In Sermon Illustrations: "Destiny Failure"

Last Lap Of The Race

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 4, 2014

May 29, 2011 it looked like it was destiny, the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. was rounding the last lap of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You could just imagine the script that was being set; it was memorial day, he was being sponsored by the national guard, and He was going to finally win for the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance, Finish The Race, Gas Tank

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Novelist Herman Wouk Has Written Of A Meeting...

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 17, 2016

Novelist Herman Wouk has written of a meeting he had with David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first president. Ben Gurion urged him to move to the newly established nation. This was 1955, and terrorists were still bringing regular bloodshed to the citizens. Ben Gurion had left office and had begun his ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Tags: Freedom, Free To Serve, Stop Playing It Safe, Freedom From Fear

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

President Leslie Lynch King????

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 12, 2019

Leslie Lynch King, Jr. was born on Monday, July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents separated sixteen days after his birth and were divorced the following December. His father was abusive and had a drinking problem. His mother took her baby and moved back to her parents’ home in Grand Rapids, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tags: Salvation, New Life, Adoption Into God's Family

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

On A Flight To Chicago, The Pilot Announced That ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Jan 8, 2003

On a flight to Chicago, the pilot announced that the takeoff had been postponed due to mechanical failure. Later, the flight attendant announced that everyone who was heading for Chicago was to remain on the plane. Forgetting that the intercom was still on, the pilot was overheard in the ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Nazarene

Cell Phone ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

CELL PHONE INSOMNIA? Radiation from cell phones delays and reduces sleep and causes headaches and confusion, according to a UK study. The research, sponsored by mobile phone companies, shows using the handsets before bed causes people to take longer to reach the deeper stages of sleep and to spend ...read more

Tags: Youth

Everything Worth Having Has Pain

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on May 2, 2009

EVERYTHING WORTH HAVING HAS PAIN "In everything worth having, even in every pleasure, there is a point of pain or tedium that must be survived, so that the pleasure may revive and endure: the joy of reading Virgil comes after the bore of learning him; the glow of the sea-bather comes after the icy ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Catholic

I'm Sorry…and Congratulations

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 19, 2011

I'M SORRY...AND CONGRATULATIONS After breaking up with his fiancée, a young man realized the error of his ways when he wrote: "Dearest Marie, No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking our engagement. Please say you'll take me back. No one could ever take your place ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When Things Go Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 19, 2012

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds’ Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: "It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up." (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24

Tags: Mistakes

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 26, 2005

Making It! (10.28.05--Making It!--Jeremiah 52:34) He had a job most people despised. In fact, his job most often elicited laughs than it did applause. He lived alone since his wife died. There were times that he would go on long fasts, sitting in front of his humble home, drawing stares from his ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 52:34

Tags: Faith, Believe, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran

Husband Doesn't Get It

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 19, 2013

TWICE A WEEK After just a few years of marriage filled with disagreements and arguments, a young man and his wife decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling. Things had slipped from bad to worse as the months passed, turning their marriage into a marathon of misery. They had ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:19

Tags: Communication, Marriage, Husband, Relationships

Denomination: Baptist

In The 13th Century, Nicolo Polo (Father Of Marco ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 15, 2001

In the 13th Century, Nicolo Polo (father of Marco Polo) was visiting the court of the grandson of Ghengis Khan - Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan was the Emperor of China and he had never met Europeans before. He was delighted to meet this visitor from Venice AND he was strongly impressed by the ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, What Is Evangelism?, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Recent News Release Told Of A Charlotte, North ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Nov 5, 2001

A recent news release told of a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman who set a world record while playing a convenience store video game. After standing in front of the game for fourteen hours and scoring an unprecedented seven and a half million points on the game called "Tapper," the woman was ...read more

Tags: Humility, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Yet Membership In A Confessing Body Is ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Nov 26, 2001

Yet membership in a confessing body is fundamental to the faithful Christian life. Failure to do so defies the explicit warning not to forsake "our assembling together." His understanding of this prompted Martin Luther to say, "Apart from the church, salvation is impossible." Not that the church ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Greatest Desire  PRO

Contributed by Bill Bendert on Oct 28, 2002

OUR GREATEST DESIRE In the first Harry Potter book (and movie), Harry stumbles on a mirror in Hogwarts castle. It is the mirror of Erised. Erised, of course, is the word "desire" written backwards, as if seen in a mirror. This magical mirror shows the one looking into it whatever they most ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Evangelism The Lost, Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Lutheran

A Famous Violinist Once Ordered A Manufacturer To ...  PRO

Contributed by Douglas Batchelor on Nov 27, 2003

A famous violinist once ordered a manufacturer to make for him the very best instrument his skilled fingers could produce. But when the violin was delivered, its tone did not please the sensitive artist. In indignation he smashed it. The disheartened dealer tried to atone for his failure. ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Adventist

The Quitters Club  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2004

THE QUITTERS CLUB One of the largest organizations in America is the Quitters Club. The reason you’ve never heard of the Quitters Club is because they never meet–the members quit coming. There are no dues–the members quit paying them. The Quitters Club is comprised of people who faced a tough ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Parable Widow, Prayer Persistence, Prayer General

Romeo Dallaire Wrote The Account Of His ...

Contributed by Mike Wilkins on Feb 21, 2005

Romeo Dallaire wrote the account of his experiences in Rwanda in the book “Shake Hands With the Devil” Excerpt from Shake Hands with the Devil My story is not a strictly military account nor a clinical, academic study of the breakdown of Rwanda. It is not a simplistic indictment of the many ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 1:1

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: *other

How Many Here Have Ever Seen The Classic Movie, ...

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 21, 2005

How many here have ever seen the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”? George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) wonders if his life really matters. He feels like a failure. In his sacrifice for others he has not attained his dreams. At his point of crisis he meets up with an angel named ...read more

Tags: Joy, Peace

Denomination: Charismatic

Charles W. Colson, The Body, 1992, Word ...

Contributed by John Raulerson on Oct 12, 2005

(Charles W. Colson, The Body, 1992, Word Publishing, p. 70.) Yet membership in a confessing body is fundamental to the faithful Christian life. Failure to do so defies the explicit warning not to forsake "our assembling together." His understanding of this prompted Martin Luther to say, "Apart ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago, The Wall Street Journal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal carried a story about Sally, an overly conscientious youngster who made herself miserable over the smallest failures and setbacks. Early one fall, while the leaves were still on the trees, there was an exceptionally heavy snowstorm. Sally’s grandfather ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships