In Sermon Illustrations: "Dr Watson"

Coronations

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Apr 18, 2011

CORONATIONS Have you ever seen a coronation? The queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II became Queen on June 2, 1953 (59 Years ago). Too long ago for most of us to remember. Did you know the the Queen's main residence, Buckingham Palace, boasts 775 rooms and 78 bathrooms? But many of us remember ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kenya Miracle

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 14, 2011

KENYA MIRACLE There is a precious family in a certain church in Kenya. Years ago, when the mother and the two young daughters were saved, they were returning home after baptismal service. They were rejoicing as they approached the door. All were singing. The father was a fearful demon-possessed ...read more

Tags: Miracles General

Denomination: Baptist

If You Obey

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 15, 2011

IF YOU OBEY Nearly thirty years ago, I was a middle school teacher in Kenya. One day I took 20 students, and I told them: "I will do my best to teach you and train you. If you obey me, you will be the best students of this school." They were excited. In a short time, I realized that only some ...read more

Tags: Parable Sower And Seed

Denomination: Baptist

Ministry During Black Plague

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 20, 2011

MINISTRY DURING BLACK PLAGUE Many years ago, in Europe, there was a great plague that killed one third of the population. It was called the black plague. Tens of thousands were killed each and every month and the population was terrified by the thought of facing death in their families and homes, ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Baptist

Miracle Story

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 20, 2011

MIRACLE STORY Many years ago in Kenya, a parent of one of my students came to me and told me what God did for their family. His daughter was born with serious physical problems. Doctors said that she will not be able to give birth her entire life. Her father and mother began to pray fervently for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Baptist

Protect The Flag

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 23, 2011

PROTECT THE FLAG In Kenya, as elsewhere, the military buildings are very important. There are permanent teams that guard the buildings and all properties of the army that no enemy will come in and destroy or steal our secrets. But the most precious thing in a military building is the flag of that ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience

Denomination: Baptist

God As My Guard  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 24, 2011

GOD AS MY GUARD I remember one time driving on a completely unknown route. It was dark, early in the morning, just after midnight. I didn’t know the way and I thought I can drive ahead and somehow will find the town I was looking for. It was the time when all the routes in Kenya were very poor ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Baptist

Being A Shepherd

Contributed by Dr. Nicholas M. Muteti on Jun 24, 2011

BEING A SHEPHERD My ancestors were farmers and shepherds. Their task was both varied and arduous, demanding and dangerous. Not only did they have to protect their sheep from dangers, sickness, and wild beasts, they also had to be constantly on the search for good pastures and sufficient water. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 121:1-8

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

Pride (Augustine)

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Augustine on pride: Every proud man heeds himself and he who pleases himself seems great to himself. But he who pleases himself pleases a fool for ...read more

Scripture: James 4:6-8

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Baseball - The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Baseball And The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett Baseball is known for its surprises. It's a beautiful game that lets grown men play a kids game. For more than a century of baseball and thousands of games, only 16 men have homered four times in one game. The last was Josh Hamilton, five years ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Romans 5:1-4

Tags: Perseverance, Hope, Good News

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Justice

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Mans capacity for justice makes democracy possible. Mans capacity for injustice makes ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 13:1-8

Tags: Sin, Justice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gratitude - Dorothy Day

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

I try to think back. I try to remember this life that the Lord gave me ... I just sat there and thought of our Lord and his visit to us all those centuries ago and I said to myself that my great luck was to have had him on my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Silent Kindness

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2019

Sir Nicholas George Winton – “A Silent Kindness” Nicholas Winton’s parents were German Jews who had moved to London two years before his birth. The family name was Wertheim, but was changed to Winton, they also converted to Christianity, and had Nicholas baptised. Nicholas Winton became a banker ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:15-17

Tags: Love, Children, Compassion, Kindness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is God Still Relevant?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 27, 2019

“Is the Christ of the gospels, loved within the dimensions of the Mediterranean world, still capable of forming the center of our prodigiously expanded universe? Is not the world in the process of becoming more vast, more dazzling than (even) God? Will it not burst our faith asunder and eclipse ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, John 8:58

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peter Pan

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 2, 2019

Peter Pan and The Hope Of Heaven… St. John’s is the oldest of all the cities in North America. Embedded in this 400-year-old city are many stories. Bowering Park is one of the oldest parks in St. John’s. It was established by a grant of land from the Bowering family in 1911 on the 100th ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Grief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Where's The Bagel?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

On one occasion during my college days in Peterborough I was invited to the Dean of Students residence for a social gathering. Hoping to find food aplenty I was disappointed to see the large dining room table containing a lonely plate of bagels. I quickly grabbed one, but my first bite was more of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Faith, Mistakes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Broken

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

Broken Windows … (Little improvements can make a big difference) Social psychologists and police officers tend to agree that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighborhoods as in rundown ones. One ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Tags: Community, Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Complaint Department

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 29, 2019

A gentleman decided to withdraw from society and its busyness. He joined a monastery and took a vow of silence.At the end of each year he could say two words. At the end of the first year of absolute silence, he met with his supervising monk and was given the opportunity to say two words. With ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, James 1:19-21, James 1:26

Tags: Words, Complaining, Tongue

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Prayer For Preachers

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 10, 2019

A Prayer for Preachers O God, our Father; you love all your children. Those at home and those away from home. As I proclaim the gospel, may your voice be heard, calling. May Christ our Lord be praised. Good news; hope for the hopeless Good news; love for the broken Good news; forgiveness at the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Tags: Preaching, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational