In Sermon Illustrations: "Close At Hand"

John Kevin Hines Is One Of A Handful Of People ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

John Kevin Hines is one of a handful of people who have survived an attempted suicide jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. He claims to have told himself that if any one of the people he rubbed shoulders with on the way to the bridge noticed he was distraught, and asked him what was wrong, he wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Getting Your Hands Dirty: Grandma's Apron

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 12, 2011

GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY: GRANDMA'S APRON There are all sorts of "questionably clean" things that spread love and give meaning to our lives. Does anyone this morning remember a grandma or great-grandma swathed in a big all-enveloping apron? Not some perky little decorative thing worn on Christmas. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:25-28

Tags: Love, Servanthood

If We'd Only Joined Hands Sooner  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

IF WE'D ONLY JOINED HANDS SOONER A number of years ago in Canada, a little two-year-old girl wandered away from her neighborhood. It was a cold, winter day. Her parents alerted the neighbors and they saw some tracks in the snow, but there were a lot of other tracks, so for several hours the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Tags: Unity

Jesus Had A Cup In His Hand, Not A Sword, But ...

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 6, 2012

Jesus had a cup in his hand, not a sword, but that cup was His scepter. He was in complete control. --Brian Bell, ...read more

Tags: Obedience, Sword

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus, Hand Me That Can Of Tomato Soup!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1-2

Tags: Faith, Fear, Children, Humor, Presence Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day, Marty Was Knocking On Some Doors To Hand ...

Contributed by Traci Loewe on Jul 30, 2007

One day, Marty was knocking on some doors to hand out some flyers for their churches upcoming Bible camp. Marty noticed a young lady watching TV in her apartment. There were some old toys outside of her door, so it was obvious to him she might have some children that could come to camp. Marty ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Reflecting Holiness

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Feb 22, 2021

Life has its challenges to our walking in God’s presence. But, we are presented with an opportunity, in all things remember that the closer you are to God, the more defined and ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 38:1-8

Tags: Holiness, Reflecting God, Closeness To God

Denomination: Salvation Army

Don't Seek God In Temples. He Is Close To You. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2006

“Don’t seek God in temples. He is close to you. He is within you. Only you should surrender to Him and you will rise above happiness and ...read more

Tags: God The Father

I Have A Close Friend Who Tells The Story Of How ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 31, 2007

I have a close friend who tells the story of how used to live next door to a poor couple who had a little girl about five years old. He knew that she didn’t have many toys and she played by her self often in the back yard. One day my friend went to the neighbor and explained that the church ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Let Me Close An Excerpt From Sharon Jaynes' Book, ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Dec 16, 2002

Let me close an excerpt from Sharon Jaynes’ book, Celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas: An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for ...read more

Tags: Gift, Christmas, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: *other

91% Of Young People (Ages 16 To 25) Have A Close ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

91% of young people (ages 16 to 25) have a close relationship with their mother vs. 65% with ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Only Alone Can I Draw Close Enough To God To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Only alone can I draw close enough to God to ...read more

Tags: Suffering Loneliness

A Christian Surgeon Once Said, "I Feel So Close ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 31, 2009

A Christian surgeon once said, "I feel so close to God when I am operating that I don’t know where my ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Wesleyan

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens, But We ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Sep 2, 2009

When one door closes, another one opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Tony Campolo Tells About The Time He Was Asked ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jul 25, 2004

Tony Campolo tells about the time he was asked to speak at a Pentecostal college. Before the service, eight men had him kneel so they could place their hands on his head and pray. Tony was glad to have the prayer, but each of them prayed a long time, and the longer they prayed the more they ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit, Hand Of God

Denomination: Methodist

The Point: To Receive From God We Must First ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2007

[The Point: to receive from God we must first trust Him.] I discovered the chipmunks while stopping at a scenic over-look in Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado). They were amazing; bravely coming right up to people to take food out of their hands. These little creatures had willingly changed ...read more

Tags: Faith, Trust, Hands, Chipmunks

I Remember The Story Of A Man Being Fed In A ...

Contributed by Thomas Donelan on May 19, 2010

I remember the story of a man being fed in a city park, when the person giving out the sandwiches said "Jesus loves you" he was told, "I know, He sent you." Let your love towards God shine abroad in your ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, God's Hands

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Audrey Hepburn's Beauty Tips

Contributed by Perry Greene on Aug 18, 2014

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her ’beauty tips.’ It was read at her funeral years later. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9

Tags: Beauty, Hands, Inner Beauty

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

What Can Wash Away My Sin?

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 4, 2025

Your hands are wonderful creations of God! Look at your hands. But if left to do whatever we want – those hands get us into trouble. Try telling a child, “Don’t touch that!” Eve used her hand to pick a forbidden fruit. Adam received the forbidden fruit from Eve. Cain used his hand to murder ...read more

Scripture: Acts 22:16, Genesis 4:11

Tags: Eve, Adam, Cain, Hand

Denomination: Methodist

An Artist In Mexico Lost His Right Hand While ...

Contributed by Joel Santos on Mar 19, 2005

"An artist in Mexico lost his right hand while working on a statue. But he did not give up his work. He learned to carve with his left hand. His beautifully finished masterpiece was called ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational