In Sermon Illustrations: "Better Life"

Is Being Sane Too Much To Ask?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 28, 2021

When young, I remember my grandfather often saying to me, "the world wasn't like this when I was your age." Then he would go on a long rant about how things were much different when he was my age. Finally, he would conclude by saying, "It's an insane world out there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Culture, Generational, Sanity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Hallelujah… She’s Baaaaack

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 4, 2021

I have learned that you don't miss something until it is gone. Unfortunately, sometimes, it's too late. Over six weeks ago, or was it nine months, I took my truck in for a regular checkup. I was going away for the week, so I thought I would drop the truck off and let them work on it when ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:8

Tags: Stress, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Epitome Of Boredom

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 25, 2021

I have never considered myself to be boring. I may be boring to other people but not to myself. As you get older, you find out that there are many boring things in this world. When younger, I can't ever remember being bored except when my father was lecturing me on how I should behave. ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:15

Tags: Generational, Technology, Boredom

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Maybe We Should Go Back To Smoke Signal Communications

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 30, 2022

I must admit that communication is an essential part of my life today. The longer I live, the more sophisticated those communications become, and it’s challenging to me. Recently, I was working on my latest book using my latest computer and its programs. As I was working, I remembered that I did ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:6

Tags: Communication, Computer, Media

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Who’s The Clown Now?

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 5, 2022

As a young person, I was fascinated with clowns. My first encounter was at a circus I attended with my family. The main character in the circus was the clown. When I first saw those clowns, I was scared almost to death. I've never seen anything as scary as those circus clowns. That began my ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Humor, Clowns, Circus

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whoever Gets The Son, Gets All The Father Has!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 3, 2022

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:10-13

Tags: Invitation, Evangelism, Faith, Heaven, Salvation, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Another Celebration In The Bank

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 11, 2023

This month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I celebrate the 52nd anniversary of our engagement. In August, it’ll be the 52nd anniversary of our wedding. I can’t believe we have been together for 52 years. But, alas, here it is. I first met her in September of 1970 when I went to Bible ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Marriage, Celebration, Anniversary

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ricochet Evangelism

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 9, 2023

Lee Strobel tells the story of a time when he felt God prompting him to go and share an Easter invitation in the business office of the newspaper where he worked. He didn’t know why. But, he listens to God. When he arrived, he saw his friend who was working in the business office. It was an ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-31

Tags: Evangelism, Easter

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What’s A Whopper Got To Do With Anything

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 10, 2023

After my heart attack, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage enacted a dietary regimen in accordance with improving my health. The theme of this dietary regimen is vegetables, vegetables, vegetables. I did not know there were so many vegetables in the entire world. Her primary vegetable, much to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-3

Tags: Diet, Patience

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

So This Is Old Age

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 29, 2023

Dr. James L. Snyder The other morning I got up; at least, I tried to get up, but the bones in every part of my body had organized a labor strike against me. I’m not quite sure what they were protesting. As I lay there groaning over these bones, I did not realize how many bones I had in my body. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:3

Tags: Age, Bones

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Happened To My Little Piggy Bank

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 7, 2024

This week, I had to do something I hadn't done before: go to the bank and deal with fraud in my checking account. Someone tried to write a check for $1800 from my account. Fortunately, I didn't have that much money in my account, and I was a little provoked by this incident. How dare ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Banks, Savings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[067]. A Message From A Poem – Eden’s Garden And Gardens Of Significence

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2025

[067]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EDEN’S GARDEN AND GARDENS OF SIGNIFICENCE This poem is an examination of the Garden of Eden, mainly dealing with Satan’s temptation and man’s fall into sin. There are a lot of teachings that derive from this account in Genesis 3 and in the poem I try to bring ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, Matthew 19:4-6, Revelation 21:1-2

Tags: Mary Magdalene, Poem, Gardens, Serpent, Gethsemane, Adam And Eve, Garden Of Eden, Poetry, The Fall, Eden, Satan, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[070]. Excerpts From Certain Psalms: Part 1 – Psalms 64, 3, 103

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 29, 2025

[070]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXCERPTS FROM CERTAIN PSALMS: PART 1 – PSALMS 64, 3, 103 {{Psalm 96:1-2 “SING TO THE LORD a new song. SING TO THE LORD, all the earth. SING TO THE LORD. Bless His name. Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.”}} These next several postings ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:12, Psalm 103:11, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 96:1-2

Tags: Removed Transgression, Poem, Singing, Transgressions, Adversaries, Removed, West, Psalms, East, Opposition, Poetry, Gracious  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Whatever Happened To "My Space”

Contributed by James Snyder on May 10, 2025

When I was young, one of my life priorities was “My Space.” I defended it with everything I had. In school, I had to defend “My Space.” Several times, I even had to go to the principal’s office and explain what “My Space” was all about. He didn’t seem to understand, and I had to explain it several ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Space, Violations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Heat Is Not Just A Number, It’s An Attitude

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 28, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Lately, the temperature in Florida has topped 100°. I saw on the news that the Northeast is also hitting 100°. It's easy to see why everyone wants to come to Florida. If they can't, they wish for some of our heat. Well, good luck with that. We’ll send you all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Heat, Sun, Cold, Attitude

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Phone Rang. Dad Put Down His Garden Tools, ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Oct 18, 2000

The phone rang. Dad put down his garden tools, wiped the sweat from his face and rushed into the house to grab the phone before its final ring. With his mind on his Saturday morning chores, he didn’t notice the sliding glass patio door was closed. Mom found him in a pool of blood with glass ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Jesus Teachings, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

They've All Been Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Feb 1, 2001

THEY'VE ALL BEEN WRONG Looking back at how Christians have viewed Christ’s second coming in the past, we find many people obsessed with figuring out all the details and making predictions. Here is a quote: "The last days are upon us. Weigh carefully the times. Look for him who is above all ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Daniel 9:20-27

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Apollo 11 Was A Tribute To Modern Technology: No ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2001

Apollo 11 was a tribute to modern technology: No foul ups; no glitches. Man had accomplished the impossible without a hitch. In fact Apollo missions 11 and 12 were so error-free they seemed almost routine. The world resumed breathing. The television ratings for moonwalks began to decline. When ...read more

Tags: Fig, Tree

There Was Once A Governor Of Pennsylvania Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2002

There was once a Governor of Pennsylvania who was known as a hard man when it came to offering pardons to people on death row. He had never granted a stay of execution and had never pardoned anyone. One day, a woman came to his office and was able to persuade the secretary to let her in to see the ...read more

Listen My Chile  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2002

LISTEN MY CHILE I know you think you been raised ’cause you grown now but a mama always got to wonder what else can I say to my child who is black? I know what you’re thinking She’s been talkin’ my whole life, it’s time to let well enough alone, to trust me, to let me be, but you know your mama, ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting, Children