In Sermon Illustrations: "Art Collector"

The Great Violinist, Niccolo Paganini Willed His ...

Contributed by Jason Miller on Mar 29, 2010

The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini’s lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and ...read more

Tags: Parable Talents

Denomination: Mennonite

The Storms Of Matthew 8

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 15, 2011

THE STORMS OF MATTHEW 8 When I was a teen living in Okinawa, I remember some of my friends and I taking a boat from the main island of Okinawa to visit one of the smaller islands. It was during the typhoon season and though we were not in a typhoon, it was a really, really scary storm. We were in ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

The Unknown Treasure

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

THE UNKNOWN TREASURE A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knows enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he's no expert. He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:44

Tags: Parable Treasure

The Blame Game

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

THE BLAME GAME Wayne Dyer writes: "All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you...You may succeed in making another feel guilty of something by blaming him; you won't succeed in changing whatever it ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Tags: Guilt

My Friends, If You See A Temptation Coming, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 24, 2007

My friends, if you see a temptation coming, and you can avoid it, run! Don’t wait around, don’t play around, run. You drop a match in your lap, you don’t sit there and wonder how long it can sit there before it burns you. You get rid of it. … > 1 Samuel 17:48 When the Philistine started ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Star Of David

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 23, 2007

The Star of David Unless you subscribe to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, you probably missed the story that was in the May 17, 1987 edition. A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

J B Priestley Wrote A Powerful Play, 'they Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jun 22, 2001

J B Priestley wrote a powerful play, ’They Came to a City’ in which he portrayed the disillusionment of those who entered it. The city’s splendid buildings dedicated to commerce and the arts celebrate human genius and human glory. They look fine on the glossy pages of books that tourists take ...read more

Tags: Sin General, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

I Serve, God Does  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 15, 2002

I SERVE, GOD DOES Humility in leadership can be achieved if one learns to view his role as a simple service to others. Indeed, this is the very essence of leadership: giving energy, not receiving it. And perhaps the surest way to ensure such an outward flow of energy is to think of oneself ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Temptation Pride, Humility

Tradition Has It That Michelangelo Was Teaching ...

Contributed by William Yates on Mar 18, 2004

Tradition has it that Michelangelo was teaching some art students one day. He walks over to one of his students and then starts painting on his canvass. He then hands the student the brush. The student is awestruck. He asks: "How can I finish what you have started?" "Let this inspire you to finish ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Imagine A Town Which Has Everything To Offer: ...

Contributed by John Shearhart on Jan 11, 2007

Imagine a town which has everything to offer: State-of-the-art hospitals, prestigious schools, award winning entertainment, and many other things. There is nothing a person could need which couldn’t be found in this town except one thing: the water makes people sick; any time someone dares drink ...read more

The Weight Of Glory In A Human Soul

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2010

THE WEIGHT OF GLORY IN A HUMAN SOUL Truth: Christ and the cross unify the church when they are kept the priority of the church. In his great message given at Oxford University Church in 1941, C.S. Lewis spoke about the weight of glory within each human soul. "There are no ordinary people," said ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

The Humanist's Prayer

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 8, 2007

The Humanist’s Prayer Lyman Abbot once paraphrased the Lord’s Prayer to reflect the philosophy of those without God. We might call it the Humanist’s Prayer: Our brethren who art on earth, Hallowed be our name. Our kingdom come, Our will be done on earth, For there is no heaven. We must get ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

When A Person Works An Eight-Hour Day And ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Apr 17, 2008

When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Put The King In First

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PUT THE KING IN FIRST In the Berlin art gallery there is a painting by the famous artist Mengel that is only partially finished. It is supposed to be a painting of King Frederick of Germany talking to his generals. Mengel painstakingly painted the generals first around the outside of the painting. ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

[009]. A Message From A Poem - A Tree Climber

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 6, 2024

[009]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A TREE CLIMBER Some people have a burning desire to go to see someone or some event important. Look how many turn out to a Trump rally, or a football final, or who go to see some vain film star. However, some people have a real need and want to meet someone to see ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3, Luke 19:1-6, Luke 19:8-9

Tags: Salvation, Repentance, Sycamore Tree, Zaccheus, Tax Gatherer, Tree Climber  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Lady Was Out Hitting All The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Hamilton on Feb 27, 2003

Illustration: A lady was out hitting all the local garage sales when she came across an old needlepoint picture that read, “Prayer Changes Lives.” She bought it, took it home and began to look for just the right place to hang the new picture. Finally, she decided that it went well in the dinning ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Change, Church General

Denomination: Baptist

There Is A Rather Poignant Christmas Story About ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 6, 2001

There is a rather poignant Christmas story about a little girl who watched her mother & dad getting ready for Christmas. To her, it seemed that dad was preoccupied with burdens & bundles, & mom was concerned about parties & presents, & they just had no time for her. She felt that she was being ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Christmas, Gift

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For The Rest Of My Life!!  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Jul 2, 2002

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! A little girl had been trying for months to learn the art of tying her shoes. She finally grasped the knack and was able to do it by herself. Her parents expected the child to be delighted, but were surprised by her disappointment. Her father asked why she was crying. ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Grace Brethren

Seeing The Value?  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 8, 2002

Seeing the value? An artist took a paint brush and painted a picture in two colors. He called the picture ’BLUE AND GRAY." The artist listened to a critic that couldn’t even paint and threw the picture in a corner and it gathered dust many years. One day someone saw the picture and offered to buy ...read more

Tags: Gifts Discernment

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The New Republic In Its January 27 Issue ...

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 13, 2003

. The New Republic in its January 27 issue reported that the number of products in a typical supermarket in 92 was some 30,000. In 1976 it was 9,000. Likewise in 1992’s produce section there was 285 products while in 1975 only 65. My how our choices have multiplied? When I was 10 years old ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed