In Sermon Illustrations: "Be Still"

For Over Fifteen Years I Have Been Asking People ...  PRO

Contributed by Hal Seed on Jul 27, 2007

“For over fifteen years I have been asking people of all walks of life from Morocco to India and from Turkey to the Sudan about the implications of a son’s request for his inheritance while the father is still living. The answer has almost always been emphatically the same.” …the conversation runs ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:12-32, Mark 4:1-9, Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: Baptist

The Huge Redwood Trees In California Are ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 18, 2007

The huge redwood trees in California are amazing. • They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. • Some of them are 100m high and more than 2,500 years old. • You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down deep into the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Quest Study Bible Asks The Question: ¡§is ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 24, 2007

Quest Study Bible asks the question: ¡§Is something ever right for one and wrong for another? Here is there answer to this question: Sometimes. Those steeped in centuries-old Jewish tradition found it difficult to believe there was nothing wrong with eating meat sacrificed to idols. To do so would ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ralph L. Woods: An Ambitious Farmer, Unhappy ...

Contributed by Bret White on Aug 28, 2007

Ralph L. Woods: An ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Better Life

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 8, 2010

A BETTER LIFE There was a time, and maybe still is, when you might hear a parent say something about wanting to provide a "better life" for their son or daughter. A better life than what they had growing up. And by better life, they mean - a bigger house, more and nicer cars, and more stuff. And ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

Attitude Is Everything

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 29, 2010

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING Harry Emerson Fosdick once told how as a child, his mother sent him to pick a quart of raspberries. Reluctantly he dragged himself to the berrypatch. His afternoon was ruined for sure. Then a thought hit him. He would surprise his mother and pick two quarts of raspberries ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Brethren

Some Famous Last Words

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 15, 2011

SOME FAMOUS LAST WORDS Washington, George (1732-1799) "It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." Adams, John (1735-1826) "Thomas Jefferson--still survives..." (4 July 1826. Jefferson died later the same day.) Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) "Is it the Fourth?" (4 July 1826) Sedgwick, ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Without Jesus—what A Mess

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Jan 5, 2012

WITHOUT JESUS--WHAT A MESS I still remember the suppertime. We were having spaghetti – and what’s spaghetti without adding Parmesan Cheese. As you know Parmesan, once refrigerated, tends to clump together. So I took the jar of Parmesan, and in dramatic fashion, held it in front of my face and ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Lifting The Fear

Contributed by Norman Lawrence on Jan 14, 2013

LIFTING THE FEAR A story is told of a child who had to walk each evening past a dark, spooky house. Some adults sought to give him courage. One handed him a good luck charm to ward off the ghosts. Another had a light put on the dreaded corner. Still another said earnestly, "It is sinful to be ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Assembly Of God

S ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

SECURITY? What’s good about America? How about peace and security? A lady said: Security and peace of mind were part of the reason we moved to a gated community. But both flew out the window the night I called a local pizza shop for a delivery. "I’d like to order a large pepperoni, please," I ...read more

Tags: Security

Patsy Dancey Tells This ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 15, 2008

Patsy Dancey tells this story: Hospital regulations require a wheelchair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found an elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet-who insisted he didn’t need my help to leave the ...read more

Tags: Obedience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Following World War Ii Some German Students ...

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

Following World War II some German students volunteered to help rebuild a cathedral in England, one that had been badly damaged by the Luftwaffe bombings. As the work progressed, they weren’t sure how to best restore a large statue of Jesus with arms outstretched and bearing the familiar ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Pentecostal

Plan Your Life

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 24, 2008

PLAN YOUR LIFE A famous British writer George Bernard Shaw once visited a sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein at his studio. The visitor noticed a huge block of stone standing in one corner and asked what it was for. "I don’t know yet. I’m still making plans." Shaw was astounded. "You mean you plan your ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Plan, Preparation, Life Purpose

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Taking Care Of The Body Has Always Been A Common ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 24, 2007

Taking care of the body has always been a common obsession. Even when we are not starving or thirsty or naked, we still give an inordinate amount of attention to our bodies. We pamper the body, decorate it, exercise it, protect it from disease and pain, build it up, slender it down, drape it with ...read more

Denomination: Other

Leo Tolstoy Had A Marvelous Metaphor About The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Leo Tolstoy had a marvelous metaphor about the need for us to set definite boundaries on our own appetites. It is called “How Much Land Does a Man Need?" There was a peasant named Pahom who worked hard and honestly for his family. He always remained poor and thought, "If only we had our own land, ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

There Once Was A Man Who Very Adamantly Believed ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 20, 2001

There once was a man who very adamantly believed in living by faith. He believed that, so long as he prayed in Jesus’ name, believing in faith that God would provide his need, he would receive whatever he asked for. One day he stood up in church and declared that from that day forward, he was ...read more

Tags: Faith, Money, God's Provision, God's Will, Poverty, Provision  (view more)  (view less)

The Lifeboat Station  PRO

Contributed by Rev. Saeed Richardson on May 23, 2002

THE LIFEBOAT STATION , by Theodore Wedel On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for ...read more

Tags: Mission, Evangelism

Denomination: Baptist

A Recent Front-Page Story In The Wall Street ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004

A recent front-page story in the Wall Street Journal (January 6, 2004) reported U.S. Marines being trained for duty in Iraq are getting drilled in people skills as well as heavy weaponry. They are receiving instruction about staying respectful as well as about staying alive. Marines are still ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-14

Tags: Gifts Wisdom, Gifts General

Denomination: Lutheran

See Life As A Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 11, 2005

See Life as a Squint! (09.13.05--Heavenly Citizens!--Romans 8:25) What is easily taught but not soon learned: easily preached, but not soon believed: good advice, but not easily followed: well spoken but hard to do?. The answer? Patience. If there is one thing that none of us is capable of doing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:25

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Brett Favre's Perseverance

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 7, 2012

BRETT FAVRE'S PERSEVERANCE The man, the myth, the legend was born in a tiny rural Mississippi town called Kiln, population 2,040. As a grandson of a Choctaw Indian, he played strong safety, kicker, punter, and quarterback for his high school team that passed less than five times a game. Favre ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Endurance