In Sermon Illustrations: "Family Love"

What God Told Me At 4 A.m. In Guangzhou, China

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 13, 2018

Note: this story is told by me - Jim Butcher of Madison WV. I want to tell you a story about an insight that God gave me into John 14:1-4, the passage where Jesus speaks of going to prepare a place for us. This is the story of something that happened to me several years ago while I was in ...read more

Tags: China, Adoption, New Jerusalem, Eternity, Father, Family, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Promoted

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 4, 2020

The boss called one of his employees into the office. "Rob," he said, "you've been with the company for a year. You started off in the mail room, one week later you were promoted to a sales position, and one month after that you were promoted to district manager of the sales ...read more

Tags: Family, Leadership, Success, Influence, Promotion, Moving Up, Nepotism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Honor

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 28, 2020

Victor Frankl was a survivor of the holocaust. His famous book is called "Man's Search for Meaning." The reader they ask me why I did not try to escape what was in store for me after Hitler had occupied Austria. Let me answer by recalling the following story. Shortly before ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1

Tags: Sacrifice, Honor, Family, Purpose, Meaning, Selfishness, 10 Commandments  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Book Of Daniel Is About Teenagers.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 1, 2022

HOW MANY MISS THE POINT THAT THESE ARE TEENAGERS! The Book of Daniel is about a young man and his teenage friends who grew up in a time when his country, Judah, southern tribes of Israel, was judged by God for their idolatry. God allowed the most ungodly leader and nation in the world, King ...read more

Tags: Fathers, Teenagers, Daniel, Family, Prayer, Revival, Mothers, Fasting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Naming Our Children

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 2, 2022

At some point we stopped worrying about whether we were sinful or whether it was possible to be righteous and instead sought to avoid being unhealthy and to be healthy... we stopped naming our children “Charity” or “Grace” and began ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Gospel, Identity, The Cross, Names, Children, Sin, Family, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thou Shalt Not Kill Thy Brother!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the 10 Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to “honor” thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a ...read more

Tags: Children, Murder, Family, Siblings, Ten Commandments, Sisters, Brothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Want To Be Pretty  PRO

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jan 24, 2012

I WANT TO BE PRETTY "I want to be pretty." This is the title of a popular tv program that was airing when we lived in Poland. It was a reality tv show in which in every episode you follow the changes of two women who are the heroes of the program. Each of these women work with a team of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:30

Tags: Faith, Love, Beauty, Faithfulness, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

On Courage  PRO

Contributed by N A on Feb 2, 2008

CLOSING STORY: “On Courage” Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother, who had ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-16, Luke 13:9-13

Tags: Communion, Courage, Biblical Love

Denomination: *other

In 1864, One Of America’s Great Poets, ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 8, 2000

In 1864, one of America’s great poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, wrote the poem which became the well-known carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. When I first heard this song, I wondered, “Why does he suddenly shift from joy at hearing the Christmas bells into such deep despair?” It starts ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20, Habakkuk 1:2

Tags: Peace, Love Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

A Man Was Walking On The Beach One Afternoon ...  PRO

Contributed by Ivan Robinson on Dec 21, 2000

A man was walking on the beach one afternoon kicking up the sand, discussed with certain things. There on the beach was a bottle and as he walked he kicked the bottle into the surf. POP Out of the bottle came a mysterious being... a Jeannie. “Because you have freed me you are granted three ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Marriage General

Denomination: Adventist

I Read Of A Student Who Made A Mistake Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 18, 2000

I read of a student who made a mistake of identification. He was in the college chapel and, looking at the order of service, groaned aloud. The middle-aged lady next to him asked what was the matter. The student replied, "It’s the preacher. He’s my director of studies. I have to go to his ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 5:1

Tags: Christian Love, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Baptist

Mark Twain Once Said, "The Church Is A Place ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 20, 2000

Mark Twain once said, "The church is a place where a nice, respectable person stands in front of other nice, respectable people and ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Baptist

What Will Your Heritage Be?  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

WHAT WILL YOUR HERITAGE BE? An investigation into the famed 18th century revival preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703-58) showed that, of the 1,394 known descendants of Jonathan Edwards, 100 became preachers and missionaries, 100 lawyers, 80 public officials, 75 army and navy officers, 65 ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Love Of The Disciples, Children

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Eighty Percent Truth  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

Martin Scorcese, the famous Hollywood director once said, "You can tell a ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Faith, Truth

Denomination: Independent/Bible

During The Conflict In Sarajevo A Reporter Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

During the conflict in Sarajevo a reporter who was covering the conflict in the middle of Sarajevo saw a little girl shot by a sniper. The reporter threw down his pad and pencil, and stopped being a reporter for a few minutes. He rushed to the man who was holding the child, and helped them both ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Christian Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Bob Keeshan, You And I Know Him As "Captain ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on Oct 18, 2000

Bob Keeshan, you and I know him as "Captain Kangaroo" once said: "Attention is ...read more

Tags: Children, Christian Love, Parenting

Denomination: Baptist

In The December 4, 1989 Issue Of Newsweek ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Beaird on Nov 3, 2000

In the December 4, 1989 issue of Newsweek magazine, there was an article about a little known mental disorder called erotomania. It is a mental illness in which a person has the delusion that he or she is the object of someone’s love. Some imagine love affairs that continue for years, yet it all ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Promises Of God

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Guy Came To His Pastor And Said, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

A guy came to his pastor and said, “Reverend, I only have one talent.” The pastor asked, “What’s your talent? The man said, "I have the gift of criticism." The pastor was wise and replied, "The Bible says that the guy who had only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Parable Talents, Christian Love

A Man Walked Up To A Vending Machine, Put In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 19, 2001

A man walked up to a vending machine, put in a coin, pressed the buttons labeled, “coffee, double cream, sugar.” No cup appeared, but the nozzles went into action sending forth coffee, cream and sugar. After the proper amounts had gone down the drain, the machine turned off. “Now that’s real ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Prefer To Remain Forever Damned  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 20, 2001

"I prefer to remain forever damned" During a Billy Graham crusade in Australia, a Melbourne daily paper received this letter: "I have heard Dr. Billy Graham on the air, viewed him on television, and seen reports and letters concerning his mission. I am heartily sick of the type of religion that ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Christian Love