In Sermon Illustrations: "Count Your Blessings"

Why You're Tired

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

WHY YOU'RE TIRED In a 24-hour period, if you’re an adult of average weight, here is what you accomplish: • Your heart beats 103,689 times • Your blood travels 168,000,000 miles • You breathe 23,040 times • You inhale 438 cubic feet of air. • You eat 3.25 pounds of food • You drink 2.9 quarts ...read more

Tags: Human Body

Denomination: Brethren

Who Needs Your Help?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 17, 2011

WHO NEEDS YOUR HELP? Of the 2,000 passengers on the Titanic, 1517 were lost. At the time the Titanic went down, another ship, the California was only 30 miles away. The Titanic’s operator frantically sent out SOS repeatedly; but the wireless set on the California was closed because there was only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

What Gets Your Attention?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 19, 2011

WHAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION? Two friends were sitting together in a café when a noisy car alarm interrupted their conversation. One friend said: "What good are car alarms when no one pays any attention to them?" The other friend said "Some are quite effective. Last summer, my teenager spent a lot ...read more

Tags: Miscellaneous

Denomination: Brethren

Covering Your Own Sin

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 30, 2011

COVERING YOUR OWN SIN "Adam, where are you?" God cried as a now sin-tainted Adam and Eve vainly attempted to hide from Him. Adam had a plan: The fig leaves-an easy quick fix, a cover-up. They represent man fixing his sin on his own terms, the quick and easy way. Grab some leaves, cover it quickly. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:6-13

Tags: Sin Exposed

What Will Your Grandchildren Say?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2011

WHAT WILL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN SAY? Max Lucado shared this in Outlive Your Life: A few years back, three questions rocked my world. They came from different people in the span of a month. Question 1: Had you been a German Christian during World War II, would you have taken a stand against ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:49-50

Tags: Poverty

Does Your God Bleed?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2011

DOES YOUR GOD BLEED? A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in a pagan country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible but I can’t see him. But if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Listen, does your God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:19-20, 1 Peter 3:1-12

Tags: Blood Of Christ

What Occupies Your Heart

Contributed by Scott Carroll on May 20, 2011

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART I squirmed a bit as I forced myself to listen to my friend cataloging her problems. After three hours, I interrupted her gently to ask, "If you were to draw a circle to represent your life, what would be in the center? She thought a moment, then said, "My problems." My ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sign Your Name Or Forget It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2011

SIGN YOUR NAME OR FORGET IT J. Vernon McGee tells of an incident that happened in one of his pastorates. A man came to him and said, "I want to tell you about a certain situation." He told him about a certain man who was involved in a particular sin. The man wanted to do something about it. He ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

Risk Your Life To Save It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2011

RISK YOUR LIFE TO SAVE IT Tyrtaeus, an old Greek poet who lived before the time of Christ, wrote, "The man who risks his life in battle has the best chance in saving it; the one who flees to save it is most likely to lose it." (Walter Bauer, A Greek-English ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Separation From Your Love

Contributed by Michael Buckingham on Jun 24, 2011

SEPARATION FROM YOUR LOVE I remember once there was girl I loved so much in my youth, I thought that we would be together forever, and I thought that I could never live without her! But now I hardly ever think about her... the truth is that I really can live without her. So what changed between ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Whatever Gets Your Goat

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 5, 2011

WHATEVER GETS YOUR GOAT "Whatever gets your goat gets your attention. Whatever gets your attention gets your time. Whatever gets your time gets you. Whatever gets you becomes your master. Take care, lest a little thing horn in and ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Not The White House, But Your House

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 28, 2011

NOT THE WHITE HOUSE, BUT YOUR HOUSE As part of a commencement address, former First Lady Barbara Bush said the following to a group of graduating college students: "As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer, or business leader will be, you are a human being first, and those human ...read more

Tags: Workplace Balance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Doubting (Enter Your Name)

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 30, 2011

DOUBTING (ENTER YOUR NAME) The most famous doubter of all time is Thomas. Through history Judas has been the only disciple criticized more than Thomas. Tradition has given him a new name: "Doubting Thomas." He wanted proof that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. But can you blame him? When the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:6-8, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Prayer

Denomination: Baptist

What Occupies Your Heart?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

WHAT OCCUPIES YOUR HEART? I squirmed a bit as I forced myself to listen to my friend cataloging her problems. After three hours, I interrupted her gently to ask, "If you were to draw a circle to represent your life, what would be in the center?" She thought a moment, then said, "My problems." My ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3

Tags: Death Nearness

You're Beautiful To God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL TO GOD R.C. Buckner, a big, bold and brash man, lived about 100 years ago in Texas. This imposing figure had a very tender heart for children, starting Buckner's Children's Homes all across the state. The children affectionately called him "Papa Buckner" and would run up to him ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Tags: Compassion

When I Was Your Age...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Sep 2, 2011

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE... A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could get in 9 holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off, an old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Baptist

How Big Is Your God?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD? Tony Campolo was once confronted by an atheist who was one of his students. The young man told Campolo, "For me to believe in God, I have to have a God that I can understand." And Campolo replied, "God refuses ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 53:1

Tags: Atheism

Setting Your Faith Aside

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 4, 2011

SETTING YOUR FAITH ASIDE Have you ever thought you could separate from God ... just for a little while ... and then later on turn back to God? Unfortunately we all do this ... in big ways or small ways. Any time we decide to live a life INDEPENDENT of God, we run a big risk. I remember a ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let Your Adorning Be Hidden

Contributed by David Hodgin on Oct 9, 2011

LET YOUR ADORNING BE HIDDEN Author Jennifer McBride wrote, "Ladies and gentlemen, I exhort you to dress in such a way that does not capture anyone’s gaze, but actually gives others something else, besides your attire, to think about. Discretion is a godly trait. At times, it is better to ...read more

Tags: Beauty

Relax And Lower Your Branches  PRO

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 2, 2011

RELAX AND LOWER YOUR BRANCHES Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal carried a story about Sally, an overly conscientious youngster who made herself miserable over the smallest failures and setbacks. Early one fall, while the leaves were still on the trees, there was an exceptionally heavy ...read more

Tags: Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ