In Sermon Illustrations: "Better Vs Bitter"

It's Better Higher Up! (08.31.05--Sickness!--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 30, 2005

It’s Better Higher Up! (08.31.05--Sickness!--John 16:32) Webley our oldest dachshund has a thing about long walks. Simply, he doesn’t like them very much. Webley is eight and getting up there in years. Anything over a mile or so can be grueling for him. And, because of this the pads of his paws ...read more

Scripture: John 16:32

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

I Know I Am Getting Better At Golf Because Im ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

I know I am getting better at golf because Im ...read more

Tags: Sports

When I Have Learnt To Love God Better Than My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Ain’t Nothing Better Than A P&j Sandwich

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 5, 2023

I'm not sure what happened to my closely guarded diet during these recent holidays, but I won't ask. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has been so busy cooking and preparing food that she didn't have time to oversee my diet. I love it when a plan comes together. As usual, I used ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Thanksgiving, Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Feeling A Tug  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

FEELING A TUG A small boy was flying a kite one April afternoon when a low drifting cloud encircled the kite and hid it from view. A man passing by asked the little boy what he was doing with that string in his hand. "I’m flying my kite," the child responded. The man, looking up and seeing ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Tags: Faith, Real Faith, Better Faith, Feeling Faith

The (Unwise) Wisdom Of The World

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 24, 2025

The world in its wisdom may tell us that there is no such thing as truth. That there is no such thing as that which is right and that which wrong. But our experience, of even the simplest of human experiences, will cause us to question that. If you were to ask a gas station attendant for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Tags: Better, Follow Jesus, Unwise, Directions, Wisdom Of The World  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Last Week, I Was At Moody Pastor's Conference In ...

Contributed by C. Philip Green on May 27, 2010

Last week, I was at Moody Pastor’s Conference in Chicago; and there, I won a drawing for a brand new Garmin GPS. It’s a nifty little device! Sandy and I had to make several stops in Milwaukee this last weekend – the airport, a Best Western Motel, Office Depot, a GNC store, and other places – so ...read more

Tags: Trust God, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Evangelical Free

A Few Years Ago, I Was Watching David Letterman, ...  PRO

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Feb 20, 2001

A few years ago, I was watching David Letterman, and he was broadcasting his show from Las Vegas. He was doing his opening monologue and he told this joke. He said that he was standing in front of one of the casinos, and a man came up to him looking desperate. "Please!" the man begged ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Money, Bitterness, Addiction

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Getting Even

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

Mrs. Smartt was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle. The curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?” “No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Tags: Bitterness, Punishment, Getting Even, Vengance

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Life With God On Your Side Should Get Better, Shouldn't It?

Contributed by Gordon Mcculloch on Aug 31, 2017

5 Storms in my life changed me intensely. Sometimes a storm will follow a great spiritual event just like these disciples had witnessed. … Many years ago, I was having great difficulties, and that is when I turned to Christ, and then I knew that everything in the bible was true, that Jesus was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Doubt, Storm, Difficulties, Confusion, Trials, Doubt And Fear  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Episcopal

A Businessman Well Known For His Ruthlessness ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Oct 26, 2002

A businessman well known for his ruthlessness once announced to writer Mark Twain, “Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments aloud at the top.” “I have a better idea,” replied Twain. “You could stay ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-27

Tags: Commandments General, Faith Vs. Works, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

I've Been Reading "The Journal Of John Wesley". ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 8, 2000

I’ve been reading "The Journal of John Wesley". In the entry for 24th May 1738, he wrote a detailed account of his spiritual pilgrimage. As a young boy in the family of a clergyman he had been "carefully taught" that salvation could only be obtained by "keeping all the commandments of God." Over ...read more

Tags: Ascension, Faith Vs. Works, Grace

Denomination: Baptist

A Church Educational Worker Was Sent To A ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Byrd on Jul 12, 2001

A church educational worker was sent to a community once to help a Sunday school take a religious census. In one home, he was asking the mother of the house the routine questions: “Are you a church member?”, “What church?”, etc. When he came to the question, “Are you a Christian?” the lady ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

G. Campbell Morgan Said That At A Great Meeting ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Aug 3, 2001

G. Campbell Morgan said that at a great meeting in Manchester, England, Holman Hunt’s beautiful picture of "Christ Knocking at the Door" was thrown upon the screen. "Why don’t they let Him in?" a twelve-year-old boy excitedly asked his father. "I suppose they don’t want to," his father answered. ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Baptist

A Lot Of People Are Leaving The Church And Going ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2001

"A lot of people are leaving the church and going back to ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Church General

Harry Houdini, The Famed Escape Artist Issued A ...  PRO

Contributed by Rita Sims on Aug 22, 2001

Harry Houdini, the famed escape artist issued a challenge wherever he went. He could be locked in any jail cell in the country, he claimed, and set himself free quickly and easily. Always he kep his promise, but one time something went wrong. Houdini entered the jail in his street clothes; the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:7-10, Daniel 3:4-6

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: United Methodist

Don't You Go To Walmart With Hypocrites? Why ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 2, 2002

Don’t you go to Walmart with Hypocrites? Why can’t go ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Some People Have Just Enough Religion To Make ...

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 1, 2002

“Some people have just enough religion to make themselves miserable” ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Christian Values

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Alone Saves, But The Faith That Saves Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002

“Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith General, Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Congregational

Faith And Works Should Travel Side By Side, ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Dow on Jul 26, 2002

“Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again -- until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other” (William ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Faith General