In Sermon Illustrations: "Facing Storms"

Hymn Story: Precious Lord, Take My Hand By Thomas ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 1, 2009

Hymn Story: Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas Dorsey Thomas Dorsey was a black jazz musician from Atlanta who was known in the early 1920’s for the suggestive lyrics he combined with original music. Then God touched his life and in 1926 he gave up the suggestive music and began to write ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Death

When Church Is Miraculously Moved (Illustration: ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2009

When Church Is Miraculously Moved (Illustration: 7606) The faith that moves mountains is borne out by the church that was moved by the Hand of God. Such a church stands to this day in the village of Swan Quarter, North Carolina. Before it was built in 1874 the congregation eyed with longing a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20-21

Tags: Miracles General

Lucado On John 3:16

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 28, 2009

LUCADO ON JOHN 3:16 Max Lucado describes John 3:16 this way in his book "3:16 The Numbers of Hope" pages 8, 9: "A twenty-six-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to ...read more

Tags: Bible, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sitting Down

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

SITTING DOWN It’s said that when Henry Ward Beecher was a boy, he had a teacher at school who asked one of the boys in class a question which the boy answered. The teacher became angry and told the boy he was wrong and commanded him to: "Sit down!" The boy was obviously confused because he’d ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9-13

Tags: Believe, Confess, Confidence, Saved

Bad News, Then Good News  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

BAD NEWS, THEN GOOD NEWS Nearly 20 years ago at the height of Operation Desert Storm, Ruth Dillow received a very sad message from the Pentagon. The message stated that her son, Clayton had stepped on a landmine in Kuwait and was killed. Ruth later wrote these words, "I can't begin to describe my ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-20, Matthew 28:8

Tags: Emmaus Road, Post Easter, Easter Resurrection

Return To The Right Path

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

RETURN TO THE RIGHT PATH In one section of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Christian and Hopeful are walking the King's Highway to the Celestial City. The path, once smooth and easy, becomes rough and hard. Then they come to an attractive place called Bypath Meadow. They climb over a fence into ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-28

Tags: Doubt

Where Is The Church When It Hurts?

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2012

WHERE IS THE CHURCH WHEN IT HURTS? Where is God in the midst of the storm? One author answered that question with this incident: "In Washington and Chicago, as I talked about the special edition of Where Is God When It Hurts?, inevitably the interviewer would turn the question back on me. 'Well, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-36

Tags: Comfort

God's Taking My Picture  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jan 23, 2013

GOD'S TAKING MY PICTURE I heard a story of a little girl who walked to and from school daily. The weather one morning was questionable and clouds were forming, yet she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If I Fell Down I Was Going To Get Up. And If ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"...if I fell down I was going to get up. And if I fell down again, I was going to get up and keep moving until I either hit that camp, couldn't get ...read more

Tags: Emotions

Anywhere But Here  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2001

ANYWHERE BUT HERE "It’s not that I’m afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens." SOURCE: Woody Allen, CITATION: Courage - You Can Stand Strong in ...read more

Billy Graham Comments: "Nowhere Does The Bible ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 27, 2006

Billy Graham comments: “Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world. Scripture does teach that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity, and personal ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Wesleyan

It Is An Indiscreet And Troublesome Ambition ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

It is an indiscreet and troublesome ambition that cares so much about fame; about what the world says of us; to be always looking in the faces of others for approval; to be always anxious about the effect of what ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Ready For Either

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 23, 2010

READY FOR EITHER A Roman coin was once found with the picture of an ox on it. The ox was facing two things--an altar and a plough--and the inscription read: "Ready for either." The ox had to be ready either for the supreme ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Brethren

The 1992 Olympics In Barcelona Featured Memorable ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on May 15, 2001

The 1992 Olympics in Barcelona featured memorable moments of sports history. Derek Redmond of Great Britain was on the way to fulfilling a lifetime dream, that of winning a gold medal in the Olympics. He had earned a spot in the semifinals of the 400 meter race, and as the gun sounded to start the ...read more

Tags: Parenting, God In The Hardships, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship, Human Body

Denomination: Christian Church

I've Been Reading A Book By A Pastor Named Erwin ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 22, 2008

I've been reading a book by a pastor named Erwin Rafael McManus. He tells about a conversation he had with his daughter, Mariah. He was explaining that Christians often face danger and even death. His daughter asked, "Has anyone ever tried to kill you, Daddy?" And he answered, "Sort of." She ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Severe Trial Of Affliction

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 18, 2014

In his novel The Source, James Michener described a period in Jewish history around 170 BC when the Jews in Palestine faced severe persecution. Greek officials came to Jerusalem and read an edict that forbade any Jew from worshipping Yahweh, and ordered them to lay their hands on an unclean pig ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:35-38

Tags: Persecution, Great Commandment, Loyalty To Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Louis Mcburney, In An Article For Leadership ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Oct 12, 2001

Louis McBurney, in an article for Leadership Journal, said there are four reasons people reject accountability. 1) I fear rejection, 2) I feel embarrassed, 3) I resent control by ...read more

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Leadership General, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Scarcely A Thought  PRO

Contributed by Donn Heinrich on Apr 9, 2002

SCARCELY A THOUGHT “We are too busy making money, paying our bills, trying to scramble to the top of the heap, and facing life’s challenges in general… Our attention is fastened almost solely upon this world, and ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death

Denomination: Baptist

W. A. Criswell Said, "We're All Fascinated With ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on May 8, 2006

W. A. Criswell said, "We’re all fascinated with the future because that is where we will live the rest of our lives." Face it; the Lord is crazy about you. What is most valuable is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:27-43

Tags: Death