In Sermon Illustrations: "Close At Hand"

A Young Baptist Minister Was Preaching A Revival ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A young Baptist Minister was preaching a Revival at a small church in Maryland. Following the service the pastor of the church asked him to stand at the back door with him to greet people as they left to go home. He enjoyed talking with several people, all of whom were very nice and complimented ...read more

Tags: Worship Benefits

James S. Hewett, Former Pastor Of Saratoga ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Mar 23, 2008

James S. Hewett, former pastor of Saratoga (California) Presbyterian Church shares this story: “A little boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon. Suddenly out of nowhere a bumblebee flew in the car window. Since the little boy was deathly allergic to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:22, Luke 24:4-6

Tags: Atonement, Sacrifice, Salvation, New Life, Apostles General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Behold, I Cometh!

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 21, 2023

Once a pastor was frustrated because his church seemed dead and unenthusiastic. He attended a pastor’s conference for encouragement. The keynote speaker suggests sitting down quietly and creating suspense. Speak on the second coming of Christ. Then stand to the pulpit and raise your hand and shout ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Tags: Preacher Joke, Fellowship, Meeting, Humor, Enthusiasm  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Strength To Forgive

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Some of life's hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit. In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, God's Strength, Forgiving Others, Corrie Ten Boom, Enemies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let Me Tell You A Story From Alberta History: ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 12, 2002

Let me tell you a story from Alberta history: Cree Chief Maskepetoon met Rev. Robert Rundle, and at their first meeting declared "I will never become a Christian as long as there are horses to steal and scalps to take." Nevertheless Maskepetoon became a staunch friend to Rundle and his attitude ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20

Tags: Christian Liberty, Anxiety, Forgiveness General, God's Image, Prayer, Moving Forward, Supplication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Evolution?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 5, 2002

EVOLUTION? If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? Milton Berle, American comedian SOURCE: Celebrating Mothers: A Book of Appreciation. Edited by ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting

Norman Vincent Peale: Sex Is Just About The Most ...

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

Norman Vincent Peale: Sex is just about the most powerful and explosive force that is built into us. Every instinct and every bit of counseling experience I have had tells me it is too dangerous ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Baptist

I Read About A Man Dreaming About The ...

Contributed by Melvin Shelton on Jul 17, 2004

I read about a man dreaming about the crucifixion of Jesus. He was telling in detail how that Jesus was beaten, and the people shouting crucify him. He saw the back of the soldier as he was driving ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

You Cant Wait For Inspiration, You Have To Go ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"You cant wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club. An absolutely necessary part of a writers equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

It Needs Courage To Let Our Children Go, But We ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"It needs courage to let our children go, but we are trustees and stewards and have to hand them back to lifeto God. As the old saying puts it: What ...read more

Tags: Parenting

According To Wikipedia, "A Strategy Is A Long ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Aug 1, 2007

According to Wikipedia, "A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal, most often "winning". Strategy is differentiated from tactics or immediate actions with resources at hand by its ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Received The Following Story As One Of Those ...  PRO

Contributed by David Brockhouse on Apr 3, 2008

I received the following story as one of those “dreaded” forwarded emails. I think it’s a fitting way to end a Wednesday Lenten message on Obedience ----from the eyes of a child. Story of God lives under the Bed. I envy Kevin. He thinks God lives under his bed. One night he was praying out loud ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:7-8

Tags: Fear, Doubt, Outreach, Man, Support, Obedience, Wish, Bottle, Genie, Love Others, Shepherd, Help, Trusting God, Goodness, Restoration, Finish  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

The Little ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 3, 2008

The Little Fireman In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination to HANG ON. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ears To Hear

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I’ve done a lot of funerals in my twenty plus years of ministry, far more than I thought I would ever do. Every service touches me in a unique way and with each funeral I seem to come away with a life-lesson I needed to hear. Recently I was taught a valuable lesson as I eulogized a certain man. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Tags: Communication, Listen, Ears, Hearing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The House With The Unused Room

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 11, 2020

How many times have you seen a house that looked so promising, you couldn’t help but want to buy it? That very thing happened to me some time ago. I was interested in buying a home, and sure enough, there was one caught my eye! It wasn’t too far from where I was working, the price seemed ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 19:5

Tags: Israel, Houses, Wasted Space, Real Estate

Denomination: Baptist

Coming Soon !?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 13, 2020

Many of us, I'm sure, remember hearing the words "Coming soon to a (fill in the blank) near you . . ."m intended to grab your attention. Well, sometimes that did indeed happen, as a lot of us want to find something new, maybe the latest and greatest thing to come our way. There are a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-3, Acts 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Coming Soon, Return Of Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The Candid Citizen Must Confess That If The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"The candid citizen must confess that if the policy of the government upon vital questions affecting the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by the decisions of the Supreme Court,the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that ...read more

Tags: Government

Lamed For Their Faith

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

LAMED FOR THEIR FAITH Vance Havner: At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Brethren

Interactive Worship (Praying For One Another)

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Feb 12, 2008

Interactive Worship (praying for one another) At this point a chair is brought out called the mercy seat and people take turns sitting in the chair as others gather around to "lay hands on" and pray for. (sorry this is not really a ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Teacher Asked, "Can Someone Tell Me The ...  PRO

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Apr 3, 2008

The teacher asked, "Can someone tell me the lesson we have learned from the book of Jonah?" A little boy raised his hand and said, "I know what I have learned ...read more

Denomination: Baptist