In Sermon Illustrations: "A Happy Psalm"

Do I Need A New Mask For Halloween?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 28, 2023

The older I get, the less patience I have for holidays. I certainly am not a holiday guru in any sense of the word. When I was younger, my favorite holiday was Christmas because of all the presents I got. I could never get enough gifts for Christmas. When I got older, got married and had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:2

Tags: Halloween, Masks

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ain’t Nothing Better Than A P&j Sandwich

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 5, 2023

I'm not sure what happened to my closely guarded diet during these recent holidays, but I won't ask. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has been so busy cooking and preparing food that she didn't have time to oversee my diet. I love it when a plan comes together. As usual, I used ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Thanksgiving, Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Parachute Failed On Christian At 3500 Feet

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 24, 2025

Parachute failed on Christian at 3500 feet Psalm 144:15 - Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD!" *Daniel Cave certainly proved this to be true. In 2005, Daniel was on his very first skydiving jump in Washington State. On the way down, his parachute failed to open. Daniel didn’t fall ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:15

Tags: High Tower, The Lord Our Rock, Righteous War, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, Joy, Fortress, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Shield, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Cocoon  PRO

Contributed by Michael Demastus on Oct 22, 2001

ILLUSTRATION: “Cocoon” The cocoon of the Emperor moth is flask like in shape. To develop into a perfect insect, it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon by hours of intense struggle. Entomologists explain that this pressure to which the moth is subjected is nature’s way of forcing a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-2, Psalm 51:1-19, Psalm 27:14

Tags: Process, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day The Groaning Creation Will Become A ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 17, 2002

“One day the groaning creation will become a glorious ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 8:1-9

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Congregational

A Better World In The New Year  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

A BETTER WORLD IN THE NEW YEAR There was an article a few years ago in which a man gave his idea of a perfect world. He said, "In a perfect world you would feel as good at 60 as you did at 17. And you would be as smart at 60 as you thought you were at 17." "In a perfect world professional ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 1:1-3

Tags: New Year's Day, Kingdom Of God

[112]. A Message From A Poem – Has Warmth Of Nearness Changed To Coolness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 18, 2025

[112]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAS WARMTH OF NEARNESS CHANGED TO COOLNESS? INTRODUCING THE POEM: Our walk with the Lord is not always one on a smooth, sinless road. There is joy; there are times of peace, times of praise, times of contentment, but there are also times of hardship, times of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-4, Psalm 42:5-8, Psalm 42:9-11

Tags: Cast Down, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Waning, Faith, Failure, Forgotten, Despair, Cold, Backsliding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are You Doing, Lord? Amazing Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, LORD? AMAZING GRACE A couple days ago I was commuting to the church from Boissevain where we were camping this week, and heard an interview with a young woman named Kristen James Anderson, ironically on the last day of our free satellite radio. She came from a great family, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:5

Tags: Grace

A Beginners Guide To Giving Thanks

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 21, 2023

You would think giving thanks would come easily and naturally but, for me and I suppose others, it often times doesn’t. So, with the season of Thanksgiving upon us I thought I’d write this little guide for my benefit and hopefully for yours. Give thanks for the good things This is the easy one. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 106:1

Tags: Thanks, Gratitude, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Power Of The Holy Spirit To Change Lives

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 27, 2023

Dr. Harry A. Ironside the great evangelist and Bible teacher was living in the San Francisco Bay area working with a group of believers called “Brethren.” One Sunday as he was walking through the city he came upon a group of Salvation Army workers holding a meeting on the corner of Market and Grant ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-9

Tags: Changed Lives, Power Of The Holy Spirit, Henry Ironside, Holy Spirit, Transformation, Agnosticism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Received The Following Story As One Of Those ...  PRO

Contributed by David Brockhouse on Apr 3, 2008

I received the following story as one of those “dreaded” forwarded emails. I think it’s a fitting way to end a Wednesday Lenten message on Obedience ----from the eyes of a child. Story of God lives under the Bed. I envy Kevin. He thinks God lives under his bed. One night he was praying out loud ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:7-8

Tags: Fear, Doubt, Outreach, Man, Support, Obedience, Wish, Bottle, Genie, Love Others, Shepherd, Help, Trusting God, Goodness, Restoration, Finish  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Caterpillar And Butterfly

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 8, 2019

Robert J. Morgan in PREACHER’S SOURCEBOOK OF CREATIVE SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS tells of the story… Seems there was an enemy that had a beautiful princess trapped in his palace tower. The strong, handsome knight loved his princess so much and he wanted to do a surprise attack and free his princess ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Tags: Better Vs Bitter, Attitudes

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Pete And Tony Were Great Baseball Fans. They Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Rich Young on Jan 18, 2001

Pete and Tony were great baseball fans. They were talking about baseball one day & Pete says, “I wonder if there is baseball in heaven.” Tony replies, “I don’t know.” Soon after, Tony dies. One day he calls Pete from heaven and they’re talking and Pete says, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-7, Psalm 39:1-12

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Heaven, Death Nearness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

University Of Chicago Divinity School Each Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Apr 24, 2001

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO DIVINITY SCHOOL each years has what is called ’BAPTIST DAY’. On this day each one is to bring a lunch to an outdoor picnic area and the school invites one of the popular lecturers to speak at the theological education center. One year DR. PAUL TILLICH came and spent 2 1/2 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1-10, Psalm 34:8

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Atheism, Jesus, Knowledge, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Did You Ever Notice A Tag On A Piece Of Clothing ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 4, 2001

Did you ever notice a tag on a piece of clothing saying, “The irregularities in this product are not flaws, but are a natural result of the handworking of the fabric.”? That’s the way we are, too! God put into your very being certain things that reflect His nature and His character in a way that no ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 150:1-5, Psalm 150:1-6

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Baptist

Some Of Us Get So Used To The Adrenaline Rush Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2001

Some of us get so used to the adrenaline rush of handling crises that we become dependent on it for a sense of excitement and energy. How does urgency feel? Stressful? Pressured? Tense? Exhausting? Sure. But let’s be honest. It’s also sometimes exhilarating. We feel useful. We feel ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 3:1-9, Psalm 3:3

Someone Has Written That There Are Four Kinds Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 10, 2002

Someone has written that there are four kinds of bones in the world. The WISH BONES who spend their time wishing someone else would do the work; The JAW BONES who do all the talking, but very little else; The KNUCKLE BONES who knock everything ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:105

Tags: Labor Day, Workplace, Character

Denomination: Church Of God

Many Years Ago, I Failed The Lord In A Stupid ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

Many years ago, I failed the Lord in a stupid teenager deed. I can painfully remember January the 1st, 1968. I was raised in the parsonage, I was 16 years old, I knew right from wrong. But I failed the Lord! 1/1/68 was always a painful memory of my stupid failure. Before the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Psalm 103:12

Tags: Forgiveness General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Assembly Of God

John Donne Was An English Cleric And Poet Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 10, 2002

John Donne was an English cleric and poet of exceeding intellect who lived his adult life in the early 1600’s. King James I appointed him the dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. But in 1623 he became ill and felt he was dying of the plague, which was taking so many lives at that time. While ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:7-12, Psalm 139:1

Tags: Death, Evangelism The Lost, Promises Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Is It Wrong For A Christian To Declare ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Higgins on Feb 8, 2003

Is it wrong for a Christian to declare bankruptcy? To answer, we need to separate the moral from the ethical, or the biblical from the legal. Our legal system allows individuals and businesses to have some protection from creditors through the various bankruptcy laws. However, I don’t believe a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:21, Psalm 37:23-28

Tags: Money

Denomination: Baptist