In Sermon Illustrations: "Appreciation"

A Blessed Moment

Contributed by Ferdinand Funk on Sep 26, 2008

A Blessed Moment I want to share a personal story with you that meant the world to me. I have seldom felt so loved and appreciated by my father as on our last trip visit our parents in Paraguay just a few months ago. I share this story because I want families. And, you might say that it is even a ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Mennonite

The Benefits Of The Repel Tower

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 9, 2009

THE BENEFITS OF THE REPEL TOWER I am not a fan of great heights. I have never been able to stand on the edge of a high cliff or at the top of a tall building without a quick heart beat and a dry throat. I have no problem with climbing a high hill or mountain, but to stand on the edge of falling ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian Church

Wrong Priorities Illustrated In The Book, In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 12, 2009

Wrong Priorities Illustrated in the Book, In the Time Bind: When Work Becomes Home and Home Becomes Work Ancient church father Augustine of Hippo once said, “Christ is not valued at all, unless he is valued above all.” Until those folks in Jerusalem moved God from the bottom of their list of ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Tags: Workplace

When I First Met Peter Sumner He Was Blind. As A ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 26, 2010

When I first met PETER SUMNER he was blind. As a young man a terrible accident burned his eyes and left him without his sight. He walked down the aisles of the first Church I served in and his hand knocked the edge of the pew with quite some force. Until that time it didn't occur to me how easily ...read more

Tags: Sight, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God: "I Have Time For You"

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2011

GOD: "I HAVE TIME FOR YOU" There’s a great story about a California lady named Francis Green. She was 83 years old. She lived on Social Security. She had little money, but for eight years she’d been sending one dollar a year to the Republican National Convention. Then one day Frances got an RNC ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

Tags: Gratitude

Atitudes

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 6, 2016

YOU CHOOSE? YOUR CHOICES WILL CONTROL THE OUT GOING AND IN COMING 120 years ago there was a family moving from Georgetown to Johnstown. A new opportunity farming was before them. So they loaded up their covered wagon, hitched up the horses, said farewell and away they went. The journey from ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:9-10

Tags: Attitude, Choices

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hold That Thought!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 23, 2020

One church where I served as pastor has a ping-pong table in the fellowship hall, and sometimes a younger member or two asked me to join them in a game. Now, I was old enough to be their grandfather but that doesn’t stop them from asking! I did appreciate the fact that these youngsters, aged around ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Children, Thoughts, Fun And Games

Denomination: Baptist

Becoming Rich Requires Hard Work

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 20, 2025

BECOMING RICH REQUIRES HARD WORK My Father in Heaven, forgive me, for sometimes I feel that You are unfair. Why is it that despite my efforts, I never seem to have as much wealth as others? I often feel disappointed and even angry, but I am thankful that to this day, I remain in Your care and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Tags: Rich, Hard Work

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[107]. A Message From A Poem – Gospel Reflections

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 9, 2025

[107]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOSPEL REFLECTIONS This poem begins with reflections them moves to creation, then the death of the Lord followed by salvation and ends with a very pleasant scene in peaceful waters and sunlight. The inspiration for this was recall of the tropical scenery around me ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Psalm 23:2

Tags: Salvation, Reflection, Waters, Sunlight, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Atonement, Creation, Beauty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[156]. A Poem Message – Jesus Lord, Your Sacrifice Has Done Much (Easter)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 7, 2025

[156]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – JESUS LORD, YOUR SACRIFICE HAS DONE MUCH (Easter) This poem concentrates on the sacrifice of Christ, making it applicable at Easter or the Lord’s Supper. It deals with the Sin-bearer, the Lamb of God, the Man of sorrows and other points. It is essential that we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:26, Revelation 5:9, Philippians 2:8

Tags: Sin Bearer, Christian Poems, My Substitute, Table Of The Lord, Good Friday, Calvary, The Cross, Man Of Sorrows, Sacrificial Lamb, Death Of Christ, Sacrifice, Communion, Jesus, Easter  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[218]. A Message From A Poem - Poem Of Contrasts

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 3, 2025

[218]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - POEM OF CONTRASTS This poem came to me when I was thinking about the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God” This is the One, strong, royal, who is the Overcomer. {Revelation 5:5 One of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Behold, THE LION THAT IS FROM ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:5, John 1:29, 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Poem Of Contrasts, Victor, Victim, Man Of Sorrows, Subject, Contrasts, Christian Poems, Shepherd, Lamb, Advocate, Lion, King, Judge, Lord, Servant  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Global Gift Dilemma

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 4, 2025

Global Gift Dilemma Simple Gifts, Joyful Hearts I enjoy Christmas not just because it commemorates Christ’s birth and allows us to share that meaningfully with others. I appreciate the spirit of giving, but as my wife and I grow older, we’ve become more careful about our spending. We now keep ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Matthew 1:21, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ideas, Gifts, Frugal, Lists, Christmas, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Chillin Ain’t What I Thought It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 3, 2020

Last week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came up with a brilliant idea. At least, at the time, it seemed brilliant. “Why don’t we,” she began, “take Monday off and just chill?” Since it's been a long time since I did any chillin, I had to ask her, "What do we chill ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Humor, Vacation, Day Off

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’d Rather Kiss A Goat

Contributed by James Snyder on May 15, 2023

There are very few things in my life I regret; at least that I can remember. One of the good things about getting old is that you can forget many things. The important thing is to forget the right thing, which is a challenge. You can be sure I work on this all the time. It takes a really good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:36-37

Tags: Kiss, Goat, Accountability, Excuses

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

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: Abandon, Sin General

Ikuko Toguri Was Born In Los Angeles On July 4, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 8, 2006

Ikuko Toguri was born in Los Angeles on July 4, 1916 the daughter of Japanese immigrants. She went by the name Iva. Iva was a Girl Scout as a child, and she was raised as a Methodist. Iva graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in Zoology. She then worked in her ...read more

I Ran Across This Editorial Written A Few Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Jerry Falwell on Dec 3, 2001

I ran across this editorial written a few years ago by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. The following text was printed in our nation’s Congressional Record: This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

My Father's Hands

Contributed by Dan Steadman on Mar 10, 2004

MY FATHER’S HANDS by Carrie Bobb We often hear parents say how proud they are of their children, but I am one daughter who is proud of her dad. My father is an orthopedic hand surgeon. But it wasn’t until I grew up that I began to realize what he really did for a living; as a kid, all I knew was ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In A Back Yard There Once Lived An Apple Tree ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Jun 25, 2004

In a back yard there once lived an apple tree and a thorn bush. The apple tree produced nice juicy apples that everyone liked to eat. Kids would climb up the tree and pluck the apples. Worms would eat the ones that fell on the ground. Birds would peck away at the fruit from the top. The owner ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-24

Tags: Faith, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Truth Is, I'm No Different. I, Too, Want To ...

Contributed by Todd Stiles on May 16, 2007

Truth is, I’m no different. I, too, want to extend my influence beyond just the few years I have on this earth. And I bet you do as well. To show you what I mean, I brought a couple of items with me this morning that help me in my own quest for living what I call a “beyond the horizon” kind of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist