In Sermon Illustrations: "Abilities"

Is Being Sane Too Much To Ask?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 28, 2021

When young, I remember my grandfather often saying to me, "the world wasn't like this when I was your age." Then he would go on a long rant about how things were much different when he was my age. Finally, he would conclude by saying, "It's an insane world out there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Culture, Generational, Sanity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As If I Really Could

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2023

Have you ever had the feeling that you've been hoodwinked? You can't point out the specifics, but something deep inside suggests you have been. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I had a wonderful vacation at St. Augustine, one of our favorite places to go. Something happened ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Fixing, Hoodwink

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Few Years Ago Paul Harvey Wrote In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

ILL. A few years ago Paul Harvey wrote in Guidepost Magazine about his own baptism. He said that even though he had received almost every reward for his broadcasting powers & ability that he still felt empty inside. Well, one summer he & his wife were vacationing in a place called Cave Creek, ...read more

Tags: Government, Baptism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Law Of The Pendulum  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 17, 2002

THE LAW OF THE PENDULUM In college a student was asked to prepare a lesson to teach his speech class. He was to be graded on creativity and ability to drive home a point in a memorable way. The title of his talk was, “The Law of the Pendulum.” He spent twenty minutes carefully teaching the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 9:10, Psalm 37:3, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:4, Matthew 8:19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Risk, Trust, Provision, Doubt, Belief, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

The Eternal Kiss! (06.08.05--Family--Gen. ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 6, 2005

The Eternal Kiss! (06.08.05--Family--Gen. 27:33-37) The most powerful institution on earth! No, it’s not the United State Congress or the Supreme Court for that matter. And it isn’t the Presidency, the World Court or the United Nations. Although such institutions are singularly powerful and no one ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 27:33-37

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Lutheran

It's Better Higher Up! (08.31.05--Sickness!--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 30, 2005

It’s Better Higher Up! (08.31.05--Sickness!--John 16:32) Webley our oldest dachshund has a thing about long walks. Simply, he doesn’t like them very much. Webley is eight and getting up there in years. Anything over a mile or so can be grueling for him. And, because of this the pads of his paws ...read more

Scripture: John 16:32

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Making God-Hugs Possible! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 10, 2005

Making God-Hugs Possible! (10.12.05--Sacrifice!--Matthew 19:21) Does God place limits on how far He wants us to go when it comes to committing to His will? If His will is our sacrifice, can there be any limits? Is our God reasonable when it comes to our ability to forbear or to bear? God, of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:21

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

The Blood Of Jesus Christ Cleanses All Sin

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Oct 17, 2005

How is it possible that the blood of Jesus Christ has such power to redeem and cleanse us from all sin? This is possible because of who Jesus is and what He did when He died on the Cross. First, Jesus was, is and always will be, absolutely sinless in thought word and deed. Secondly, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7

Tags: Redemption, Forgiveness, Blood Of Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

It's The Fruit And Not The Tree! ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 20, 2005

It’s The Fruit and Not The Tree! (10.24.05--Making It!--Psalm 1:3) Each year as the seasons change, so does the selection of fruit that is available at my local Piggly Wiggly. In early summer there are the tangy apricots and sweet plums along with nutty peaches and nectarines. As summer passes, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:3

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 26, 2005

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah 52:34) He had a job most people despised. In fact, his job most often elicited laughs than it did applause. He lived alone since his wife died. There were times that he would go on long fasts, sitting in front of his humble home, drawing stares from his ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 52:34

Tags: Faith, Believe, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Where Moods Must Get Off! (11.02.05--Faith That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 1, 2005

Where Moods Must Get Off! (11.02.05--Faith That Flies!--Jeremiah 21:1-2) I’m by no means an exercise nut! Despite the fact that I have had a daily routine for many years which includes ten minutes on the weight bench and ten on the elliptical trainer, the fact that most mornings you will find me ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 21:1-3

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Excellent Congregations: Excellent Protestant ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Excellent Congregations: Excellent Protestant Congregations, by Paul Wilkes and published by Westminster John Knox Press identified the following 26 common traits among the "excellent" protestant congregations. 1. A vibrancy about living a Christian life...living on the creative and holy edge of ...read more

Tags: Church General

Recently, I Was Listening To A Teacher By The ...  PRO

Contributed by Jess Bousa on Feb 14, 2006

Recently, I was listening to a teacher by the name of Rob Bell and he spoke on the selecting process that Rabbis would use to choose their disciples. At the Age of 6, children would begin to learn the Torah, this training was called Bat cipher, from 8 to 10 they would have the torah by heart, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 13:51-52, Matthew 28:16-20

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Pentecostal

Steve Lyons Will Be Remembered As The Player Who ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Steve Lyons will be remembered as the player who dropped his pants. He could be remembered as an outstanding infielder ... as the player who played every position for the Chicago White Sox ... as the guy who always dove into first base ... as a favorite of the fans who high fived the guy who ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Tags: Sin General, Abandon

Brother Of John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Booth, Saves ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Brother of John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Booth, Saves Abraham Lincoln’s Son The story is told of two brothers. One of them would carry a letter to the grave that could have set the record straight, but I will tell you about that later. There was a man whose name was Edwin Thomas, a master of the stage ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:11-12

Tags: Heroism

Richard Meyer On Reasons For Our Lack Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Richard Meyer on Reasons for Our Lack of Prayer C. Richard Meyer gave three reasons for our lack of prayer in his chapter on praying for one another, in his book “One Anothering.” 1. First, he said that we don’t pray because we don’t know how to pray. a. And that certainly can be a reason. b. Many ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

Tags: Prayer General

Two Sons And What They Did With Their ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2009

Two Sons and What They Did With Their Marbles Once upon a time, a mother gave each of her sons two dollars and took them to a toy store to buy the beautiful, shiny marbles they had been asking for. The older son quickly figured out how many marbles he could get with his two dollars, chose the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Stewardship

Seven Types Of Loneliness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 1, 2021

7 Types of Loneliness 1. New-situation loneliness. You’ve moved to a new city where you don’t know anyone, or you’ve started a new job, or you’ve started at a school full of unfamiliar faces. You’re lonely. 2. I’m-different loneliness. You’re in a place that’s not unfamiliar, but you feel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Loneliness, Single, Widow, Fear, Drugs, Alone, Alcohol, Depression  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sooner Or Later, It Seems That At Least Once In ...  PRO

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Jun 9, 2008

Sooner or later, it seems that at least once in their life with God, every Christian gets infected with the virus of "false maturity." It's a weird virus in that it's symptoms are often easily seen and felt by others, but invisible and unfelt by the infected one! Once infected, the poor soul ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“Hope” Dedicated to All who have lost a child to a tragic early death, stillbirth, Miscarriage or even an abortion that was later regretted There is nothing quite as devastating as the loss of a child to an early death. There are always more questions than answers. There are many things we ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:8

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational