In Sermon Illustrations: "Bad Dream"

Something Better Down The Road  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

SOMETHING BETTER DOWN THE ROAD A football game was being played in Badger Stadium in 1982 in Madison, Wisconsin with more than 60,000 fans in attendance. The home team was losing. But out of the blue during time outs, when play was a at stop, the fans would jump up and roar with excitement. Why? ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Disappointment

Right And Wrong

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 22, 2010

RIGHT AND WRONG Years ago, when I lived on South Holmes Street, I used the Super D pharmacy that was nearby. There was a young woman who worked there with whom I had occasional conversations. She told me that everyone in her family had had an abortion except her. She added that she did not judge ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Wisdom Of Children

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

THE WISDOM OF CHILDREN Patrick aged 10: "Never trust a dog to watch your food." Michael aged 14: "When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don't answer him." Joel, aged 10: "Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a cricket bat." Andrew aged 9: "Puppies still have bad breath ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Brethren

A Joyful Noise

Contributed by Noel Herr on Dec 18, 2010

A JOYFUL NOISE You know, when our youth group went Christmas caroling, Emma was all aglow. We sang to her, perhaps not in the most angelic of tones----especially when we tried to sing "O, Come, All Ye Faithful", because the music we used wasn't the familiar tune we sang today. I felt kind of bad ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Lutheran

The Black Death And The Great Fire  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2011

THE BLACK DEATH AND THE GREAT FIRE In 1665 the residents of London were dying by the thousands each day. The bubonic plague was spreading from house to house because of the unsanitary conditions. Rats and fleas spread the germs throughout the city. Almost 30,000 people died, almost a third of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: God In The Hardships

Thank You For Tomorrow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2011

"THANK YOU FOR TOMORROW" I like that story about the boy and his father who were planning a trip for the next day. The father told his son that they would go on a very exciting and wonderful trip. He did not tell his son where they would go or what they would do. Nevertheless, the son was full of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-3

Tags: Faith General

Only One Test

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 19, 2011

ONLY ONE TEST For some crazy reason I have one of those migraine headaches this morning that started last night. I tried to pray this morning but couldn’t get past the pain. I spoke to God but more about MY pain instead of your pain. But I knew that I wanted to get this lesson out. Sometimes when ...read more

Tags: Tithes

Martin Sheen's Faith

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 2, 2012

MARTIN SHEEN'S FAITH Former Hollywood bad boy Martin Sheen says watching his son, Charlie Sheen, lead a similarly decadent life fills him with remorse. He worries that he learned to be a father too late. He particularly regrets his failure to share his faith. "I never lost my faith," Sheen says. ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

Richard Eye On Divorce

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 16, 2013

RICHARD EYRE ON DIVORCE "We now have over 40 years worth of very conclusive statistics that show that children from two parent homes (a mother and a father) are at substantially less risk for drug abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropout, suicide, and a whole host of other problems. Statistically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:6

Tags: Children

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Praying For Rain

Contributed by David Dunn on Sep 27, 2025

A story from drought-stricken Texas captures the boldness of true intercession. For months no rain had fallen. Desperate believers called a Friday-night prayer meeting. One farmer stopped for fuel on the way. In the back seat lay an umbrella. The station attendant mocked, “Why carry that? It ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:24, James 5:17, Matthew 7:7, 1 Kings 18:41, Luke 18:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Intercession, Providence, Persistence, Expectation, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Understanding

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jan 21, 2025

In 1988 at the Democratic National Convention the Reverend Jesse Jackson gave a speech called “Common Ground” in which he challenged us to never give in to demagoguery. He said, Don't you surrender and don't you give up. Don't surrender and don't give up! Why cannot I challenge you ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:7

Tags: Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson

Denomination: Baptist

Purpose In Your Heart

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART Wilma was born prematurely. This produced complications that resulted in her contracting double pneumonia (twice) and scarlet fever. But the worst was a bout with polio which left her with a crooked left leg and a foot twisted inward. Metal leg braces, stares from ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance

I Wasn't Supposed To Live...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 13, 2024

I believe that God called me to preach in the summer of my freshman year in high school. He gave me a dream about one of my best friends who was somewhere in eternity screaming in pain: He was crying out to me, "You never told me. You never told me! Larry, you talked to me about baseball. ...read more

Tags: Pastors, God's Call, Miracle, Fathers, Preachers, Death, Healing, Prayer, Purpose, God's Will, Testimony  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Going To Be Things Happen To You In ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 19, 2004

There are going to be things happen to you in this life that will make you cling to that eternal hope because there is no other. Wally and Barbara Rendel know that’s true. Wally is the minister at the Southern Acres Christian Church in Lexington and has been for over 20 years. But five years ago ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian Church

Max Lucado, In No Wonder They Call Him The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Max Lucado, in No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, tells the story of Maria and her daughter Christina. Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent living at home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-8

Tags: Commitment To Christ

There Is Almost Nothing Like It In The World. To ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hiehle on Jul 10, 2001

There is almost nothing like it in the world. To see the eyes and expression on a little boy’s face the very first time he experiences it. Little boys dream about it. Old men still tell about it with great excitement and enthusiasm. Nothing else compares to the thrill of fighting to bring in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Temptation General, Sin Deceptive, Satan

Denomination: Nazarene

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

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Fellowship Of The Unashamed  PRO

Contributed by Larry White on Jan 11, 2002

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED "I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Discipleship, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

Mother Teresa Visited Australia. A New Recruit To ...  PRO

Contributed by David Simmons on Feb 22, 2002

Mother Teresa visited Australia. A new recruit to the monastery in Australia was assigned to be her guide and “gofer” during her stay. The young man was so thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman. He dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they would talk ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Tags: Giving General, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

The Hope In A Rocket  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Feb 28, 2002

THE HOPE IN A ROCKET October Sky is a great movie. It is based on the autobiography of former NASA science engineer Homer Hickam, Jr. It is about four boys who embody the hope of a community. It’s 1957 in Coalwood, West Virginia where all the boys grow up to be coal miners. Homer Hickam ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:4-12

Tags: Leadership General, Evangelism The Lost, Faith

Denomination: Methodist