In Sermon Illustrations: "Compassion For Souls"

Philip Yancey, Author Of The Jesus I Never Knew ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

Philip Yancey, author of The Jesus I Never Knew and other books, relates a time when he happened to be in Washington, D.C., when a huge gay-rights demonstration took place directly in front of the White House. He beheld a startling confrontation. There were about 40 mounted policemen forming a ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Kingdom Of God, Sharing My Testimony

A Safe Place  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on Feb 25, 2002

A SAFE PLACE Henri Nouwen, the widely read Christian author, was a professor at Yale University Divinity School and later at Harvard. He had a prestigious life filled with honor. But in 1986 he resigned from his job of teaching to become pastor for the Daybreak community of people with ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Church Body Of Christ, Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Wrong Guy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

THE WRONG GUY Determined to avenge the assault of their young fourteen year old girlfriend, ten young people raced away from the hospital with a description of her assailant: an Hispanic man driving a red vehicle. Then by deception, the group of vigilantes lured young Leonel Cifuenies, a ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Cross Agony, Compassion

Go Where The People Are  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2002

GO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE The latest movie from the writer and director of “The Sixth Sense” is titled “Unbreakable.” In this movie, Bruce Willis discovers that he has a special gift, but he doesn’t yet know how to use it. So his new friend, played by Samuel L. Jackson gives him this advice: “Go ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Sharing My Testimony, Compassion

You Be The Judge?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2002

YOU BE THE JUDGE? "A money belt is one thing you just can’t do without," my friend told me. ’Make sure you take travelers’ checks with you and maybe a few twenties, and tuck them in your money belt before you leave. And don’t ... DON’T go pawing through your money when you’re out on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

Tags: Character, Disease, Compassion, Leprosy, Faith, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Forgiving My Enemies  PRO

Contributed by Gordon Kroeker on Aug 16, 2002

FORGIVING MY ENEMIES Growing up in the Congo as a missionary kid, we were caught in the middle of the 1964 Communist rebellion. I was 8 years old at the time, and remember it well. When we received word that the rebels, (who were anti-white and anti-missionary) had burned out the bridge on one ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Compassion, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Mennonite

I've Fallen, And No One Will Help Me Out!  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Stanley on Aug 30, 2002

I'VE FALLEN, AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME OUT! I was watching The West Wing one day and heard this story from Leo McGarrey, the Chief of Staff. I have adapted it for use in a sermon with The Good Samaritan. A man is walking down the street one day when he falls into a hole. He cries out for help ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Parable Good Samaritan, Compassion

Denomination: Methodist

Giving Out Of Need

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Hunger also changes the world when eating can’t be a habit, then neither can seeing.” - Maxine Hong Kingston It had been a tough year and it didn’t appear to be getting any easier. She wasn’t working and he wasn’t working much. They had two teenage children to feed and bills to pay. The car ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Compassion, Poverty, Generosity, Giving Out Of Need

Denomination: Charismatic

I Just Cried With Her

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Feb 23, 2024

I Just Cried With Her A little girl came home and told her mom that her best friend's grandma had died over the weekend. Her mom said, "That's so sad." The little girl said, "Yes it was Mommy. She just sat in her chair and cried and cried." ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:24

Tags: Friendship, Tears, Friends, Burdens, Children, Compassion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Courageous Husband?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 22, 2025

A woman and her husband interrupted their vacation to go to the dentist. "I want a tooth pulled, and I don't want Novacaine because I'm in a big hurry," the woman said. "Just extract the tooth as quickly as possible, and we'll be on our way." The dentist was quite ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Marriage, Compassion, Courage, Hurry, Double Standard  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Ww2 Story Tells Of How Some Soldiers Brought ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 25, 2001

A WW2 story tells of how some soldiers brought the body of a dead friend to a French Cemetary. The priest asked if the dead man had been a catholic, but they did not know. The priest said that the man could not be buried in the graveyard. They men took their friend and buried him outside the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 55:1-8

Tags: Funerals Non-Christian, Friendship General, Compassion, Faith

We Have A Word In Africa - ‘ubuntu’ ...  PRO

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on Jul 13, 2001

We have a word in Africa - ‘ubuntu’ - ubuntu says that I can only know myself as I see myself through your eyes - so the closer you stand to me, the better I can ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ, Compassion

Denomination: *other

Animals Can Do Some Pretty Amazing Things  PRO

Contributed by Ray Navarro on Dec 7, 2001

Animals can do some pretty amazing things. For example, what happened one day in the state of Maryland. Believe it or not, this is a true story. The Atlantic Ocean converts into many rivers and streams that paint the state of Maryland much like a leaf of a palm tree that extends in many ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Compassion, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Adventist

Outside Of A Dog, A Book Is A Man's Best Friend. ...  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 16, 2001

Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside a dog it is too dark to read. ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Compassion, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Story In The Denver Post Came Out In 1958 That ...  PRO

Contributed by Ray Ellis on Mar 22, 2002

A story in the Denver Post came out in 1958 that illustrates self-less love. June 7, 1958 the Air National Guard’s jet precision team was performing outside of Dayton, Ohio. Five precision flyers made up the Minute Men team. Colonel Walt Williams was the leader of the Denver-based F-86 Sabre-jet ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Christian Disciplines, Healing, Love, Forgiveness In Jesus  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Free Methodist

The Truth Hurts  PRO

Contributed by Darren Ethier on May 9, 2002

THE TRUTH HURTS Some of us may be able to sympathize with the fellow who received a call from his wife just as she was about to fly home from Europe. "How’s my cat?" she asked. "Dead." "Oh, honey, don’t be so honest. Why didn’t you break the news to me slowly? You’ve ruined my trip." "What do you ...read more

Tags: Faith, Compassion, Conflict, Communication, Men And Women, Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Understanding Mercy

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 4, 2023

There was a young soldier in Napoleon’s army who committed an offense worthy of death. The day before he was scheduled for the firing squad, the young man’s mother went to Napoleon and asked him to show mercy for her son. Napoleon harshly replied, “Woman, your son does not deserve mercy.” “I know,” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7, Micah 6:8, Matthew 9:13, Luke 10:25-37, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 18:23-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Kindness, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion, Leadership, Relationships, Merciful  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

The People With The Roses  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Feb 23, 2002

THE PEOPLE WITH THE ROSES John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn’t, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 6:33, 1 Samuel 16:7, Matthew 13:24-43  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of, Compassion, Great Commission, Heart, Love, The Organ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[004]. Message From A Poem - A Memorial To Kent Harrison

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 19, 2024

[004]. MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A MEMORIAL TO KENT HARRISON This was written after Kent’s death in Townsville maybe in April 2005. We had known him since early Mt Isa days, then later when he moved to Charters Towers and then to Townsville. Kent suffered a few massive strokes but battled on after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1, 2 Samuel 1:17, 2 Samuel 1:26

Tags: Death, Compassion, Friend, Memorial, Tribute, Prayer Warrior, A Christian Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Welcome Home!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2003

WELCOME HOME! A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to their old friend and colleague. But one person who came was ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday, Compassion, Grace, Welcome, Love, Mercy  (view more)  (view less)