In Sermon Illustrations: "Direction Of Life"

A Young Banker Was Driving His Bmw, In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the ...read more

Tags: Ot Characters

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Prophetic Zeal, Culture, Racism, Civil Rights

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

William Wilberforce

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

Jesus is the supreme example. He cares so much about completing His mission on earth that he lets himself be killed. That total commitment to God’s will literally costs Him His life. It also saves it, as the resurrection proves. There are many examples from history of persons who have proved ...read more

Scripture: John 12:25

Tags: Glory, Die, Hate, Lose

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Epiphany

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Jan 11, 2025

When I was in High School, I had a teacher named Miss Mary Bartram. She taught English and Literature. One day she read a poem to us by Robert Frost, entitled “The Road Not Taken”. She read it with such commitment and passion that I believe she changed a lot of lives that day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Faith, Choice

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grief: God's Answer To Overwhelming Grief

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Aug 25, 2025

What follows is a true account, which I (Stephen) was fortunate enough to witness firsthand in the spring of 2015. My wife was an only child raised by a single mom, and as such was very close to her mother. Thus, when her mother died after 90 years my wife was severely grief stricken and would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 1 Samuel 3:9-10

Tags: Death, Prayer, Listen, Grief, Loved One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[319]. A Message From A Poem - Undone Before The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 24, 2026

[319]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - UNDONE BEFORE THE LORD The second stanza begins this way – “Oh, cancel pride and arrogance, A haughty spirit rising up.” Pride is one great factor why people don’t come in repentance to the Lord. They will not admit a need for salvation; nor will they humble ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Psalm 51:2, Psalm 51:10

Tags: Humility, Pride, Control, Haughty, Christian Poems, Sinful Pride, Undone  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Never Met A Christian Who Believed

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

When I was in high school I had a graphic design class. To my left sat a guy I'd known for about four years. He was an outspoken atheist and pretty much everybody knew it. One day out of nowhere it just popped into my mind to ask him, "Hey, why don't you believe in Christ?" He ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 10:14

Tags: Evangelism, The Great Commission

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christianstein  PRO

Contributed by Ray Navarro on Dec 7, 2001

It was a dark and stormy night. You could hear the thunder in the distance. Bats flapped their wings in the darkness of the night. There the castle stood. The wolves were howling; the trees were swaying in the wind as it whistled. And inside the castle, a faint light shown…from a ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7-9, James 5:7-9, Luke 9:28-62, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Family, Patience, Misconceptions, Joy, Jesus Teachings, Inclusive, Restore, Tithe, Welcome  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Adventist

On The Other Hand?" Mark 13:9-13 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 26, 2005

“On The Other Hand?” Mark 13:9-13 Key verse(s) 13:“‘All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.’” Often times what determines whether or not we are standing tall in this life is measured by the depth of our convictions. There was a time not so long ago ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:9-13

Tags: Faith General, Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

John Mentions Three Areas Of Sin Here. I Want To ...

Contributed by Jasper Rains on Oct 18, 2009

John mentions three areas of sin here. I want to take a moment and dig a bit further to see what each of these sins really mean. I wan to try and help you see what John is telling us is of the world and will lead to death. • Lust of the flesh: Putting our desires first. – Sex, pleasures • Lust of ...read more

Tags: Wages Of Sin, Sin Wages Of

Denomination: Baptist

Man From Slums Of N.y. Converted And Ordained By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Man from Slums of N.Y. Converted and Ordained by Jim Cymbala Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

When Was The Last Time You Took Some Time Out To ...

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Oct 3, 2007

When was the last time you took some time out to play the age-old children’s game, “Who am I? Well, after the sermon this morning you will be able to tell all of your friends that you last played it at church during the worship service. That is how we are going to start out this morning, with a ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

[039] A Message From A Poem – Can We Understand His Goodness?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 28, 2025

[039] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CAN WE UNDERSTAND HIS GOODNESS? This poem is one of my absolute top favourites. It just flowed and I attribute it to the Lord’s presence when I wrote it. I think it came to me late one night as a happy rhythm and flowed quite well so that it was written quicker ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Malachi 3:2-4

Tags: Love, Salvation, Goodness, Poetry, Understand  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[172]. A Poem Message – Living With Denial And Rejection (Evolution)

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 21, 2025

[172]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LIVING WITH DENIAL AND REJECTION (Evolution) This poem takes up the challenge against evolution. The main thought here is that the whole theory (more an hypothesis) is based on absurdity. When in desperate situations people clasp onto something to hold them up, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1:20-22, 1 Corinthians 1:19-20

Tags: Christian Poems, Theory Of Evolution, Denial Of God, Satan, Denial, Absurdity, Darwin, Theistic Evolution, Deniers, Creation, Evolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[237 A]. A Message From A Poem - Scenes From The Gospels - Part 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 31, 2025

[237 A]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - SCENES FROM THE GOSPELS - PART 1 They are here to enjoy! Scenes from the Gospels are very special to me. I love them. They have taken a lot of effort, and many, many months revision to get them as correct as possible with the difficult word limitations. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39, Luke 15:11-32, John 2:1-11, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 14:22-31, Luke 1:1-4, Matthew 13:10-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Stories, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Poetry Reading, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[263]. A Message From A Poem – The Elephant And The Lily

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 14, 2026

[263]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ELEPHANT AND THE LILY I am repeating the whole scripture passage that was the inspiration for this poem. It speaks about God’s providential care for all His creation. This world is not a haphazard chaos of flukiness, but is ordered in universal laws, all ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5-6, 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Anxiety, Dependence, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Lilies Of The Field  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Making The Best Of The ‘best'!" 1 Thessalonians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 11, 2005

“Making The Best of The ‘Best’!” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 Key verse(s) 15:“According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” “I did my best, really!” With tear-streaked face ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Tags: Peace, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Lutheran

Facts About The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2021

GOD'S RESUME – what the Bible teaches about the Sovereignty of God 1. He existed before anything else. Ps. 90:2: "Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God." 2. He created all things. John 1:3: "All ...read more

Tags: Lord, Will Of God, Judge, King Of Kings, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Here Are Some More Mom -Ism’s You Could ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 14, 2010

Here are some more Mom -ism’s you could have heard your own mom teach you: From http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/mothers-day-fun/mother-isms/ Rules • “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it to?” • “I don’t care what [name of best friend]’s parents do, when you’re living in my house ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Last Week I Read In The Advice Column In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Thompson on Jun 6, 2002

Last week I read in the advice column in the paper about a couple who was celebrating 50 years of marriage. The husband wrote that someone commented, ¡§Ken, 50 years is a long time.¡¨ He immediately responded: ¡§Not nearly as long as it would have been without her.¡¨ I couldn¡¦t get the man¡¦s ...read more

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Baptist