In Sermon Illustrations: "Bearing The Cross"

Not Success But Faithfulness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 12, 2010

NOT SUCCESS BUT FAITHFULNESS Jordan was a man of unusual abilities and commitment. He had two Ph.D.s, one in agriculture and the other in Greek and Hebrew. He was so gifted he could have chosen to do anything he wanted. He chose to serve the poor. In the 1940s, he founded a farm in Americus, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Endurance

The "Regard For Others" Ethic

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Jan 24, 2012

THE "REGARD FOR OTHERS" ETHIC John Sommerville currently teaches history at the University of Florida. He has been carrying out an exercise with his students for years. He challenges his students with the following thought experiment. Imagine that you see a little old lady coming down the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Neighbor

Denomination: Baptist

Hush Puppies

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Aug 27, 2014

Are you familiar with the brush-suede shoe called Hush Puppies? It was popular when I was a kid. The brand was all but dead until late 1994. Sales were down to 30,000 pairs a year, mostly sold in backwoods outlets and small-town family stores. Wolverine, the company that makes Hush Puppies, was ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:10

Tags: Prayer Power, Importance Of Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

World Trade Center Hero

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Matt Chandler tells the story of Dave Karnes. When the World Trade Center tumbled to the ground on that dreadfully dark day, more than 3000 people lost their lives. But a few who were buried beneath the rubble miraculously survived. Two of these were Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, a pair of Port ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Evangelism, 911, Incarnation Of Jesus, Saving Others

Denomination: Methodist

The Living Word

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Ravi Zacharias tells of ministering in Vietnam in 1971, and one of his interpreters was Hien Pham, an energetic young Christian. He had worked as a translator with the American forces, and was of immense help both to them and to missionaries such as myself. Hien and I traveled the length of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Scripture, Romans, Living Word, The Bible, Persevering Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Why Did Jesus Come?

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 9, 2017

For many people, Christmas is a time of sadness. They don't have the extra money to buy presents for their children, family, and friends. Many are saddened at Christmastime when they think of their loved ones who will not be able to come home for various reasons. Turkey dinners may be only a wish ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:4-19

Tags: Christmas, Born Again, Merry Christmas, Happy At Christmas

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Two Angry Brothers?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 20, 2022

ACCIDENTLY, COINCIDENCE OR ON PURPOSE? There were two precious brothers. They loved each other. Their parents owned a huge farm. The brothers worked in harmony alongside their mom and dad for years. Suddenly and unexpectedly the father and mother died. One brother went to a lawyer about the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:29

Tags: Anger, Forgive

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Saving Private Ryan Tells Us About Our Need For Grace

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 24, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of my favorite World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Death, Grace, Fear, Salvation, Legalism, Works  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You've Got To Earn This!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best World War II movies. Three out of four brothers are killed in action, and then a search is launched to find the fourth, Private James Ryan, so that he is not killed, leaving his mother childless. Eight men are sent out to find Private Ryan, who is missing ...read more

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Merit, Works, Grace, Law  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Excellence Of Giving With Joy

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 19, 2025

THE EXCELLENCE OF GIVING WITH JOY Heavenly Father, You are so good to me, You gave Your Life to redeem my sins. Oh Lord, give me the opportunity to give to others as well. Sometimes I think about giving, but my faith is so weak, I'm still afraid that if I give, I will be in want. Forgive me, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Joy, Excellence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[129]. A Message From A Poem – Historic Glimpses - Past, Present, Future

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 12, 2025

[129]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HISTORIC GLIMPSES - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE The bible is so true that we can count the future as historical. The title of this poem is Historical Glimpses and is in three sections – what is past; what is present; and what is future. God knows the end from the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:35-39

Tags: Jesus, Earth, Future, Past, Historic, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Rest In The Lord

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

Rest in the LORD This is David's message to us in Psalm 37:7-11, where he said: 7. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret -- it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Tags: Hardships, Cares, Cast Your Cares, Horrible Times, Evil, Suffering, Trusting God, Righteousness, Rejoice, Shelter, Pain, Peace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Agony Claws My Mind. I Am A Statistic. When I ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

Agony claws my mind. I am a statistic. When I first got here, I felt very much alone. I was overwhelmed by grief, and I expected to find sympathy. I found no sympathy. I saw only thousands of others whose bodies were as badly mangled as mine. I was given a number and places in a category. This was ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death

During The 1st Part Of The 20th Century, J. C. ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Mulder on Dec 11, 2004

During the 1st part of the 20th century, J. C. Penney presided over a very powerful empire of over 1,700 stores. At the time he had the country’s largest chain of department stores, each one bearing his name. Although his enterprise made him incredibly wealthy, J.C. Penney’s life was not devoid ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Staring Down The Critic's Barrel!" Proverbs 9: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 17, 2005

“Staring Down the Critic’s Barrel!” Proverbs 9: 7-10 Key verse(s): 8b:“. . . rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” The Bible tells us that “rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Love? What happened to getting the emotional revenge that is so satisfying? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:7-10, Psalm 82:3-4, Philippians 2:13-14

Tags: Grace, Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

The Way Of The ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Way of the Righteous What They Are Like? “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Mongolian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

THE FIRST MONGOLIAN CHURCH The Christian authors, Bill and Amy Stearns, in their book entitled "20/20 Vision: Amazing Stories of What God Is Doing Around the World," describe how the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, came to Mongolia. "In the 1870’s Swedish missionaries arrived in Mongolia - what was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Missions

Missionary Explains Gospel To A Devoted ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Missionary Explains Gospel to a Devoted Hindu Faith in Jesus is the means to appropriate God’s justification. Since Jesus Christ has finished the salvation of humanity, man’s response is to rely on that finished work. Reliance on Jesus for salvation is putting our total trust in Him. Perhaps a ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Missions, Salvation By Grace

This Is For All The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

THIS IS FOR ALL THE MOTHERS. This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It’s OK, honey; Mommy’s here." Who walk around the house all night with their babies when they keep ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-12

Tags: Mother's Day, Mothers Love

A Shipwreck Motivates Success

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 21, 2011

A SHIPWRECK MOTIVATES SUCCESS In 1845 Royal Navy Rear Admiral Sir John Franklin and 138 specially chosen officers and men left England to find the Northwest Passage. They sailed in two three-masted ships with the daunting names the Erebus (the dark place, according to Greek mythology, through ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 4:1-25, Proverbs 4:1-27

Tags: Wisdom