In Sermon Illustrations: "Better Life"

I'm Only A Mirror Fragment  PRO

Contributed by Matt Black on Oct 26, 2002

I’M ONLY A MIRROR FRAGMENT I want to share with you a story about a very interesting well-educated Greek philosopher whose name is Dr. Alexander Popaderos. And Dr. Popaderos every summer on the island of Crete taught a class on ethics for two weeks. And this particular summer just as he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Character, Evangelism, Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Reflect  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Chasing A Wagging Tail  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 17, 2004

CHASING A WAGGING TAIL Stephen Hawking is an astrophysicist at Cambridge University and perhaps the most intelligent man on earth. He has advanced the general theory of relativity farther than any person since Albert Einstein. Unfortunately, Hawking is afflicted with ALS Syndrome (Lou Gehrig’s ...read more

Tags: Faith, Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

There Was Once A Man Who Lived In A Deep ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 17, 2004

There was once a man who lived in a deep valley. It was dark, desolate, cold and foreboding. At the edge of the mountain was a massive mountain, towering into the sky. The man had become so obsessed with the thought of escaping the valley that he finally decided to climb the face of the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:13-14, Nehemiah 3:13-14

Tags: Human Body

I Close A Letter Emailed To Me. It Is From A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. I CLOSE A LETTER EMAILED TO ME. IT IS FROM A SOLDIER IN IRAQ, WHO WROTE HIS MOTHER ABOUT HIS SEARCH FOR SALVATION: “DEAR MOM, I AM FINE, BUT I LOST MY BEST FRIEND TODAY IN AN AMBUSH AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, IS TO TELL YOU THIS STORY: IMAGINE YOU ARE CRAWLING, ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Missionary Encounters ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Missionary Encounters Ants Steven Cook tells of reading an account of a missionary from India: "The Lord must have desired to teach me something through the "ants" because He allowed me to come in contact with enough of them! The encyclopedia says there are more ants than any other insect. It seems ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:1-11

Tags: Missions

I've Been Reading A Book By Francine Rivers ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 30, 2010

I've been reading a book by Francine Rivers lately about an old woman called Leota who loves the Lord and has an amazing impact upon the lives of other people in her life, yet is rejected and hated by her own daughter, Eleanor. Throughout the book there seems to be NO HOPE for this estranged ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Confidence In Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Game Of Chance

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 9, 2010

GAME OF CHANCE A person recently said to me as they were dying that the Bible was just a series of myths and stories, and if I want to, I can choose to live my life assuming that it is. I can choose to treat heaven like a GAME OF CHANCE and the Bible as something less than a sure thing. I can ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Legions Of The Unjazzed

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2011

THE LEGIONS OF THE UNJAZZED In Dr. David Jeremiah's book "Life Wide Open" he writes about a young man who turned the surfing world upside down in the 1950's. Killer Dana was the most notorious wave in California. When it was really ripping and roaring, the best surfers in the world gave it plenty ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:11

Tags: Zeal

The Basis Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2012

THE BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE Oprah Winfrey said, “I discovered I didn’t feel worthy of love unless I was accomplishing something. I suddenly realized I have never felt I could be loved for just being.” Madonna said, “My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. That’s always been ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Fear And Worry

When God Shows Up

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Feb 3, 2019

I just finished reading a book called, “The Shack.” I read it about ten years ago, and something made me read it again, and I’m so glad I did. I commend it to you as a book that captures the very essence of a God who wants nothing more than to have a loving relationship with you. What an incredible ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8

Tags: Humility, The Shack, God Shows Up, Miracle, Sacred In The Ordinary, Sacred In Secular  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

When You Put Your Faith In Jesus Christ His ...

Contributed by Andrew Hill on Feb 10, 2008

When you put your faith in Jesus Christ His righteousness or perfection becomes yours. Let me give you an example of how this works in every day life. The super bowl was just played last Sunday. The Patriots played the Giants. Many of the fans went to the game wearing shirts and hats that had the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Dad’s Obituary

Contributed by Rev. Randy Barker on Apr 3, 2025

**Obituary for Marvin Barker Sr.** It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marvin Barker Sr., who was called to his eternal home on [date]. Born to Virgil Barker Sr. and Anna Barker, both of whom have preceded him in death, Marvin lived a life full of love, devotion, and faith. He ...read more

Tags: Death, Sample Obituary

Denomination: *other

David's Demons

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Nov 16, 2010

DAVID'S DEMONS Many years ago I worked in an organisation called SCILS - Sunshine Coast Independent Living Skills. We worked with people who had mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. David (not his real name) was helped to find a place to rent in the community. He had been in danger of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:43-45

Tags: Demons

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Vs. Voodoo

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

GOD VS. VOODOO Pastor Mike Breaux tells the story below when his daughter Jodie answered God's call to go into missions work: During her junior year of high school, Jodie struggled to find a faith of her own. She wanted to know in her heart that all of what she'd been taught to believe was true ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Missions

Faith

Contributed by John Hardwick on Aug 1, 2015

Faith, as a mustard seed, is when it’s raining enough to need the windshield wipers once a minute, but not enough to set it on auto. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Faith, Amazing Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Average Church(Gallup) 17% Say They Tithe But ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 30, 2001

Average church(Gallup) 17% say they tithe but only 3% actually do. 40% will give nothing in a year. 91% say they make more money than they ever have in their life. 71% of pastors ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Money, Giving General, Church Practices

Laughter  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2002

The average child laughs 400 times a day, the average adult laughs 15 times a day. What happens in life that adults lose their laughter? Do we quit laughing ...read more

Tags: Joy, Children

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Russian Reformer And Nobel Laureate Alexander ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 6, 2002

Russian reformer and Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn said in an address to Harvard University: "We have placed too much hope in politics and social reforms, only to find out that we were ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God, Disciplines General, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Congregational

Facing Arrest As An Anabaptist, Dirck Willems ...

Contributed by David Ritsema on Sep 7, 2003

Facing arrest as an Anabaptist, Dirck Willems fled for his life across a frozen lake. When his pursuer broke through the ice, Willems gave up his chance to escape by turning to save his ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Percentage Of Women Who Chose An Abortion Because ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 8, 2005

Percentage of women who chose an abortion because having a baby “would; change their life (job, school)”: 76 percent. Percentage who chose an abortion because of rape or incest, 1. ...read more

Tags: Abortion