In Sermon Illustrations: "Cost Of Discipleship"

Nobody Left Behind

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

We hear the mantra of “No Man left behind” (referring to both men a women) coming from the Military. But the left behind principle has more to do with those living. Although it does pertain to those that are MIA (Missing in Action). The “No Man left Behind” is seen as ---no matter the cost--- that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encourage Each Other, Nobody Left Behind

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Deep Wells Of Hope.

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 9, 2021

MIA: MISSING IN ACTION… WHAT DO YOU SEE? MAN IS SHORT OF DAYS AND FULL OF TROUBLE… Years ago I read where a farmer in California was having a terrible time. They had had 4 years of drought in their area and many farmers spoke of leaving farming and moving back into the city. So the exodus began. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:3, Romans 4:18

Tags: Water, Hope, Wells

Denomination: Assembly Of God

$10 Million Dollars Education

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Aug 22, 2025

In the early days of IBM (variously dated to the 1920s–1960s), an employee was responsible for a major error that cost the company a significant amount of money—typically cited as $10 million (adjusted for inflation, that's over $100 million today; some versions say $1 million or $600,000). The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20-24, Matthew 18:21-22, Proverbs 24:16, Ephesians 4:32

Tags: Rising, Forgiveness, Kindness, Unlimited, Prodigal Son, Falling  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Refuse To Change

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Sep 5, 2025

I RATHER CHOSE INSANITY THAN CHANGE? I REFUSE TO CHANGE. I EXPECT THE WHOLE WORLD TO CHANGE! WHY SHOULD I CHANGE? CHANGE? THERE IS A WARNING OF TERRIBLE COST TO THOSE THAT REFUSE TO CHANGE. There was a huge oil tanker that carried over a million barrels of oil across the ocean. One dark, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:22-31, Isaiah 43:19, Deuteronomy 31:8

Tags: Adapt, Change

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Living Under The Cross  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2002

LIVING UNDER THE CROSS Gerald L. Sittser writes "Two years ago, I wrote a book about suffering. I have received many letters from people who wanted to tell me their own stories of suffering. I have asked permission from a few to tell their stories to others. One woman, Mary, was in a terrible ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ, Easter Resurrection

During Wwi One Of My Predecessors At Tenth ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

During WWI one of my predecessors at Tenth Presbyterian Church, Donald Grey Barnhouse, led the son of a prominent American family to the Lord. He was in the service, but he showed the reality of his conversion by immediately professing Christ before the soldiers of his military company. The war ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

What Does God's Voice Sound Like?  PRO

Contributed by Anne Benefield on Feb 4, 2009

WHAT DOES GOD'S VOICE SOUND LIKE? Erwin McManus, a pastor in Los Angeles, tells a great story about recognizing God's voice. My son, Aaron, was five or six when he began asking me, "What does God's voice sound like?" I didn't know how to answer. A few years later, Aaron went off to his first ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Tags: Hard Heart, Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 13, 2005

Game . . . Set . . . Match? (06.15.05--The Tie That Binds--1 John 4:16) “What more can I do? I’ve given you the best that I have, everything that is mine to give is yours. I simply don’t know what more I can do?” If you’ve never uttered these words yet in your life, it is likely that someday you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:16, Isaiah 40:28-29

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Reward For Doing Right

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

REWARD FOR DOING RIGHT Joseph told Israel of his brother's evil doings. He was faithful to reveal rather than conceal the matter. Certainly it took a great deal of courage to do what he did. The exercising of that courage showed forth faithfulness. He also was faithful to his job requirements. ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Keys To ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Keys to Wisdom Proverbs 4:7-8 says, “Wisdom is supreme; though it costs you all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” The whole of Scripture gives us some practical applications that can be accomplished by all who are willing to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:7-8

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Father's Legacy  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Father's Legacy Jim Berg wrote about the state of the family: "The family, which should be the greatest refuge for the child, has become a domestic battlefield where a child is often caught in the crossfire of his parents' warfare. The time and energy that should be spent giving him the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:17-18

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Reward For Doing Right: Joseph Told Israel Of His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

Reward for Doing Right: Joseph told Israel of his brother’s evil doings. He was faithful to reveal rather than conceal the matter. Certainly it took a great deal of courage to do what he did. The exercising of that courage showed forth faithfulness. He also was faithful to his job requirements. ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Reward For Doing Right: Joseph Told Israel Of His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Reward for Doing Right: Joseph told Israel of his brother’s evil doings. He was faithful to reveal rather than conceal the matter. Certainly it took a great deal of courage to do what he did. The exercising of that courage showed forth faithfulness. He also was faithful to his job requirements. ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

The Pearl Of Greatest Price  PRO

Contributed by Jesse Roncales on Mar 12, 2010

THE PEARL OF GREATEST PRICE A Christian missionary in India had befriended a devoted Hindu, and had explained that salvation is a gift. Then one day the Hindu told the missionary he was going to crawl many miles on his knees to Delhi as a means of earning salvation. But before he leaves he gave ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:10-14, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Christina Recently Gave Birth To Our First ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Jun 17, 2010

Christina recently gave birth to our first daughter. After three sons I am very pleased to have a little girl. Recently I was speaking to the academic dean of the seminary where I am pursuing doctoral studies. The school had asked for individual and family photos of students like me who are ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Christian Church

Fire In The Hole

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

FIRE IN THE HOLE Centralia was a small mining town in the eastern part of Pennsylvania with about 1000 residents making their income off of the coal dug just underneath the crust. The town had existed the same way for over a century when pre-Civil War settlers moved out to dig up the anthracite ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-30

Tags: Hell

There Was A Man Who Was On His Death Bed And He ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Leiter on Sep 4, 2001

There was a man who was on his death bed and he called the three men that he trusted the most to come and see him. He called his minister, his doctor and his lawyer to him and said, “When I die, I my savings account of $90,000 divided three ways and when you walk by my casket, I want each of you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34-38

Tags: Death, Funerals Non-Christian

Denomination: Vineyard

The Movie "Mighty Ducks" Is A David Vs Goliath ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Cassara on Sep 8, 2001

The movie "Mighty Ducks" is a David vs Goliath type of film. Gordon Bombay, a high priced lawyer with a prestigious law firm is arrested for DWI and ordered to perform 500 hours of community service. His assignment is to coach a pee wee hockey team made up of a bunch of misfits and troubled kids ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Faith, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Dwight L. Moody Approached A Man Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 12, 2002

"When Dwight L. Moody approached a man who was president of a colliery about his soul’s salvation, the man listened patiently and courteously, then said, "It’s too cheap, I can’t believe it’s true. You ask me to do nothing except to accept Christ in order to obtain salvation. It is too cheap. It ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Lordship Of Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: United Methodist

A Fly Was Buzzing Along One Morning When He Saw A ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Aug 1, 2002

A fly was buzzing along one morning when he saw a lawn mower someone had left out in their front yard. He flew over and sat on the handle, watching the children going down the sidewalk on their way to school. One little boy tripped on a crack and fell, spilling his lunch on the sidewalk. He ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34

Tags: Temptation, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Evangelical Free