In Sermon Illustrations: "Choice Is Yours"

The Rules And The Ruler

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

THE RULES AND THE RULER Back in the day of one-room school houses, a story is told about a little girl named Mary. Mary was so excited because it was the first day of school! Miss Tomlin was the new teacher and since it was the first day, Miss Tomlin thought it a good idea to lay some ground ...read more

Tags: Atonement

The God Squad

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 26, 2009

THE GOD SQUAD This week, we finished remodeling our old house and started moving into our new house. But last Monday I threw my back out while working on the house. I was frustrated and hurting. But the pain was not as bad as the feeling of not being able to finish my tasks which what I wanted to ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Substitutions

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Apr 21, 2009

NO SUBSTITUTIONS We had been living in New Jersey for about three weeks and were wanting to try out different things to get the "East Coast" experience. We both grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and honestly, New Jersey was a complete mystery to us. Some friends recommended that we eat at a ...read more

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Substitute Teacher Finally Admits She Doesn't ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 6, 2009

Substitute Teacher Finally Admits She Doesn’t Know Subject Matter Have you ever tried to stand and teach, and there you are in front of the class, and you realize all of a sudden that you are out of your depth and that you haven’t got a clue as to what is going on and what to say? That makes for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Winning Of Charlie Stoltzfus

Contributed by Eugene Morell on Jan 28, 2012

THE WINNING OF CHARLIE STOLTZFUS Tony Campolo was a special speaker one week-end and he felt led by the Holy Spirit to tell a story of what happen when he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service began eight men had him kneel so they could lay their hands on him and pray. ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grandma's Hands

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Mar 23, 2016

Grandma’s Hands When I stand at the graveside for an elderly person, I think about the life they have lived, that dash between the birth date and date of death. I think about all they have seen, all they have experienced. And I think about this story that is told: Grandma, some 90+ years, sat ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:8

Tags: Hands, Graveside

Denomination: Baptist

Angels In A Pickup Truck?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 16, 2020

There’s not much better than a great day on vacation, especially when the outside temperature is hot and your car’s A/C is cold! That was how it was on one recent summer day when I was visiting my home town. I had done some sight-seeing and was ready to head back to the motel room when I wondered ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 1:14

Tags: Angels, Assisting People

Denomination: Baptist

What Did You Find When You Opened My Heart?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 16, 2023

Here’s a story about a little boy that was to have heart surgery. The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed and his parents sat across from him. The surgeon said to the little boy, "Tomorrow morning, I'll open up your heart." The little boy interrupted the surgeon and said; ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12, Romans 10:13

Tags: Heaven, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Death, Jesus, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[040] A Message From A Poem – Chaotic Times Are Meant To Be

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2025

[040] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHAOTIC TIMES ARE MEANT TO BE This world is in chaos and your understanding of that depends on your assessment in the scriptures. Right now in the United States there is a new presidency under Trump, and the sick state of American society is being revealed with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:12-13

Tags: Last Days, Chaos, Leaven, Poetry, United States, President Trump, Evil  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[082]. A Message From A Poem – For Men - The Three Gs

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 14, 2025

[082]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR MEN - THE THREE Gs There are 9 poems in this series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in the first set - FOR MEN. ALL ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 John 2:16, Philippians 2:3

Tags: Glory, Gold, Strength, Poetry, Poem, Girls, Ensnare, For Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Paul Harvey Told About A 3-Year-Old Boy Who Went ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 20, 2001

Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask." She put him up in the cart & he sat in the little child’s seat while she ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer Of Faith, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jesus The Explorer, Citation: D. James Kennedy, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 3, 2001

[Jesus the Explorer, Citation: D. James Kennedy, "Message from an Empty Tomb," Preaching Today, Tape No. 66.] For many centuries the men and women in Europe looked out upon the western sea, what we call the Atlantic Ocean, and they saw the sun coruscating upon the glittering surface of the waters ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Doolittle Raider  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 23, 2001

THE DOOLITTLE RAIDER The entry for the May 8, 2000 Promise Keepers’ devotional guide, Men of Integrity, shared this story: After a daring and successful 1942 bombing raid over Japan, led by Jimmy Doolittle, Bombardier Jacob DeShazer was one of eight downed in Japanese-occupied China. The ...read more

Tags: Offering, God's Provision, Excitement, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Church Of God

Judge Not . . .  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

JUDGE NOT . . . A small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial -- a grand-motherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a young boy. And ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6

Tags: Truth, Real People, Leadership General, Holiness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Because Of The Increase Of Wickedness, The Love ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Dec 25, 2001

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:12-13 On the night of March 29, 1848, Niagara Falls completely and mysteriously stopped flowing. The estimated 500,000 gallons of water that customarily rushed ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-16

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Is Saying That Wives, If You Really Want To ...  PRO

Contributed by Chad Wright on Apr 25, 2002

God is saying that wives, if you really want to serve Christ every day, then submit to your husbands in everything. Everything?! That goes against the grain of the American ideal of what a woman should be! It shouldn’t surprise us. The feminist movement in America goes against the very core of what ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22, Ephesians 5:22-24

Tags: Marriage Obligations, Unity, Divorce

Denomination: Lutheran

A School Superintendent Told His Assistant ...  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 21, 2002

A school superintendent told his assistant superintendent the following: "Next Thursday at 10:30am, Haley’s Comet will appear over this area. This is an event which occurs only once every 75 years. Call the school principals and have them assemble their teachers and classes on their athletic fields ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Peace Corp Volunteer Studies  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2002

PEACE CORP VOLUNTEER STUDIES Some years ago a study was conducted among Peace Corps volunteers. Researchers took a random sample of volunteers and split them into two roughly equal groups: those who completed their tour commitments and those who returned home early because of "problems of ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Father's Day, Children

Erick Clapton, Arguably The Greatest Living Rock ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

Erick Clapton, arguably the greatest living rock guitarist, wrote a heart wrenching song about the death of his four year old son (March 20, 1991). He fell from a 53rd-story window. Clapton took nine months off and when he returned his music had changed. The hardship had made his music softer, more ...read more

Tags: Death

One Day A Man Was Talking To His Grandson ...

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

ILL. One day a man was talking to his grandson right after he had graduated from high school. And he asked, "My boy, what are your plans? What are you going to do with your life?" The grandson said, "I plan to go to college & then graduate from college. His grandfather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26, Luke 9:25

Tags: Eternity, Graduation, Future, Life, Planning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ