In Sermon Illustrations: "Dark Days"

Lighthouse Laws

Contributed by Doyle Hayes on Jul 7, 2009

LIGHTHOUSE LAWS In U.S. Navel Institute Proceedings, the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch illustrates the importance of obeying the Laws of the Lighthouse. Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Baptist

Talk To Jesus Like Your Daughter

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

TALK TO JESUS LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER I was reading about a grieving woman. She went to the Rev. F. B. Meyer looking for help. She said, "Pastor, my daughter died last year. I miss her so much. I made breakfast for her every morning. And even when I had to go to work, I knew that she would be there ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35

Tags: God In The Hardships

Mother Teresa's Feet

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 10, 2012

MOTHER TERESA'S FEET Shane Claiborne, who spent a summer in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote the following about one of his experiences: People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Did she glow in the dark or have a halo? She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Compassion

Denomination: Baptist

Being Crucified With Christ

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Aug 11, 2016

As I was typing up the many pages of notes I would use for my weekly podcast sermon, I needed to replace some letters in a name in part of my document with "M-E," so it would read correctly as I recorded. I was trying to use the ’Find & Replace’ command, but it looked a little ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Sin, Flesh, Self, Crucified With Christ, Crucify Flesh, Crucified  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

If We Could Only See From God's Perspective

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 7, 2022

A man was walking along a railroad track on a very dark night when he came to a bridge.  He had gotten halfway across when he heard a train whistle up ahead.  He quickened his pace, but soon could see the light of the oncoming locomotive approaching.   With nowhere ...read more

Tags: Faith, Fear, Jesus, Obedience, Peter, Miracles, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sometimes I Feel A Little Tugging On The Line!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 20, 2023

A little boy was flying his kite in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois one day. He sent the kite up and let the line out as the wind took it away to the cloudy sky. About that time, an elderly man walked past the little boy and asked him a question. "What are you doing there, son?" he ...read more

Tags: Answers To Prayer, Prayer, Will Of God, Hearing God, God's Voice, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Face To Face With Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 12, 2023

Fanny Crosby was one of the greatest hymn writers in the history of the Church. However, she was born blind, but never used her issue to blame God or play the victim. In fact, she once praised God for her blindness and said, "God did her a favor by making her blind" because the first ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-3

Tags: Blindness, Hymns, Fanny Crosby, Sovereignty Of God, Death, Glory, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Not My Word Like Fire,” Declares ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Aug 30, 2001

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” For those of you who have gone camping, you know how important a fire is at night. On a cold night it keeps you warm. In the dark it gives light. The smoke chases off the bugs. You can grill hot ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Lutheran

The Furnace Keeper  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 11, 2001

Illus.: “The Furnace Keeper” One of the ancient kings of Persia loved to mingle with his people in disguise. Once, dressed as a poor man, he descended the long flight of stairs, dark and damp to the tiny cellar where the fireman, seated on ashes, was tending the furnace.. The king sat down ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Humanity Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

Let's Say You Have An Appointment In Another ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Nov 3, 2003

"Let’s say you have an appointment in another city, and you need to fly there. You purchase your ticket on the internet, you get your confirmation with times and flight and gate numbers. But you are delayed enroute to the airport, and when you finally arrive, running through the airport you come ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:12-14, Matthew 7:12-14

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Orthodox

Here Are Words To A Hymn From The Tune Of 'o ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Miller on Dec 13, 2005

Here are words to a hymn from the tune of ’O Little Town of Bethlehem.’ It was sung after a Narnia message titled, "What If There Were No Christmas?" O Wintry Land of Narnia O wintry land of Narnia what mysteries do you hold? Despite the threats of the white witch, Good News is to unfold! ‘Cause ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: United Methodist

Needing A Push  PRO

Contributed by Sean Harder on Sep 30, 2010

NEEDING A PUSH A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud pounding on the back door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push. "Not a chance," says the husband, "It is three o'clock in the ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Tags: Service, Compassion, Giving, Servanthood

Maclaren On Facing Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

MACLAREN ON FACING DEATH The great 1800s Scottish preacher Alexander MacLaren said: "Many of us cling to life with a desperate clutch, like some poor wretch pushed over a precipice and trying to dig his nails into the rock as he falls. Some of us cling to it because we dread what is beyond, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-23

Tags: Death Nearness

Leo Tolstoy Had A Marvelous Metaphor About The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Leo Tolstoy had a marvelous metaphor about the need for us to set definite boundaries on our own appetites. It is called “How Much Land Does a Man Need?" There was a peasant named Pahom who worked hard and honestly for his family. He always remained poor and thought, "If only we had our own land, ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

ON BACKSLIDING A. M. Hills (From Backsliders and Worldly Christians) -- "It is doubtful if a moral fall is ever precipitous. People decline in religion and backslide gradually. Like descending a stairway, they go down step by step." Herman Melville -- "We warn you against little concessions, ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Saint Patrick  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 15, 2010

SAINT PATRICK Historical Background of Patrick: Patrick lived in the fifth century, a time of rapid change and transition. In many ways we might say that those times of turbulence and uncertainty were not unlike our own. The Roman Empire was beginning to break up, and Europe was about to enter ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 13:1-16, John 3:16-20

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of England's Finest Preachers Was C.h. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Patrick on Nov 24, 2001

One of England’s finest preachers was C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892). Frequently during his ministry he was plunged into severe depression, due in part to gout but also for other reasons. In a biography of the "prince of preachers", Arnold Dallimore wrote, "What he suffered in those times of darkness we ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Emotions

Denomination: Baptist

5-Year-Old Johnny Was In The Kitchen As His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

5-year-old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn’t want to go alone. “It’s dark in there and I’m scared.” She said, “Its OK-Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked ...read more

Scripture: Judges 7:1-4

Tags: Guilt

Opposite ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

OPPOSITE PREFERENCES Canadian sociologists have found most men prefer pale, "innocent-looking" women, while women prefer dark, brooding types of men. Lighter-skinned women in all races are seen as the ideal because of a sub-conscious association with innocence, purity, modesty, virginity, ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

B. Brian J. Waldrop Relates This Slice Of Life: ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 24, 2004

b. Brian J. Waldrop relates this slice of life: "Flipping through the channels of my TV the other morning, I stopped to watch a painter skillfully painting a desert landscape. As the man proceeded to color the canvas in deep browns, reds, and yellows, the picture really started to look good. I felt ...read more

Tags: Humility, Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational