In Sermon Illustrations: "Christian Fathers"

Two Mountain Goats

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 25, 2025

Martin Luther wrote about seeing two mountain goats meeting on a mountain trial that was narrow enough for only one to travel on. When they met up, Luther thought for sure they would butt heads and the strongest would survive. One would die and one would be injured. Instead, when the mountain ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8, Romans 12:10, Matthew 20:26-28, John 13:14-15, Ephesians 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Service, Humility, Selflessness, Christlikeness, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Grocery Store Meltdown

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Oct 4, 2015

Many times you’ll have no clue what to do. But you still have to pretend you are in control. Like when your three-year old melts down at the grocery store. What do you do? You are wearing a "WWJD" bracelet and still you have no valid answer. You’ve read a ton of parenting books and although many ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 4:6

Tags: Parenting, Fatherhood, Dads

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 I] [9]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 9

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 11, 2025

[237 I] [9]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 9 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13, Matthew 9:20-22, Luke 2:41-51, Mark 5:21-24, Mark 5:35-43, Mark 5:21-39, Luke 5:36-39, Matthew 12:22-31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Haemorrhage, Synagogue Ruler, 12 Year Old Daughter, New Patch On Old Garment, Fresh Wineskins, Dumb, Casting Out Demons, Beelzebul, Twelve Years, Old Wineskins, Worried, Resurrection, Jerusalem, Jairus, Anxious, New Wine, Blind, Jesus, Parents  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Resurrection Of The Dead  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 26, 2003

The Resurrection of the Dead Avijah Powers felt moderately sure nobody would recognize him when he registered under an assumed name at the little inn. It was more than twenty years since he had left the town--a hard, reckless boy, running away from a good father and a devoted mother because he ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, James 1:9-11

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgiveness In Action  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 6, 2004

Forgiveness in Action Pastor Hayes a man in his middle forties, was well-loved by his congregation, and faithful to God and to his family. He enjoyed a successful ministry in an exuberantly vital, growing church. Just when everything seemed to be going well, a cloud came over this man and his ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Wesleyan

Real Pearls

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 7, 2008

REAL PEARLS The cheerful girl with bouncy curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Her mother checked the back of the little foil box and said, ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Obituaries  PRO

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Apr 14, 2009

OBITUARIES Jeruselem 33 AD Calvary Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull. Betrayed by Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans, by order of the Ruler Pontius Pilate. The causes of death were extreme exhaustion, severe torture, ...read more

Tags: Cross

Denomination: Baptist

Nothing But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 27, 2012

NOTHING BUT SLAG I read a story told by Russell Conwell about a young man who lived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania years ago. It just so happened that he inherited an iron furnace after his grandfather and father had passed away. He was a young man who had inherited a passel of wealth and as many have ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Peanut Butter Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I don’t like peanut butter. Some people get very upset when I tell them that. It’s nothing personal. It’s not a character flaw. I just don’t like it. I don’t even like the smell of it. My mother told me I ate a lot of peanut butter when I was young, so maybe I just reached my limit. My two ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12

Tags: Generosity, Golden Rule, Thoughtfulness, Sympathize

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Of My Favorite Stories (And I Am Not Sure ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 10, 2005

One of my favorite stories (and I am not sure that I have shared it before, and if I have, please bear with me) comes from Keith Miller in his men’s devotional book, A Habitation of Dragons. It is the story of a well-to-do attorney who experiences a true change of life and heart when he gives ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Church Of God

Macarthur's New Testament Commentary: Romans 9-16 ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 17, 2007

MACARTHUR’S NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY: ROMANS 9-16 by JOHN MACARTHUR, JR STATES THE FOLLOWING ABOUT OUR CHAPTER. 1. Despite the great popularity of the book of Romans, chapter 16 is often neglected by preachers, teachers, and Bible students. It has almost no explicit teaching and includes several ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding Mortification  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Understanding Mortification Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Which Desire Are You Feeding?  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Which Desire are You Feeding? Romans 8:13 says, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (King James) Mortification is the special ministry that enables the child of God to overcome those evil desires that could ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:13

Tags: Overcome, Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Can You Be ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED? Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, Christians were routinely persecuted for their faith by the Communist regime. We have many inspiring stories of courageous Christians behind the Iron Curtain who were willing to die for their faith during this difficult period in world ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Amateur ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Aug 19, 2008

AMATEUR COUNTERFEITER------ You may have read in the paper that counterfeit bills have been turning up here and there around town. What you may have not heard about, is the amateur counterfeiter that was operating here in town. It turns out that this amateur counterfeiter accidentally printed a ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Married But Not Engaged

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 6, 2010

MARRIED BUT NOT ENGAGED Years ago, Julie and I began to have difficulty in our marriage. I was spending all my time pastoring a small Church, and our relationship was being neglected. It suffered to the point where I needed to take time out of ministry, and we needed to do some repair work. That ...read more

Tags: Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mercy Me: Hold Fast

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 7, 2011

MERCY ME: HOLD FAST Mercy Me is a Christian band (I Can Only Imagine) and recently they sang a song called, "Hold Fast." Bart Millard tells the story of the inspiration for "Hold Fast": "I was standing in the back of the bus going to our next concert. We were in a traffic jam and we passed a ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Relationship With A Muslim

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MUSLIM Bill Hybels was at a luncheon, sitting across from a black man, built like a football player, with a distinctively Muslim name. He told Pastor Hybels that he enjoyed reading one of his books. Bill Hybels looked a little puzzled so the Muslim explained to him how he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism How To

Searching For A Sunday School Teacher

Contributed by Doug Fannon on Mar 2, 2020

When I was the Sunday School director for the church I belonged to in New Mexico over 30 years ago, I remember asking one gentleman, an older, and supposedly a mature Christian, if he would teach a Sunday School class. I received the standard "churchy" answer I have heard time and time ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12, Matthew 9:35-38, John 4:34-38, Luke 10:2

Tags: Outreach, Sunday School, Witnessing, Serving, Teachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

De-Evangelizing The Neighborhood

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2022

A few years ago I heard a story of a church that looked as though they were really thriving. They had about 500 people attending, had many outreach ministries reaching their community, and many people were coming to Christ and to church through their ministry. The problem was that the church was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Small Groups