In Sermon Illustrations: "Dead Flies"

Christmas And Atheism

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 16, 2019

The famed Austrian psychologist Carl Jung once wrote about a life without God: “Those psychiatrists who are not superficial have come to the conclusion that the vast neurotic misery of the world could be TERMED a neurosis of emptiness. Men cut themselves off from the root of their being, from God ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Faith, Atheism, Emptiness, Existence Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

In 1957, Lieutenant David Steeves Walked Out Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 14, 2001

In 1957, Lieutenant David Steeves walked out of the California Sierras 54 days after his Air Force trainer jet had disappeared. He related an unbelievable tale of how he had lived in a snowy wilderness after parachuting from his disabled plane. By the time he showed up alive, he had already been ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Apologetics Jesus, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

You Probably Do Not Remember The Name Nikolai ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynell Friesen on May 24, 2001

You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin nor should you. But during his day he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. A Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and ...read more

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus, Apologetics General, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Founders Of Our Nation Knew The Great Cost ...

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jul 6, 2005

The founders of our nation knew the great cost of freedom. Yet they willingly put themselves on the line for the idea of liberty that springs eternal in the human heart. Signing the Declaration of Independence became a death warrant for those who affixed their signatures. Fifty-six men signed ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Political Freedom

Denomination: Methodist

The College Professor Was Furious When Nine ...  PRO

Contributed by Traci Loewe on Jul 30, 2007

“The college professor was furious when nine students failed to show up for the evening class. Not until 7 p.m. did the first student straggle in. "I’m sorry, sir," the student explained, "but I had a date and lost track of time, and I missed the bus back. Being determined to get in on time, I ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

The Date For Easter Moves Around Each Year. In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2007

The Date for Easter moves around each year. In the year 2018 (and in 2029) it will land right on April 1st --April Fool’s Day. A lot of us have played April Fool’s jokes on others, or have had these jokes played on us. But what if history’s worst joke turned out to be that we were counting on a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Tomb, April Fools Day

The Only Thing About Christmas That Bothers Me Is ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 22, 2009

The only thing about Christmas that bothers me is that people see Jesus as a baby, meek and mild but they don’t see Him for all that He really is. It always used to bother me that I was called a gentle man. I longed to be seen as strong and courageous and visionary, but people mainly see me as ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Silent Sermon  PRO

Contributed by Bishop Johnathan Hester on Nov 17, 2011

THE SILENT SERMON A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending Services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Apostolic

Years Ago, In The Pioneer Days Of Aviation, A ...

Contributed by George Mansfield on Feb 23, 2008

Years ago, in the pioneer days of aviation, a pilot was making a flight around the world. After he had been gone for some two hours from his last landing field, he heard a noise in his plane which he recognized as the gnawing of a rat. He realized that while his plane had been on the ground a rat ...read more

Tags: Worry, Overcoming Anxiety

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Cassie Was In The School Library Reading Her ...

Contributed by Mike Cleveland on Mar 19, 2008

Cassie was in the school library reading her Bible when two young killers burst in. According to witnesses, one of the killers pointed his gun at Cassie and asked, do you believe in God?" Cassie answered, "Yes, I believe in God." "Why?" the gunman asked. Cassie did not have a chance to respond; the ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sheep Alive  PRO

Contributed by Mike Cleveland on Jan 18, 2009

Sheep Alive In 1972, a shepherd had brought his sheep into a walled-off, enclosed area for the night, and he had just gone to sleep when he heard a commotion. He quickly rushed over to where the sound was coming from and to his horror he discovered that a wolf was in the process of dragging off ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Death And Resurrection

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 15, 2013

Our son, John learned a valuable lesson about death when he was a child. One day he took aim with his new BB gun at a little bird sitting on a limb near our back deck. He aimed and fired and hit his target and the bird collapsed to the ground. Dead. At first there was the excitement of being a ...read more

Scripture: John 14:19

Tags: Death, Resurrection

Denomination: Christian Church

A Conference With The Devil

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 15, 2022

A fictitious story has been told of a conference between Lucifer and his demons. It seems as though Satan was upset because he had not deceived enough souls and so he called for a conference with his head demons. "What are we going to do! We are not claiming enough souls for the Kingdom of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Satan, Parable, Demons, Excuses, Invitation, Today, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Resurrection Of Debbie" (From The Case For ...  PRO

Contributed by Sherm Nichols on Jan 2, 2008

“The Resurrection of Debbie” (from The Case For Christ – Strobel, Pg.325) Habermas rubbed his graying beard. The quick fire cadence and debater’s edge to his voice were gone. No more quoting of scholars, no more citing of Scripture, no more building a case. I had asked about the importance of the ...read more

Tags: Dad, Father, Sincere, Talent, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In His Book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2003

In his book, When God Whispers Your Name, Max Lucado writes: I choose self-control … I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my ...read more

The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ Is The Most ...  PRO

Contributed by Jason Cole on Feb 23, 2004

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most provable fact in all of history! There is more evidence that Christ rose from the grave than any other fact in history. Today followers of the Islamic faith can visit the tomb of their leader Mohammed. Today followers of the Buddhist religion can go ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Heard About A Union Meeting Where The Union ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 13, 2005

I heard about a Union Meeting where the Union Representative was explaining the new Work Contract. He said, "I have great news, Comrades. Management has agreed to lighten our work schedule!” The crowd shouted, "Hooray!" "And we will have a 150% pay rise." "Hooray!" "We will finish work at 4 PM, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Francois Fenelon, A 17th Century French Mystic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 20, 2005

Francois Fenelon, a 17th century French mystic who wrote the classic Christian Perfection, spoke eloquently of the denial of death: “We consider ourselves immortal, or at least as though [we are] going to live for centuries. Folly of the human spirit! Every day those who die soon follow those who ...read more

Tags: Death

Of Unchurched Americans, Two-Thirds Believe In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Of unchurched Americans, two-thirds believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and that he was resurrected from the dead. The belief that Jesus Christ will return to earth someday is held by 62 percent of all Americans. Of the total American adult population, nearly half believe in creationism, and 37 ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Again Dr. Marc T. Newman Writes, "There Would ...

Contributed by Don Jones on Jul 11, 2006

Again Dr. Marc T. Newman writes, "There would not be much drama, however, if no one were in peril in a pirate film. There is plenty of swordplay, and a ship-crunching Kraken lurks in the deep, but such threats can only harm one’s body. The real danger lies in risking one’s soul. Dead Man’s Chest ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Baptist