In Sermon Illustrations: "American"

Someone Named J. R. Illingworth Once Said, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

Someone named J. R. Illingworth once said, "Prayer has been defined to be a wish referred to God; and, if we could keep this thought before us, it would help us to acquire the habit of prayer by making us refer each wish, as it comes into our minds, to God, for His assistance in furtherance or ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Study Shows Divorce Won't Make You Happier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

STUDY SHOWS DIVORCE WON’T MAKE YOU HAPPIER One research team studied the responses of over 5,000 married adults who were first interviewed in the 1980s. Five years later, the survey re-contacted those people. Even though the study really wasn’t centered on divorce, they found that some of the ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 2:16

Tags: Divorce

I Am His!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

"I AM HIS!" President Theodore Roosevelt, was a charismatic figure who made quite an impression on people. One journalist, William Allen White, wrote of his first meeting with Roosevelt in 1897: "He sounded in my heart the first trumpet call of the new time that was to be... I had never known ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Discipleship

No Fear  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

NO FEAR Brian Simo is a race car driver, and most of you have probably never heard of him. However there is one thing about him with which you are probably familiar. In 1985 he created the "No Fear" clothing line and found an idea that appealed to many Americans. We have a lot of respect for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Fear And Worry

Substitute Soldiers

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

Here in the South, there are memorials in most towns to the bloodiest war fought on American soil – the Civil War. Over 600,000 died in that conflict. What is often not known is that both the North and the South allowed “substitute soldiers.” A man drafted for military service could literally ...read more

Tags: Memorial Day, Sacrifices, Substitute

Denomination: Christian Church

Spiritual Gambling

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 30, 2013

SPIRITUAL GAMBLING The problem of compulsive gambling may seem foreign to most of us. Yet experts believe that millions of Americans are psychologically addicted to gambling. It gives them the excitement of hope and risk, but it usually ends in defeat. It is indeed a temporary pleasure. For those ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lamb With The Broken Leg

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 7, 2014

A tour bus was journeying through Israel with a group of Americans when they saw a unique sight. An Israeli shepherd was carrying a lamb in his arms. The bus stopped to talk with the shepherd and to give tourists a chance to take pictures. A little boy asked the shepherd, "Why are you carrying ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:1-10

Tags: Discipleship, Shepherd, Brokenness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Traditions Around The World

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 19, 2022

As Americans, we pride ourselves in "doing Christmas up big." Tons of gifts, big holiday feasts, huge trees, Lights on the houses. Here are some of the other ways people prepare for the celebration of Christmas: * In Italy they have no Christmas trees, instead they decorate small ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Customs, Traditions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Should A Christian Walk?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jul 29, 2025

Have you ever noticed how novelists or movie directors make use of the way a person walks to highlight his or her character? Proud man walks erect, their heads held high. Beautiful women glide or float. Villains slouch, sneak, creep, or swagger. The need to describe different ways of walking has ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1, Isaiah 57:2, 1 John 1:7, Micah 6:8, Psalm 119:106  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Light, Humble, Walk, Worthy, Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Since The Bible And The Ten Commandments Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Since the Bible and the Ten Commandments have been taken out of our schools in the last 40+ years, we now have epidemic problems with teen pregnancy and Sexual diseases; epidemic drug and alcoholic problems, and violence in our schools to such an extent that we have never seen in the history of our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Paul, Year, Reference, Oldest Person

A Good Name: The Case Of Butch O'hare

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2011

A GOOD NAME: THE CASE OF BUTCH O'HARE His name was Butch O'Hare, one of the heroes of World War II. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

Tags: Character

A Philadelphia Police Officer's September 11th ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2002

A PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER'S SEPTEMBER 11TH EXPERIENCE I am a Philadelphia Police Officer. I am married with a wonderful son. On September 11th, I (like most of my fellow Americans) witnessed the senseless slaughter of human life. The department was put on high alert and our tours of duty ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Death, Endurance

Flag Folding & The Meaning Of Each Fold!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 9, 2002

Flag Folding & The Meaning of Each Fold! Unknown I guess this settles the "One Nation Under God" debate once and for all. Do you know that at military funerals, the 21 gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776? Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention ...read more

Tags: Funeral, Appearance, Motives, Holidays Civic

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Many Years Ago, Al Capone Virtually Owned ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffrey Dillinger on Jun 21, 2005

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. He wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for filling Chicago with everything evil. How did he keep himself out of jail? That is where his lawyer came into play. Big Al’s lawyer was nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” He was excellent at ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, Proverbs 22:1

Tags: Parenting, Children, Example, Footsteps, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Perhaps You Are Familiar With The Greeting Or ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Sep 6, 2005

Perhaps you are familiar with the greeting or call to worship whereby the pastor or liturgist declares, “God Is Good,” and the people, respond, “All the Time.” The pastor affirms, “All the time,” and the congregation declares, “God is Good.” Many United Methodists use it frequently as a ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Methodist

Got My Life, Got My Jesus! (09.07.05--The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 6, 2005

Got My Life, Got My Jesus! (09.07.05--The Temporal Things!--Matthew 5:3) In order to have all things, you must forsake all things. Tell that to those struggling with forsakeness in flood-ravaged New Orleans or storm-crushed Gulfport this morning! My guess is that few if any would understand the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Lutheran

E. There Is A Sylvie Dosrosiers Play That Ran On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

E. THERE IS A SYLVIE DOSROSIERS PLAY THAT RAN ON BROADWAY IN 1995 ENTITLED, "THE LONG SILENCE" THAT SAYS IT ALL, “AT THE END OF TIME, WHERE BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE SCATTERED ON A GREAT PLAIN BEFORE GOD’S THRONE. MOST SHRANK FROM THE BRILLIANT LIGHT BEFORE THEM, BUT SOME GROUPS NEAR THE FRONT TALKED ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

They Will Give You Up  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Mar 31, 2008

THEY WILL GIVE YOU UP Donald Grey Barnhouse led the son of a prominent American family to the Lord. He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately professing Christ before the soldiers of his military company. The war ended. The day came when one of the ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Baptist

I Lost My Boat, But I Preserved My Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

I LOST MY BOAT, BUT I PRESERVED MY LIFE An American (Ken Barnes), safely headed toward land after three days adrift, said a driving storm off the tip of South America snapped his masts and rolled his yacht, shattering his dream to make a nonstop, round-the-world voyage. "I lost my boat, but I ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Story: In March 2004, I Was In The Second ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Nov 8, 2008

Story: In March 2004, I was in the second bookshop in Dymchurch rummaging through the books when I came across a second hand Jerusalem Bible. As I opened up the Bible, a number of loose leaf papers fell into my hand. And on one of them was written a story. It was obviously very meaningful to ...read more

Tags: War

Denomination: Anglican