In Sermon Illustrations: "Dry Bones"

How Wide And Long And High And Deep Is The Love Of Christ?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 14, 2024

In the last century, Napoleon's armies opened a prison that the Spanish Inquisition had used. They found the remains of a prisoner who had been incarcerated for his faith. The dungeon was underground. The body had long since decayed. Only a chain fastened around an ankle bone cried out his ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-19, Romans 8:38-39

Tags: Hope, Suffering, Unconditional Love, Christ's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Mark Of Suffering  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 31, 2002

THE MARK OF SUFFERING In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of the Buddha, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes closed, the ghost of a smile playing ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:25-29, Colossians 1:24-29

Tags: Compassion, Cross, Crucifixion

Many Years Ago, When We Had Dug Our Potatoes, We ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 31, 2003

Many years ago, when we had dug our potatoes, we laid the potatoes on the ground and washed them. We let them dry in the sun, and then my two little sons started putting the potatoes in bags for storage. We counted the potatoes to nine, then Joshua was to pick the biggest potato he saw and place it ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

On The Wall Beside My Desk I Have A 1996 Poster ...

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 24, 2003

On the wall beside my desk I have a 1996 poster size Tim Horton’s Coffee calendar, which I took and had dry mounted, so it would last forever. The picture above the months shows a father wearing a goalie stick and gloves guarding a hockey net that stands in front of the garage door of the family ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Mennonite

A Man Entered A Bar, Bought A Glass Of Beer And ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 19, 2004

A man entered a bar, bought a glass of beer and then immediately threw it into the bartender’s face. Quickly grabbing a napkin, he helped the bartender dry his face while he apologized with great remorse. "I’m so sorry," he said. "I have this compulsion to do this. I fight it, but I don’t know what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-24

Tags: Sin Exposed, Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Have A Friend Who Is A Surfer. He Grew Up At ...

Contributed by Bradley Kellum on Aug 11, 2009

I have a friend who is a surfer. He grew up at the beach in North Carolina and has surfed all his life. He is a skilled surfer. He knows when the waves are good for surfing he knows what equipment he needs and how to properly use it. He is a skilled surfer. However, there is one thing my ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Baptist

Reactions Can Be Worse Than Actions  PRO

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Sep 12, 2011

REACTIONS CAN BE WORSE THAN ACTIONS While in seminary, I worked at a local Christian radio station. Part of my duties was to take hourly meter readings from the transmitter and place them on a log sheet that was subject to FCC review. The building featured indoor/outdoor green carpet, and the day ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Tags: Action

Denomination: Baptist

On Shepherds  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 11, 2014

What do we know about the shepherd's life? It's a full time commitment. Sheep are helpless to defend themselves against attack from their natural enemies: lions, bears, wolves, hyenas and foxes which can come in both the day and night so there is never a moment a shepherd can relax. Sheep must be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Tags: Shepherd, Shepherd's Life

Denomination: Methodist

A Science Professor At Westmont College Wrote A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A science professor at Westmont College wrote a book explaining how only one person could possibly have fulfilled the prophecies. He worked with 600 students to calculate the mathematical probability of just eight of the Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in any one person up to the present ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

I Feel Nudged Up Into Sharing This Experience. ...  PRO

Contributed by Samson Musyoki on Sep 25, 2007

I feel nudged up into sharing this experience. Usually, life brings with it its mysteries where at times you enjoy the Lord’s abundant provision while on other occasions you enjoy lack! In this particular day, we had no electricity in the house and there was no kerosene to light up the kerosene ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

John Stott Wrote, "I Could Never Believe In God, ...  PRO

Contributed by Hansel Young on Nov 15, 2007

John Stott wrote, “I could never believe in God, if it were not for the cross… In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it? I have entered many Buddhist temples in different Asian countries and stood respectfully before the statue of Buddha, his legs crossed, arms ...read more

Scripture: John 19:16-37

Tags: Worship, Persecution, Violence, Suffering, Unity, Friend, Flesh, Priorities, Martyrdom, Apathy, Hatred, Mortify  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Holiness

He Must Increase And I Must Decrease

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. When you need assurance of Eternity and answer the Gospel call- He must increase and I must decrease! When He bids you take up your cross and be willing then to give all- He must increase and I must decrease! When the storms of life threaten, and you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36, John 20:30, John 1:29

Tags: God First, John The Baptist, Jesus First, Preeminence Of Christ, Exalt Christ, Premience Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

It Started Like So Many Evenings. Mom And Dad At ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2001

It started like so many evenings. Mom and Dad at home and Jimmy playing after dinner. Mom and Dad were absorbed with jobs and did not notice the time. It was a full moon and some of the light seeped through the windows. Then Mom glanced at the clock. "Jimmy, it’s time to go to bed. Go up now and ...read more

Friends Are People With Whom You Dare To Be ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2001

Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 8:10, Philippians 1:21-26

Tags: Follower

There Are Some People That We Might Consider To ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Feb 10, 2003

There are some people that we might consider to be a freak because of their disfigured appearance. Consider the story of John Merrick who was known more by his disfigured appearance and labeled as the "Elephant man". "John Merrick was born in Leicester, England in 1862. He suffered from a severe ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Forgiveness General, Compassion

Denomination: United Methodist

The Blood Of Christ—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 8, 2004

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST- COMMUNION MEDITATION If you’ve seen Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” you probably remember the scene of Jesus’ scourging. It’s rather hard to forget the whip with steel and bone and glass knotted in its leather striking Jesus over and over again. There is a part ...read more

Tags: Crucifixion, Cross Agony, Lord's Supper

Irene Pepperberg, A Visiting Professor Of Animal ...  PRO

Contributed by Joe Fornear on Sep 2, 2004

Irene Pepperberg, a visiting professor of animal behavior at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is teaching a parrot how to surf the Internet. "Parrots are very social creatures," she says, but people who own them "leave them alone eight or nine hours a day." She says that leads to boredom ...read more

Tags: Pornography, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sin: Acts, Words, Thoughts, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

SIN: ACTS, WORDS, THOUGHTS, HEART A man once dreamed of passing into the world beyond. An angel met him and showed him a great golden book. "What is that?" he inquired. "It is the book of your life," was the reply. Looking closer he saw that there were some writing on the first page. "What is ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 40:12

Tags: Sin Exposed

Medical Terminology Play On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

Medical Terminology Play on Words Sandy has seen a lot of doctors this last year, and as I’ve tagged along, I have learned a lot of medical terminology. I’m sure many of you, as you’ve had medical issues, have learned some interesting terminology, as well. It’s a strange language, isn’t it, because ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2

Tags: Words

The Culture Of Complaint  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2010

THE CULTURE OF COMPLAINT In 1991, Robert Hughes, an art critic, wrote a book called The Culture of Complaint. His thesis is that we live in a culture in which we perceive ourselves as being entitled to having all our wants and desires fulfilled. When that doesn't happen, we become "victims," we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-21

Tags: God Brings Purpose