In Sermon Illustrations: "Bad Habits"

A Letter To Santa  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A LETTER TO SANTA: Dear Santa Claus: You’ll probably be surprised to receive this letter from an adult. You may be even more surprised as you read it to find that the writer is neither a maiden aunt nor a disgruntled bachelor. I’m a young mother. It isn’t my intention, Santa, to hurt your ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 4, 2005

Filled To The Brim! (07.05.05--Joy Every Day--Ecclesiastes 5:1-9) When I was younger I remember being moved on more than one occasion, either by laziness or a predisposition to want to do something more “rewarding” on a Sunday morning, to prompt my dad with this question: “Why do we have to go to ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Tags: Worship Purpose, Worship Benefits

Denomination: Lutheran

We Are Called To Be Faithful In Doing What God ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jan 3, 2008

We are called to be faithful in doing what God has called us to do. The superintendent of a large school was concerned about the mess he found in so many of the classrooms he visited. Papers were often scattered on the floor, and the students’ desks were very messy. Feeling strongly that ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Birds Of ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Birds of Feather Flock Together Many in America will tell you that they are Christians because they believe in Jesus Christ. Others attempt to proclaim their faith in Him by becoming members of a local church that they may or may not regularly attend. They have convinced themselves as long as ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:10

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Heaven, A Real Place

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heaven, A Real Place Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Go! Let Go!

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 6, 2023

LET US STUDY THE EAGLE! I read about this boy that grew up in the city of New York. The boy fell in love with “EAGLES.” He checked every book out of the school library and the public library about “EAGLES.” As he got older he watched every movie, video and documentary he could find about ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Tags: Sin, Roots

Denomination: Assembly Of God

[035] A Message From A Poem – Beware The Fowler

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 25, 2025

[035] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEWARE THE FOWLER GOTCHA! We hear that in children’s play and in some games. In fact I think there may have even been a board game in the 1950s with that title. Have you ever watched a spider on its web sitting there silently and an insect becomes ensnared in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 124:7-8, Psalm 91:3

Tags: Pitcher Plant, Spider Web, God Delivers Us, Caught, Fowler, Trapper, Ensnared, Gotcha  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[113]. A Message From A Poem – Have You Seen A Gouldian Finch?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 20, 2025

[113]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVE YOU SEEN A GOULDIAN FINCH? I keep finches including the gouldian finch, one of the most beautiful finches in the world, if not the most beautiful. If you have not seen one, go do a search on the internet. This poem covers a number of subjects. When you look ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8, Acts 17:30-31, John 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Gouldian Finches, Wise Designer, Creation, Evolution, Repent, Colors, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[175]. A Message From A Poem – Bema – The Judgement Seat Of Christ

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 22, 2025

[175]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEMA – THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST What do Christians think of the judgement that is coming for Christians that is outlined in these very telling verses? – {{1 Corinthians 3:11-15 “for no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 John 2:28, Revelation 4:10-11, Matthew 10:42, Revelation 22:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Reward, Cup Of Cold Water, Bema, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Judged, Judgment, Shame, Penalty, Judge, Rewards, Ashamed, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[253]. A Message From A Poem – The Artist And The Gypsy Girl

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2026

[253]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ARTIST AND THE GYPSY GIRL Created faithfully from a tract of the same name. It was around 1998 that I came to have a gospel tract called “The Artist and the Gypsy Girl” and I was quite impressed by it. I wanted to convert the tract to a poem but maintaining ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:19, Acts 4:12

Tags: Pepita, A Gospel Tract, Witnessing, The Gospel Message, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Stenburg, Crucifixion Painting, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not My Job  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

NOT MY JOB The names in this story have been changed out of respect for their privacy. Julie W told her family's story in a magazine article. [My daughter], Allison, came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn't speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 15:20, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Tags: Addiction

In An Article In Campus Life A Young Nurse Writes ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 9, 2001

In an article in Campus Life a young nurse writes of her pilgrimage in learning to see in a patient the image of God beneath a very “distressing disguise.” Eileen was one of her first patients, a person who was totally helpless. “A cerebral aneurysm (broken blood vessels in the brain) had left her ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Christian Disciplines, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Farmhand (And Forgiveness)  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

THE FARMHAND (AND FORGIVENESS) Forgiveness was the most important lesson best selling author Tony Hillerman learned as a kid. His story goes: I was 14 when Mr. Ingram knocked on our farmhouse door in Sacred Heart, Okla. (pop. 38). The old sharecropper lived about a mile down the road and ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others

I Recall One Of The Andy Griffith Episodes That ...  PRO

Contributed by Martin Wiles on May 8, 2002

I recall one of the Andy Griffith episodes that I think illustrates very well the matter of giving. It seems Andy had been elected chairman of the needy children charity drive. They were taking up money at the schools for this charity as well as in town. Well, word got back to Andy that Opie had ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

El Soldado Y El Sargento — The Soldier And The Sergeant

Contributed by Dr. Samuel Sanchez, Ph.d. on Aug 21, 2009

“El soldado y el sargento” THE SOLDIER AND THE SERGEANT (TRANSLATION BELOW) Un joven soldado y su sargento, viajaban en el tren juntos, y los unicos asientos disponibles estaban entre el medio de una Hermosa señorita que viajaba con su abuelita. EL SONIDO DE UN BESO- Y EL SONIDO DE UN CACHERADA. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: Christian Church

Chaffing Under ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

Chaffing Under Authority How many of you are ‘rule-keepers’? When you see a rule do you try to do everything possible to not break it? How many of you are ‘rule-breakers’? When you’re faced with a rule, do you find yourself wanting to inwardly disregard it or outwardly disobey it? I was accused of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:1-2

Tags: Law And Gospel, Authority

There’s No Way He Should Have Been On The ...

Contributed by Brian Buriff on Mar 1, 2010

THERE’S NO WAY HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE MEDAL STAND A. 19 Yr-Old Speed-Skater JR Celski. 1. Going into final turn the 1,500-meter short-track speed skating final 2. J.R. Celski was fifth – skating behind Apolo Ohno who was in 4th 3. The South Korean skaters had a firm grasp on the gold, ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Church Of God

Sanctity Of Human Life

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 6, 2010

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE There's plenty of evidence of blatant disregard for human life today. Terrorism and suicide bombers? Capital punishment? Human trafficking. Abortion? So what is God thinking when He asks Abraham to take his only son, the son he loves, and to sacrifice him as a burnt ...read more

Tags: Human Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of Martin Luther

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 17, 2011

THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER In 1517, an obscure Catholic priest named Martin Luther placed his life in God's hands when he nailed his 95 theses, his 95 arguments against the Catholic church, on the door of the Wittenberg Church. There was nothing wrong with nailing pages to the door. Everything was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

What Would Jesus Buy?

Contributed by Ken Pell on Dec 4, 2011

WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? Some of you are familiar with the name, Morgan Spurlock. He produced the documentary "Super-Size Me." He has produced another lesser-known production titled "What Would Jesus Buy?" Please note: I am not recommending the movie it is a bit distasteful but it makes a good point. ...read more

Tags: Christmas Advent

Denomination: Nazarene