In Sermon Illustrations: "Children Of God"

Be Like The Llama And Face Your Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Reports the DENVER POST: "Like many sheep ranchers in the West, Lexy Fowler has tried just about everything to stop crafty coyotes from killing her sheep. She has used odor sprays, electric fences, and 'scare-coyotes.' She has slept with her lambs during the summer and has placed ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Word, Battles, Temptation, Victory, Defeat, Stand, Running, Spiritual Armor, Fear, Lust, Satan, Spiritual Warfare  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Tale Of Choices And Consequences

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

Once, there was a traveler named Samuel, whose heart was set on reaching a city famed for its eternal beauty and joy. However, during his journey, he stumbled upon a quaint, comforting village. Lured by its immediate solace, Samuel decided to rest there for a while. As days turned into weeks, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Christian Dilemma, Heaven, Journey, Eternal Joy, Losing Sight, Spiritual Goal, Earthly Comfort  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Misjudging The Composer

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 16, 2024

In a prestigious concert hall, a renowned pianist was scheduled to perform a masterpiece by a legendary composer. The audience, filled with anticipation, settled into their seats as the performance began. However, it quickly became apparent that something was amiss. The pianist, who had been ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-2

Tags: Perfection, Imperfection, Performance, Flaw, Faith, World, Message, Discernment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 7, 2024

It sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it’s real. In recent years, scientists have discovered a kind of bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis, more commonly called flesh eating bacteria. Once this bacterium enters a human body, it can multiply rapidly. Within 24 hours, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Unforgiveness, Bitterness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Think Before You Speak

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Taking a moment to think before you speak is like installing a verbal facemask —it gives you a chance to avoid regrettable word splatter before it happens. Now, let’s be honest—there are four types of people in this world: 1. Those who think before they speak (a rare and majestic ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 18:21

Tags: Speak, Words, Think Before You Speak

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Speaking Death Or Life Over Your Marriage?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Far too many people spend a lot of time speaking death over their marriages. "Psychologists Cliff Notarous of Catholic University and Howard Markman of the University of Denver studied married couples during the first decade of marriage. Among couples who ultimately stayed together, only 5 ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-22

Tags: Marriage, Words, Putdowns

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

From Boxer To Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2025

George Foreman died in March 2025 at age 76. Foreman was a heavyweight boxer for the USA in the 1968 Olympic Games - winning the Gold medal. He later became a professional Boxer and world Champion. In 1977 after a fight with heavyweight Jimmy Young, Foreman had a crisis experience. He thought he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Born Again, Salvation, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Genuine Praise

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 6, 2025

A little old saint who came to church every Sabbath and sat right down front. The preacher was predictable. The sermons were steady, maybe a bit too steady. But every week, that dear lady found something to say “Amen!” about. Every time she did, it startled the whole congregation — because nobody ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:1, Philippians 4:4, Hebrews 13:15, Luke 19:37-40

Tags: Worship, Praise, Revival, Gratitude, Testimony  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Remember Me!" Luke 23:32-43 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 22, 2005

“Remember Me!” Luke 23:32-43 Key verse(s): 42-43:“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’.” Did you ever notice that there are some problems that no matter how long you work with them or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Jesus, Paradise, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Lutheran

Just How Bad Is It Out There? And What Really ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Mccormick on Feb 26, 2008

Just how bad is it out there? And what really are we up against? Well, let me share with you some of the information I gleaned from 17 pages of fairly up to date statistics. [SLIDE 4] I learned first of all that sex is the #1 topic searched on the internet. Now I wasn’t really surprised to ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Real Mccoy

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 18, 2010

THE REAL MCCOY It was about a seventy-two-year-old Baptist preacher names Charles McCoy. McCoy was pastoring a Baptist church in Oyster Bay, New York, when at age seventy-two he was told by his denomination to retire. A lifelong bachelor, he had cared for his mother for as long as she lived. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:16-30

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Following Christ

Denomination: Anglican

Secure In My Pocket

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jul 28, 2014

My phone was secure. I had it shoved far down into my pants pocket. There was no way it could fall out; no way could I lose it. I denied it at the time but I saw the signs. They read “Please put any items that you do not want to lose in the bins or lockers before getting on the ride.” I chose to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35

Tags: Dying To Self, False Confidence

Denomination: Foursquare

Please Don't Mess With My Peanut Butter

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 18, 2020

Normally, I'm a rather calm, cool and collected person. Actually, my creditors trying to collect things from me, mostly money, are responsible for this and I have been officially collected. If I could only collect my thoughts, but the pieces are too small and too few. Anybody who knows me ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Tags: Comfort, Happiness

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Something Seems To Be Missing

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 10, 2021

Did you ever have a week when it felt like something was missing, but you didn't quite know what it was? I had that kind of a week this past week. It felt like something was missing, and I could not figure out what it was. The past week was typical in many regards. Everything seemed to be ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:9

Tags: Missing, Filling, Empty

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Just Kissed Yesterday Goodbye

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 15, 2022

Focus is an essential part of getting something done. Sometimes my focus is more on yesterday than it is today. I waste a lot of time looking backward. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage often rebukes me because I look in the past. I talk more about yesterday than I do today. On the other ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Blessing, Focus

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Broken Hearts Don't Need Vince Lombardi!" Mark ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 13, 2005

“Broken Hearts Don’t Need Vince Lombardi!” Mark 5:35-43 Key verse(s) 41:“He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koumi!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’).” I did not know what to do for her. Her heart was breaking right in front of me. She so much wanted to be held, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34, Mark 5:35-43

Tags: Unconditional Love, Miracles, Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Lutheran

The Parental Challenge Of Helping Teenagers

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2010

The Parental Challenge of Helping Teenagers Face Their World And I wanna share a story with you. It’s a traumatic one and one that actually happened. I did a funeral about four or five years ago and in this funeral it was really bizarre, because as the high schoolers came in about a third of them ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Tags: Death, Parenting

Vernon And Joey

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Oct 13, 2012

It is fitting that we begin with a true story involving three main characters: an elderly man nearing death, a kindhearted woman in robust health, and a deceased boy very much alive. Five months earlier, physicians had diagnosed sixty-five-year-old Vernon Samuels with terminal lung cancer. They ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:3-4

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

Are Homemade Cookies Addictive?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 8, 2020

Some people say we are living in the "new normal." I'm not sure exactly what they mean, and I don't have the time to ask, nor the desire. If the "new normal" is what I have been experiencing in the parsonage for the last several months, I'm all for it. Let it ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18

Tags: Humor, Negioating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Memories Can Be So Memorable

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 19, 2023

In growing older, I noticed a strange phenomenon. The older I get, the more I forget. I remember things that happened in my youth and the pressure of those memories is, are they true, or am I just making them up? I have nobody to verify those memories. I don’t think I will try to verify those ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-11

Tags: Memory, Weddings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance