In Sermon Illustrations: "Back Row"

Haydn: Not From Me, But From Thee

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 21, 2010

HAYDN: NOT FROM ME, BUT FROM THEE Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall where his oratorio The Creation was being performed. Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous ...read more

Tags: Glory

Denomination: Brethren

The Bird's Return

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

THE BIRD'S RETURN The great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen (Ro-ald Amun-son) was the first to discover the magnetic meridian of the North Pole and the first to discover the South Pole. On one of his trips, Amundsen (Amun-son), took a homing pigeon with him. When he had finally reached the top ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Brethren

They Didn't Live Happily Ever After

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Dec 4, 2010

THEY DIDN'T LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER For the first time in her life, four year-old Suzie had just been told the story of "Snow White." She could hardly wait to get home from nursery school to tell her mommy. With wide-eyed excitement, she retold the fairy tale to her mother that afternoon. After ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Brethren

L.l. Bean: Integrity

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2011

L.L. BEAN: INTEGRITY In 1912, Leon Leonwood Bean started a mail order business in Greenwood, Maine by selling a hunting boot with a money-back guarantee. However, defects in the design led to 90 percent of them being returned. Making good on the guarantee could ruin his fledgling business, but ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 25:13-16

Tags: Workplace Integrity

I'm Sorry…and Congratulations

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 19, 2011

I'M SORRY...AND CONGRATULATIONS After breaking up with his fiancée, a young man realized the error of his ways when he wrote: "Dearest Marie, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you'll take me back. No one could ever take your place ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Ultimate

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 1, 2012

THE ULTIMATE In the early 1970s the Dallas Cowboys had a star running back named Duane Thomas who was kind of a head case. One year the Cowboys made it to the Super Bowl and someone asked Duane Thomas what he thought about playing in the "ultimate game." He replied "If this is the Ultimate Game, ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Tags: Apologetics Jesus

Water! Water!  PRO

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Oct 5, 2012

"WATER! WATER!" After one of the great battles in the Civil War we were coming down the Tennessee River with a company of wounded men. It was in the spring of the year, and the water was not clear. You know that the cry of a wounded man is, "Water! Water!" especially in a hot country. I remember ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Church Of God

Turn On The Lights

Contributed by Lance Hostetter on Mar 17, 2013

Turn On the Lights! We must turn on the lights and share our faith! Sometimes we must not let our fears hold us back! Pilots from HORNET were the first to attack, scoring lethal hits on Zuikaku-class carrier. It was long after dark when the returning aircraft arrived over the Task Force. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Miss America And Elephants

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Feb 1, 2014

Matt 24:24-25 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Back years ago, I heard a well known salesman that regularly competed with the number one company in his industry. Those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:24-25

Tags: Size, Church Size

Denomination: Bible Church

The Worst Boss Ever

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

What if you had a boss that demanded that you check in with him every ten minutes no matter what? What if he required that even if you were in the middle of other important work in your office? What if he demanded that whether you were at the office or at home? What if he required that even if ...read more

Tags: Technology, Busyness, Cell Phone

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Eat The Peanuts!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2019

A pastor went to call on one of the elderly widows of his church. While visiting with her, he noticed a big bowl of shelled peanuts on the coffee table. During the long conversation with the little old widow, the pastor began nibbling on the peanuts and soon the entire bowl was empty! The ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Deception, Hospitality, Humor, Pastors, Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funnnnny Story About Temptation!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled this block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses." When he came back, the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Tests, Trials, Police Officers, Drivers, Sin, Lust, Temptation, Excuses  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 9, 2024

Lead us not into temptation! A driver tucked this note under the windshield wiper of his automobile for a police officer to read. "I've circled the block for 20 minutes. I'm late for an appointment, and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job. Forgive us our trespasses, ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Test, Police Officers, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Temptation, Trial, Faith, Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man's Worth Is Not Based On His Wealth

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The Jews had a practice of seating the most important people nearest the sacred scrolls in the synagogue. Other (less important) people would be seated in the back. This unhealthy practice was still carried on by some Christians in Jerusalem in the time of James, the half-brother of Jesus. Those ...read more

Tags: Prejudice, Synagogue, Judgmentalism, Possessions, Playing Favorites, People, Money, Soul, Favoritism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Father's Blessing By Morgan Cryar (A Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 22, 2007

A FATHER’S BLESSING by Morgan Cryar (a Christian music artist) from Decision magazine. From Stories for a Man’s Heart, P 240. Compiled by Alice Gray Many a morning as a child I stumbled through the darkness to our family’s truck, fell back to sleep, then was awakened by the sound of the truck ...read more

Tags: Bad Habits, Cussing, Pessimist, Attitude General

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Have Pain, It Doesn't Have Me!" Matthew ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 25, 2005

“I Have Pain, It Doesn’t Have Me!” Matthew 24:1-13 Key verse(s) 13:“‘. . . but he who stands firm to the end, will be saved.’” Tolerance for pain. Some of us have more than others and I doubt there is any among us with unlimited ability to bear pain. To observe the many and varied reactions to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-13

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

Fasting Is Not Just About Giving Up Food, It Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Fasting is not just about giving up food, it is an attitude of repentance, of obedience and of humility before God. The best analogy for a fast that I know is something that happened to me while I was at work. I work as a police officer and one day, my sergeant asked a colleague and my self to go ...read more

Tags: Victory, Troubles, Triumph, Trial, Miracles Of Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Unsung Heroes—barzillai The Gileadite, Part 2

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 3, 2020

Introduction: the revolt was over, Absalom was dead, and David was ready to go back to Jerusalem. It seems David had come to regard Barzillai the Gileadite with much respect, maybe even admiration. David wanted him to go to Jerusalem but in a classic speech, Barzillai graciously said, “thanks but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 19:31-40

Tags: David, Barzillai The Gileadite

Denomination: Baptist

Ready Or Not, Here I Quit

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 18, 2021

I do not quit easily. When I start a project, I like to work until it's finished. I hate to quit before something is completed. One thing I have learned through the years is not to start something unless I have the time and resources to finish it. How many projects I started in the past and ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Quitting, Agreement, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

John Griffith Lived Through The Great Depression. ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Nov 6, 2000

John Griffith lived through the Great Depression. He got a job on the edge of the Mississippi caring for one of those great, huge railroad bridges that cross that mighty river. John brought his 8-year-old son, Greg, to work with him to see what Daddy did all day. The little boy was wide-eyed ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Humanity Of Christ, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: United Methodist