In Sermon Illustrations: "Family Of God"

Christmas Lights In March

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Dec 14, 2008

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN MARCH Robert Russell, pastor and author, tells a story of how about twenty years ago there was a house near the entrance of his subdivision that kept their Christmas lights burning long after the season was past. They burned through January. Even through the first of February ...read more

Tags: Holidays

Denomination: Salvation Army

Marked Men

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

MARKED MEN There is a professor at Howard University Divinity School, a teacher and scholar, with an unusual name. A name that tells this very story. The distinguished professor of New Testament, the author of the book Troubling Biblical Waters, is named Cain Hope Felder. Dr. Felder tells his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 4:10-26

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Man Vs. Milkshake

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Feb 27, 2011

MAN VS. MILKSHAKE James Dobson author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family tells the story of a friend of his during their days in medical school. One day this man was walking across campus laden with books and briefcase. He passed by a fast food stand, and ordered something to eat ...read more

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Brethren

Colors Of Storms

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 27, 2011

COLORS OF STORMS As I was watching the weather warnings run across the TV screen, I began to think about how we go through life's storms without any warnings. Each one of the storms we go through are painted a different color of severity, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. It could be that a Green ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12, Psalm 34:17-19

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

The Two Adversaries

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2012

THE TWO ADVERSARIES Robert Biggs, 69, who often hikes in the Whisky Flats area, came across a mother bear and her cubs, which were about 40 feet from where he was standing. After watching the bear family for a few minutes he decided to leave them alone and turned to walk back up the trail. As he ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Thing

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jul 17, 2012

ONE THING In the movie "City Slickers," Billy Crystal plays a confused, dissatisfied thirty-something character with a vague sense that life is passing him by. Jack Palance- ancient, leathery, wise to the ways of the world ("a saddlebag with eyes") -- asks Crystal if he would like to know the ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Kyle Idleman On Going Where Jesus Goes

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

The most literal way to define a follower of Jesus is "Someone who goes where Jesus goes." I'm not sure how you can call yourself a follower of Jesus if you refuse to go where Jesus went. If you're following Jesus "wherever," he will take you towards a sinner that others wouldn't want to be seen ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:57-58

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Call To Discipleship

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Introductory Story For A Sermon On Cain & Abel

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 26, 2023

Frank and Jesse James.....you have probably heard of these well-known brothers. The fraternal outlaws who helped to define America’s Wild West came of age as Confederate guerrillas in Missouri during the Civil War. After the war, the brothers joined a gang of ex-soldiers and thieves who ...read more

Tags: Blood Atonement, Abel, Blood Of Christ, Blood Sacrifice, Blood Covenant, Offerings, Brothers, Eve, Sin, Murder, Adam, Hate, Cain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Budding Of The Fig Tree

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 16, 2023

Luke 21 records the parable of the Budding of the Fig Tree by Jesus. This parable is interpreted by many evangelical writers as a reference to the Regathering of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel 38. It happened in 1948 as the nation was re-born miraculously as we prepare for the return of ...read more

Tags: Return Of Christ, Regathering, Israel, End Times, Prophecy, Second Coming, Parables, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My Favorite Columns By Erma Bombeck Tells ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 22, 2001

One of my favorite columns by Erma Bombeck tells of God in the act of creating mothers. She says that on the day God created mothers He had already worked long overtime. And an angel said to Him, "Lord, you sure are spending a lot of time on this one." The Lord turned & said, "Have you read ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:8-14

Tags: Communication General, Commitment, Hypocrite, Pride, Sacrifice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pumping Up Balloon - Watch What ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 24, 2007

Illustration: Pumping up balloon - watch what happens when pride is in control of ones life. Kapteyn helps us see what happens with pride along with some of my observations: Pride is what hurts us in our relationships - in church, in families, (at work, at school), with friends. Pride makes us ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thought Control.  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 2, 2010

Thought Control. What thought? Every thought. The one I have about the Ford Mark One Zephyr that I would like to one day own, the one about how angry I get with repeating a request that someone shuts the door behind them, the thought about how I’d like that last slice of chocolate cake that is for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Salvation Army

The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 27, 2012

THE CONSCIENCE A. Quotes on the Conscience J. I. Packer—There are two sorts of sick consciences, those that are not aware enough of sin and those that are not aware enough of pardon. Anonymous—‘Let your conscience be your guide’ is only valid if God’s Word is guiding your conscience. Elton ...read more

Scripture: Acts 24:14-16

Tags: Conscience

Feel Free To Interject Your Own Experience Into ...

Contributed by Kelly Mitchell on Aug 22, 2012

(feel free to interject your own experience into this pattern) One Christmas on a road trip with the my wife and kids to my parent’s home I decided to take them on a "scenic loop" through the Mississippi Delta. Its where I was born and raised and my parents still live there. To me, it is the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19-20

Tags: Repentance, Forgiveness In Jesus, Millenial

Denomination: Baptist

Hand Motions For The 10 Commandments  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 10, 2016

HAND MOTIONS FOR THE 10 COMMANDMENTS Here are some easy to learn hand motions I have learned as I started my new teaching series on the Ten Commandments ("The Big Ten"). I believe it will help you and your church family remember the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20: COMMANDMENT #1 You shall have ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Tags: Exodus, Ten Commandments, Memorizing The Word

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thanksgiving Turkey

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

We are celebrating this week; its Thanksgiving in our Country. I hope Americans truly understand why we have this great country and where the many blessings come from. I hope we are giving to God what is God's. 91% of Americans have turkey for Dinner. And so... I was thinking about Butterball ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:3

Tags: Turkeys, Cooking

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Mirror, Mirror In The Spring

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 8, 2024

Mirror, Mirror in the Spring When the World Distorts the Reflection On his first-ever hiking adventure, Dad found himself witnessing one of those classic parenting moments destined to become legendary family lore. He saw his young son kneeling by a glimmering spring, peering with utter ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, Romans 13:14, 2 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 6:33

Tags: Children, Humor, Life Lessons, Commit, Habits, The World, Distortion, Worldiness, Love Of World, Comformity, Comform  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Story Behind The Hymn "when Peace Like A River"

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: The last but one time that I went to Israel , when we went to the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem our Guide pointed across Jersualem to some buildings and told us that is where Horatio Spafford used to live. Many on our trip didn’t know who Spafford was. Horatio Spafford, a well-known Chicago ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Tags: Peace, Worry, River, Perspective, Horatio Spafford  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

One Of My All-Time Favorite Movies Is "Mr. ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

One of my all-time favorite movies is “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” It’s the story of a musician who really just wants to be a composer. Rather grudgingly, he takes a job teaching music at the local high school, supposing it will give him time to write music while providing an income for he and his wife. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Baptist

John 3:16" In Chicago During The Great ...  PRO

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Aug 19, 2002

“John 3:16” In Chicago during the Great Depression there was a little boy who sold newspapers on the street corner to help provide for his family. His tattered jacket that was about three sizes too small provided little relief from the bitter Winter Chicago wind.. On one particularly cold day ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Baptist