In Sermon Illustrations: "Favoritism"

Where Do We Stand?  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jul 19, 2011

WHERE DO WE STAND? This past Tuesday morning I had finally settled down into my easy chair to read the daily news paper. As always, I turned to the editorial section of which is one of favorites, besides the daily “Frank and Ernest” cartoon. There I found a very interesting Readers Commentary ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: *other

The Lost Camper: Making Yourself Available

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2011

THE LOST CAMPER: MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE One of my favorite sayings: "God doesn't want your capability. He only wants your availability. If you'll give Him your availability, He'll provide the capability." Availability is when you make yourself accessible for utilization. Availability is what we ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:8

Tags: Servanthood

Honey All The Way Down  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

HONEY ALL THE WAY DOWN In one of his famous escapades, Winnie the Pooh, this lovable toy bear, tries to trap an elephant--or, as he pronounces it, a heffalump. So Pooh digs a hole to catch the heffalump, and decides to bait the trap with some of his own favorite food: honey. But of course, it is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-28

Tags: Hypocrisy, Prejudice

Kids Have A Lot Of Questions. The ...

Contributed by Mark Thometz on Aug 27, 2012

Kids have a lot of questions. The “why” questions I've found is most popular. Back in Boise I work for the YMCA as an after school child care worker. Needless to say, when it's you and 2 other adults with 35+ kids a lot of “why” questions come up. “Why can't we do that?...well why? Why!?” This last ...read more

Tags: Curiosity

Denomination: Christian Church

I Am A 52 Year Old Adoptee. I Was Born On ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 11, 2003

I am a 52 year old adoptee. I was born on February 1, 1951 in a Lynchburg, VA hospital. My first two years of life must have been traumatic as my birth mother gave me up when it became apparent that she could not take care of me. She was unmarried at the time and the birth father was a married ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Abortion, Children

Christian Humorist And Minister Dennis Swanberg ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 17, 2004

Christian humorist and Minister Dennis Swanberg says one of his favorite stories happened to him on Easter Sunday in Saginaw, Texas, several years ago. The church was packed for Easter services. The high school basketball coach was in the middle of giving his testimony when water started dripping ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:29-39, Mark 1:29-39

Tags: Miracles Of Jesus

If You Ever Happen To Listen To Positive 89.3 On ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Twitchell on Oct 26, 2006

If you ever happen to listen to Positive 89.3 on Saturday nights, you know that Joe Polek and I often enjoy sharing humorous stories from the news between the songs that we play. If you listened last night, you would have heard us talking about a variety of mistranslations with humorous results. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Tags: Commission, Communication General

Denomination: Nazarene

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale Was A 30 Year ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Introduction: In 1976 Vince Papale was a 30 year old Substitute teacher and bartender in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He and his buddies spent most Sunday afternoons in the Fall either playing football at the park or watching the Philadelphia Eagles play on tv. Week after week they had high hopes, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Paul Harvey Told The Story Of A Family On ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Sickling on Jan 1, 2008

Paul Harvey told the story of a family on Christmas Eve. For several years this family had a tradition where the Mother and children would go to the Christmas Eve service, and the Father would stay home and read the paper. Then when they got back from church, they would open their gifts. The ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Love To Cook. The Only Problem Is That Many Of ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 1, 2008

I love to cook. The only problem is that many of the things I like to cook are things that my wife does not particularly care to eat. I like to cook things in a crock pot or in a pressure cooker. One of my favorite things to cook is ham hocks and beans. My dad taught me to cook it and we used ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Are You "Sharing"?

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

ARE YOU "SHARING"? One of the most stirring indictments on the church ever penned was made by Charles Schultz many years ago. Snoopy is shivering out in a snowstorm beside an empty food dish. He was looking longingly, expectantly, toward the house. Lucy came out and said, "Go in peace, be warmed ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Baptist

Just In The Nick Of Time

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 8, 2009

JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME A favorite literary device of authors, playwrights, and screen writers is that of the hero who shows up just in the nick of time. You’ve read books or seen movies like this. Just when everything seems lost and all hope is gone and disaster is imminent, the hero arrives to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Tags: God In The Hardships

The Basis Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2012

THE BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE Oprah Winfrey said, “I discovered I didn’t feel worthy of love unless I was accomplishing something. I suddenly realized I have never felt I could be loved for just being.” Madonna said, “My drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre. That’s always been ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Fear And Worry

William Wilberforce

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

Jesus is the supreme example. He cares so much about completing His mission on earth that he lets himself be killed. That total commitment to God’s will literally costs Him His life. It also saves it, as the resurrection proves. There are many examples from history of persons who have proved ...read more

Scripture: John 12:25

Tags: Glory, Die, Hate, Lose

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Bullet Proof George Washington

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 19, 2023

On July 9th, 1755, during the French and Indian War, after a difficult battle, George Washington gathered his troops and went to Fort Cumberland in western Maryland, arriving there on July 17, 1755. The next day, Washington wrote a letter to his family explaining that after the battle was over, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: United States Of America, Protection, Angels, Miracles, God's Will, Providence  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Ring  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Andrew Stephens on Apr 2, 2002

THE RING I told you earlier that my favorite Christmas present was given to me be a lady named Joan Ellis in 1982. Joan is now my mother in law. The gift that she gave me is a wedding ring. It was the set that her husband had given her on their engagement. Her husband Don died in 1978, and she ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Divinity Of Christ, Commitment To Christ

Every Day Is A Celebration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2004

EVERY DAY IS A CELEBRATION I have a habit that may seem strange to some: I tape football games and watch them again—and again and again, if the game turns out right. Super Bowl 32 is one of my favorites, the one where the Broncos defeated Green Bay 31-24. (I’m a Bronco fan.) The first time I saw ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:11

Tags: Post Easter, Miracles Of Jesus, Easter Resurrection, Emmaus Road

Irwin Mcmanus In His Awesome Book ‘the Barbarian ...  PRO

Contributed by Butch Vernon on Nov 6, 2005

Irwin McManus in his awesome book ‘The Barbarian Way’ speaks of rhinos and their limitations. ‘But my favorite of all is the group designation for rhinos. You see, rhinos can run thirty miles an hour, which is pretty fast when you consider how much weight they’re pulling. They’re actually faster ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Of Martin Luther

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Jul 17, 2011

THE STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER In 1517, an obscure Catholic priest named Martin Luther placed his life in God's hands when he nailed his 95 theses, his 95 arguments against the Catholic church, on the door of the Wittenberg Church. There was nothing wrong with nailing pages to the door. Everything was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: Baptist

He'll Always Catch You

Contributed by Bryce Thorpe on May 17, 2012

HE'LL ALWAYS CATCH YOU I love to play with my kids. Even as they have gotten older, they bring me a great deal of joy. But, I confess, it was easier when they were young. Especially my daughter, now 21, used to love it when I threw her in the air. But, as you might guess, that wasn't always ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Baptist