In Sermon Illustrations: "Core Values For Children"

The Vine

Contributed by Michael E. Bartee Sr. on Oct 19, 2018

When I was growing up I was one of six children. Our house was very small, only four rooms. And without any of the convieniences most houses had in those days. We did not have a bathroom,running water, or a furnace. There were two boys, about my age, that lived close by. In my mind they were ...read more

Scripture: John 5:15

Tags: Trusting God, Faith In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Bad And Good Decision

Contributed by Sourav Dasgupta on Dec 30, 2021

Decision (Good & Bad Consequences) Esther 1: King Ahsereus & Queen Vasti) Errors of King 1.Wine Temptation 2.Queen Display 3.Anger Demonstration Errors of Queen 1.Husband's Disobedience 2.No Ungodly Guidance (Job Money Security Deposit) Proverbs 12:15 3.No 3rd Person in H-W ...read more

Tags: Godly Counsel, Obedience To Seniors

Complaints -- Duh!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

These are actual complaints received from dissatisfied customers by Thomas Cook Vacations (based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey): a. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1, Colossians 3:13, Philippians 2:14

Tags: Wisdom, Contentment, Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction, Sense, Complaints  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Cracked Pot  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 27, 2002

THE CRACKED POT A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7, Romans 1:16

Tags: God In The Hardships, Imperfection, Jars Of Clay, Perseverance, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Karl Loved To Follow His Dad Around. From An ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Apr 15, 2004

Karl loved to follow his dad around. From an early age, Hirschel always found young Karl at his heels. The shelves of books in Hirschel’s Law study fascinated young Karl and the lad quizzed His dad to annoyance. The book Hirschel seemed to love the most was the Torah, the Hebrew Book of Law. ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Church Of God

The Guest  PRO

Contributed by James Chandler on Jan 11, 2007

The Guest Author Unknown A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Complaining Is Remedied By Thankfulness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 3, 2008

COMPLAINING IS REMEDIED BY THANKFULNESS Turn back again to the book of Exodus—Exodus chapter 34. The cure for complaining is not found in changing our circumstances, but rather gaining a proper view of God. · Do you really believe that God has your best interests at heart? · Do you really ...read more

The Vessel God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE VESSEL GOD USES The Master was searching for a vessel to use; on the shelf there were many--which one would He choose? "Take me", cried the gold one, "I’m shiny and bright, I’m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Tags: Servanthood

A. One Of The Pioneers In The Cellular Phone ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A. ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN THE CELLULAR PHONE BUSINESS IS A MAN VERY FEW OF US HAVE EVER HEARD OF: CRAIG MCCAW. B. HIS BIOGRAPHY IS ENTITLED: MONEY FROM THIN AIR AND HE TELLS ABOUT HOW HE STARTED, MCCAW CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS, IN 1976, JUST THREE YEARS OUT OF COLLEGE. C. EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1

Tags: Forgiveness General

The Birthing Of America By Gray W. Clark: Why Is ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 12, 2007

The Birthing of America by Gray W. Clark: Why is it important to reexamine, in a Christian publication, the founding of America? Because the prevailing view of the birth of America is stilted. This stilted view has led Christians into rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (11 Samuel ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 21, 2007

THE GIFT A professor of mine from seminary told us this story: When he was a young man, all of 23, he had the opportunity to take a summer tour of Europe as a graduation present, he was from a well to do family. He traveled about Europe by train, boat and sometimes by bicycle. Finally he ended up ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From The Dining Room We Walked Into The Living ...

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

“From the dining room we walked into the living room. This room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He said, ‘This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 38:15-16

Denomination: Wesleyan

George Washington Carver Had Always Dreamed Of ...

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 25, 2009

George Washington Carver had always dreamed of getting an education. There was one thing standing in his way. He was born black in a country and at a time when whites oppressed black people. When George Carver reached the age of twenty he was ready to start college. He submitted an application ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

The Tin—untold Riches

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

THE TIN--UNTOLD RICHES In the late nineteenth Century in South Africa, an old man was digging for gold in a river bed. He had been at it for many years. Every now and then he found a little bit of gold, not enough to make him rich – but just enough to maintain his interest. The part of river in ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3

Tags: Christmas

Truly Thankful: J. B. Fuqua

Contributed by Richard Jumper on Nov 16, 2010

TRULY THANKFUL: J. B. FUQUA When J. B. Fuqua was just a boy, someone lent him a helping hand. And he paid them back millions of times over for their kindness. J. B. grew up in rural Virginia in the years after World War I. Those were lean times for many people. J. B. made up his mind at a young ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

How Much Land?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2011

HOW MUCH LAND? In his 1886 short story "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" Leo Tolstoy shows how a continual desire for more can ultimately cause us to lose everything. The main character of the story is a peasant named Pahóm, who at the beginning can be heard complaining that he does not own ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Tags: Greed

Community: A Lost Art  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 14, 2011

COMMUNITY: A LOST ART I inherited an old trunk that sat in my grandma’s basement. It had belonged to the generation before, who had used it to bring their possessions across the sea from Sweden. It sits in my dining room. It smells a little musty, but I treasure it as a link to my heritage. I was ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Hospitality

Servanthood And Spiritual Growth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

SERVANTHOOD AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH I surveyed my church to see if people saw a relationship between ministering to others and spiritual growth. When asked, "To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?," 92 percent answered positively. None responded that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Servanthood

Augustine And The Four States Of Man  PRO

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Mar 5, 2012

AUGUSTINE AND THE FOUR STATES OF MAN In the 5th century AD, St. Augustine wrote about the "4 States of Man": * The first state of man (the haec sunt prima) is "living according to the flesh -- with reason making no resistance." This can be seen in so many ancient cultures and religions (and ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Tags: Allegory

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 27, 2012

THE CONSCIENCE A. Quotes on the Conscience J. I. Packer—There are two sorts of sick consciences, those that are not aware enough of sin and those that are not aware enough of pardon. Anonymous—‘Let your conscience be your guide’ is only valid if God’s Word is guiding your conscience. Elton ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:14-16

Tags: Conscience