In Sermon Illustrations: "Finish"

Grant Vs. Custer  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

GRANT VS. CUSTER There is a story of two Civil War Generals: George A. Custer and Ulysses S. Grant. Both graduated from West Point--Gen. Grant, being the oldest, graduated in the 1840's and Gen. Custer in 1861. Grant fought in several wars and was a field General in every sense of the word. In ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-11, Matthew 23:23-24

Tags: Humility, Pride, Show Off, Comparison

St. Patrick: Stones Squashed In The Mud

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

ST. PATRICK: STONES SQUASHED IN THE MUD As a young boy Patrick lived a comfortable life near an English coastal city where his father was a deacon in their church. But at the age of 16, all that came to an end. Irish pirates attacked his village, abducting Patrick and many of the household ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

He Wants To Be With His Master

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2011

HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS MASTER Today’s story is about an old country doctor that dates back to the late 1930s when doctors made house calls. Isaac Pender was his name. Everyone in the area for two reasons respected him. First, he was an excellent doctor who provided compassion care for his ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4

Tags: Heaven

Puzzles And The Christian Life

Contributed by Greg Nance on Dec 28, 2011

PUZZLES AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE At our traditional family Christmas gathering with Jenny's side of the family, somebody always brings a puzzle (usually 1000 piece) to put together as part of the festivities. Later, Jenny's mom will frame it and put it on the wall in their family room where there ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Closer To The Other Side—joni Eareckson Tada

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2012

"CLOSER TO THE OTHER SIDE"--Joni Eareckson Tada Joni Eareckson Tada is a woman who has experienced a lot of suffering. Paralyzed from the shoulders down after a tragic diving accident as a teenager, Joni often wanted to die instead of working to live and overcome her disabilities. She still lives ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

Tags: Heaven

The Agony Of Defeat

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

"THE AGONY OF DEFEAT" Some of you might remember the TV program "The Wide World of Sports". For many years, the opening of the program opened like this: "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport; the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat." The opening illustrated "the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 27:12

Tags: Change

What I Learned At The Recycling Center

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 21, 2020

Recycling centers have always been something that fascinated me. Usually these companies are in buildings that were themselves built for another purpose, but were, well, “recycled” as places where we can take aluminum cans, newspapers, and so forth. Besides, we managed to save enough aluminum cans ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 36:20-25

Tags: Scripture, Bibles Destroyed

Denomination: Baptist

Isang Lahi

Contributed by Dr Fr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 26, 2021

Isang Lahi Mateo 2:16-18 Isang karera ang inorganisa sa pagitan nina Goliath at David. Ngayon, nang magsimula ang karera, parehong nagsimulang tumakbo sina Goliath at David sa pantay na bilis ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang segundo, naunahan ni David si Goliath. Nang makitang nauuna si David, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Tags: David, Goliath

Denomination: Other

Unsung Heroines-The Widow Who Gave Her Last Two Coins

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on May 22, 2022

Introduction: Some of us have heard the phrase, “the widow’s mite”. That phrase came from this passage! Jesus took notice what a certain widow did and her story is still being told to this day. Text: Mark 12:41-44, KJV: 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Offerings, Mites, Unsung Heroines

Denomination: Baptist

When I Passed Out Preaching On Death!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

I met Christ as my personal Lord and Savior when I was 15 years old. I had grown up in church and had faithfully gone to church 3 or 4 times per week my whole life......but I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus. After trusting Him as my Savior, I felt that God spoke to my heart ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Tags: Death, Heaven, Preaching, Humor, Pastors, Churches, Fainting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Turkey, Reindeer, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Chris Had A Vision To Share The Gospel With Every ...

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Nov 11, 2002

Chris had a vision to share the gospel with every student at Dunwoody high school. Problem was that Chris was a skater and had very few friends. But he did have a great dream. Mark grew up in Miami with his mom. His folks split up and he moved to Atlanta, when he became a teen be fell to alcohol ...read more

Tags: Sharing Your Faith, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Once Was A Carpenter Who Visited One Of Two ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004

There once was a carpenter who visited one of two brothers who had recently grown embittered with each other over a misunderstanding over the farm they had managed together for the past 40 years. The carpenter was in need of work; or so he said, and he asked the one brother if there was anything ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13

Tags: Parable General, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Lutheran

The Saga Of Mitsuo Fuchida  PRO

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 9, 2004

the saga of Mitsuo Fuchida. Fuchida grew up loving his native Japan and hating the United States, which treated Asian immigrants harshly in the first half of the twentieth century. Fuchida attended a military academy, joined Japan’s Naval Air Force, and by 1941, with 10,000 flying hours behind ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 19, 2005

Foot In Mouth Disease! (07.20.05--Pride--John 7:51) Open mouth, insert foot! There are few times in life more embarrassing than when we say something we didn’t mean to say or let something slip that should not have been said. On the occasion of a recent birthday in our household, I was given ...read more

Scripture: John 7:51

Tags: Humility, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

Like Blind Beggars! (08.15.05--Envy!--John 21: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 11, 2005

Like Blind Beggars! (08.15.05--Envy!--John 21: 20-23) “No one has done a better job of portraying envy than Dante, In his Purgatory . . .the envious sit like blind beggars by a wall. Their eyelids are sewn shut. the symbolism is apt, showing the reader that it is one of the blindest sins--partly ...read more

Scripture: John 21:20-23

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Lutheran

Douglas Hyde Was A Major Leader In The Communist ...

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Jul 31, 2006

Douglas Hyde was a major leader in the Communist Party in England during the 1930’s and 1940’s. However, in 1948 he converted to Christianity. Later he wrote a fascinating little book, Dedication and Leadership, in which he pointed out that the means of developing leaders among the communists were ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-15

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Godliness

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Do You Do That? I Have A Perfect ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Dec 1, 2006

How do you do that? I have a perfect illustration from my favorite book next to the Bible THE JOURNEY HOME by Orthodox Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. I’ve shared excerpts from his book with you in the past. Although it is classified as fiction, it is based on authentic events and a genuine friendship ...read more

Tags: Alcohol, Love, Joy, Peace

Denomination: Methodist

It Is Gratitude That Prompted An Old Man To Visit ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Landry on Dec 18, 2006

It is gratitude that prompted an old man to visit an old broken pier on the eastern seacoast of Florida. Every Friday night, until his death in 1973, he would return, walking slowly and slightly stooped with a large bucket of shrimp. The sea gulls would flock to this old man, and he would feed them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Kurtis Warner: Christlike Love  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2009

KURTIS WARNER: CHRISTLIKE LOVE You never know when an encouraging act of kindness will bring about change in a person’s life for the better. In a supermarket, Kurtis, the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the intercom asking for a carry out at checkout register 4. Kurtis ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Christian Love