In Sermon Illustrations: "Artificial Lives"

James Dobson's Faith-Full Parents  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2012

JAMES DOBSON'S FAITH-FULL PARENTS "Of all the values transmitted to me by my father, none made a more lasting impression than his attitude toward money. As an evangelist, he could never depend on the compensation he would be given. The local church would collect a freewill offering for my father, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-6

Tags: Father's Day

In 1 John 4:18, We Are Assured That Love Defeats ...

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Jan 10, 2013

In 1 John 4:18, we are assured that Love defeats fear. That’s good news. But be careful not to read that God’s Love, and God’s Love alone drives out fear. It can. It does. However, some things are very difficult to fight alone. Go back and read verse 12 of Chapter 4 as well. There we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Outreach, Finding Fulfillment, Hardship Of Life, Obedience, Missions, Servanthood, Affliction, Opportunity, Fear And Worry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Ugandan Juvenile Jail

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Bob Goff tells the story of his longtime friend Charlie. Charlie was one of those guys who measured his life not by what he was but by what he has given up. He was a graduate of law school and then became an FBI agent. He met Bob for coffee and then said he wanted to use his training to help kids ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-25

Tags: Forgiveness, Prayer

Denomination: Methodist

The Most Expensive Doorstop In The World!

Contributed by David Simpson on Apr 23, 2018

1 Peter 2:7-8 “Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:7-8

Tags: Precious Cornerstone, Treasure, Foundation, Stumbling Stone

Denomination: Christian Church

What I Learned At The Recycling Center

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 21, 2020

Recycling centers have always been something that fascinated me. Usually these companies are in buildings that were themselves built for another purpose, but were, well, “recycled” as places where we can take aluminum cans, newspapers, and so forth. Besides, we managed to save enough aluminum cans ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:20-25

Tags: Scripture, Bibles Destroyed

Denomination: Baptist

Seven Types Of Loneliness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 1, 2021

7 Types of Loneliness 1. New-situation loneliness. You’ve moved to a new city where you don’t know anyone, or you’ve started a new job, or you’ve started at a school full of unfamiliar faces. You’re lonely. 2. I’m-different loneliness. You’re in a place that’s not unfamiliar, but you feel ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Loneliness, Single, Widow, Fear, Drugs, Alone, Alcohol, Depression  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Unsung Heroes: Godly Fathers

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 5, 2021

Text: Genesis 18:17-19, KJV: 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:17-19

Tags: Father's Day, Abraham, Fathers

Denomination: Baptist

Poem Of The Sheep & Goats

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2022

Song of the Sheep & Goats When the Son of Man comes again In his glory All the holy angels with Him Throne of glory Throne of greatness He'll sit on then I was hungry; you gave to me I was thirsty; you nourished me I was foreign; you welcomed me I was naked; you covered me I was sick; you ...read more

Tags: Parable, Sheep, Song, Judgment Day, Poem, Goats  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I've Been Reading "The Journal Of John Wesley". ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 8, 2000

I’ve been reading "The Journal of John Wesley". In the entry for 24th May 1738, he wrote a detailed account of his spiritual pilgrimage. As a young boy in the family of a clergyman he had been "carefully taught" that salvation could only be obtained by "keeping all the commandments of God." Over ...read more

Tags: Ascension, Faith Vs. Works, Grace

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Krause Was Recently Inducted Into The Nfl ...  PRO

Contributed by Anthony Bradseth on Jan 5, 2001

Paul Krause was recently inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He played sixteen years and had eighty-one career interceptions as a safety with the Minnesota Vikings. However, his greatest challenge in life did not occur on a football field but in his response to the automobile ...read more

Tags: Faith General, Doubt, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

Even When We Come Across Test Questions That Seem ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

Even when we come across test questions that seem simple on the surface, we find that they’re often not as simple as we first thought. For instance, the answer to the question, "How long did the Hundred Years War last?’ seems obvious, but the answer is 116 years. When a test asks, "Which country ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Patience, Integrity, Christian Values, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Heard A Story Some Time Ago Of A Missionary In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 14, 2001

I heard a story some time ago of a missionary in Africa who gave a Bible to one of the African men. When it was given to him, the man hugged it close & expressed great appreciation for the precious gift of God’s Word that the missionary had given him. But when the missionary saw him a few days ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Bible, Bible Influence

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gen. Douglas Macarthur Wrote This Prayer For His ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 19, 2001

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wrote this prayer for his son. He prayed: "Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, & brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud & unbending in honest defeat, & humble & gentle in victory. "Build me a son ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Goals, Children, Father's Day, Father, Dreams  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Where Was The Key?  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Apr 5, 2001

Illus.: “Where Was the Key?” A father and his little girl were staying in a hotel. During the night the girl became very ill and without warning she died. The father was heart-broken. He had already lost his wife and now his precious little girl was gone. Only two people followed the body to ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Heaven, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Is An Old Story About A Lighthouse Keeper ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 25, 2001

"There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-7, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Excuses, Responsibility, Integrity

Richie Cunningham Had Been Watching Her Walk By ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 10, 2001

Richie Cunningham had been watching her walk by his house for days. Every day a certain neighbor gal walked by, the more he noticed her long dark hair - her gentle smile - her soft features - they were all things that beckoned his heart to go beyond the living room window and meet this girl of his ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Cleveland Stroud Had Coached The Blue Collar ...  PRO

Contributed by Lance Ladd on Aug 14, 2001

Cleveland Stroud had coached the Blue Collar Bulldogs for 18 years before his basketball team made it to the state championship. Stroud recalls that "it was the perfect night" when they won. "A night you dream of." He was carried around the gym on the shoulders of his triumphant players and their ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Integrity, Honesty, Faith, Christian Love, Character, Truthfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day Some Manure Came Out From A Prize Bull - ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Sep 6, 2001

One day some manure came out from a prize bull - landing right in the middle of the walkway. It thought to itself, “I’m going to rise above the rest of this dung. I’m not going to live in the gutter - I’m going to be great and famous. That same day, a farmer’s hat fell off on top of the manure. ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Apologetics General, Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Lutheran

Prayer Works  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Oct 15, 2001

PRAYER WORKS The researchers at Columbia University conducted a study with 199 women at an in vitro fertilization clinic in Korea. Unknown to the patients and their doctors, groups of strangers from the US, Canada, and Australia were asked to pray for their success in getting pregnant. Pictures ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12

Tags: Gifts Healing, Prayer Answered, Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Are To Work While We Wait. A Gardener For A ...  PRO

Contributed by E. Lee James on Oct 19, 2001

We are to work while we wait. A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle and the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener and his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Baptist