In Sermon Illustrations: "Dirty Shoes"

Salvation And The Surgeon

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Dec 17, 2012

Jesus came to be our Savior. To be our substitute. To die FOR us. But while God would be the only one pure enough to die for us... Gods don't die. And while mortals CAN die, no mortal man could ever be the sinless sacrifice the law required to pay for our sins. No ordinary man would be pure and ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Atonement, Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Hilarious Baptism Experience!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 2, 2014

I remember the time I came to the platform to officiate in a formal wedding. I had just come out of the bathroom and didn't realize until I was in front of all those people that stuck to my shoe and trailing behind was an eight-foot stream of toilet paper I remember the time I looked down in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Baptism, Easter, Humor, Pastors

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Apartment In Romania Was Close To The Train ...

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 16, 2008

Our apartment in Romania was close to the train station. And one of our distant relatives, Emil, who happens to run a small business two hundred miles from us, discovered how convenient is to have a place to stay for free while he was around shopping for his business, in our area. So from time to ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Many Years Ago I Went To See A Theatrical ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Tyas on Jan 7, 2002

Many years ago I went to see a theatrical production called Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical about the life of Jesus with an Appalachian, country-western twist. It was based on Clarence Jordan’s paraphrase of the New Testament, by the same name. It tries to tell the story of Jesus as if he has been ...read more

Tags: Herod, Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Closing I Remember A Time When I Was Walking ...  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Jones on Oct 8, 2004

In closing I remember a time when I was walking in a town and saw a young lady that was to say the least intoxicated. She was having a serious problem walking, let alone know where she was going, or have a clue of how to get there. I carefully avoided her, as I was embarrassed at the thought of ...read more

Tags: Addiction

Denomination: Pentecostal

Object Lesson: New Socks

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 13, 2009

OBJECT LESSON: NEW SOCKS One of the things that our church does is that we give out new socks to some of the homeless men and women. You walk around and sleep here and there, and even if you take care of yourself and shower, your socks get dirty. When you’ve been wearing probably the same clothes ...read more

Tags: Born Again

Denomination: Church Of God

Machine Shop Worker Ready For Christ's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Machine Shop Worker Ready for Christ’s Return Charles Swindoll once told of working in a machine shop alongside a fellow named George. George’s job was to sweep and clean out the shavings underneath the lathes and machines. Swindoll says George was born again, and he loved the teaching of Scripture ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-16

Tags: Second Coming

Forgiveness And The Rhone

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 30, 2009

FORGIVENESS AND THE RHONE The RHONE RIVER begins its journey in the Switzerland Alps, some 5000 feet above sea level. It is one of the most important commercial waterways in France, stretching more than 500 miles in length. The river that glistens and sparkles through France, however, is much ...read more

Scripture: Micah 7:19

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Ravi Zacharias: A Lecherous Heart

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

RAVI ZACHARIAS: A LECHEROUS HEART One of the most powerful stories I have ever heard on the nature of the human heart is told by Malcolm Muggeridge. Working as a journalist in India, he left his residence one evening to go to a nearby river for a swim. As he entered the water, across the river he ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Brethren

Practice Openness And Accountability  PRO

Contributed by Chris Edmondson on May 26, 2007

• Practice openness and accountability. This is the one thing we desperately need the most, and the one thing we most resist. We need support. Some things in life are just too hard to do on your own. We need people to come along side of us and encourage us. Whether you are dieting, or exercising, ...read more

Tags: Support, Encourage, Edify, Accountable

Denomination: Baptist

Knowledge Of Jesus

Contributed by Samuel M on May 16, 2024

The knowledge of you (Jesus) changes my understanding of who I am. The words I speak, the way I think, the life I live will radically change when I see you and get to know you Jesus. ‘I’ in me will alter (change or destroy) to become more like you (Jesus). Knowing and seeing you Jesus helps me to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8

Tags: Faith, Knowledge Of God

Compassion For

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Compassion for "Dirty Dog Gentiles" Mark 7:36-37 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (NIV) These ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:36-37

Tags: Compassion

The Movie Industry Has Made Some Pretty Creative ...  PRO

Contributed by Tony Miano on Jun 18, 2001

The movie industry has made some pretty creative attempts at explaining conflict with god. For those of you that remember the movie “Caddyshack,” there is a scene toward the end of the movie in which a golfing enthusiast priest is playing the round of his life. As he makes his way around the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 24:14, Genesis 39:1-23

Tags: God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience

Denomination: *other

That Poor Young Boy!", Thought The Older ...  PRO

Contributed by Joshua Moran on Jan 31, 2005

"That poor young boy!", thought the older gentleman. The sanctuary was somewhat inactive as music was playing quietly, and the building seemed to be sheltering the people from the bitter cold of a New England winter. A young boy had just walked in with only a tattered sweatshirt, dirty jeans, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Giving General, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rules To Help Women Understand Men  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2001

Rules to help women understand men 1. Learn to work the toilet seat. If it’s up … don’t come tell us about it. Put it down. 2. Don’t cut your hair. Ever. 3. Don’t make us guess. 4. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to … expect an answer you don’t want to hear. 5. Sometimes ...read more

Where's Your Faith?  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 17, 2003

WHERE'S YOUR FAITH? Television interviewer and journalist Larry King describes three farmers who gather daily in a field during a horrible drought. The men are down on their knees, looking upward, and praying the skies will open and pour forth a much-needed rain. Unfortunately, the heavens are ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13, Luke 11:1-13

Tags: Faith General, Becoming A Christian, Apologetics General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Henri Nouwen Was Also A Person Whose Heart Was To ...  PRO

Contributed by Amanda Wilson on May 6, 2004

Henri Nouwen was also a person whose heart was to serve the Lord. And as a world-renown Catholic educator and teacher he had a great deal of success in encouraging others in their faith. Yet one day, God asked him to leave that and become a house parent in the Le Arche community, an organization ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:6-9

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Shall We Strive For Numbers?

Contributed by Dave Mcfadden on Nov 16, 2004

"Shall We Strive For Numbers?" Someone recently said, "I am not interested in numbers. I would rather have a spiritual Sunday School class than a big one." I found myself agreeing and determined to pray and prepare my lesson unusually well for next Sunday. At least MY class would be a spiritual ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

It's Amazing How Quickly A Classroom Can Turn ...

Contributed by James Jack on Jul 6, 2005

It’s amazing how quickly a classroom can turn when a teacher walks out for a moment. Paper, hats, pens, shoes, glass bottles get thrown at fans. Bags get thrown out of windows. Furniture is mysteriously re-arranged so that all students are now sitting in the back corners of the room. Two of the ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin General

Denomination: Anglican

Joy Is Black

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Sep 10, 2009

JOY IS BLACK I recently read the following letter that was sent to Dr. Michael Youssef, pastor of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta. The letter was sent by Mrs. Lane, who has been a primary school teacher for 38 years: Dear Michael, One day I was trying to teach my students the difference ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed