In Sermon Illustrations: "Clergy Appreciation Month"

Warren Wiersbe, Theologian And Writer, Tells A ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Jan 21, 2008

Warren Wiersbe, theologian and writer, tells a story as taken from a source. “A miserable looking woman recognized F.B. Meyer (preacher and teacher) on the train and ventured to share her burden with him. For years she had cared for a crippled daughter who brought great joy to her life. She made ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10

Tags: Theologian

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Big Question

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

THE BIG QUESTION “What things are important and what things are trivial?” Christmas night 2002, Jack Whittaker had five out of five numbers in the West Virginia Power ball drawing. Jack Whittaker had just won $314 million, the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history. He took the one lump ...read more

Tags: Materialism

What God Can Do For Us  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR US A young pastor in another church told about an experience he had with a family who tended to be the "Easter and Christmas" variety of church attendees. A young woman in the family became critically ill. The prognosis was bad. In fact, doctors expected she might die within ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scarab Beetles  PRO

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Apr 29, 2008

SCARAB BEETLES Many people find beetles and bugs somewhat creepy, but if here’s one beetle in the world that could turn you into a beetle lover - the jewel scarab. Jewel scarabs live in the jungles of Honduras and have the shape of your regular Christmas beetle. But their colours are so dazzling ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-21

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Born Again

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Think Of A Young Man Named Adrian Who Was In My ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jun 7, 2008

I think of a young man named Adrian who was in my Youth Group back in a former church. Adrian’s dad --- who had, unfortunately, never been much of a dad to Adrian --- decided to move to Mexico right before Adrian’s senior year of High School. A family in our church took Adrian in to live with ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Can Change Your Attitude

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Aug 27, 2008

God Can Change Your Attitude We live in an angry world, surrounded by angry people. We can give all kinds of excuses for being an angry person, but none of them really make an angry attitude the only option. I went out to visit our friend Bruce Thursday. If you remember he had surgery for a ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Wesleyan

Identification With ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 19, 2008

Identification with Christ The story has been told of a girl who was the daughter of one of the royal families of Europe, but had a big nose that in her eyes destroyed her beauty and resulted in her seeing herself as an ugly person. Finally her family hired a famous plastic surgeon to change the ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Other

The Big Question "What Things Are Important And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

The BIG question “What things are important and what things are trivial?” Illus. Christmas night 2002, Jack Whittaker had five out of five numbers in the West Virginia Power ball drawing. Jack Whittaker had just won $314 million, the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history. He took the one ...read more

Tags: Money

On January 8, 1956 Jim Elliot, Along With Four ...

Contributed by Steve Gallimore on Dec 14, 2008

On January 8, 1956 Jim Elliot, along with four other missionaries was killed while trying to bring this Good News of Christ to the Waodoni people of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. In his journal published in a book titled SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, Jim wrote these words: “One doesn’t learn to speak a ...read more

Tags: Missions, Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

Reluctant Fasting  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

RELUCTANT FASTING I ran across an article a few months back in Discipleship Journal called "Confessions of a Reluctant Faster." The author mentioned how God impressed upon her the need to pray and fast for a woman in her small group deeply involved in New Age. She didn't like the idea of fasting, ...read more

Tags: Fast

A Fine Lad Entered The Army. He Faced A Real ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jan 22, 2009

A fine lad entered the Army. He faced a real test the first night he went to be in the barracks. He had formed the commendable habit of placing his Bible on his bed at home, and kneeling down to read a chapter while having his daily prayer time before retiring. Surrounded by scores of rough men ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian Church

Newspaper Columnist And Minister George Crane ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Feb 18, 2009

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me." Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and ...read more

Tags: Love For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Buyer's Remorse And A Dead ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

BUYER’S REMORSE AND A DEAD DONKEY A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died." Kenny replied, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:10

Tags: Lies

A Darkened Mind

Contributed by Andy Grossman on Feb 15, 2012

A DARKENED MIND The god of this age, Satan, wants people to be blinded to the Truth. He loves a darkened mind. Sean Sellers was a willing mind. His parents were long haul truckers from Colorado. Sean filled the empty hours with the occult. He began with Dungeons and Dragons. The he began ...read more

Tags: Cults

Denomination: Holiness

The Missionary Service Of Henry ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 16, 2012

THE MISSIONARY SERVICE OF HENRY MARTYN Henry Martyn had already done more than his share of missionary service in India by his late 20s when he announced he was going to Persia. Doctors had told him that the heat would kill him if he stayed in India, and the heat in Persia was worse. Martyn ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45

Tags: Servanthood

A Father's Legacy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2012

A FATHER’S LEGACY Ken Hemphill tells the story of what took place at his church when he was pastor of FBC of Norfolk. He was out on the sidewalk welcoming people as they got out of their cars. About 3rd in line was a father & his teenage son. The father had a golf shirt on, and he evidently was ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Father's Day

The Ten-Dollar Cure For Fear  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Dec 11, 2012

THE TEN-DOLLAR CURE FOR FEAR Stanley went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there's somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under ... you gotta help me, I'm going crazy!" "Just put ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Remove The Hate — Be Pure  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 30, 2013

REMOVE THE HATE -- BE PURE "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood (Hebrews 13:2)." Three years ago, Chris Simpson led a white pride march. Two years ago, he abandoned the white supremacist movement. This past April (2012), he was ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Nazarene

Looking For Something You Can't Find  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 21, 2013

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING YOU CAN'T FIND I heard about a man who was drafted into the army. While in the army he developed a very strange habit. As he walked along each day he kept picking up pieces of paper, saying to himself aloud, "That's not it!" He would pick up one piece of paper after ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Entry-Level Faith

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

ENTRY-LEVEL FAITH During World War II, a young teenager tried to enlist in the navy. Only fifteen but large for his years, he told the recruiting officer in Richmond, Virginia, that he was sixteen. The officer looked at him and shook his head. "Sorry, son, you're not old enough." Two months ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:1

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist