In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Small Groups"

Make Your Reservation

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jan 29, 2013

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION Is your name written in the book of life? Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the book of life. Several years ago, she was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. According to the ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Taking Out The Trash

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 12, 2016

When my wife and I got married, we were able to move into a small little house. It was just right for us two kids. We soon realized, however, that we needed to have a discussion about the division of duties. I was the bigger of the two of us and we decided that I would be responsible for taking ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:11-13

Tags: Jesus, Suffering, Rejection, Shame, Trash, Mocked, Outside The Camp, Jesus Suffered  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

The Carnival Ride

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 9, 2017

Some years ago, while our family was vacationing in the high Sierras, we decided to visit a small county fair near the town of Quincy. There weren't many people there that morning. In fact, we were about the only ones visiting the carnival rides. So when I climbed into the Tilt-O-Wheel with my ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Sin, Sin Cycle

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

A Drop Or Two Of Bluing?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 25, 2019

How many of you remember bluing solution? Way back in the early to mid ‘60’s, Mom and Grandma would never finish a load of wash (laundry, if you prefer!) without adding some bluing when they did the whites. Now, I never understood why they did this but one of the two explained it kind of like this: ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 64:6, Psalm 51:7, 1 John 1:7

Tags: Forgiveness, Cleansing From Sin

Denomination: Baptist

Mom's Apron

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023

As I looked through the old photo album, my eyes fixed upon a picture of Mom in her blue Sunday dress wearing a soiled, yellow apron. I smiled as, in my mind, I returned. It seemed like just yesterday, For I had left on it my small handprints— From playing in Carolina red clay. Mom had called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:2, Ephesians 6:1-3, Ruth 3:5-6, Proverbs 1:8-9, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Titus 2:3-5, Song of Songs 8:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Aprons, Mom, Mothers, Mother's Day, Memory, Poetry, Examples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Time Is Now

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Nov 11, 2024

Sermon Illustration: "The Time Is Now!" Biblical Text: 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Tags: Faith, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

Like Snow—like Scarlet?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 24, 2024

Introduction: Even a small yet honest mistake can have long-lasting effects! Text: Isaiah 1:18, KJV: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. I used to wash my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18

Tags: Forgiveness, Sin, Clothes

Denomination: Baptist

[158]. A Message From A Poem – Gathered At The Great White Throne

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

[158]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GATHERED AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE This poem was written in conjunction with a series of articles I was doing on the Great White Throne and the Judgement Seat of Christ found on SermonCentral. We ought not be flippant about the judgements to come for both are very ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:11

Tags: Christian Poems, Judged According To Deeds, All Will Be Judged, Judgment, Great White Throne, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Be Saved Now  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Go With The Flow  PRO

Contributed by Hal Seed on Feb 12, 2008

6. YOU TRUST HIM WITH WHATEVER IS TROUBLING YOU. Anybody having anything trouble you these days? It’s probably part of God’s sense of humor that I went on a whale-watching trip this week, the week we start learning about Jonah. PICTURE OF WHALE TALE I’ve been on whale-watching tours only twice ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:18-19

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Baptist

Go With The Flow

Contributed by Hal Seed on Feb 12, 2008

6. YOU TRUST HIM WITH WHATEVER IS TROUBLING YOU. Anybody having anything trouble you these days? It’s probably part of God’s sense of humor that I went on a whale-watching trip this week, the week we start learning about Jonah. PICTURE OF WHALE TALE I’ve been on whale-watching tours only twice ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

Missy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 29, 2006

Missy Dear Heavenly Father, I don’t’ know if you have any special place set aside for the small creatures in your future plans, but, I would like to ask a favor of you; that is, if you feel I’m worthy of entrance into your Kingdom. I know that your eye is on the sparrow and that not one thing ...read more

[233]. A Message From A Poem - Remember Me Until I Come

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 21, 2025

[233]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME This poem was written as a Communion meditation with the view of being a Communion hymn. It uses a Metre 12 in the four lines. I adapted this for another poem based on this one using a Metre 10 that can be sung to various tunes. At the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Tags: Passover, Cup, Remember Me, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Until I Come, Communion, Bread, Remember  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Young Pastor Learns About Rural ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2010

A Young Pastor Learns About Rural Ministry How I learned about the heartbeat of a good shepherd and how difficult it is to lead and herd sheep. This personal story is drawn from my ministry time in Grygla, Mn. It was my first pastorate – I had just recently graduated from North Central Bible ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-21

Tags: Pastors

The Following Was Written By Jack Jordan ...  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 20, 2003

The following was written by Jack Jordan newspaper editor recording the events of April 3, 1974. An uneasiness nagged at me as I checked over proofs for the next day’s paper. It was Wednesday, April 3, 1974 about 4 o’clock on a gray afternoon. More than 100 tornadoes had been sighted to the ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Fred Craddock Was A Seminary Professor. Once, ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Dec 10, 2003

Fred Craddock was a seminary professor. Once, while he was lecturing at Yale University, he told of going back one summer to Gatlinburg, TN, to take a short vacation with his wife. One night they found a quiet little restaurant where they looked forward to a private meal—just the two of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Four Soils: A Physical Illustration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 11, 2004

THE FOUR SOILS: A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION (The following physical illustration is taken from “Heno Head’s Simple Science Object Talks.” If you decide use it, take note that you need to carefully measure out how much baking soda you use, and how much vinegar you place in each jar. Since we have ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:4-15

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

In A Few Days We Will Celebrate Memorial Day. It ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2007

IN A FEW DAYS WE WILL CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY. It was unofficially begun by women of the South during the Civil War when they placed flowers over the graves of the “men in gray.” In 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order officially ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34, Matthew 26:20-75, Joshua 4:1-24

Phil Yancey Writes About It In His Book, What's ...

Contributed by Art Good on Jul 26, 2007

Phil Yancey writes about it in his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace? It’s a picture of what our church is, can be, will be, should be. One of the pictures Jesus often uses of grace is of a wedding banquet. So this is what Yancey writes: Accompanied by her fiance, a woman went to the Hyatt ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Give A Birthday Present To Jesus

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 29, 2007

Give A Birthday Present To Jesus. One year our church celebrated Christmas by giving a birthday present to Jesus. On the first Sunday in December, I asked the congregation to think about what Jesus Christ really meant to them, and to offer a gift on the altar to symbolize their love for Him and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Saving A ...

Contributed by James Steen on Jul 14, 2008

Saving a Sheep I had an unusual experience last week as I was driving into church. Down the road and at the bottom of the hill from my house lies a sheep farm. As I was driving by, I noticed a lone sheep in the pasture, just standing there with a plastic feed bag over his head and down around his ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist