In Sermon Illustrations: "Be Ready"

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: "Don’t Ask Me, It Just Happened!”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 2, 2024

Introduction: Chances are either you, me, or someone we know has tried to excuse something that whoever it was, did. Excuses vary, but more often than not, the reply is something along the lines of “I don’t know how this happened!” One of the clearest cases of “I-don’t-know-itis” took place at the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:21-24

Tags: Moses, Aaron, Golden Calf

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

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 19, 2025

I have noticed recently that sleeping has become a very important part of my life. This just snuck up on me overnight. When I was young and living at home, I tried to come up with excuses and reasons for not going to bed at night. My parents had an early bedtime schedule that they enforced rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:2

Tags: Sleep, Energy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Everyone Seemed Confident That The Ship Was All ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Nov 3, 2002

Everyone seemed confident that the ship was all right," recalled first-class passenger Henry Sleeper Harper. At last, however, the call came for all passengers to come up on deck wearing their life belts, and soon after midnight, Captain Smith directed crew members to ready the 16 wooden lifeboats ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Passing The Torch  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 16, 2004

PASSING THE TORCH On August the 13th, the Summer Olympics begin 16 jam pack days of competition at the site of the original Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. This month we have watched American athletes compete for a spot on the team in track and field and swimming and if their times carry over to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:19

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Evangelism How To

Our Chains--His Slavery!" Matthew 20: 20-28 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 2, 2004

“Our Chains--His Slavery!” Matthew 20: 20-28 Key verse(s): 28: “. . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” “Just sign here on the dotted line here Mr. Brunner and we will be done.” As I lifted my hand, grip on pen, ready to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Lutheran

Groans From Within! (06.09.05--Family--Prov. ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 7, 2005

Groans From Within! (06.09.05--Family--Prov. 11:29) I turned the engine over but oh the groans from within! My old leaf vacuum hadn’t been run in about a year and it was time to put it back into service redeeming the lawn and pathways of the carpet of the beech leaves blown down in a recent storm. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 11:29

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Unfinished Flower Beds! (09.19.05--Grace ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 15, 2005

Unfinished Flower Beds! (09.19.05--Grace Walks!--John 17:17) When we purchased Beech Springs years ago, we arrived in a valley that was purposed by trees, trees and more trees. There was little lawn because the trees shaded it out. The trees fenced in the house and driveway so that there was scant ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17, John 17:6-19

Tags: Peace, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

I Was In My Second Year Of Walking With Christ. ...

Contributed by Elena Bogdan on Apr 18, 2006

I was in my second year of walking with Christ. Those who knew me closely, heard me say that my mission in life was to live for the same purpose Christ lived on earth: “to seek and to save the lost”. And that’s how I lived my life from the beginning of my Christian life. Every day, before I ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

William Shakespeare Immortalized The Battle Of ...

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

William Shakespeare immortalized the Battle of Bosworth with the words, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" King Richard the Third was preparing for the fight of his life. An army led by Henry, Earl of Richmond, was marching against him. The contest would determine who would rule ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

My Home Church Always Put On A Christmas Play ...

Contributed by J. Curtis Goforth, O.s.l. on Dec 30, 2006

My home church always put on a Christmas play with the children of the church. And one evening, I was being especially disruptive downstairs as some of the younger children were getting ready for their parts in the play, and my pastor came downstairs to try and bring us under some sort of control. ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

So I'm Going To Share With You A List I Came Up ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 10, 2007

So I’m going to share with you a list I came up with of Seven steps guaranteed to embitter your Children: 1. Discipline your child only when you lose your temper. Let him get away with everything, then without warning, let ‘em have it! Blow your top! Scream and Yell! Let ‘er Rip! Go Crazy! ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21

Tags: Children, Call, Leadership

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

No Good Reason, Just An Excuse  PRO

Contributed by Larry Moyer on Aug 5, 2009

NO GOOD REASON, JUST AN EXCUSE Some time ago I spoke to a man in the Air Force. He admitted to me that he did not know if he was going to heaven. So I pulled a 3x5 card from my pocket and said, "I would like you to list on that card whatever is keeping you from trusting Christ right now." He ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13-18

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Margaret's Story  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 24, 2009

MARGARET’S STORY A young woman named Margaret had spent decades battling depression and anxiety that were traced back to a horrible day in school when a Teacher, frustrated with her tardiness, made her stand in front of the room and invited all the students to come up to the board and write ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Zephaniah 3:17

Tags: Grace, Easter, Resurrection, Salvation, Encouragement, New Life, New Birth  (view more)  (view less)

God Answers Persistent ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

God Answers Persistent Prayer Sharon Atwell tells the story of her daughter Kate in June of 2000 having a backache and diagnosed with leukemia. She went through chemo but by August she had a seizure and was unconscious. While getting treated at St. Jude an infection attacked her brain. Only six ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Several Years Ago There Was A Guy Who I Use To ...

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2011

Several years ago there was a guy who I use to talk with on occasion when I worked at RJR and don't believe he was a saved man, if he was he wasn't walking the walk and for sure wasn't talking the talk. He used foul language, had a reputation of being a big pot smoker. One morning he came in with a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Witness, Jesus, Cross, Calvary

Denomination: Baptist

The Agony Of Defeat

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

"THE AGONY OF DEFEAT" Some of you might remember the TV program "The Wide World of Sports". For many years, the opening of the program opened like this: "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport; the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat." The opening illustrated "the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:12

Tags: Change

In 1 John 4:18, We Are Assured That Love Defeats ...

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Jan 10, 2013

In 1 John 4:18, we are assured that Love defeats fear. That’s good news. But be careful not to read that God’s Love, and God’s Love alone drives out fear. It can. It does. However, some things are very difficult to fight alone. Go back and read verse 12 of Chapter 4 as well. There we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Fear And Worry, Finding Fulfillment, Hardship Of Life, Outreach, Obedience, Missions, Servanthood, Affliction, Opportunity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Sins Are Habits  PRO

Contributed by John Sattler on Feb 18, 2013

SINS ARE HABITS I’m reading a book right now called "The Power of Habit" (http://charlesduhigg.com/the-power-of-habit/) about how so much of our daily life is lived by habit. We have to. Our brain needs habits in order for us to be able to function. Just about everything we do is habitual. How ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28, Romans 12:2

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Lutheran

Be Holy?

Contributed by John Kilough on Apr 24, 2014

"Be holy, for I am holy." For most people this can be a very intimidating statement. The Lord God says, "Be holy, for I am holy." The issue with that is, well God is God and I am not. It is easy for Him to say be holy, but I just have way too many faults. However, we love the Lord and we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Holiness, God's Commandments

Denomination: Assembly Of God