In Sermon Illustrations: "Day Off"

The Story Is Told Of A Father Of 5 Who Came Home ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on May 15, 2001

THE STORY IS TOLD OF A FATHER OF 5 WHO CAME HOME WITH A TOY, HE SUMMONED HIS CHILDREN AND ASKED WHICH ONE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE PRESENT. "WHO IS THE MOST OBEDIENT, NEVER TALKS BACK TO MOM AND DOES EVERY THING HE OR SHE IS TOLD TO DO?" HE ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:9-10, Genesis 5:3-16

Tags: Father's Day, Father, Faith, Doing God's Will, Obedient, Respect, Present  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A National Prayer Of Repentance  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 31, 2001

A NATIONAL PRAYER OF REPENTANCE Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS. On January 23, 1996, He was asked to be the guest chaplain for the Kansas State House in Topeka. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-21

Tags: Independence Day, National, Prayer, Prayer Confession, Repentance, Walk, Controversial  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Little Girl Once Said To Her Mother, "Mommy, If ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 11, 2002

A LITTLE GIRL ONCE SAID TO HER MOTHER, “Mommy, if Santa Claus brings our presents, and God gives us our daily bread, and Uncle Sam gives us ...read more

Tags: Father's Day, Father, Family, Leadership, Purpose, Parenting, Value, Worth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Man In A Hot Air Balloon Realized He Was Lost. ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Aug 29, 2002

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am." The woman below replied, "You’re in a hot air balloon ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Labor Day, Workplace, Content, Disappointment, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Someone Once Said…"I Made 6 Resolutions Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Jan 6, 2003

Someone once said…”I made 6 resolutions last year and I kept them all Year long. They are in an ...read more

Tags: Decision, New Year, New Life, New Year's Day, Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Abilene Christian University Researchers, Dr. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Abilene Christian University researchers, Dr. David Lewis and Dr. Carley Dodd have recently concluded a cross-generational study (six different tests) to measure fathers’ positive and negative influences upon teens’ spirituality. The found that "every time" dad’s role "as teacher came out be the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Call, Children, Gift, Father, Fatherhood, Fathers Day, Youth, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Pharisees Don't Care

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 8, 2020

The corrupt heart of the zealous devotion of the Pharisees is illustrated by a group of modern day Orthodox Jews (early, 1992), who let three apartments in an Orthodox neighborhood in Israel burn to the ground while they asked a rabbi whether a telephone call to the fire department on the Sabbath ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-3

Tags: Pride, Selfishness, Last Days, Pharisees, False Religion, Lovers Of Themselves  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do We Know That Jesus Is The Son Of God?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we approach the last of the last days, we see an alarming trend among many pastors to drift away from the basic truths of Scripture. We should not be surprised. Jesus promised this day would come (Matthew 24, II Timothy 3). So, how do we know for sure from Scripture that Jesus is the very ...read more

Tags: Deity, Son Of God, Apostasy, Jesus, Truth, Last Days, Heresy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Each Child Is Different - I Learned That The Hard Way

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 13, 2023

God the Father Loves His Children ... and He is also quick to .... encourage His children. (Long Pause) I learned that ...as a parent ... the hard way. As a father ... you want the best for your children ... you want them to succeed. To succeed ... at everything they do. Kristin ... our first ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Colossians 4:8, Proverbs 8:31, Proverbs 4:1

Tags: Example, Relationship, Fathers, Parent, Children, Father's Day, Encouragement, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Crickets And Crosses

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

Early one Easter morning I stood before an old church graveyard. The crickets were chirping their morning melody for me. I saw three crosses that had been placed there by the congregation, erected as a reminder of the crosses on the hill called Calvary. Calvary, where Jesus was crucified between ...read more

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Morning, Sunrise, Nature, Sunrise Service, Resurrection Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Think Before You Volunteer!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 10, 2023

As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, “Anyone here knows how to pray?” A pastor stepped forward. “Captain, I know how to pray.” “Good,” said the captain, “you pray while the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Volunteer Day, Help, Selfishness, Good Samaritan, Servants, Liars, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Can't Believe A Single Word He Says!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees an old black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. "So, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Tags: False Teachers, Lies, Liars, Discernment, Truth, Preaching, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Just An Old Shoebox

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on May 23, 2024

Just an Old Shoebox It was just an old shoebox, With a pink faded ribbon wrapped around. The old house was sad and sat strangely quiet, Ever since Momma graced Heaven’s dawn. It’s like she had just turned loose of living, To dutifully follow Dad on. Brother and I had moved things for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:19, John 14:1-3, Lamentations 3:21

Tags: Mother's Day, Memories, Junk, Secrets, Treasures, Shoebox, Precious Memories  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[011] A Message From A Poem - A Very Present Help In Times Of Trouble

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 14, 2024

[011] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE Stanza 1 - Psalm 54:1-4 Stanza 2 - Psalm 56:3-4 Stanza 3 - Psalm 50:15,23 Stanza 4 - Psalm 55:22 This poem of four stanzas has a stanza dedicated to each of four verses in the Psalms. I love the Psalms and at times of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 54:1-4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 55:22, Psalm 50:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Help, Burden, Deliverer, A Present Help, Save Me, The Day Of Trouble  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Preacher's Kid Brags On His Daddy!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 12, 2024

Bragging Boys Three boys in the schoolyard were bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he then calls it a poem, they give him $50.00.” The second boy says, “That’s nothing, My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Father's Day Jokes, Pride, Bragging, Churches, Fathers, Pastor's Kid  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Precious Dad Moment  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 26, 2002

PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection. A thick slab of ham, a fresh bun, crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw were aching in anticipation, I carried it to the picnic table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:1-30

Tags: Father's Day, God's Light, Children, Advent, Anticipation, Christmas, Parenting, Thanksgiving, Tongue, Wilderness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pastor Neimoller A Doctor In Nazi Germany Wrote ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Small on Mar 4, 2002

Pastor Neimoller a doctor in Nazi Germany wrote the following poem prior to World War II. It has a message that we need to consider today. In Germany they first came for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up ...read more

Tags: Social Justice, Justice, Holidays Civic, Independence Day, Needy, Political Freedom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

But Before That...  PRO

Contributed by Gregg Strawbridge on Jul 7, 2002

BUT BEFORE THAT... In 1992, when our own Govenor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly “America is a Christian nation” the response bordered on hysteria. But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible” — stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:18, Psalm 33:12

Tags: Kingdom Of God, July, History, Heritage, Independence, Independence Day, America, Freedom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Elton Trueblood On Family And Parenting

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 24, 2014

Elton Trueblood: "No matter how much a man may be concerned with his work in the world, he should not care about it as much as he cares for his family. This is because we have, in our families, a bigger stake than most of us can ever have in our employment. We can change business associates ... we ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:4-12

Tags: Family, Parenting, Fatherhood, Fathers Day, Household, Christian Fathers, Godly Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

9 Characteristics Of Revivals In The Bible

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

In his book Revival Fire, Geoff Waugh lists nine similarities among Biblical revivals: They occurred in times of moral darkness & national depression. Each began in the heart of a consecrated servant of God who became the energizing power behind it. Each revival rested on the Word ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Last Days, Old Testament, New Testament, Church  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational