In Sermon Illustrations: "Down"

On July 27th 1993 Javier Sotomayor Of Cuba Set ...

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 2, 2009

On July 27th 1993 Javier Sotomayor of Cuba set the world record for the high jump, he cleared a bar 8 feet high. That means he's the best. But how many times do you suppose he knocked the bar down before he reached that height? And he never cleared it again. Does that mean he's a failure? Of ...read more

Tags: Sin, Sin General

The Harry Wilson Story

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Jun 3, 2009

THE HARRY WILSON STORY When I came to faith in Jesus in 1985 the vicar at the church was another Wilson, Harry Wilson, not Harold Wilson! He told us his story of believing in Jesus, being selected for ordination training and heading off to college. Whilst at Bible College he realised that he was ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Anglican

Remember No Computer Has Seized You Except What ...

Contributed by David Hodgin on Jun 30, 2009

Remember no computer has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he has provided a back-button, a delete-key and an off-switch so that you will have a way out. NO book has ever seized you that ...read more

Tags: Temptation General

Being Baptised Is A Bit Like Having A Tap Put In ...

Contributed by Fr Mund Cargill Thompson on Jan 18, 2010

Being baptised is a bit like having a tap put in your bath room. A tap is rather essential furniture. Putting a tap in makes it a bath room. But you still have to turn it on. Imagine a bath room which stayed there for 80 years before being knocked down, and during that time not one of the taps ...read more

Tags: Baptism

Denomination: Anglican

A Problem Worthy Of God

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jan 18, 2010

A PROBLEM WORTHY OF GOD Martin Luther says the fact that a moral and just God can let the guilty go unpunished is "a problem worthy of God." Any judge who sets a guilty person free with no punishment is immoral and unjust. Suppose a Judge has a man before him who is guilty, but has truly had a ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Anyone Else?

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 19, 2010

ANYONE ELSE? A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued: "Is anyone up there?" "I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?" "Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can't hang on much longer." "That's all right, if you ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Baptist

God's Elect

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Aug 26, 2010

GOD'S ELECT There is no indication anywhere in Scripture that when a man or woman first believes in Jesus for salvation, God says something like, "Oh, look! We hooked another one! Get out the book and write his name down!" God is not taken by surprise, God is not waiting for people to ...read more

Tags: Election

Denomination: Orthodox

Too Fast

Contributed by Bill Burress on Nov 1, 2010

TOO FAST There was football team who never won a game, so one day before practice the coach decided to have a talk with them. He told them, "Men, our offense is bad, our defense is horrible, and our special teams are the worst I have ever seen, so today we are going back to the basics and start ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is Your Church On Fire?

Contributed by K. Simms on Nov 5, 2010

IS YOUR CHURCH ON FIRE? In a little town unknown to many, there was a small church. One night smoke and flames consumed this little church. People from all over town stood in the streets and watched the church as it burned. The local preacher drove up and noticed several people that he hadn't seen ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Methodist

The £1.50 Hearing Aid

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 15, 2010

THE £1.50 HEARING AID An elderly man stopped at a hearing aid centre and asked about prices. The salesman said, "We have them from £25,000 down to £1.50." "What's the £25,000 one like?" The salesman said, "Well, it translates three languages." "And what about the one for £1.50?" "It's this ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Brethren

Better And Wiser Judge

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Sep 23, 2011

BETTER AND WISER JUDGE Supreme Court Justice Horace Gray once informed a man who had appeared before him in a lower court and had escaped conviction on a technicality: "I know that you are guilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser ...read more

Tags: Justice

Denomination: Church Of God

What I Wouldn't Give...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Mar 29, 2012

WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE... When Oliver Wendell Holmes was still on the U.S. Supreme Court, he and Justice Louis Brandeis took walks every afternoon. On one of these occasions Holmes, then ninety-two, paused to gaze in frank admiration at a beautiful young girl who passed them. He even turned to look ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Lutheran

You Gotta Look At It!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

YOU GOTTA LOOK AT IT! A man was seated on a park bench when a little chap of about five sat down beside him and started winding what appeared to be a most prized possession--a watch. "My, what a pretty watch," remarked the man. "Does it tell you the time?" "No sir," replied the boy; "you gotta ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Tags: Hold, Bible Truth

Most Of Us Don't Mind Jesus Making Some Minor ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Feb 18, 2013

Most of us don’t mind Jesus making some minor change in our lives but Jesus wants to turn our lives upside down. Fans don’t mind him doing a little touch up work, but Jesus wants complete renovation. Fans come to Jesus thinking tune up, but Jesus is thinking overhaul. Fans think a little makeup ...read more

Scripture: John 3:11-18, John 3:1-18

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Relationships Inside And Out

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 5, 2013

RELATIONSHIPS INSIDE AND OUT If I saw our relationship (with his wife) as a bunch of rules I had to keep, I would quickly become bitter and miserable. I would likely rebel and break the rules when she wasn’t paying attention. But I am passionately in love with my wife and that translates into a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:13-36

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

His Cross

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 14, 2023

HIS CROSS The idols of my heart were many, I sunk low beneath the Law’s demand. Satan’s chains held me a prisoner, Burdened down by sin, I could not stand. Then there before me stood the answer! Guilt and slavery would soon be loss. For my shackles broke and fell from me, When I knelt humbly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-18

Tags: The Cross, Poems Of The Crucifixion, Salvation Poems, Chains Of Sin, Redemption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Holy Spirit In You

Contributed by William Akehurst on May 7, 2023

ILLUSTRATION: A Christian arrives in Heaven and meets the people of the OLD TESTAMENT Scriptures. To Noah, he asks what it was like to be in the ark with all those animals. To Joseph, he asks what it was like to be understand dreams and be 2nd in command of all of Egypt. To Moses, he asks what it ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:6

Tags: David, Daniel, Moses, Holy Spirit, Solomon, Pentecost, Noah, Joseph, Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Good News Bad News

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 9, 2020

A woman walks into a doctor’s office. She schedules an appointment and sits down it the waiting room. Whem it’s her turn to talk to the doctor, she describes all of her symptoms, and they’re unlike anything he’s heard before. The doctor runs a few tests and steps out of the room. He comes back ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-27

Tags: Curse, Disease, Sickness, Illness, Redemption Of Body  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Our God Resigns??

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 8, 2021

Ray Stedman, noted pastor and author, once traveled to England to speak at a Bible conference. The church sanctuary was filled with people eager to hear this well-known teacher. The service began with singing and praise to the Lord. One of the songs was the chorus "Our God ...read more

Tags: Lord, Humor, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational