In Sermon Illustrations: "Cup Of Cold Water"

A Couple Was Strolling Along An Ocean Side Beach ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A couple was strolling along an ocean side beach and noticed a bottle floating in the water. They waded out toward it and saw it contained a note. They eagerly opened the bottle and read the note. It said: "I’m marooned on a tropical island. ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

A Little Girl's Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Oct 15, 2001

A LITTLE GIRL’S PRAYER One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity ...read more

Scripture: James 5:17, Hosea 6:2

Tags: Faith, Prayer Answered, Prayer, Prayer General

Denomination: Lutheran

According To James Hamilton, There Are Two Kinds ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

According to James Hamilton, there are two kinds of Bible readers—those who skim the surface and those who dig deep. He describes them by comparing them to two common insects. He writes, “One is remarkable for its imposing plumage, which shows in the sunbeams like the dust of gems; as you watch ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Take The Lord's Table To Others

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 18, 2008

Take the Lord's Table to Others And just as we experience the presence of the Lord, I believe with every part of my being and more that we are to take this presence to share with those around us. We are to take the Lord's Table to other people. So as I talk about taking the Lord's Table to ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Church Of God

Two Little Boys Were The Best Of Friends. As They ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 16, 2008

Two little boys were the best of friends. As they grew up, their friendship only deepened. One became a preacher and the other a priest. And they would meet each week for coffee at the local Starbucks, no matter what else might be happening. After one such meeting, they shook hands and started to ...read more

God Blesses Christian Parents

Contributed by Eric Hanson on Nov 17, 2008

GOD BLESSES CHRISTIAN PARENTS How wonderful for children to have parents who are truly "in the Lord." They will be able to honor such men and women, thus activating the promise mentioned in verse 3. Nancy’s Grandparents took her Grandfather’s mother into their home and cared for her when she ...read more

Tags: Home

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Golf Revenge  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2011

GOLF REVENGE The story is told of two long-time golfing buddies who decided one day that they would play the ball where it lies, no matter what. On the 14th hole, one of them sliced his drive and it ended up on the cart path. As he reached down to pick up his ball to get relief, his friend said, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

Tags: Anger

Pride At The Donut Shop

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 29, 2011

PRIDE AT THE DONUT SHOP I was living in Phoenix at the time and on my way to work I stopped at a Dunkin Donuts drive through. I said to the woman at the window, "I'll have 3 cake donuts and a cup of coffee." She started mumbling something that I couldn't hear. I thought she may be able to hear me ...read more

Tags: Pride

Ornamentals

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on May 5, 2012

ORNAMENTALS Back in 1960, my family moved from Ohio to Arizona. The first time we went to the Phoenix Airport, I was impressed by the beautiful orange trees that lined the drive. It was the first time this Ohio boy had ever seen citrus trees. The oranges were big as grapefruits. They looked so ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Lovers Of The Cross

Contributed by Rev. Dan Hesko on Jul 1, 2017

Thomas a kempis wrote in the Imitation of Christ Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His Cross (Luke 14:27). He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share His feast, but few His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:27

Tags: The Cross, Pure Love, Bearing The Cross

Denomination: Catholic

Hymns For Each Business

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

The Weatherman's Hymn - There Shall Be Showers Of Blessings. The Contractor's Hymn - The Church's One Foundation. The Tailor's Hymn - Holy, Holy, Holy. The Politician's Hymn - Standing On The Promises. The Optometrist's Hymn - Open My Eyes That I May See. The ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9-10

Tags: Humor, Laughter, Jokes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In Ancient History, Tanning Was Considered A ...

Contributed by John Tung on May 10, 2007

“In ancient history, tanning was considered a “smelly” trade and relegated to the outskirts of town, amongst the poor. Tanning by ancient methods is so foul smelling that tanneries are still isolated from those towns today where the old methods are used. The ancients used leather for waterskins, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:11

Tags: Tanning

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

That Little Khaki-Covered Book  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2012

THAT LITTLE KHAKI-COVERED BOOK We Thought We Heard The Angels Sing, written by Lieutenant James Whittaker who was one of seven men whose plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean on October 21, 1942. Their leader was the famous Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, and these seven men found themselves stranded ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:6-7

Tags: Bible Influence

Refining Sap To Maple Syrup  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

REFINING SAP TO MAPLE SYRUP Dr. David Osborn at Denver Seminary says, "Too often we try to use God to change our circumstances, while He is using our circumstances to change us." (Compass, April 2003) You see, God is right now in the process of making us like Christ. Think of the process of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4, Psalm 13:1-6, Psalm 34:15-16

Tags: Sanctification

Hold Fast

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

HOLD FAST A ships crew can be suddenly obligated to ABANDON SHIP and take to the life boats. Such was the case of an American whaling ship in the South Seas. A huge leviathan of the deep, wounded by his pursuits, ran out the mile long line then returned again and struck the ship with incredible ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-19

Tags: Truth Of Christ

We Can See Greener Grass. But Greener Grass ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2002

We can see greener grass. But greener grass comes from a higher water bill, or the is a septic tank under the green grass. Dealing with people can have great appeal if it is those unknown people over there. Don’t ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Assembly Of God

A Sinking Ship  PRO

Contributed by Tony Britt on Jan 23, 2002

A SINKING SHIP Back in the days of steam ships, only rich white people sailed at sea. One day while sailing, something suddenly happened to the ship and it was about to sink. Terrified, the white folks aboard didn’t know what to do. Someone suggested that they do what the black folks ...read more

Tags: Taste, Racism

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Clearest Example That Shows The Meaning Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2002

The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be `dipped’ ...read more

I Can Swim!

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 12, 2008

I CAN SWIM! Some of the richest times of my childhood are memories of my parents' interaction with us. Dad could kick a soccer ball in the air straight as an arrow, and my youthful mind remembered it becoming so small that it disappeared from view. Or the time he rode a bicycle and seem much too ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Salvation Army

There Are 2 Ways Of Handling Pressure

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 6, 2012

There are 2 ways of handling pressure: One is illustrated by a bathysphere, the miniature submarine used to explore the ocean in places so deep that the water pressure would crush a conventional submarine like an aluminum can. Bathyspheres compensate with plate steel several inches thick, which ...read more

Tags: Stress, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Baptist