In Sermon Illustrations: "Come Up Here"

I Was A Young Youth Pastor In Augusta, Ga, Doing ...

Contributed by Todd Stiles on Feb 1, 2007

I was a young youth pastor in Augusta, GA, doing my best to train a group of kids to reach out to others. Granted – some of my ideas met resistance (imagine that!), and the culture there turned out to be very different than what was actually communicated to me at the beginning. However, I figured ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Few Years Ago Paul Harvey Wrote In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

ILL. A few years ago Paul Harvey wrote in Guidepost Magazine about his own baptism. He said that even though he had received almost every reward for his broadcasting powers & ability that he still felt empty inside. Well, one summer he & his wife were vacationing in a place called Cave Creek, ...read more

Tags: Government, Baptism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Head Vs. The Heart

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Head VS. the Heart Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. Ps. 31: 24 It is with the heart that we must wait upon God. As a man's heart is, so is he before God. We can advance no further or deeper into the holy place of God's presence to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:24

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[041] A Message From A Poem – Christ - Our Support In Hurt

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2025

[041] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST - OUR SUPPORT IN HURT We can pass through stormy seas and feel like those disciples in the boat when calm gave way to anxiety, but Jesus was in the boat resting in peace. The disciples focussed on the conditions and not on the Lord. Is that like us as ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 56:11, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16, Mark 4:37-40  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Hurt, Afraid, Support, Alone, Anxious, Always With You  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Wedding Made In Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 5, 2008

A WEDDING MADE IN HEAVEN A man and woman find themselves standing at the pearly gates. Saint Peter, to his surprise, finds the couple very disappointed to be getting into heaven. You see, they were on their way to get married and instead of arriving at their wedding, they ended up at the entrance ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trust The Prayer

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 2, 2021

A TRUSTING PRAYER Did you hear about the young preacher that graduated Bible School? He accepted a small country church to be the pastor. It was the only church that would have him. He was the only candidate that would go to the small church. So they were matched up pretty well. His first ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:28-31

Tags: Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Sanctity Of Human Life

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 6, 2010

SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE There's plenty of evidence of blatant disregard for human life today. Terrorism and suicide bombers? Capital punishment? Human trafficking. Abortion? So what is God thinking when He asks Abraham to take his only son, the son he loves, and to sacrifice him as a burnt ...read more

Tags: Human Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[303]. A Message From A Poem - They Did This To My Saviour Lord - Easter

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2026

[303]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY DID THIS TO MY SAVIOUR LORD This is not a complex poem and is written with Easter in view. It recounts some of the events of the Trial and hearing before Pilate. I have put a refrain into this poem, but I am not sure if it is one to be sung. Here and there ...read more

Scripture: John 19:1-3

Tags: Jesus Mocked, Jesus On Trial, Christian Poem, The False Trial, Jesus Scourged, The Crown Of Thorns, Easter, Pilate, Jesus Before Pilate  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Muscle Memory Of The Violin

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

From 5th grade through high school graduation, I played the violin. I was serious about it, participating in all-region orchestras, competitions, all of that. My senior recital was performing the Bach Double Concerto with one of my best friends. Here's the thing about playing a string ...read more

Scripture: John 21:3, Romans 7:15

Tags: Spiritual Drift, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Splish Splash, I Forgot To Take A Bath

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 8, 2022

If you had the opportunity to speak to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, she would probably tell you that one of my strengths is forgetting. I'm not sure how far into the subject she would get. When it comes to forgetting, I am outstanding on the back lawn, and my expertise in this area ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Memory, Forgetting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Have Nose, Will Snore

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 8, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder Having been married as long as The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself, there are very few things we disagree. I run by the idea, “Do you want to be happy, or do you want to be right?” That has guided me through many a storm these past years. Almost every day, I ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Unity, Agree

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

He Kept Calling  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 10, 2002

HE KEPT CALLING In 1975, my aunt Marsha McCarthy divorced Ralph McCarthy. Marsha left Southern California and followed her parents to Joplin, Missouri. She was employed as the Secretary at College Heights Christian Church and raised three children on her own. The stress was ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Lordship Of Christ, Jesus Teachings

Ems Creed  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2003

EMS CREED Sorry if we woke you in the middle of the night, But someone in your neighborhood is fighting for his life. Sorry if we block the road and make you turn around, But there’s been a bad wreck with dying children on the ground. When you see us coming I hope you’ll understand, ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Holidays Civic

Have You Heard The Story Of Jim Smith And Ron ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on May 30, 2003

Have you heard the story of Jim Smith and Ron Jones? Jim went to church one Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note, and he made a face. He saw a teen talking when everyone else was praying. He felt sure that the usher was watching to see how much money he put in the offering plate, ...read more

Tags: Church General, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Nazarene

In ‘the Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe' ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Dec 10, 2005

In ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ Edmund’s love for ‘Turkish Delight’ caused him to betray his family. He fell into the trap set by the Witch and since it tasted so good he became obsessed with getting more ‘Turkish Delight’. The temptation of luscious ‘Turkish Delight’ became stronger even ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:19, Matthew 5:7

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Anglican

According To An Old Fable, A Man Made An Unusual ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

According to an old fable, a man made an unusual agreement with Death. He told the Grim Reaper that he would willingly accompany him when it came time to die, but only on one condition—that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him. Weeks winged away into months, and months into ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Tags: Death Nearness

New Sick Leave Policy  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 4, 2007

New Sick Leave Policy 1. SICKNESS: No excuse. We will no longer accept your doctor’s statement as proof, as we believe that if you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work. 2. LEAVE OF ABSENCE (for an operation): We are no longer allowing this practice. We wish to discourage any ...read more

Denomination: Other

Grim Reaper

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Grim Reaper According to an old fable, a man made an unusual agreement with Death. He told the Grim Reaper that he would willingly accompany him when it came time to die, but only on one condition—that Death would send a messenger well in advance to warn him. Weeks passed into months, and months ...read more

Tags: Death

But In Spite Of The Indisputable Evidence From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

But in spite of the indisputable evidence from God’s Word, it seems that we really struggle with the fact that we can’t earn our own salvation. I guess that’s because it goes against everything else we’ve learned in our lives, especially the way that grades are determined when we go to school. ...read more

Tags: Temptation Pride

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), The World-Famous ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Jun 23, 2007

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it. He Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking ...read more

Denomination: Baptist