In Sermon Illustrations: "Christmas Jokes"

Built By Grace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2004

BUILT BY GRACE Years ago, late on a stormy night in Philadelphia, an elderly couple walked wearily into a hotel. They approached the night clerk at the desk and practically begged him for a room. Apparently there were three conventions in town, and every hotel was filled to capacity. "Are there ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24, Luke 19:11-26

Tags: Grace, Parable Great Banquet

A Bundle Of Rags

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Why does sometimes the change seem so slow? This happens more promptly in some folks than others. Because, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come Sometimes people ask, ‘why don’t we see a lot of change? Why don’t we see all these folks living but for ...read more

Tags: Giving General

God Just Needs A Voice  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

GOD JUST NEEDS A VOICE John Stott, a well-known British pastor and theologian, was invited to preach at the University of Sydney in Australia; but after he got there, he lost his voice. He describes his experience as follows: "What can you do with a missionary who has no voice? We had come to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:14-15, Matthew 1:18-24

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Lesson Of The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Darian Hybl on Aug 21, 2013

Recently I read an article that convicted me of my ‘blind spots’ where I have not wanted to ‘cross the road’ or enter deeper into relationship. Alex Early penned an article entitled, “A Pastor Walked into a Gay Bar And…” At first I avoided the article because I thought this article was more a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:23-37

Tags: God As Judge, Real Friend, Parable Good Samaritan

Denomination: Lutheran

Public Opinion

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

PUBLIC OPINION Some of you may have seen the joke that circulated this week on e-mail that tries to explain why Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. The punch line of the e-mail read, "Even then, men would not stop for directions." While this may not really explain ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Bump, Bump, Bump, Where’s The Scratch?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 26, 2021

Life can get crazy because there are so many crazy people in the world. I know, I’m one. Through the years, I have come to appreciate crazy people. They make life interesting and make me look less crazy than I really am. The interesting thing is that a crazy person shows up in your life when you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:38

Tags: Accident, Crazy, Temptation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Didn’t Do It My Way

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 23, 2021

I don’t think I’ve learned very much during my life. I just bounce from day to day and take what comes. The one thing I did learn as I look back is, for the most part, I didn’t do it my way. Remember Frank Sinatra and his song, “I Did It My Way?” I would have liked to ask him, how’s that been ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21

Tags: Surrender, Aggression

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

This Is An Alleged New Year’s Letter ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Fox on Dec 12, 2000

ILL: This is an alleged New Year’s letter written from a church member to the pastor. Dear Pastor: You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-30, Mark 7:1-8

Tags: Growth In Christ, New Year's Day, Sandra, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Rome Was Celebrating Its Temporary Victory Over ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2001

Rome was celebrating its temporary victory over Alaric the Goth in its usual manner, but watching gladiators fight to the death in the arena, when suddenly there was an interruption. A rudely clad robed figure boldly leaped down into the arena. Telemachus was one of the hermits who devoted ...read more

Gladiator  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

GLADIATOR Rome was celebrating its temporary victory over Alaric the Goth in its usual manner, by watching gladiators fight to the death in the arena, when suddenly there was an interruption. A rudely clad robed figure boldly leaped down into the arena. Telemachus was one of the hermits who ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Christian Disciplines, Cross Agony

When We Have The Opportunity To Speak To Another, ...

Contributed by James Westmoreland on Dec 23, 2006

When we have the opportunity to speak to another, to share with them how God makes a difference in our lives, to encourage them to prepare for the coming of God, will we get the message right? Or, will we talk only about the incidentals and not what is important? On Sunday December 17, 1903, a ...read more

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Unfortunately, There Are Some People Who Have No ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Apr 8, 2007

Unfortunately, there are some people who have no hope at all. They live in a kind of existential pessimism and despair. Bertrand Russell was a brilliant thinker, but because he made no room for God in his thoughts, he could not figure out the mystery of life. He once said, “When I die, I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

I Like The Story About A Professor Who Sat At His ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 12, 2003

I like the story about a professor who sat at his desk one evening working on the next day’s lectures. His housekeeper had laid that days mail and papers at his desk and he began to shuffle through them discarding most to the wastebasket. He then noticed a magazine, which was not even addressed to ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Evangelism Fear Of, Knowing God's Will

Love From A Kid's Point Of View, Citation: "What ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 27, 2003

[Love from a Kid’s Point of View, Citation: "What Is Love—From a Kid’s Point of View," LightSinger, (accessed 3-14-02)] What is love, from a kid’s point of view? "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Christian Love, Compassion

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Breaking The Ice  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 28, 2003

BREAKING THE ICE In 1997, the Washington Capitals were one of the hottest hockey teams on ice, skating their way into the Stanley Cup finals. By the fall of 1999, they had slipped to the brink of disaster with one of the worst records in the NHL. Coach Ron Wilson decided drastic measures were ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Communication General, Unity

The Great Classical Cellist Pablo Casals, In His ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 4, 2007

The great classical cellist Pablo Casals, in his life story entitled Joys and Sorrows, tells readers his first memory of attending worship on Christmas Eve when he was five-years-old. He walked to the church in a small village in Spain, hand-in-hand with his father, who was the church’s ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Abundant Life  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

ABUNDANT LIFE In December 1990, the threat of war with Iraq was looming. Many reserves and National Guard troops were mobilized. There were some homes where father and mother were both deployed. Recognizing this situation (that both father and mother would be gone overseas), a civic organization ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Tags: Joy

Donald Grey Barnhouse Scratches A Mark On A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 1, 2010

Donald Grey Barnhouse Scratches a Mark On a Postal Box to Make a Point Some years ago Donald Grey Barnhouse was counseling a young woman on the sidewalk in front of a church following an evening service. She said she was a Christian and that she wanted to follow Christ. But she wanted to be famous, ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4-6

Tags: Worldliness

Work For The Glory Of God

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 20, 2010

Mark is a young businessman who does business in China. Each time he has gone to China, he has asked God to reveal to him whom he might speak to on behalf of Jesus. What might happen if every one of you went to work praying for God to reveal to him whom he might speak to on behalf of Jesus. You’re ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Methodist

You Come To Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2011

YOU COME TO ME Jimmy, and his son, Davey, were playing in the ocean down in Mexico, while his family -- his wife, daughters, parents, and a cousin -- were on the beach. Suddenly, a rogue riptide swept Davey out to the sea. Immediately Jimmy started to do whatever he could to help Davey get back to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30

Tags: Salvation