In Sermon Illustrations: "Excited About Preaching"

Steven Curtis Chapman Talks About His Tragedy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN TALKS ABOUT HIS TRAGEDY Two months after the tragic accident that claimed the life of his five-year-old daughter Maria Sue, Steven Curtis Chapman appeared with his wife and three oldest children on CNN’s "Larry King Live" Aug. 7 to testify to the solid hope believers have in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Tags: Comfort

God Is More Concerned About Our Character Than ...

Contributed by C Vincent on Feb 13, 2009

God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. His goal is not to pamper us physically but to ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Heard About An Expert In Diamonds Who Happened ...

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Feb 24, 2009

I heard about an expert in diamonds who happened to be seated on an airplane beside a woman with a huge diamond on her finger. Finally, the man introduced himself and said, "I couldn’t help but notice your beautiful diamond. I am an expert in precious stones. Please tell me about that stone." She ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

We Talk A Lot About Serving And Worshiping Jesus. ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Mar 6, 2009

We talk a lot about serving and worshiping Jesus. But to be able to serve Him, or worship Him, we must know exactly who He is and what He offers. Here is the Jesus I know: ···· Jesus is Christ. He is the living Son of the living God. ···· He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: *other

There's A Familiar Story About The New Bride Who ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jan 11, 2014

There's a familiar story about the new bride who is cooking a big family dinner. As the ladies are gathered in the kitchen, the bride puts the roast in the pan and asks her mother why we always cut the end of the roast and put it in another pan? They ask grandma who says, "well honey, I cut the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-2

Tags: Newlywed, Tradition, Ritual, Misunderstandings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Story On Complacency And Laziness Bought About By Submitting To Temptatio

Contributed by John Gullick on Feb 12, 2016

Complacency and self indulgence were having a chat the other day. Complacancy was saying. “ my those other Christians are far too serious. “ Eat drink and be merry I say and then explode into heaven Painless death though thank you very much.”.” Laziness said. “ Yes but get someone else to prepare ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Tags: Temptation, Laziness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There’s Something About A Lazy Summer Afternoon

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 13, 2020

The past week was an unusually quiet week around the parsonage. It enabled me to do something that I have wanted to do all summer long. Nothing. I am not bragging or anything, but I can do nothing right up there with the best of them. The week, as all weeks do, started on Monday. For me, there is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31

Tags: Humor, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Don't Miss The Point About Christmas!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown a plane 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Christ, Birth Of Christ, Coming Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ten Things To Know About The Love Of God - Devotional

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

There are 10 key points about the Love of God in I John 4:7-21: 1. LOVE IS OF GOD (4:7) - not that God is love only. He is not limited or bound by anything. So, what is love? Study I Corinthians 13...... There are 3 Greek words (agape, phileo, eros). This love is agape, unconditional, ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21, Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Agape, God's Love, Hate, Unforgiveness, False Prophets, Unbelievers, Evangelism, Love, Christ, Holy Spirit, Missions, Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Gather A Crowd At Church!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

How to Gather a Crowd at Church! A cattle rancher got saved and surrendered to preach. He went to a Bible conference which was all about how to build a crowd. Asked about it later, he said, "It was strange. In all my years as a cattle rancher, I never had to go to a conference to learn how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Bible, Teaching, Preaching, Word Of God, Pastors, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Don't Know What You're Talking About!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 23, 2005

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT! Rejection comes in all forms. Steven was a young man that felt the call of God on his life. He came from a really close family. He finished his college and then went off to seminary. After finishing seminary he came back before going to his first church. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6

Tags: Send, Rejection, Jesus Teachings, Jesus' Ministry

Johnny Appleseed Gospel

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 22, 2024

Demond Wilson was a TV actor in 1970's He starred along with Redd Foxx on the TV show, "Sanford and Son." Later in life Wilson became a gospel preacher. He made this beautiful statement: “I’m just a nobody telling everybody about Somebody who ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 1:15

Tags: Preaching, Witnessing, Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Salvation, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is Jonah In Heaven Or Not?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 25, 2021

Atheist to girl: “You don’t believe there is a real Jonah who was swallowed by a whale do you? No one believes that stuff any more!” Girl – “I sure do, and when I get to Heaven, I’m going to find Jonah and talk to him about it!" Then the atheist laughed and said mockingly, “And what if ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Humor, Miracles, Atheists, Bible, Faith, Jonah, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Voice - Billy Graham Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 2, 2026

In 1948, ...a remarkable religious phenomenon occurred... in the United States. It began in a tent ... near Hollywood California, ...under the preaching ... of a young evangelist. The crowds were sparse at first ... but as the preaching continued, ... the crowds began to grow. At first, ... the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-7, John 1:19-21, John 1:23-24, John 3:30

Tags: Witness, Light, Wilderness, Good News, Voice, Preach  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

We've All Read And Heard These Bible Verses About ...  PRO

Contributed by Frank Gallagher on Nov 26, 2000

We’ve all read and heard these Bible verses about the shepherds before, taught by pastors and Sunday School teachers at Christmas time. We can even hear these verses on TV each year if we watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown spends the show as so many people do today, looking in all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-8

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Patient, Wait

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Some Time Ago I Was Reading About The 18th ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on Nov 23, 2000

Some time ago I was reading about the 18th century German sculptor Johann Heinrich von Dannecker. His skills were impressive. He could bring stone to life with his tools. At the height of his powers, he wanted to do something special with his gifts -- he wanted to shape a statue of Christ that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Tags: Divinity Of Christ, Workplace Integrity

Denomination: *other

There’s A Story I Heard Once, About An Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Clark Frailey on Dec 19, 2000

There’s a story I heard once, about an man who was trying to cut costs, so he began to gradually substitute sawdust in the oats of his mule. Everything was fine for a period, and the animal was satisfied with sawdust. Then he died. We see the same in spiritual life. We exchange truth ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Apologetics The Bible

Denomination: Baptist

I Once Heard A Humorous Story About The Pope Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Makari on Jan 8, 2001

I once heard a humorous story about the Pope who was on a visit to America for a period of time. On his last day of the visit, he was delayed due to meetings and was unable to break away to catch a flight. Since he couldn’t depend on his Pope Mobile, he phoned for a limousine. When the limousine ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-16, Luke 24:13-16

Tags: Mistakes, Patience, Humility, Substitute, Sin General, Scapegoat, Temptation Pride  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Do You Feel About People? A Pastor Arranged ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 2, 2001

How do you feel about people? A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary. It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak. At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list. The parson ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-21

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, Prayer Answered, Grace

Denomination: United Methodist

Now, My Dad Once Told Me The Story About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Schroer on Mar 12, 2001

Now, my dad once told me the story about a peculiar fisherman from Minnesota. You see, this fisherman was very well prepared. He knew how to fish. He had everything you need to be a good fisherman. He had poles, nets, bait, and even a really nice boat, but this fisherman had a problem. You ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12, Ephesians 4:21-24

Tags: Great Commission, Evangelism Fear Of, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Lutheran