In Sermon Illustrations: "Coming Home"

Overloaded

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

OVERLOADED In the book, Overload, by Dr. Richard Swenson, he discusses one of the main reasons our lives have too much anxiety and stress. He says that most of us are just plain overloaded. Think about it. (1) We are overloaded with commitments. We don’t know how to say no. And as a result we meet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Stress, Time Management

A Friend Of Mine

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 3, 2013

A FRIEND OF MINE Branch Rickey, whose name was recently placed back into our memories in the wonderful movie '42' a story about the baseball great Jackie Robinson, was a devout Christian. Once while head of the old Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended negotiations involving a certain ballplayer's ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Savior Or Judge?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

A young man was drinking heavily and decided to go for a swim at a California beach. Fortunately, an older man was watching the young man as he entered the water and did not come back up for air. The older man ran to the struggling young man and saved his life. A few years later, that same ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Evangelism, Christ, Decision, Judgment Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Successful People Get Up Early!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 14, 2014

Forbes Magazine states that early risers are the most successful people. The discipline of getting up early produces many positive results, such as: 1. More proactive approach to life 2. The ability to anticipate problems better 3. Better goal-setting 4. Time for exercise 5. Sleep is much better ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-21, Genesis 22:1-19

Tags: Sacrifice, Abraham, Temptation, Trusting God, Success, Successful, Getting Up Early  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Resurrection Plant

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 20, 2014

As a boy I saw an advertisement in a comic book that appealed to my scientific nature. The product being offered for sale was called a "miracle plant." The ad declared that the plant would be dead when received by the purchaser; but when placed in water, it would soon "miraculously" return to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-8

Tags: Born Again, Regeneration

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cotton Pickin' Son Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2014

We were having our weekly AWANA meeting at our church when something really funny happened. The children were sharing their Bible verse for the week -- John 3:16. One of our little boys was struggling with remembering the words. He was asked, "Can’t you remember John 3:16?" The boy struggled to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Jesus, Salvation, Bible Study

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humble Confidence

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Aug 11, 2014

At the outset, I desire to bring to the fore, a ‘juicy’ tale adorning Science history. When, the invention-coal miner’s lamp- of Sir Humphrey Davy began to pale relatively before the astounding discoveries of his far more illustrious pupil Michael Faraday (in the field of electro-magnetism and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:31

Tags: Work, Hardened, Softened

Denomination: *other

Don't Just Entertain

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 14, 2014

Timothy Paul Jones- With high hopes we had moved to a new youth ministry position. On my first Wednesday evening at this church, I received my first hint that this task might be more difficult than I’d imagined. After a couple of games, I gathered the students for some worship songs. Worship ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Delight In God's Word, Neglect Of The Word

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Expectation Vs Experience little Israel Eh...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Nov 28, 2015

Expectation vs Experience Little Israel eh…Boy, it packs a punch in the spiritual realm!!! Do not we owe it a Saviour, Salvation and Scriptures!!! Add to this fact that one of it’s cities (Jerusalem) would be the future World capital and at once, there is a ring of sanctity about this Nation. Even ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:17

Tags: Symbol, Selection, Supremacy, Sign

Denomination: *other

The Infinite Can Penetrate The Finite!!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 1, 2016

Herbert Spencer, one of the popularizes of agnosticism over a century ago, observed accurately that a bird has never been known to fly out of space. Therefore, he concluded by analogy that it is impossible for the finite to penetrate the infinite. Even if God does exist, we can never know Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Jesus, Creator, Infinite, Agnosticism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith Is Trust In God

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Aug 2, 2018

Main Idea: Putting your faith in Jesus is like sitting in a chair. Verse: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). Illustration: (Point to a chair) Do you ...read more

Tags: Faith, Trust In Jesus, Faith And Belief

Denomination: Charismatic

Knowledge Vs Wisdom

Contributed by Pastor Randall Timblin on Aug 20, 2018

There is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. First, let us understand that there is no such thing as wisdom unless it pertains to wisdom from God. All other earthly wisdom is foolishness, according to God. Now that we have that straight, what exactly is the difference. Well, my ...read more

Tags: Wisdom, Knowledge, Foolishness

Denomination: *other

Don't Let Go

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 18, 2019

Bulldog and two Dobermans There was a Bulldog pup that lived in a fenced in yard. The little Bulldog was a peaceful little dog that loved to play in the yard. About three doors down lived two Dobermans, they were quite aggressive. Every day they would go by the little Bull dog and harass him. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:35-36

Tags: Endurance, Hold On

Denomination: Pentecostal

Strength In Old Age

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 13, 2020

I use the Bible I had in Bible college when I have my devotions or study. Came across these notes from 1/24/80. I was 27. Joshua 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:11-12

Tags: Faith, Retirement, Strength, Retire, Courage, Old Age  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

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

There Is The Enemy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Stedman illustrates this point noting that "As the Battle of Trafalgar was about to begin, Admiral Nelson came across two officers of his own flagship who were arguing hotly and about to take sword to each other. Nelson stepped between them and said, "Stop." Then, pointing to the ...read more

Tags: Unity, Body Of Christ, Working Together, Division, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Easter Service Mishap

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 12, 2021

One year, a bunch of friends and I decided to go to a sunrise service at a super fancy church. This church looks like a European cathedral and we were all dressed up for 5 a.m. singing around a huge fire outside and then going inside for service. Everyone had candles and the whole service is by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-40

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Funny, Sunrise Service

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jumping Jehoshaphat

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2022

Where does the expression “jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” come from? A reader wrote in to ask, and I had a lovely time trying to figure it out. No one is sure how Jehoshaphat’s name ended up in this interjection, or why he’s jumping, but there are several interesting possibilities. This mild oath first ...read more

Tags: Jehoshaphat, Judah, Kings, Slang, Expressions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Probability Of Prophecies Fulfilled

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 21, 2007

Probability of Prophecies Fulfilled In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the modern science of probability to just eight prophecies regarding Christ. He says, “The chance that any man might have ...fulfilled all eight prophecies is one in 10 to the 17th. That would be 1 in ...read more

Denomination: Other

We Live In The Day And Age Of A Million Bibles. ...

Contributed by Todd Pugh on Jan 14, 2008

We live in the day and age of a million bibles. That is small “b” These are actual book titles or Magazine covers: • The Style Bible: The 11 Rules for Building a Complete and Timeless Wardrobe • The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know • The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal