In Sermon Illustrations: "Everyone Is Accountable"

Reluctant Fasting  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

RELUCTANT FASTING I ran across an article a few months back in Discipleship Journal called "Confessions of a Reluctant Faster." The author mentioned how God impressed upon her the need to pray and fast for a woman in her small group deeply involved in New Age. She didn't like the idea of fasting, ...read more

Tags: Fast

Wesley's Peace  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

WESLEY'S PEACE Although Charles Wesley had been engaged in preaching the gospel with much diligence and earnestness, he did not know what it was to enjoy peace with God until he was in his thirtieth year. Being laid low by an alarming illness, and seeming as if he were going to die, a young ...read more

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Praying The Alphabet!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2022

A father walked by his daughter’s bedroom door which was cracked just enough so that he could see that she was kneeling beside her bed in prayer. Interested to find out what subjects a child would bring before God, he paused and listened. He was puzzled though to hear her reciting the alphabet: ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Humor, Lord's Prayer, Jokes, Needs, Children  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Give Up!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

Many years ago, executives of the Time-Life publishing organization discovered that the company’s profit margin had shrunk to an alarmingly low level. To cut costs, they decided to eliminate hundreds of works to be replaced with machines. The name of each subscriber was put on a separate little ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

The Look Of Love

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

Most of us have a bank account, at least I hope most of us do. But have you ever watched the bank teller to see what they do? Bank tellers have a rather thankless job. All of that monotonous counting, handling those germy dollar bills, and dealing all day with people who are more than likely in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Love, False Teachers

Denomination: Baptist

Patriotism, Regionalism And Getting Past Our Geographic Biasis.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Oct 18, 2025

I’d like to introduce you to another great Daniel. Now this man is remembered as a great, a great in his sport and a great in New Zealand. Here he is playing in the jersey of the Worlds most successful rugby franchise, consistently the best team in New Zealand also. You can all appreciate just how ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 3:16-18

Tags: Regionalism, Abednego, The Fiery Furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar, Adonay, Judeah, Sadrach, Patriotism, Daniel, Babylon, Preference, Bias, Meshach  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Charlie's Thanksgiving List

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 22, 2022

Charlie’s Thanksgiving List The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal. After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Thanksgiving, God's Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

[033] A Message From A Poem – Belshazzar’s Time Had Ended

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 21, 2025

[033] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BELSHAZZAR’S TIME HAD ENDED The purpose of this poem is to retell the story from Daniel in poem form. There is not much to say about it for it follows the biblical narrative, but it is the last stanza that is important in defining biblical principles. God’s word ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Daniel 5:24-30

Tags: Wrath, Daniel, Judgment, Babylon, Belshazzar, Found Wanting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Outhouse And Penthouse!" Isaiah 42: 1-4 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 7, 2004

“Outhouse and Penthouse!” Isaiah 42: 1-4 Key verse(s): 1a: “‘Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight . . .’” Have you ever wanted to lead something? Have you ever wanted to be the one that everyone else follows? Leadership isn’t something that everyone ought to aspire ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Intelligence Is Not The Same As Wisdom.  PRO

Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Feb 19, 2001

Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-52, James 3:13-18

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Baptist

Rich Atchley Says That If You Went To The Average ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 16, 2001

Rich Atchley says that if you went to the average university campus today, & asked students if they know a verse of Scripture, most would say that they do. If you had asked 10 or 15 years ago, most would have quoted John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Tags: Apologetics The Bible, Truth, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Seems There Was A Barber In A Small Local Town ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Jul 11, 2001

It seems there was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, “All Haircuts for $3.00” Slowly, the barber’s ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Gifts Discernment, Gifts Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Consummate Storyteller Charles Swindoll Says ...  PRO

Contributed by John Hamby on Jul 24, 2001

The consummate storyteller Charles Swindoll says “ If the same thing happened to sleepers today, every church would have to build a morgue in the basement. There isn’t an experienced preacher who hasn’t faced the most incredible (sometimes hilarious ) slumbering saints in the pew. I’ve seen them ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Church Practices, Misconceptions

Denomination: Baptist

He Didn't Lift Us Up To Let Us Down  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

HE DIDN'T LIFT US UP TO LET US DOWN The Christian group the Imperials recorded one of my favorite songs over 20 years ago. It is called, “He Didn’t Lift Us Up To Let Us Down.” “He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. He didn’t teach us to swim to let us drown. He didn’t build His home in us ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Faith

Denomination: Church Of God

Some Of You Might Remember The Old, Old Movie ...

Contributed by James Westmoreland on Dec 5, 2005

Some of you might remember the old, old movie serial, Ma and Pa Kettle. You might say that they lived where the Beverly Hillbillies came from. In a classic scene from many episodes, Ma Kettle would go to bangin’ and a’ clangin’ the triangle on the porch. Suddenly, from every crevice and corner ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Disciples Of Christ

Thanks To The Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Thanks to the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, everyone has heard of the "midnight ride of Paul Revere." But few have heard of Israel Bissel, a humble post rider on the Boston-New York route. After the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, Bissel was ordered to raise the alarm in New ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

The Christian Is One Who Is So Uncomfortable With ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jun 26, 2006

The Christian is one who is so uncomfortable with his sin, despising it in himself so much, that he fights, and eventually wins-out against the dominance of sin in his life. When Thomas Dewey lost the ’48 election to Harry Truman, after everyone expected a Dewey landslide, Dewey later said he ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: United Methodist

A Boy Of About 6 Or 7 Years Of Age Was Throwing ...

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Jul 26, 2006

A boy of about 6 or 7 years of age was throwing small rocks at the house one day when he accidentally broke the living room window. His older brother was about 19 years old and he told his dad that he had seen his brother do it, but that it was plainly an accident. He told his dad that if any ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cross Country

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Oct 28, 2006

Story – Cross Country. I ran was on the Cross Country team for a year – but being a sprinter, I found it boring. When we would have a meet, we would Line up and go when we heard the Gun. Everyone would take off as fast as they could. Being a sprinter in 10 yards I would have a comfortable ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Man Was Going To Halloween Party One Night ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Apr 3, 2007

A man was going to Halloween party one night dressed in a devil’s costume. On the way to the party it started to rain and storm, so he decided to take shelter in the nearest building. Which just happened to be a church where a revival meeting was taking place. As soon as he walked through the door ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups, Problem, Miserable, Storm, Troubles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist