In Sermon Illustrations: "Close At Hand"

In The 18th Century, Selina Hastings, Countess Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

In the 18th Century, Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntington, invited the Duchess of Buckingham to come and hear George Whitfield preach. The Duchess wrote to the Countess of Huntington about the Gospel that Whitefield and his fellow "Methodists" preached as follows: "It is monstrous to be told ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:10-14

Tags: Sin General

The Apathy Club  PRO

Contributed by Dean O'bryan on Aug 25, 2008

The Apathy Club Did you hear about the college students who wanted to form a new organization on their campus? They called it the "Apathy Club"? Their "Apathy Club" wasn't going to be like any other student group. Where most organizations have a purpose or goal -- or some common interest to unify ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-19

Tags: Path, Promise, Apathy, Performance, Commitment To Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Elevator Magic  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 24, 2008

ELEVATOR MAGIC An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again. The boy asked his father, "What is this, Father?" The father [never having seen an elevator] ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Has Never Been A Man Like The Lord Jesus. ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Feb 14, 2009

There has never been a man like the Lord Jesus. John Phillips wrote these words about Jesus that deeply stirred me. He said, "He never uttered a hasty, unkind, untrue, or frivolous word. He never entertained an impure thought. His talents never debased for selfish ends. His influence, never bad. ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Baptist

The Bridge ...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 23, 2009

THE BRIDGE BUILDER (Unknown) An old man, going down a lonely highway, Came at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and wide, Through which was flowing a swollen tide, The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The swollen stream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:6-12

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Before You Lead Me, Where Are You Going?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

BEFORE YOU LEAD ME, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? I heard the story of the woman driving through a snowstorm just outside of Denver. She was completely lost and struggling under the hazardous weather conditions. She was relieved when she happened upon a snowplow. Since she was lost she decided to follow ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Direction, Leadership, Goals, Lead, Drive  (view more)  (view less)

Racecar Drivers Avoid Thinking About ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 14, 2009

Racecar Drivers Avoid Thinking About Death Scott Goodyear, speaking of race-car drivers who have been killed in crashes at the Indianapolis 500, said; “You don’t go look at where it happened, You don’t watch the films of it on television. You don’t deal with it. You pretend it never happened." The ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:14-15

Tags: Death

Dark And Stormy Night

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 16, 2010

DARK AND STORMY NIGHT In the Peanuts comic strips, Snoopy often tries to be an author. In one particular strip He's shown on his doghouse typing a novel. He begins his story with, "It was a dark and stormy night." That's the way he always begins his stories. Lucy comes and bluntly shouts, "You ...read more

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Importance Of Church Friendships  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2010

IMPORTANCE OF CHURCH FRIENDSHIPS A new Gallup study commissioned by Group Publishing shows that people with close friendships in their church are very satisfied with their congregation, less likely to leave their place of worship, and have a strong friendship with God. Church members who have a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Brezhnev's Wife Defies Atheism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2010

BREZHNEV'S WIFE DEFIES ATHEISM As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 53:1

Tags: Atheism

Card-Carrying Authority

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 22, 2010

CARD-CARRYING AUTHORITY A Department of Water Resources representative stops at a Texas ranch and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation." The old rancher says, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there." The Water ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Disturb Us, O Lord  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 8, 2011

DISTURB US, O LORD Sir Frances Drake: "Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4

Tags: Christian Values

Oré Por Fe, Y Pensé Que Un Día La Fe Habría De ...

Contributed by Ed Garcia on May 23, 2011

"Oré por fe, y pensé que un día la fe habría de venir y me golpearía como el relámpago. Pero parecía que la fe no vendría. Un día leí en Romanos 10 que “la fe es por el oir, y el oir, por la palabra de Dios”. Yo había cerrado mi Biblia y había orado por fe. Ahora abrí mi Biblia, y comencé a ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Frenemies

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

FRENEMIES A frenemy is a friend/enemy. You like a frenemy and you hate a frenemy. You work with a frenemy when it is convenient and self-serving, but when it is not, the frenemy becomes a nemesis. The Urban Dictionary states a frenemy is "an enemy disguised as a friend." and twists the old adage ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Faith In Tragedy: Luther Bridges  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2012

FAITH IN TRAGEDY: LUTHER BRIDGES A Methodist preacher by the name of Luther Bridges was born in 1884. He married and had 3 sons. Pastor Bridges accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky in the year 1910, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law & made the trip to ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:20-21

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Homosexuality In First Century Greek Culture

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

Craig Keener writes, “Greek men were commonly bisexual; not only was homosexual behavior approved…but elements of the culture socialized boys in this direction. Men and women were segregated growing up, and male bonds became close. Apparently due to a deficiency in the number of women (which many ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:24-32

Tags: Gay, Homosexuality, Lesbian, Gender, Bisexuality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No Room In The Inn

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 20, 2020

People have no room for Christ because they are full of themselves, full of their own will, full of their own cares, and full of their own sinfulness. They feel they have no time or no need for the Lord. People may deny Christ and scorn Him. Yet, every time they write the date of the year, they are ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Messiah, Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Mary And Joseph

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inspect Versus Expect

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

There was a young boy who was notorious for cleaning according to what his parents would inspect, but not necessarily what they would expect. In other words, he would do things like fold and put away the dirty laundry, and put away the dirty dishes thinking they were clean. Things looked tidy on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Expectations, Cover Up

Denomination: Baptist

The Open Door

Contributed by Samuel Shamaun on Jan 20, 2026

A man once stood outside a house, knocking on the door. He knocked again and again, but no one answered. Finally, he noticed there was no handle on the outside of the door. The door could only be opened from the inside. This illustration reflects the way Jesus approaches our hearts. The Bible says ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Salvation, Hope

Denomination: Pentecostal

Precious Dad Moment  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 26, 2002

PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection. A thick slab of ham, a fresh bun, crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw were aching in anticipation, I carried it to the picnic table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-30

Tags: Father's Day, God's Light, Children, Advent, Anticipation, Christmas, Parenting, Thanksgiving, Tongue, Wilderness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ