In Sermon Illustrations: "Country Town"

The Key To The Gate

Contributed by Justin Lauramore on Nov 12, 2012

THE KEY TO THE GATE Picture this, you have walked for miles and miles. You are tired and ready for a long nap. You walk up towards a town gate. As you stare at a distance you meet a young man that tells you that the gate is locked. You say ok, well I will test this out for myself. As you continue ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Once There Were These 3 Guys Who Needed To Get ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2005

Once there were these 3 guys who needed to get to a town called Perfection in one day. Perfection was 200 km away. One guy decided to save money and walk all the way. He started off at 6 in the morning. He only walked for a few hours and managed to cover 20 km. After that he was too pooped to carry ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Love Of The Disciples

American Tourists Mistreated, Pastors Tortured & ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 27, 2005

American Tourists Mistreated, Pastors Tortured & Church Ordered to Close · August 8, 2005 CHINA: House Church Pastors Tortured in Prison & Shanghai House Church Faces Forced Closure China Aid learned that more than 210 Chinese house church pastors and believers have been arrested in Hubei, Hebei ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Betrayal

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Indian Legend Adds "Spook" To Phenomenon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2007

Indian Legend Adds "Spook" to Phenomenon This isn’t your typical pay-at-the-gate attraction. In fact, there is no admission charge — it’s free! Some might not even call it an attraction, but don’t say that to the locals of Lake Wales, Florida. Spook Hill is proudly recognized by the town. The ...read more

Now, It's Probably Pretty Safe To Assume That ...

Contributed by Matthew Sullivan on Mar 30, 2008

Now, it’s probably pretty safe to assume that most everyone here today knows about Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Because just a couple weeks ago, that was the only thing anyone in town seemed to talk about. Extreme Makeover Home Edition was the biggest conversation of the area because their ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Vigilant ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Vigilant Nation Lives In a Healthy Fear of the Lord Psalm 33:12,18 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him. A God fearing people can make a powerful difference in God’s dealings with a nation. The Bible gives us powerful truths ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-18

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Down In The Ditches

Contributed by Betty Johnson on Aug 18, 2008

GET DOWN IN THE DITCHES A few years ago when I had my motorcycle accident and ended up in a ditch full of dirt, I was lost in the same way the Bible uses the world "lost." I could not get out of that ditch, even though every fiber of my being wanted to. My HEART wanted to. My spirit wanted to. ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Wesleyan

It Is The First Century A Sunny Day In Jerusalem, ...

Contributed by Ronald Courtney on Sep 13, 2008

It is the first century a sunny day in Jerusalem, the “City of Peace” as its name implies, and you can hear the murmurs of ill contempt spreading through the fringes of the crowd as Stephen proclaims his message. Beginning with Abraham, describing his faith in Jehovah God to provide, guide, and ...read more

Tags: Persecution, Suffering

Denomination: Baptist

Consumed With Consumerism

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

Consumed with Consumerism We Americans are CONSUMED with the CONSUMER mentality! We’re used to choosing whatever gives us the most "perks and bennies" at any given time. We look for a restaurant with the best price and menu and atmosphere and location. We go to the clothing store that carries ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10-12

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

All Lambert's Fault

Contributed by Tyler Edwards on Apr 16, 2009

ALL LAMBERT'S FAULT Have you ever been to Lamberts Cafe? If not, I highly recommend it. The waiters wear suspenders and bow ties, the meals are served on metal skillets. The drinks come in the largest plastic cup you will ever see, and there are peanuts on the floor. It is the home of the throwd ...read more

Tags: Gluttony, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: *other

Words Of Discouragement From Lucy To Charley ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

Words of Discouragement from Lucy to Charley Brown Charley Brown says to Lucy, still dispensing sage wisdom for the pre-inflationary price of five cents, "Nobody likes me, Lucy. Everybody hates my guts. Do you see that plane up there, Lucy? It’s a plane full of people going somewhere else. That’s ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29

Tags: Words

The Devil Made Me Do It

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 19, 2010

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT When I served a church in Greenville, Florida, one of our men was Joe Ball Reams; about 6'4" and a man's man! He farmed tobacco, corn and cotton to pay the bills. One of his entrepreneurial ventures is a 600 acre hunting club on family land. He has entertained Southern ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: United Methodist

The Coat Of Christ  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

THE COAT OF CHRIST Many years ago, an evangelist by the name of Jakov arrived at a village in Serbia. He met an elderly man there named Cimmerman, and Jakov began to talk to him of the love of Christ. Cimmerman abruptly interrupted Jakov and told him that he wished to have nothing to do with ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16, Romans 5:5-11

Tags: Christian Witness

Leave Room For God To Work

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Feb 20, 2011

LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD TO WORK There was an amazing story recently that took place during the riots in Egypt. As a backdrop remember that on New Year’s Day of this year there was a suicide bombing of a Christian church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, which killed 23 Christians and wounded 97 ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Methodist

Tumbleweeds And Mesquite Trees  PRO

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Oct 17, 2011

TUMBLEWEEDS AND MESQUITE TREES Have you seen those old movies about the wild West? Near the end, the good guy and the bad guy stand facing each other at opposite ends of the only street in town. The local folks, knowing what will happen, clear the street. They slam doors and shutter windows. The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-4

Tags: Bible Study, Delight

Denomination: Baptist

Gossip: Opie's Newspaper

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 7, 2014

"Opie's Newspaper" is an episode on the Andy Griffith Show. Opie's friend, Howie, received a small printing press as a gift, and the boys decide to go into the newspaper business. They work hard and produce an initial issue of what they call the Mayberry Sun. The boys soon find that business is ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32

Tags: Gossip, Slander, Sins Of Tongue, Control Tongue

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let's Go Fishing

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Nov 3, 2016

Let’s Go Fishing Luke 5: 1-11 As you all know I am a fisherman. It is in my blood. My father taught me and my two brothers to fish when we were very young. I remember one time we were fishing from a dock in the Little Sandy River. Dad had just bought a new rod and reel and my brother Mike being ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Tags: Jesus, Christ's Sufficiency, Obeying Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

No Place To Hide

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 14, 2018

In 1980 I was hired as a City Police Officer in a small Midwest town with a population of 2200. The first week on duty we closed an investigation of a local man who held a position in the School system. He had gained the confidence of the parents, students, and the community. After a traffic ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 23:24, Luke 12:2-3, Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Judgement, Hidden Sin, Sin Revealed, Running From God, Judgement Seat Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Culture, Racism, Civil Rights, Prophetic Zeal

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Please Don't Go Back

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Feb 20, 2021

Many years ago, I was a Manager for McDonald’s and one of my Shift Manager’s who had 6 children lived in a very abusive situation. Her boyfriend who lived with her and the 6 children did not work; and he would do drugs all day while she worked. One day she came to me at work and asked for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-9

Tags: Freedom, Forward

Denomination: Baptist