In Sermon Illustrations: "Appearances"

Freedom Isn't ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Freedom Isn’t Free “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5: 1 No, freedom isn’t free. It comes at great cost for those “buying it.” The United States found out just how high the price could be in the final days of World War II when trying to capture a Pacific Island from ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Tags: Truth Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Christian's Passion  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Christian's Passion "Denying Oneself" There is a tale of the great English actor Macready. Macready was once asked by a preacher; "What is the difference between you and me?" You see the actor appeared before crowds night after night proclaiming fiction and people listened with delight. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-37

Tags: Passion, Christian Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Adorations  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Christmas Adorations For thousands of years the Israelites had been looking for the coming of the Messiah. There in Bethlehem by the miraculous power of God, Mary, a young virgin, gave birth to the Savior of the world. Most people missed that glorious event, but a few did not. Who are the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:11

Tags: Christmas, Savior

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

As America Was Being Settled "…men Of Genuine ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As America was being settled "…men of genuine greatness of character and talents were continually rising up in the western itinerancy. Samuel Parker, born in New Jersey in 1774, and converted in his fourteenth year, was a man of genius, and was called the Cicero of the western ministry. After ...read more

Tags: Faith General

God Still Has One More Move

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Sep 22, 2023

This is a story about a painting in a famous art gallery in France. The painting depicts two chess players, one of whom is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident, and the other is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man's soul. (The painting is now popularly known as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:11, 1 Peter 5:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Painting, Player, Control, Chess

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[192]. Message From A Poem – No Contradiction Found Here

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 8, 2025

[192]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NO CONTRADICTION FOUND HERE I am not sure if I should explain each of these or let you work them out for yourselves. I was going to explain what seems to be contradictions, then I changed my mind. I will decide on that tomorrow! Well, I have decided to let you ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:3, Titus 2:13

Tags: Christian Poems, Born Again, The Blessed Hope, Paradoxes, Contradictions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Pastor

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 26, 2025

The Pastor A Most Unusual Man (Dedicated to all who have answered the call to preach) The phone rings: another urgent call, but he’s ready, the task to meet; kisses his wife a quick goodbye and hurries down the street. A neighbor watches as he goes, thoughts running through his head: He's ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Proverbs 27:23, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Timothy 4:4-16, 2 Timothy 4:1-8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Preaching, Pastor, Pulpit, Pastor's Appreciation Day, Honor Your Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

John 3:16" In Chicago During The Great ...  PRO

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Aug 19, 2002

“John 3:16” In Chicago during the Great Depression there was a little boy who sold newspapers on the street corner to help provide for his family. His tattered jacket that was about three sizes too small provided little relief from the bitter Winter Chicago wind.. On one particularly cold day ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Baptist

The Year Was 1980, Bill Brodherst Who Hadn't Ran ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Jan 12, 2003

The year was 1980, Bill Brodherst who hadn’t ran in any race since his high school days decided to begin training for a marathon known as the Pepsi Challenge 10k in Omaha Nebraska. Sending in his application, he wasn’t sure they would accept him as a participant, but soon the approval came back ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Church Small Groups, Fulfillment, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Was May 7, And Roger Simms Was Hitchhiking His ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 28, 2004

It was May 7, and Roger Simms was hitchhiking his way home, having been discharged from the Army. He flashed his hitchhiking sign at a car, but almost lost hope for a ride when he noticed it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his amazement the car stopped. As Roger entered the car from the ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Clutching My Cane--Straightening The Derby!" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 25, 2004

“Clutching My Cane--Straightening the Derby!” Acts 8: 18-25 Key verse(s): 24: “Then Simon answered, ‘Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.’” There’s an old East Texas saying: “It doesn’t matter how much milk you spill just so long as you don’t lose the cow.” To ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:18-25

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Outhouse And Penthouse!" Isaiah 42: 1-4 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 7, 2004

“Outhouse and Penthouse!” Isaiah 42: 1-4 Key verse(s): 1a: “‘Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight . . .’” Have you ever wanted to lead something? Have you ever wanted to be the one that everyone else follows? Leadership isn’t something that everyone ought to aspire ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Two Old Saw Bucks On A Hill! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 25, 2005

Two Old Saw Bucks on a Hill! (06.27.05--Direction--John 21:4-6 ) How often we see things dimly in the morning light only to confront something altogether different than what we thought we saw in the first place. Not long ago I was awakened early, much earlier than I normally venture out in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:4-6

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

A Mom's View Of Herself: A Confirmed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2009

A MOM’S VIEW OF HERSELF: A CONFIRMED SHOUTER (from Forever Erma By Erma Bombeck, March 5, 1969) Ever since President Nixon’s inaugural plea to "speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices," I’ve had misgivings about my big mouth. I’ve always admired parents who ...read more

Tags: Mothers

I-Phone Apps And The Mind Of ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2009

i-Phone apps and the Mind of Christ: Some of you may be aware that I have just succumbed to a sickness shared by several of you here today. I just purchased my first Apple I-phone. I supposedly did it for the purpose of gaining internet access, texting, and e-mails … along with using it as an ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Messiah Sighting In Brooklyn

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

MESSIAH SIGHTING IN BROOKLYN In 1993 I saw a news report on T.V. it was about a "Messiah sighting" in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Twenty thousand Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews live in Crown Heights, and many of them believed the Messiah was dwelling among them in the person of ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7

Tags: Jesus Christ

Auto Body Repair Ministry--I Have A Friend Back ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

- AUTO BODY REPAIR MINISTRY--I have a friend back home, Michael. Michael is without a doubt a man with a call from Jesus Christ into ministry. Michael ministry is owning and running an auto body repair shop. Running an auto body repair shop may sound like the farthest thing there is from a church, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Book Of Heaven] In 1832 Four Indian Chiefs ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Aug 15, 2010

[THE BOOK OF HEAVEN] In 1832 four Indian chiefs from the western part of our nation walked the streets of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The wearied, wasted manner of their appearance demonstrated the fact that they had come a long way. General George Rogers Clark was military commander at St. ...read more

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Baptist

The Columbia Explosion: Impending Doom

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

THE COLUMBIA EXPLOSION: IMPENDING DOOM The Bible says, "...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). And, "...the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Do you remember when the space ship, Columbia, blew up on re-entry on February 1, 2003? Seven crew members lost their ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Judgment