In Sermon Illustrations: "Close Enough"

Ashes To Diamonds

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

ASHES TO DIAMONDS A company in Switzerland transforms the ashes of the dearly departed into a diamond of up to 1 carat in 6-8 weeks. A pound of ashes is enough to make a diamond; a human body leaves behind an average 5.5 to 6.6 pounds of ashes. The carbon, which makes up about 15% of the ashes, is ...read more

Tags: Death

Proving That Jesus Won't Sin

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Oct 4, 2023

As the Union Pacific railroad was being constructed • There is a story about an elaborate trestle bridge that was built across a large canyon out West • Wanting to test the bridge the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and equipment to double its normal payload • The train was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Jesus Can't Sin, Sin

Denomination: Baptist

I’m So Poor I Can’t Pay Attention

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 25, 2023

Occasionally I go to my computer and search for the wealthiest preachers in America. I am curious to know who came up with this idea, but I check it out occasionally to see who they are. As often as I have checked this information, I have never found my name on that list. I so much wanted to see ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Tags: Rich, Poor, Wealth

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Strangle-Hold Of Wealth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 11, 2004

THE STRANGLE-HOLD OF WEALTH There was an article in the Wednesday, June 26, 2002 issue of the Colorado Springs Gazette by Michelle Singletary titled “How Much is Enough in the Pursuit of Money?” She began by writing about Karen Hughes, counselor to President Bush, who decided to leave the White ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Pornography Addiction — Did You Know?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 25, 2005

Pornography Addiction - Did you know? a. ...that pornography consumption can be as mood altering and as addictive as narcotics? (Richard Drake, assistant professor at Brigham Young University College of Nursing) In fact, some studies have indicated that pornography can have the same effect on the ...read more

Tags: Addiction, Pornography, Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Revelation And Ovaltine

Contributed by Johnny Wilson on Jun 27, 2009

REVELATION AND OVALTINE The word often translated "revelation" or as I translated it, "unveiling," could also be understood as "decoding." Ever heard of those Ovaltine Decoder Rings in the '40s? Ovaltine drink advertisements used to have a coded message on them (as did some of the Ovaltine radio ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: *other

Prayer And Chopping Vegetables

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 26, 2010

PRAYER AND CHOPPING VEGETABLES Jan and I were watching a cooking show the other day -- Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa, I think it was -- and I commented on how Ina chops vegetables. In this instance, she was chopping parsley, and she held the knife in one hand while resting her other hand on top ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Drinking From My Saucer (By John Paul Moore) ...

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on May 22, 2010

Drinking From My Saucer (By John Paul Moore) “ I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now But I don't worry about that much I'm happy anyhow and as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I sow I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed. Haven't got a lot of ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Blessings

Denomination: Wesleyan

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

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Is Another Thing You Need To Know About The ...

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

There is another thing you need to know about the inspiration of the Bible: It is objective truth. What do I mean. It is true whether you like it or not. It is true whether you feel it or not. It is truth whether you experience it or not. It is truth whether you’re in the mood for it or not. It is ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Like Some Of What Edwene Gaines Writes About ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Sep 30, 2007

I like some of what Edwene Gaines writes about although I do not agree with all her views on spirituality. But I have learned enough from her writings that I decided not to be bothered in areas where I disagree. I find her life story and spiritual journey though to be compelling. Years before she ...read more

Tags: Spirit, Eat, The Word

Denomination: Methodist

On Thursday, Carolyn Chou Came By To See Me. You ...

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Dec 3, 2007

On Thursday, Carolyn Chou came by to see me. You may remember her. She and her husband, Yuan, were married here and we baptized their children, Matthew and Sabrina, who is now 20 month old daughter. Carolyn brought Sabrina with her. Sabrina is in the throws of separation anxiety. As Sabrina ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

To Be Saved, One Has To Understand That I Am A ...

Contributed by Charles Whitmire on Jan 20, 2008

To be saved, one has to understand that I am a sinner, and my sin has separated me from God. I can try to earn my way back to God all I want, or I can realize that is hopeless - nothing I can do can wash away my sin - only Christ’s blood - only his sacrifice is acceptable to God, so I have to give ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Addiction | Angeles Arrien, A Cultural ...  PRO

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Feb 21, 2008

ADDICTION | Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist, describes our situation this way. She says our condition is one of universal addiction. She has written that we are all afflicted with addictions, not necessarily to drugs or alcohol or other substances -- those are merely symptoms -- but ...read more

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Americans Are Sleeping Less Than They Did 20 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2008

Americans Are Sleeping Less than they did 20 years ago, and about 50 to 70 million people nationwide suffer from chronic sleep loss and sleep disorders, reports the CDC. 10% of adults report not getting enough rest or sleep in any of the previous 30 days. Only 29.6% say they got enough rest or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:10

Tags: Sabbath, Sleep, Rest

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

A Conference With The Devil

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 15, 2022

A fictitious story has been told of a conference between Lucifer and his demons. It seems as though Satan was upset because he had not deceived enough souls and so he called for a conference with his head demons. "What are we going to do! We are not claiming enough souls for the Kingdom of ...read more

Tags: Invitation, Excuses, Evangelism, Demons, Parable, Satan, Time, Today  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If Power Could Deliver Us From Fear, Then Joseph ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

If power could deliver us from fear, then Joseph Stalin should have been fearless. Instead, this infamous Russian premier was afraid to go to bed. He had seven different bedrooms. Each could be locked as tightly as a safe. In order to foil any would-be assassins, he slept in a different one ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Power But Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

About 1930, The Communist Leader Bukharin ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Galasso on Mar 16, 2002

About 1930, the Communist leader Bukharin journeyed from Moscow to Kiev. His mission was to address a huge assembly. His subject, atheism. For a solid hour, he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity, hurling arguement and ridicule. At last he was finished and viewed what seemed to be the ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational