In Sermon Illustrations: "Awesome Wonders"

Larry Norman Funeral Was A Going Away Party

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 25, 2024

What a gathering! Over 500 poured into a church this morning to pay our respects to Larry Norman. As we entered, we were handed ‘circus programs’ (instead of a boring pamphlet) that read: "Larry Norman Presents: A Going Away Party." It was a gathering of friends, family and fans ...read more

Tags: Funerals, Christian Music, Death, Celebration, Heaven, Mourning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pleasing Your Dad

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 27, 2024

PLEASING YOUR FATHER This one guy seemed to be very concerned about pleasing his dad. The story goes like this… One day a young boy was driving a load of hay to the market. He came around a corner too fast and his trailer load of hay tipped over. The young man stopped the tractor, jumped out and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4, Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 27:16, Proverbs 20:20, Romans 13:7, John 14:1-11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Honor, Father's Day, Dads, Farmers

Denomination: Baptist

How God Fulfils His Promises In Our Life?

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 24, 2025

Every true promise of God passes through the stage of death before its fulfilled. The stage of death- is where we lose all hope, and the fulfilment of the promise looks impossible. The mere thought of the promise becomes burdensome. Sometimes we will forget the fact that we have such a wonderful ...read more

Tags: Faith, Hope

Baseball - The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Baseball And The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett Baseball is known for its surprises. It's a beautiful game that lets grown men play a kids game. For more than a century of baseball and thousands of games, only 16 men have homered four times in one game. The last was Josh Hamilton, five years ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Romans 5:1-4

Tags: Perseverance, Hope, Good News

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[030] A Message From A Poem – Beauty From Ashes

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 18, 2025

[030] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEAUTY FROM ASHES One of the deepest emotions we have is shame. Shame happens when sin has caused havoc in a person’s life, and the realisation of it bursts like a cloud over the person. Shame brings guilt and guilt can affect a person greatly, even causing ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:10, Psalm 51:1-2, Psalm 51:12, 1 John 1:7-9

Tags: Ashes, Sinning, Repentance, Guilt, Shame, Bathsheba, Conviction, Poetry, David, Forgiveness, Beauty, Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[225]. A Message From A Poem - Psalm 68 Selections

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 11, 2025

[225]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PSALM 68 SELECTIONS This poem is a breakdown in Psalm 68, and 12 of the verses have been selected. The heading in the Psalm says “A Psalm of David. A Song,” and is directed to the Choir Director. It would seem this Psalm resulted from a victory David ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-10, Psalm 68:18, Psalm 68:14, Luke 16:19-31

Tags: Christian Poems, A Song, A Happy Psalm, Paradise, Victory, Ascension, Psalm Of David, Lazarus In Paradise, Jesus Ascended  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leighton Ford(Billy Graham’s Bro In Law) ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 2, 2001

LEIGHTON FORD(Billy Graham’s bro in law) was traveling by airplane and found himself next to an empty seat. He was looking forward to the extra room when appeared the stewardess with an elderly woman, 96 yrs of age. ‘Mrs ____ will be sitting here next to your sir’. As the flight proceeded ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, People In The Gospel, Lordship Of Christ

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

One Of The All-Time Greats In Baseball Was Babe ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Apr 19, 2001

One of the all-time greats in baseball was Babe Ruth. His bat had the power of a cannon, and his record of 714 home runs remained unbroken until Hank Aaron came along. The Babe was the idol of sports fans, but in time age took its toll, and his popularity began to wane. Finally the Yankees traded ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love, Faith, God's Provision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In An Earlier Century, There Lay A Large Boulder ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on May 1, 2001

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 61:1-8

Tags: Doing God's Will, Evangelism, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Few Years Ago, Time Magazine Featured A ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. A few years ago, Time Magazine featured a story about Peter Sellers. It told about him appearing on the Muppet Show & being interviewed by Kermit The Frog. His interview began with Kermit telling Peter Sellers, "Now, just relax & be yourself." Peter Sellers responded, "I can’t be myself ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Evangelism The Lost, Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is A Story Of A Young Hippie Who Gave His ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 16, 2001

There is a story of a young hippie who gave his life to Christ during the Jesus Movement of the late sixties and early seventies. One Sunday he went to a church, not knowing it was one of the more “upper class” churches in the area. He was late to the service, and the pastor was about to begin ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-4

Tags: Jesus' Ministry, Christian Love, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Wesleyan

In Leadership Magazine, Dave Wilkinson Writes The ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jan 23, 2002

In Leadership magazine, Dave Wilkinson writes the following to pastors… Have you ever wondered why your pastoral resume doesn’t evoke more enthusiasm? Do you ever think, "What are these people looking for?" Perhaps the question should be, "What aren’t they looking for?" because with the numbers of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Tags: Leadership General, Sacrifice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Handsome In My Dirty Clothes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2002

HANDSOME IN MY DIRTY CLOTHES On one of Matthew Rogers’ recent work trips to the Dominican Republic, everyone in the group was encouraged to leave behind any clothes or gear they didn’t want, because someone there could certainly use them. He was just going to give away some of his old worn out ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines

Where Christ Would Be  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

WHERE CHRIST WOULD BE At the state university I attended, I knew a history professor who was a Christian. He would go down to a local nursing home and visit with the elderly men and women there on a weekly basis. Though some were lovingly visited every day by their families – having been sent ...read more

Imagine That We Are Putting Together A 1,000 ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on May 30, 2002

Imagine that we are putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle. In turn we each put pieces into place; slowly the beauty of the picture begins to take shape. As we continue putting the puzzle together we talk about what it would be like to be a part of the scene before us. As the final pieces are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There's A Story About A Proud Young Man Who Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Mar 30, 2002

There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge." Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Is The Day The Devil Has Made  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2002

THIS IS THE DAY THE DEVIL HAS MADE The real test of a thankful heart is how it responds to a context of crisis. Dr. Arthur Caliandro tells of the 25 year old woman who was flying in a small plane with her boss when they had to make an emergency landing in Texas. The pilot was killed instantly, and ...read more

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

In April 1865, The Civil War Was Coming To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2003

In April 1865, the Civil War was coming to a close. Robert E Lee had surrendered to US Grant. Lee later begged the southern states to join the Union and be one nation again. Johnson finally surrendered to Sherman, leaving only one major Confederate general to surrender, which he eventually did. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-2

Tags: Endurance, Faith, Jesus, Psychologist, Pit  (view more)  (view less)

Why Do We Celebrate?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 18, 2003

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE? Lou Whitmire, a reporter in Mansfield, Ohio, asked the all important question "Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?" to students at Sherman Elementary school. Here are a few of the answers he got: Jamie Copley, 7, said people celebrate Thanksgiving because it’s the ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday