In Sermon Illustrations: "Another Chance"

Afghan Spiritual Harvest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

AFGHAN SPIRITUAL HARVEST In his book What Good Is God?, Philip Yancey writes: "This is a true story from Afghanistan that took place in the early 1970s, before the Russian occupation or the Taliban regime. At the time, the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-11, Mark 19:1-20

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Easter Eggs And Bloodhounds

Contributed by Jack Kale on Apr 6, 2016

Easter Eggs and the Bloodhound in Your Soul The rain forced us inside for our annual family Easter egg hunt, but we had a blast anyway. The kids started by hiding 120 eggs in the kitchen and den while the adults played cards in the dining room. Gangee, Pap-Pap, Uncle Paul, Aunt Kathryn, my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Tags: Truth, Hunting, Hiding Place, Finding God's Grace, Easter Egg Hunt  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: *other

What A Crazy World We Live In

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 26, 2022

Driving home from an appointment across town, my wife and I encountered some crazy driver weaving in and out on the road in front of us. The fact that there was not an accident was somewhat surprising. “What,” The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage exclaimed, “is wrong with people?” Looking at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Family, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall, Stop Laughing

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 19, 2022

As old as I am, and I expect to get as old as possible, I have noticed that I see things differently than I did a few years ago. I’m not sure if my vision has changed or my perspective. But one thing is certain; something has changed. A lot of things are very aggravating in my life. When I think I ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 5:21

Tags: Mirror, Perception

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Just When I Think I Got Everything Covered

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 16, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder I like to have an organized life. I must confess that my idea of organization is not The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s idea. We may share many things, but not planning and organization. When she begins a project, it is well planned and organized down to the tiniest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40

Tags: Organization, Planning, Crafts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Fool Me Once And You Will Be The Fool

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 16, 2022

Recently, the A/C company we use came and did their yearly inspection. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage took them around to the places that needed inspection. Everything turned out to be quite well and no problems. That got me thinking of what happened many years ago with another company ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:2-3

Tags: Service, Fool

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Don’t Believe In Superstition…but

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 4, 2023

I don’t believe in any of the superstitious nonsense that seems to be going around these days. Some people have a fear of numbers like 13 and 666. What in the world does a number have to do with anything? When I am around people who are superstitious like that, I’m afraid I lean toward the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Secrets, Superstitious

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Key To Life Is Forgetting The Right Things

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 27, 2024

The thing that has concerned me as I have aged was about forgetting things. How could I remember everything when I was crowding my brain with all kinds of new things? In this regard, there is no comparison between The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I have a problem remembering, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Tags: Remember, Forget

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Saint Arnold Janssen And His Mission Relevance Today

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Feb 1, 2024

Saint Arnold Janssen and His Mission Relevance Today (The Feast Day is on 15th January) Scripture: Mark 1:14-20 The 19th century saw the birth of a visionary priest Saint Arnold Janssen, who devoted his life to evangelization and the promotion of the Christian faith. The following words will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Tags: Saint Arnold Janssen, The Society Of The Divine Word

Denomination: Other

Ugly Is As Ugly Sees

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 11, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder I was drinking a cup of coffee in the middle of the shopping mall. I don’t like going to shopping malls, but The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage sent me to get a new dress shirt for Sundays. I told her I could wear the same one I wore last year, but she has different ideas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:3-4

Tags: Beauty, Life

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Days Of Wonder In The Hospital

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 1, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder My plans for the New Year were horribly changed by ending up in the hospital. Around the middle of the month, it seemed like I may have had the flu. After all, everybody around me had the flu, and I just wanted to fit in with society in general. I had to cancel my Sunday ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Nurse, Hospital, Sick

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Was A Snarly Kind Of Day

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 26, 2025

Last week The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had another one of her girl days with our daughter and granddaughter. Don’t let this get around, but it is one of my favorite days of the year, including my birthday. It’s a day on which I can do what I want to do. That doesn’t come often; when it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:29

Tags: Wrath, Patience, Reward

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[182]. A Message From A Poem – Marys At The Cross (An Easter Poem)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 3, 2025

[182]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – MARYS AT THE CROSS (An Easter Poem) This is an Easter poem about 4 women, precious ones in the life of the Lord during His time on earth. Some people find it confusing to work the Marys out, especially at Easter time. What the Marys speak of is total devotion and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:55-56, John 19:25, Mark 15:40-41

Tags: Jesus Crucified, The Virgin Mary, Christian Poems, Easter Poem, Mary Wife Of Clopas, Easter, Cross, Devotion, Mary Magdalene, Salome  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scooping Up Manna

Contributed by Paul Davidson on Jan 27, 2021

I wrote the following poem titled “Scooping Up Manna” on March 3rd, 2011 as an entry in my private journal during a time of great internal struggle and turmoil over whether or not I would choose to be obedient to follow after God. This poem is based on the Biblical account found in Numbers ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9

Tags: Sacrifice, Obedience, Purpose, Meaning, Regret, Struggle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Listen To This True Story. Rabbi Michael ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 28, 2001

ILL. Listen to this true story. Rabbi Michael Weisser lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. And for more than 3 years, Larry Trapp, a self-proclaimed Nazi & Ku Klux Klansman, directed a torrent of hate-filled mailings & phone calls toward him. Trapp promoted white supremacy, anti-Semitism, & other ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Galatians 3:1-14

Tags: Racism, Pearl Harbor, Forgiveness For Others, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Josh Mcdowell, A Dedicated Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 23, 2001

Josh McDowell, a dedicated Christian intellectual, wrote, "I was invited to speak in a university in South America. Because of the university’s Marxist leanings, I was the first American to speak there in four years, & it was a tense situation. "Big photographs of me had been posted all over ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Adopted By Christ  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 9, 2001

Illus.: “Adopted by Christ” John was born into a family of 12 children. They were very poor. He was the youngest. He never remembered his father eating a meal with the rest of the family. He had to work long hours to feed his family. One day his father ran off with another woman, leaving his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:11-20

Tags: Ashes, Beauty, Children, Trinity, God's Provision  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

Want To Know What Your Boat Is? Your Fear Will ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2001

Want to know what your boat is? Your fear will tell you. Just ask yourself this: What is it that produces fear in me - especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith? For David, it is his vocation. He has been a builder for thirty-five years; he is in his late ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Steward Of The Light  PRO

Contributed by Michael Elmore on Jan 17, 2002

STEWARD OF THE LIGHT In the nineteenth century, lighthouses on the U.S. coasts were tended by lighthouse keepers and their families. If a man who tended the light took ill or became disabled, often the work was picked up by his wife or children. Such was the case of Hosea Lewis. Having become, ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 2:19

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Methodist

One-Third Of Americans Reassess Priorities After ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

One-third of Americans Reassess Priorities After Terrorist Attacks (RNS) One-third of Americans say the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were a "life-altering experience" that caused them to change their priorities, according to a new Gallup poll. Nearly half of conservative Christians -- 46 percent -- ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Basics Of Christianity, World Religions