In Sermon Illustrations: "Encourage Others"

A Group Of Infantry Soldiers Were Going Through ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 7, 2008

A group of infantry soldiers were going through Airborne School at Fort Benning Georgia. As they prepared for their first jump, the jumpmaster explained that when the green light went on, everyone was to stand up, hook up, jump out, count to four and the chutes would open. If that failed, they ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Congregational

A Sisyphean Task (Sisyphus)

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

A SISYPHEAN TASK (Sisyphus) In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a brilliant rascal who sometimes played tricks on the gods to get what he wanted. He even used trickery to avoid death. Finally the gods had enough and condemned Sisyphus to eternal hard labor -- his punishment: rolling a boulder up a ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Being Wanted  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

BEING WANTED I heard of a story this week that really moved me deep. It’s a story of a black girl who had cleft palate (bungi). She was the butt of jokes and was very unhappy. They called her names – ugly names that just drove her deeper into despair. Most people made no attention to her except ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

When Running The 2001 London Marathon, I Made ...

Contributed by Gary Birch on Jul 25, 2008

When running the 2001 London Marathon, I made sure I had my name on the front of my shirt so as many people as possible would be shouting my ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Pastor Dave Kinney Said, "From God's Fixed Place ...

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Jul 26, 2008

Pastor Dave Kinney said, "From God's fixed place in heaven He can powerfully fix anything broken in the human heart, and because God still reigns, ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

Just Stay In The Race

Contributed by Rick Bezanson on Jul 29, 2008

JUST STAY IN THE RACE Charlton Heston had to learn how to drive a chariot with four horses for his part in the movie Ben Hur. After many weeks of chariot lessons he told the director, "I think I can drive the chariot all right, but I'm not at all sure I can actually win ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Lutheran

60% Of Gen-Y Members (Born Roughly Between ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2008

60% of Gen-Y members (born roughly between 1980-1994) want to hear from their managers at work at least once a ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Who's Side

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

WHO'S SIDE During WWII a parade of well-trained soldiers was marching through downtown. The soldiers were trained and now preparing to leave for war. As they marched by one old lady's house she was so proud of the men. She grabbed her broom stick, placed it on her shoulder and started marching ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

There's A Great One Inside You  PRO

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

There's a Great One Inside You During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for his failure to "put out." It was a hot, muggy day when the coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Pentecostal

William Arthur Ward Said, "Flatter Me, And I May ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Jones on Mar 24, 2009

William Arthur Ward said, "Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

William Arthur Ward Said, "Flatter Me, An I May ...

Contributed by Kyle Rye on May 5, 2009

William Arthur Ward said, "Flatter me, an I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don Sutton's Motivation  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 1, 2009

DON SUTTON'S MOTIVATION Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton hadn’t won a game in 8 weeks. The press was suggesting that he be dropped from the starting lineup. The future looked bleak, and Sutton felt terrible. Then, before a game, Dodgers manager Walter Alston tapped him on the shoulder. "I’d ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Could Be Done

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 14, 2009

IT COULD BE DONE "Why are you bothering yourselves with a knitting machine?" asked Ari Davis of Boston, a manufacturer of instruments. "Why don’t you make a sewing machine?" That particular question was overheard by a young man of twenty - Elias Howe. No one took that question seriously, except ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Pentecostal

I'd Give More Praise  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

"I'D GIVE MORE PRAISE" The Duke of Wellington, the British military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, was not an easy man to serve under. He was brilliant, demanding, and not one to shower his subordinates with compliments. Yet even Wellington realized that his methods left something to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

Tags: Encouragement

No Statues To Critics

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

NO STATUES TO CRITICS A young musician’s concert was poorly received by the critics. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius consoled him by patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have a statue to a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:9, Psalm 8:5-10

Tags: Encouragement

Basement People Vs. Balcony People

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

BASEMENT PEOPLE VS. BALCONY PEOPLE Keith Miller, in his book Passionate People, which he co-authored with Bruce Larson, describes two kinds of people -- "basement people" and "balcony people." "Basement people" are the discouragers in our lives. They may be people from our past, or present, but ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Encouragement

¿desanimarme Yo...por Qué? — Why Be Discouraged?  PRO

Contributed by Luis Marquez on Jan 17, 2010

¿Desanimarme yo...por qué? Un niño está viendo su equipo jugar beisbol, el recién llegado le pregunta: ¿Cómo va el juego?, él contesta: Vamos perdiendo 18 a 0. Oh, no te desanimes, le dice el espectador a lo que el niño contesta: ¿Desanimarme yo...por qué? Mi equipo aun no ha ido a ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

Gary Smalley's Daughter Carrie Came To Him One ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

Gary Smalley’s daughter Carrie came to him one day and said, “Dad, I know that you love us and I know that you love Michael (one of his sons), but you are always picking on Michael, you are constantly criticizing Michael. Dad, what you are doing is like someone who is locked in a room and someone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

John Kevin Hines Is One Of A Handful Of People ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

John Kevin Hines is one of a handful of people who have survived an attempted suicide jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. He claims to have told himself that if any one of the people he rubbed shoulders with on the way to the bridge noticed he was distraught, and asked him what was wrong, he wouldn’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In The Play A Raisin In The Sun, There's A Scene ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

In the play a Raisin in the Sun, there’s a scene where Walter has lost all of the family’s savings, savings that were going to make his family’s dream come true. His sister, Beneatha, is so disgusted with him she says, “There ain’t nuthin’ left to love.” In an emotion filled moment, Mama puts her ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ