In Sermon Illustrations: "Better Vs Bitter"

Three Boys In The School Yard Were Bragging About ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Johnsen on Dec 28, 2000

Three boys in the school yard were bragging about who had the better father. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, and they give him $100." The second boy says, "That’s nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, John 3:1-36

Tags: Humility, Gifts Prophecy, Workplace

Denomination: Baptist

A Pastor Gets A Humility Check…  PRO

Contributed by Greg Buchner on May 21, 2005

A pastor gets a humility check… A pastor finally gets an opportunity to speak at a large community association gathering. He feels rather proud that he was asked, so he refuses the check saying that "he felt special enough by being chosen" and that the check should go to a better cause. ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Methodist

Trials, Troubles, And Polished Gems

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2011

TRIALS, TROUBLES, AND POLISHED GEMS There is a Chinese proverb, "A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man made better without trials." Sure it doesn't feel good to go through abrasive moments of trials and problems. Sometimes they are recurring. Remember this, my Christian friend; life ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

S ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 21, 2008

SELF-DECEPTION A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. "Why on earth didn’t you come to us first?" the official asked. ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[212]. A Message From A Poem - Everything In Its Season

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 26, 2025

[212]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - EVERYTHING IN ITS SEASON This poem covers a lot of ground. Broadly it is connected with the state of things, being the season of man. God created all of us and we live our lives in this world, but all of us are accountable for our actions. Some of that is ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:18, Genesis 12:3, Joel 3:2, Isaiah 5:20-21, Ecclesiastes 3:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Death, Season, Evil, Curse Israel And Be Cursed, Christian Poems, Charlie Kirk, Israel, Birth, Good, Time For Everything, United Nations, Palestinians  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If You Want To Follow Jesus," Remarked The ...  PRO

Contributed by Barry Hidey on Jan 12, 2001

"If you want to follow Jesus," remarked the activist priest Berigan, "you had ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Commitment To Christ, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist

It's Great To Be Young And Dream The Dream, But ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

It’s great to be young and dream the dream, but it’s better to be old and to see that the dream ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Associate Yourself With Men Of Quality If You ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Associate yourself with men of quality if you esteem your own reputation, for tis better ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Let Us Permit Nature To Have Her Way; She ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Let us permit nature to have her way; she understands her ...read more

Tags: Creation

The Charm Of Friendship Is Liberty, And He That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The charm of friendship is liberty, and he that would destroy the one destroys, without designing ...read more

Tags: Compassion

About The Only Time Overweight Will Make A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

About the only time overweight will make a man feel better is when he sees it ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Do Not Be Too Timid And Squeamish About Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your reactions. All life is an experiment. The more ...read more

Tags: Action

Show Me The Books He Loves And I Shall Know The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

You Will Meet An Old Lady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2010

YOU WILL MEET AN OLD LADY You are going to meet an old lady someday. Down the road ahead, 10, 20, 30 years; she’s waiting for you. You will be catching up with her. What kind of old lady are you going to meet? That is a rather significant question. She may be a seasoned, soft, and gracious lady. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:43-45

Tags: Character

Don't Give Up—the Case Of Mrs. Ruth Ertel

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

DON’T GIVE UP--THE CASE OF MRS. RUTH ERTEL In 1965 a divorced mother of two, found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris’s steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Endurance

Leonardo Da Vinci, Just Before He Commenced Work ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeeva Sam on Mar 20, 2001

Leonardo Da Vinci, just before he commenced work on his "Last Supper" had a violent argument with a fellow painter. Leonardo was so bitter that he determined to paint the face of his enemy, the other artist, into the face of Judas, and thus take his revenge by handing the man down in infamy and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Methodist

Writer & Speaker Joni Erickson Tada Was Paralyzed ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 5, 2001

Writer & speaker Joni Erickson Tada was paralyzed from the neck down in a diving accident. In her book Secret Strength, Joni wrote about facing temptation. I was in my late 20’s, single, and with every prospect of remaining so. Sometimes lust or a bit of fantasizing would seem so inviting and so ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:18-26, Luke 5:1-7

Tags: Prayer Hardship, Sin General, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Joe Theismann Enjoyed An Illustrious 12-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 17, 2001

Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington’s ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Einstein Gave Grudging Acceptance To "The ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 28, 2004

Einstein gave grudging acceptance to "the necessity for a beginning" and eventually, to "the presence of a superior reasoning power," but never did he accept the doctrine of a personal God. Two specific obstacles blocked his way. According to his journal writings, Einstein wrestled with a deeply ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Joe Theismann Enjoyed An Illustrious 12-Year ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year. When a leg injury forced him out of football in 1985, he was entrenched in the record books as Washington’s ...read more

Tags: Joy