In Sermon Illustrations: "A Happy Psalm"

In A Recent Survey In Discipleship Journal ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Simms on Dec 7, 2003

In a recent survey in Discipleship Journal Magazine, readers reported that their greatest spiritual challenges came from 1. Materialism 2. Pride 3. Self-centeredness 4. Laziness 5. Anger/Bitterness (Tie) 6. Sexual Lust (Tie) 7. Envy 8. Gluttony 9. Lying Survey respondents noted that temptations ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:4-35, Psalm 73:1-28

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist

Soren Kierkegaard, The Danish Theologian & ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Mar 29, 2004

Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian & philosopher, told this parable, which he called “The Wild Duck of Denmark; A wild duck was flying northward with his mates across Europe during the springtime. En route, he happened to land in a barnyard in Denmark, where he quickly made friends with the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:13-16, Romans 7:15-25

Tags: Headship, Character, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

After The Dallas Cowboys Had Won The Super ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

After the Dallas Cowboys had won the Super Bowl, Tom Landry made this observation. "The overwhelming emotion--in a few days, among the players on the Dallas Cowboys football team--was how empty that goal was. There must be something ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 142:5, Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

Tags: God Brings Hope, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Asking Everywhere  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

ASKING EVERYWHERE As hopeless as her situation must have seemed, she was persistent. The language of verse three (present tense verb) indicated that every day she begged him for help. “The language leaves open the possibility of confrontation everywhere, not just in the court. She pleaded with ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, Psalm 139:1-10

Tags: Parable Widow

Does It Help To Think That God Delights In You? ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 6, 2004

Does it help to think that God delights in you? Think about it! I don’t care how ugly you think you are. You are God’s delight. I don’t care how fat you are. You are God’s delight. Even if your marriage seems such a struggle. You are God’s delight. Even if you are divorced, your self-esteem ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:19, Zephaniah 3:17

Tags: God's Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Arrogance/Pride: (Mcmanus)in South America, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Miller on Jan 4, 2005

ARROGANCE/PRIDE: (McManus)In South America, the llama is a cultural metaphor for arrogance. To keep a herd of llamas corralled, you don’t even need a fence. All you need is one rope circling around the herd to keep them enclosed. Just by placing it at a height beneath the head and base of the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 10:4, Mark 10:24-25

Tags: Humility

Denomination: *other

The Optimist Says, The Cup Is Half Full. The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 16, 2001

The optimist says, the cup is half full. The pessimist says, the cup is half empty. The child ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1, Nehemiah 1:11

Tags: Parable General, Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

In An Earlier Century, There Lay A Large Boulder ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on May 1, 2001

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 61:1-8

Tags: Doing God's Will, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reaching The End Of A Job Interview, The Human ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

Reaching the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked a young engineer fresh out of MIT what kind of a salary he was looking for. "In the neighborhood of $140,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Luke 17:7-10

Tags: Servant, Christian Disciplines, Workplace

Today In Sunday School The Teacher Told Us A ...

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 13, 2001

Today in Sunday School the teacher told us a story about Gaylord and his old dog that wouldn’t bite anybody. Seems that the dog liked to run alongside when Gaylord rode his bike. Gaylord either did not have a chain guard on the bike or this was in the days when they did not use them. Anyway, one ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 36:7, Revelation 21:4

Tags: Trust, Pain, Distrust

Denomination: Baptist

The One True God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

THE ONE TRUE GOD "Back in my Bible college days I struck up a friendship with a man from the Far East. Before his conversion to Christianity, the worship of man-made wooden images and human-like deities was a way of life. As a little boy, the question came to his mind one day, 'Why do I worship ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-121, Leviticus 26:1

Prayer's Best Position  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on May 20, 2002

PRAYER'S BEST POSITION Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key was in the hands. He always ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8, John 17:1-26

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General, Strength

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Eskimo's Are Among The Greatest Hunter's Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The Eskimo’s are among the greatest hunter’s of the world, but there is one animal that is the most difficult for them to catch. This animal has the greatest intellect, keenest smell, and the sharpest eyesight. And yet for the Eskimo’s to survive they must trap and kill this animal before it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 140:5, Genesis 19:1-26

Tags: Sin Bondage To, Sword Of The Spirit

What Is Possible When There Is Hope  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN THERE IS HOPE Joyce Hollyday tells the story of a school teacher who was assigned to visit children in a large city hospital who received a routine call requesting that she visit a particular child. The teacher took the boy’s name and room number, and was told by the teacher ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 62:5-8, Colossians 1:27

Tags: Witness, Faith, Power, Life, Simple, Easter Resurrection, God's Faithfulness, Integrity, Difference, One, Brokenness, Live, Pathfinder  (view more)  (view less)

A Young Man Was Getting Ready To Graduate From ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Carroll on Mar 11, 2008

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’ showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13, Psalm 67:1

Tags: Hands, Foot, Ilustracion, Paraguas, Eyes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Republican, Democrat, And Libertarian Arrive At Heaven

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Aug 31, 2022

A Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and an unassuming man all arrived at the gates of Heaven. First the Republican spoke to St Peter, “I am sure am glad I made it here, I was sure to give plenty of money to the poor.” St Peter replied, sorry sir, your name is not in the book. Then the Democrat ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-4, Revelation 20:11-15

Tags: Heaven, Politics, Book Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You Carrying The World On Your Shoulders?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2023

Bruce Larson tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ: "For many years I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:22, Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Burdens, Problems, Cares, Faith, Worry, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Meekness: Personal Restraint For The Sake Of Others

Contributed by Richard Tow on Mar 20, 2023

Years ago, a young man named George Atley was serving in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a group of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The group was completely at his mercy. He could have killed every one of them. But as he assessed the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:15, Psalm 37:11

Tags: Evangelism, Love, Missions, Meekness, Restraint  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Misapplied Scriptures, John 9:31: Does God Hear Sinners, Or Not?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Oct 13, 2023

Introduction: This is another verse of Scripture which has been used and misused by many people for a long time. Some folks teach that it’s basically useless for any sinner to pray because “well, right there, it says, ‘God heareth not sinners!’” But is that what the verse really teaches? Here’s ...read more

Scripture: John 9:31, Psalm 66:18

Tags: Blind Men, Misapplied Scripture, Unusual Healings, Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

From East To West

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2024

How far is the east from the west? Where does the east end and the west begin? A certain state once had this slogan: "Where the west begins and the tall corn grows." The last part of the slogan is true; the first is not. No one knows where the west begins or where it ends. It's all a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Guilt, Condemnation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational