In Sermon Illustrations: "Christmas Letters"

F.e.a.r

Contributed by Alexier Mayes on Aug 8, 2017

Theres a song written by Ian Brown, known most famously as the Lead Singer from Manchester Band 'The Stone Roses' The song simply entitled FEAR uses the letters of the word to describe a sentence and the most poignant one of all states:- FINAL EXECUTION AND RESURRECTION Four words which mean ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:18

Tags: Love, Fear, Resurrection, Trust, Perfect Love, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Chekhov's Advice

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 6, 2023

The great Russian playwright Anton Chekhov wrote to his younger brother in 1879 responding to a letter in which the brother had signed himself as “your insignificant and obscure little brother.” Chekhov’s answer to this false humility is classic. “Do you know,” Chekhov asked in reply, “before whom ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-11

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do I Need A New Mask For Halloween?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 28, 2023

The older I get, the less patience I have for holidays. I certainly am not a holiday guru in any sense of the word. When I was younger, my favorite holiday was Christmas because of all the presents I got. I could never get enough gifts for Christmas. When I got older, got married and had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:2

Tags: Halloween, Masks

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Happened To My Little Piggy Bank

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 7, 2024

This week, I had to do something I hadn't done before: go to the bank and deal with fraud in my checking account. Someone tried to write a check for $1800 from my account. Fortunately, I didn't have that much money in my account, and I was a little provoked by this incident. How dare ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Banks, Savings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

No Excuse Sunday." Cots Will Be Placed In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sheila Crowe on Oct 11, 2002

"No Excuse Sunday." Cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say, "Sunday is my only day to sleep in." Murine will be available for those with tired eyes... from watching television too late on Saturday night. We will have steel helmets for those who say, "The roof would cave in if I ever ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:15-24

Tags: Excuses, Church General

Denomination: United Methodist

Too Far 78% Of Protestant Clergy Believe "The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Too Far 78% of Protestant clergy believe “the separation of church and state has gone too far, or in ways it was never intended to go,” according to a new Ellison Research study in the 7-8/04 edition of Facts & Trends magazine. Just 8% of all Protestant clergy agree with the statement, “the ...read more

Tags: Faith

An Impressive Coat Of Wool

Contributed by John Harvey on Dec 7, 2006

Take for instance the story of Shrek. Now this is not about an ogre who is friends with a talking donkey, but about a wild sheep in New Zealand. Shrek was a young sheep when he escaped form his shepherd. This is not an uncommon occurrence, because sheep are notorious for wandering off. What is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

One Year A Sunday School Was Putting On A ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 15, 2006

One year a Sunday School was putting on a Christmas pageant. One little boy really wanted the part of Joseph. However, when the parts were handed out, the part of Joseph was given to a boy he detested. Instead, he was assigned to play the inn-keeper instead. The little boy was pretty upset ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

My Child

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

My Child I would like to rejoice with the rest, Lord, But there’s a great big ache in my heart - For someone I love is suffering, Lord, And I don’t know how to start. Will you help me sing carols again, Lord? And make all my fears depart? Will you lead me safely to Bethlehem To worship with all my ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Every House Is Different

Contributed by Troy Borst on Sep 17, 2008

Every House is Different Traditionally in the Philippines, family is regarded as the highest priority, which is why there are no overcrowded orphanages or homes for the elderly. Traditionally at a wedding reception in Denmark, it is normal for the groom to disappear during part of the ceremony so ...read more

Tags: Home

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Carve What We Already See

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

WE CARVE WHAT WE ALREADY SEE I heard the story once of a great Cherokee wood carver. He took logs and sat them on a stump outside his back door and sat in front of that log sometimes for hours just staring at it. Finally, he would pick up his carving tools and start carving the most beautiful of ...read more

Tags: God The Father

Long Walk Part Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2009

"Long Walk Part of Gift" A young boy once came up to a missionary and said, “I love you and I want you to have this.” He pulled from a straw basket the most beautiful shell the missionary had ever seen. As she admired its beauty, she recognized it as a special shell only found on the far side of ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

God's Greatness

Contributed by Ed Lu on Nov 26, 2011

GOD'S GREATNESS Today it doesn’t take wars or persecutions to challenge our Christian faith or religious practices. No spears, no swords, no fiery torches or saddled horses to combat our religiosity. Sadly, these so called wars and battles among Christians are domesticated within the surrounding ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Tags: Greatness

Denomination: Baptist

Robes Of Righteousness

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Feb 28, 2015

Dr Ravi Zacharias came up with a true witty story of a New Zealand Shepherd who was happy on a Christmas morning, sad in the afternoon but once again happy in the evening. What exactly contributed to his mood swings? Here goes…in the morning two of his ewes’ “A” and “B” gave birth to two lambs “a” ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 61:10

Tags: Grace, Gratitude, God's Righteousness, Grimy

Denomination: *other

Spiritual Zombies

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

Ephesians 2:1-3 “2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5

Tags: Born Again, Zombies, Spiritually Dead

Denomination: Methodist

Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

It’s Christmas Eve in 1818, in the little village of Oberndorf near Salzburg. St. Nicholas Church will soon be full. Father Joseph Mohr has words for a new carol—but no melody. He walks through the snow to the nearby village of Arnsdorf and asks his friend, schoolteacher Franz Gruber, “Could you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2

Tags: Worship, Peace, Incarnation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Construction Workers Attempt To Use God To Take ...  PRO

Contributed by Al Schifano on Oct 21, 2002

Construction workers attempt to use God to take what is Caesars. (Matt 22:15-21) In the late 1970’s large numbers of skilled construction workers, commonly referred to as “Boomers”, traveled the country looking for work on electric power plant maintenance projects. These were short-term (4-8 ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Jesus Teachings, Political Freedom

Denomination: Catholic

Honor

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 28, 2020

Victor Frankl was a survivor of the holocaust. His famous book is called "Man's Search for Meaning." The reader they ask me why I did not try to escape what was in store for me after Hitler had occupied Austria. Let me answer by recalling the following story. Shortly before ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1

Tags: Sacrifice, Honor, Family, Purpose, Meaning, Selfishness, 10 Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Honor Thy Father & Mother

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jan 15, 2022

The reader may ask me why I did not try to escape what was in store for me after Hitler had occupied Austria. Let me answer the question by recalling the following story. Shortly before the United States entered WWII, I received an invitation to come to the American consulate in Vienna to pick up ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-2, Exodus 20:12, Matthew 15:4

Tags: Honor, Family, Obedience, Courage, 10 Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Spiritual Autobiography, William Barclay, ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Apr 14, 2002

In his spiritual autobiography, William Barclay, the venerable Scottish scholar, tells the tragedy of losing his 21-year-old daughter and her fiance who were drowned in a boating accident. He writes, "God did not stop that accident at sea, but he did still the storm in my own heart so that somehow ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Disappointment

Denomination: Methodist