Of Sleep

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

[174]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I WAS WOKEN OUT OF SLEEP 11 August 2025. I had the most terrible dream. It was so involved and graphic, and it was like justice was closing in on me for some heinous crime though I knew I was innocent yet oscillating with on and off with guilt. I want to forget ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 23:3-4

Tags: Heaven, Storms Of Life, Awake, Draw Near, Dream, Bad Dream, Christian Poem, I Will Never Leave You  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[343]. A Message From A Poem - Whoa! Stop Your Gallop And Take Stock

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 30, 2026

[343]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHOA! STOP YOUR GALLOP AND TAKE STOCK Paul said to examine oneself in this passage – {{2 Corinthians 13:5 “TEST YOURSELVES to see if you are in the faith. EXAMINE YOURSELVES, or do you not recognise this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Corinthians 4:4, Galatians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Examine Yourself, Test Yourself, Christian Poems, Gallop, Take Stock, Neglect Of The Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational