In Sermon Illustrations: "Finish Well"

I Wish You Had Helped Me

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 4, 2011

I WISH YOU HAD HELPED ME Two soldiers, traveling together, were set upon by a robber. The one fled away; the other stood his ground, and defended himself with his stout right hand. The robber being slain, the timid companion runs up and draws his sword, and then, throwing back his traveling ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Wanting To Give Up

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 1, 2011

WANTING TO GIVE UP "In 1965 a divorced mother of two found a classified ad offering a restaurant for sale. She mortgaged her house to purchase the restaurant, the original Chris's steakhouse. In 1976 a fire forced her to relocate. Under the original purchase agreement, the name 'Chris Steak House' ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

You Can't Turn Off Time

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Oct 17, 2011

YOU CAN'T TURN OFF TIME James W. Moore says, "One of the greatest comedy acts in the history of show business was the beloved husband and wife team of George Burns and Gracie Allen. In real life, Gracie Allen was a bright, wise businesswoman, but she always played the part of a naive, off-the-wall ...read more

Tags: Time

Denomination: Baptist

Almost Giving

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2012

ALMOST GIVING One of the Ad Council's most effective public service commercials is the "Don't Almost Give" campaign. One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of steps. The narrator says, "This man almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:38, James 2:16

Tags: Giving General

D.l. Moody On Grace

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 31, 2012

D.L. MOODY ON GRACE D.L. Moody was an American evangelist (February 5, 1837 - December 22, 1899 - 62 years). Moody said: "Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out." He also said: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Tags: Grace

A Thief And A Priest

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 12, 2012

A THIEF AND A PRIEST The story is told about a Catholic priest who was walking down an alley behind his church when a thief jumped out from behind some garbage cans and pressed the muzzle of his gun into the priest's ribs. The thief said, "Give me your wallet!" Without hesitation, the priest ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-23

Tags: Christian Values

Who Shot The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

WHO SHOT THE DEER? A lawyer, a doctor, and a preacher went deer hunting together when along came a big buck. The three of them all shot at the same time, and immediately the buck dropped to the ground. They all rushed up to examine the deer, but couldn't determine whose shot had actually killed ...read more

Scripture: John 8:42-47

Tags: Preaching

Self-Denial At The Threat Of Death  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 15, 2013

"Faith Helped Woman Confront British Terrorists" Remember a few weeks ago when the British soldier was beheaded in broad daylight outside his barracks? The Telegraph, a British paper, reported that a mother and Cub Scout leader, Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, age 48, confronted the terrorists immediately ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-25, 2 Kings 5:1-14

Tags: Self Denial, Dying To Self

Denomination: Nazarene

Going Beyond Our Teachers  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 9, 2013

A well-known Bible teacher gives this insight: "Someone on our staff informed me several months ago that a woman had called the ministry office to find out what my 'official position' was on a biblically gray area. When she was told that it's not my policy to make 'official' public statements ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:1-23

Tags: Legalism, Opinion, Spiritual Growth, Debatable

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Baseball In Heaven  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 6, 2014

BASEBALL IN HEAVEN Bob and Stan were good buddies and baseball friends. One day at a ballgame, they made a vow to each other that, whichever friend died first, that friend would send a message back to earth to let the other friend know if there was baseball in Heaven. Sure enough, one day Bob ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Death, Eternity, Heaven, Baseball

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Really Dumb Thief

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

A REALLY DUMB THIEF Any thief knows that the easiest way to steal gasoline from a car is to siphon it from the other guy’s tank into your own. Stick a rubber hose in his gas tank, suck on the other end of the rubber hose until you get a mouth full of the gas, then spit it out. From then on, the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Revenge, Wages Of Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sacrifice Stats

Contributed by David Simpson on May 19, 2017

It’s Memorial Day weekend. It is seen by many as the beginning of summer. Lake Lanier will be filled with boaters and swimmers and campers and picnickers who will celebrate fun on this holiday weekend. But, the truth of Memorial Day is that it is not a celebration. It is a commemoration; a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27-28

Tags: Sacrifice, Memorial Day, War Stats

Denomination: Christian Church

Love Your Enemies

Contributed by David Simpson on Feb 19, 2018

After the horrific school shooting in Broward County, Florida on February 14, 2018, several prayer vigils were held in the community. The vigil on Thursday evening ended with a request for everyone to write one specific act of good that they would perform in the coming days and weeks as a way to ...read more

Tags: Persecution, Tragedy, Bitterness, Love Your Enemies

Denomination: Christian Church

He's Back

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A woman looked out of her window and saw her German shepherd shaking the life out of her neighbor's rabbit. Her family did not get along well with these neighbors so this was going to be a disaster. She grabbed a broom and pummeled the dog until he dropped the rabbit. Then she panicked. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:5, Hebrews 13:20

Tags: Confidence, Return, Dead, Expectations, Disappoint, Death, Glory, Hope  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

When Unity Comes

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Dec 17, 2020

Psalms 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1, Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:13

Tags: Unity, Maturity

Denomination: Baptist

A Catholic Priest, A Jewish Rabbi And A Baptist Preacher...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 14, 2023

A Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and a Baptist preacher decide to have a contest to see who’s best at his job of converting others to their faith. So, they each go into the woods, find a bear, and attempt to convert it. Later they get together and tell about their experience. The priest begins. ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-13

Tags: Preachers, Evangelism, Grace, Salvation, Legalism, Circumcision, Converts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Prepares Us For Heaven

Contributed by Guy Glass on May 5, 2023

Dr. Billy Graham tells of a friend of his who went through the Depression in the 1920s, losing a job, a fortune, a wife, and a home. But he was a believer in Jesus Christ, and he tenaciously held to his faith even though he was naturally depressed and cast down by circumstances. One day in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Tags: Persecution, Heaven, Depression

Denomination: Baptist

Doubt - The Devil's Most Powerful Weapon

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 12, 2023

Have you noticed that the first words we have recorded of Satan was a question of doubt? According to Genesis 3:1, he was trying to plant the seed of doubt in Eve’s heart concerning what God had said. There’s an old fable that says the Devil once held a sale and offered all the tools of his trade ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Assurace, Fear, Doubt, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Salvation, Discouragement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fight Like A Man

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 13, 2023

A man came to his pastor who had attended church for 25 years and was a respected, leader in the church, said, "Pastor, I've got something to tell you. I've never told this to a soul, extremely difficult to tell you this now, but my wife and I have had a fight every day for the past 30 ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Cowards, Quarreling, Women, Anger, Conflict Management, Husbands, Fights, Wives, Love, Fear, Marriage, Men  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Can't Know The Day - But We Can Know The Season When Christ Returns.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 6, 2024

Jesus specifically told us that there would be signs in the sky in the sun and moon and stars (Luke 21:25), and he told us to “look up”, as our redemption draws near. Believers need to look up when the "season" of His return arrives.   The apostle Paul had this to say about the ...read more

Tags: Day Of The Lord, Return Of Christ, Seasons, Times, Rapture  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational