In Sermon Illustrations: "Christmas Season"

The Ring And The Carrot

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 9, 2012

THE RING AND THE CARROT "A Swedish woman who lost her wedding ring 16 years ago was flabbergasted when she found it again, around a carrot growing in her garden, media reported Saturday. Lena Paahlsson had taken off the white gold ring before a Christmas baking session with her daughters in 1995, ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Irony

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 3, 2021

One definition of the word irony is, “a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.” • It is ironic, for example, that the most shop-lifted book is the Bible. • Every year ABC cuts down A Charlie Brown Christmas—a movie about ...read more

Tags: Sibling Rivalry, Humble Pie, Family Strife, Leadership, Rejection, Irony, Pedigree  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Need Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

WE NEED HOPE Someone has said that if you could convince a man there was no hope, he would curse the day he was born. Hope is an indispensable quality of life. Dusk was falling on the Saturday before Christmas in 1927 the S-4 submarine (S-class submarines, were the first class of submarines built ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

The Census At The Birth Of Jesus

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 9, 2023

Historians have been puzzled about the census. The one taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. While all this begins to explain why Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, Luke is making a point. The birth of this little boy is the beginning of a confrontation between the kingdom of God - in all its ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-2

Tags: Mary And Joseph, Quirinus, Caeser Agustus, Bethlehem, Birth, Census  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Leon Lett: A Legacy Of Failure

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2010

LEON LETT: A LEGACY OF FAILURE Leon Lett. Nice name. It has a bit of a ring to it. However, unless you are a true NFL football fan, it’s probably not a name that rings a bell for you. So let me fill you in on Leon. Leon played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys from 1991 to 2000 and the Denver ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:36-41

Tags: Mistakes

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

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

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

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

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

Open The Rose  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

Open the Rose A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Pentecostal