In Sermon Illustrations: "Caring Love"

When Things Get Smelly!

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 22, 2021

When I was around eight, we were visiting some cousins out on the farm and as all kids back then we played tag. I went zipping around the barn and stepped in a slick patty. I fell, slid and rolled through a copious amount of bovine excrement. When I was able to stand up I went to the porch and ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:4-12

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Stink

Denomination: Baptist

Older Brother Takes The Blame And Dies For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

Older Brother Takes the Blame and Dies for Younger Brother The story is told of two Chinese brothers who lived in Chinatown just after the turn of the century. One brother, the eldest of the two, was a very honest and hardworking individual, while the younger brother was rebellious, and often ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Christian Love, Substitute

Free For The Taking: Grace

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

Joseph Cooke was a missionary to Thailand a generation ago. He illustrated grace this way. Picture a happily married couple in which both husband and wife are all that either could ever wish the other to be. The husband always respects his wife’s feelings, always treasures her individuality, is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8

Tags: Grace, Love Of God

Denomination: Charismatic

Reprove An Erring Brother, Do Not Reproach Him

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 7, 2020

REPROVE AN ERRING BROTHER, DO NOT REPROACH HIM Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning." (Proverbs 9:8-9) We should have respect ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:8

Tags: Reprove, Correct In Love

Denomination: Pentecostal

Widow-Makers! (11.11.05--Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 9, 2005

Widow-Makers! (11.11.05--Christian Soldiers!--Ephesians 6:16-17) Beech trees tend to bend and grow at odd angles. When it comes to felling one, you have to do a bit more than simply cutting it down. First you need to determine which way the tree is leaning. Then you need to size-up the other ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:16-17

Tags: Angles, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

I Love My Dentist?" Luke 1:26-37 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 7, 2005

“I Love My Dentist?” Luke 1:26-37 Key verse(s): 31:“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” I love my dentist? Do you love yours? Unfortunately dentists have really gotten a bad rap over time. Many see them as the evil pain-giver, the one who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-37

Tags: Peace, Joy

Denomination: Lutheran

John 14:15 "If You Love Me, You Will Obey What I ...

Contributed by Steven Cannon on Jan 15, 2007

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- John 14:17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[061]. A Message From A Poem – Do You Love Me More Than These?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025

[061]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE? How sound is our love? How enduring is it? How sturdy is it – does it flicker on and off like some lights? Is your love for the Lord, your Saviour, prepared to go to a martyr’s death? The inspiration for this poem came from that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:4-5, 1 John 4:19, John 21:15-17

Tags: Love, Friendship, Poetry, Poem, First Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Or Would You Be More Like The Woman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Dec 11, 2000

Or would you be more like the woman who was bitten by a rabid dog, and it looked like she was going to die from rabies. The doctor told her to put her final affairs in order. So the woman took pen and paper, and began writing furiously. In fact she wrote and wrote and wrote. Finally the doctor ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-19, Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Love, Christian Love, Anger, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: United Methodist

If You Look At A Sundial On A Cloudy Day, The ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 18, 2000

If you look at a sundial on a cloudy day, the pointer doesn’t leave a shadow to indicate the time, it’s quite ineffective in that state. Without the “sealing of the Spirit” we’re just like that sundial, failing to live up to expectation and realizing ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Christian Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Design Is For A Man And Woman To ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

God’s design is for a man and woman to enter into a permanent, intimate relationship with one another. A relationship like Eddie and Mary enjoy. Let me read you a letter that Eddie wrote to Ann Landers: Dear Ann Landers: On Aug. 14, 1945, the war ended in the South Pacific. That was the day I ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Unconditional Love, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Baptist

A Husband Was Told By The Marriage Counselor To ...  PRO

Contributed by Ross Mitchell on Jan 30, 2001

A husband was told by the marriage counselor to try and be nice to his wife. One day he comes home from work. He’s dressed up in a suit, he has cologne on, he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of candy in his hands. He’s trying to make a good impression. The wife says, "Oh, I can’t ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Christian Love, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Of Life’s Major Mistakes Is Being The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

One of life’s major mistakes is being the last member in the family to come down with the flu -- after all ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Love, Romantic Love

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing Can Choke The Heart And Soul Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 11, 2001

Nothing can choke the heart and soul out of walking with God like legalism. Consider the story of Hans the tailor. Because of his reputation, an influential entrepreneur visiting the city ordered a tailor-made suit. But when he came to pick up his suit, the customer found that one sleeve ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35, Mark 5:1-12

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Heard A Definition Of The Contrast ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 14, 2001

ILL. I heard a definition of the contrast between infatuation & love. It says, "Infatuation is when you think your husband is as handsome as Tom Cruse, as amusing as Rodney Daingerfield, as intellectual as Albert Einstein, as devout as Billy Graham, & as athletic as Hulk Hogan." That is ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Marriage Commitment, Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Measure Of A Life, After All, Is Not Its ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation. ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Giving General, Love Of The Disciples

John Wesley's Rule For His Life  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

John Wesley had this rule for his life: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Christian Values, Christian Love, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christ Demands That The Driving Force In Your ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Christ demands that the driving force in your life must be love. All other things, although important, are secondary. Love is the sign ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Jesus Teachings, Christian Love

The Problem Of Goodness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2003

THE PROBLEM OF GOODNESS "The simple fact is that for all our moral hesitation and stuttering, many people know goodness and excellence when they see it and they are overwhelmed by the magnetism of goodness. Goodness attracts. Goodness is proclaimed so that the circle of adulation can widen. So we ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, Christian Values

For Goodness' Sake  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2003

FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE "Starting next year, high school and college students in Thailand will reportedly be graded not just on academics, but on ’goodness’ as well. Concerned that the competitive education system puts too much emphasis on materialism and not enough on morality, officials told the ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Values, Love Of The Disciples