In Sermon Illustrations: "Assisting Others"

The Regifting Queen Of The Family

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 30, 2023

Sitting around the Christmas tree with my family and opening up Christmas presents, it stirred fond memories of my Aunt Edith. She was known as The Regifting Queen of our family. And believe me, she earned that name quite well. Most of the family didn't catch on to what she was doing. I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Christmas, Gifting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Idiots Make Me Look Good, So Says The Boss

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 10, 2024

Often, I get agitated by people I call "idiots." I don't have an inclusive definition for what an idiot really is; I just use the word carelessly. Especially is this true when I'm out in the neighborhood driving around. Sometimes, I'm in such a nervous frenzy when I get home, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 26:4

Tags: Responsibility, Driving, Idiots

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: What Are They Doing Here?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 3, 2024

Introduction: David had fled to Achish, king of Gath, in the land of the Philistines once before to escape Saul, the king of Israel and his own father-in-law (1 Samuel 21)! Now it’s a few years later and, once again, Saul is chasing David and, again, David fled to Gath. This time, David and his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 29:1-5

Tags: David, Philistines, Achish

Denomination: Baptist

What If I Do Have A Brain?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 1, 2024

After about a month on a health hiatus, things started returning to normal, and then I had a doctor’s visit scheduled for a checkup. I don’t know why they call us patients because I’m not very patient with these doctors. At my visit, the doctor thoroughly examined me but couldn’t find anything ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Brain, Challenges

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Sure Miss Being A Spoiled Brat

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 8, 2024

After my last doctor's visit, I went to the Publix pharmacy to pick up new medicine. Doctors have a pill for every problem in the world—if only they all worked. I was early at the store, and my medicine wasn't quite ready. So, I decided to walk around Publix and get a little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Nice, Temper, Brat

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

So What If I’m Crazy?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 17, 2024

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her wonderful husband are celebrating 53 years of marital bliss this year. What an accomplishment! It doesn’t seem possible that we have been married 53 years. After all, we don’t look that old! At least she doesn’t. It’s amazing how time flies; if ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Unity, Relationships, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Thought She Said, "Doughnut”

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 2, 2024

As hard as I try, and believe me I try, I don’t always hear correctly, especially regarding The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I don’t always hear every word she says. I know God gave me two ears and only one mouth, but I must confess I use my mouth a lot more than I use my ears, which has ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:10

Tags: Humor, Hearing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Didn’t Know I Loved It That Much

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 16, 2024

One important thing I have learned is that you don’t appreciate something until it’s missing. I’ve learned that by many things that I just took for granted. Last week, for example, I had some problems with my truck, so I had to take it in for service. It took longer than I had expected, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Tags: Love, Appreciation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Tok Doesn’t Always Tik

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 15, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my life, I have always lived on a schedule. Every day is devoted to certain tasks, and it has worked for me so far. I know what day it is by what I am doing that day. Unlike The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I cannot multitask. I have to do one thing at a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Schedule, Planning

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[067]. A Message From A Poem – Eden’s Garden And Gardens Of Significence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2025

[067]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EDEN’S GARDEN AND GARDENS OF SIGNIFICENCE This poem is an examination of the Garden of Eden, mainly dealing with Satan’s temptation and man’s fall into sin. There are a lot of teachings that derive from this account in Genesis 3 and in the poem I try to bring ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, Matthew 19:4-6, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: Mary Magdalene, Poem, Gardens, Serpent, Gethsemane, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden, Poetry, The Fall, Eden, Satan, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Journey Of 1,000 Miles Begins With An Apple Fritter

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 12, 2025

Life has many paths, and I have discovered that traveling any of them takes a lot of energy. Unlike The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, my energy comes from those wonderful Apple Fritters. I can't remember the first time I had one, but I vividly remember the last time. Trying to get ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Agreement, Discussion, Apple Fritters

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whatever Happened To "My Space”

Contributed by James Snyder on May 10, 2025

When I was young, one of my life priorities was “My Space.” I defended it with everything I had. In school, I had to defend “My Space.” Several times, I even had to go to the principal’s office and explain what “My Space” was all about. He didn’t seem to understand, and I had to explain it several ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Space, Violations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s Not Always What I Don’t Know

Contributed by James Snyder on May 17, 2025

I would be the first to admit one truth about myself: I don’t know everything. To quote a politician, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” That has been the theme of my life for as long as I can remember. It all began with my parents. Whenever I got into trouble, they would usually respond, “Don’t ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-2

Tags: Wisdom, Memory

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

And Then It’s Monday… Again

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 26, 2025

I'm not sure if it's just me getting old or something altogether different. Time seems to go by fast. My father used to say, "The older you get the faster time goes." I'm finally beginning to understand what he meant by that. At the time, I laughed at him and didn't ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Tags: Time, Monday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Swimming In An Ocean Of Pills

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 6, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder I have a confession to make. I never realized that the older I get, the more difficult life seems to be. Oh, for those good ole days. As a young person, I thought that when I got older, all of my problems would be solved. At the time, I did not know all the problems I was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Health, Old Age, Doctors, Pills

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[211]. A Message From A Poem – Panoramic View From The Pinnacle (Part 1)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 24, 2025

[211]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – PANORAMIC VIEW FROM THE PINNACLE (PART 1) NOTE: When I went to post this it could not be sent because it said the whole thing was too long. Therefore I had to split it into two Parts.. This is Part 1 and Part 2 will follow after this. This is a longer poem. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 16:9, Hebrews 4:13

Tags: Reprobates, Christian Poems, Pinnacle Of A Rock, Tech Companies, Faith Way, World System, Wickedness, Delusion, Reprobate, Humanism, Allegory, Images  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boy, Oh Boy, What A Day It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 27, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my years, I have had many crazy days. I guess it's crazy days that develop character. If so, I have a lot of character. I never had a day quite like last week. Everything seemed to go wrong for me. When we got up, our electricity was off. It had been off for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Accident, Scam

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Oh Where Is My Hair

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 25, 2025

It is true that I don't pay attention to many things in life. I guess I'm just too busy to notice everything. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage always asks me why I'm not paying attention. To keep engaged in that argument, I say, "I'm too poor to pay attention. Could I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10

Tags: Bald, Old, Hair

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s Not A Mess, It’s My Creative Décor

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 24, 2026

The greatest joy I have every morning is not only getting up but also stepping in my office. I step inside, pause for a moment, and look around at all the books on my shelves. I have almost 10,000 books. And yes, I read every one of them. Well, except for commentaries and dictionaries. I love ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Mess, Organize

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Parable Of The Good Muslims  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 14, 2002

THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD MUSLIMS It is difficult to imagine more bleak circumstances; the young mother and her small children, truck packed full of all of their belongings, were in process of moving from rural North Carolina to the mother’s childhood home in Connecticut. Life had taken a tragic ...read more

Tags: Parable Good Samaritan, Christian Love, Compassion