In Sermon Illustrations: "First Day Of The Week"

Learning To Give Thanks When Suffering ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

Learning to Give Thanks When Suffering Loss--Bouquet of Rose Thorns You must die to live; take up your cross daily in order to follow Christ; give in order to receive; all those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. The bitter and the sweet are realities when you put your faith ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:1-11

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Rick Warren Says, "Worry Is The Warning Light ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 2, 2004

Rick Warren says, "Worry is the warning light that God is really not first in my life at this particular moment." Because worry says that God is not big enough to handle my troubles. Jesus says in Mt. 6:33: "Set your heart first on God’s kingdom and His goodness.." And He ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Christian Church

When Is It Okay To Be Snarly?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 6, 2022

Normally, whatever normal means, I don’t get agitated by many things. I can keep my cool under the most bizarre circumstances. Nothing gets under my skin, and I can take everything with a grin. I can’t remember the last time I lost my temper and got mad. I’ve been married for over 50 years, so I ...read more

Scripture: John 8:44

Tags: Humor, Telemarketers, Snarly, Aggitation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Everybody Loves A Home Run. It Is So Exciting To ...

Contributed by Tom Conant on Apr 3, 2009

Everybody loves a home run. It is so exciting to see the batter stand at the plate, especially if the game is on the line, size up the pitcher, make just the right swing, and then see the ball soar high into the centerfield seats. Wow, now that’s baseball! But I would like to suggest to you that ...read more

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Pentecostal

On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

ON PRAYER Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer told a story on the subject of prayer. A certain minister was in the habit of profound prayers, oftentimes resorting to words beyond the understanding of his simple flock. This went on week after week, to the dismay and frustration of the congregation. At last, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Instructions Are Life Or Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

INSTRUCTIONS ARE LIFE OR DEATH Imagine with me if you can. You're rafting down the Ocoee, splashing through a huge rapid when all of a sudden, you find yourself flying over the front of the boat. You're tossing and turning in the waves, and your mind and body are telling you to get stabilized. Our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-27

Tags: Discipleship, Mothers

A Post Thanksgiving Wishbone

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 30, 2019

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can sit back and recoup from the activity. I'm not sure about anybody else, but a holiday such as Thanksgiving takes a lot out of me. Of course, it puts a lot in me, but that's another story. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly were ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:31

Tags: Thanksgiving, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ding-A-Ling There Goes Spring

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 20, 2024

In my life, time has a way of getting out of control. If I could control time, I would be a very happy dude. My one question in life is, where does time go? And, can I retrieve it? The other night, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I sat in the living room watching a little TV. I then ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 31:14-15

Tags: Spring, Heat

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Over The Edge

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 19, 2006

Over the Edge The Adirondack Mountains make a breathtaking backdrop for wilderness canoeing. Two friends and I had taken vacation time to get away from it all and live out of our canoes for a week. Each day we would take a new direction to explore the area. One day we took one of ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Over The Edge

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Nov 27, 2006

Over the Edge The Adirondack Mountains make a breathtaking backdrop for wilderness canoeing. Two friends and I had taken vacation time to get away from it all and live out of our canoes for a week. Each day we would take a new direction to explore the area. One day we took one of the finger ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Just When I Think I Got Everything Covered

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 16, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder I like to have an organized life. I must confess that my idea of organization is not The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s idea. We may share many things, but not planning and organization. When she begins a project, it is well planned and organized down to the tiniest ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40

Tags: Organization, Planning, Crafts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Jackie Hudson Wrote A Book Entitled: Doubt: A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2002

Jackie Hudson wrote a book entitled: Doubt: A Road to Growth. She writes: “Early in my career, I had a boss who held to numerous spoken and unspoken rules. One was that I needed to have my lights out by 11:00 p.m. so I wouldn’t be tired on the job the next day. His house was not far from mine, ...read more

Tags: Rebellion, Sin

Dead Poets Society Is, I Think, One Of The Best ...  PRO

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 8, 2005

Dead Poets Society is, I think, one of the best films of all time. In his first lesson with his senior class, the rather eccentric but very inspiring English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, takes the boys into the foyer outside the classroom where he asks one lad by the name of ...read more

Tags: Confession Of Sin, Salvation, Saved

Denomination: Anglican

The ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 8, 2008

The List Once upon a time a woman was married to a perfectionist husband. No matter what his wife did for him, it was never enough. At the beginning of each day, he would make out his list of chores for her to do, and at the end of each day, he would scrutinize it to make sure she had done all ...read more

Tags: Unconditional Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Persecution In Uganda, Story Of Kefa ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 2, 2009

Persecution in Uganda, Story of Kefa Sempangi Kefa Sempangi (whose story is told in the book A Distant Grief, Regal Books) was a national pastor in Africa and barely escaped with his family from brutal oppression and terror in his home country of Uganda. They made their way to Philadelphia, where ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:16-24

Tags: Persecution

Epiphany

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Jan 11, 2025

When I was in High School, I had a teacher named Miss Mary Bartram. She taught English and Literature. One day she read a poem to us by Robert Frost, entitled “The Road Not Taken”. She read it with such commitment and passion that I believe she changed a lot of lives that day, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Faith, Choice

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Craig Von Buseck Tells Of Serving As An Assoc...

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

Craig von Buseck tells of serving as an associate pastor in Pennsylvania. After more than five years on staff, he began sensing that the Lord wanted him to leave this church to complete his ministry training. Relations were beginning to become strained between himself and the senior pastor. While ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:25

Tags: Holy Spirit, God's Guidance

Denomination: Methodist

Lay Aside The Weights

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 24, 2002

In high school we had this star player that was lazier than mud. Often the coach placed 5 pound bags of sand around his ankles, he had to wear them all week. Right before the game, the coach untied the weights and sent the boy to the floor. He jumped higher and built ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Sin Bondage To

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bible Reading Up: New Barna Research Reports 44% ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Bible Reading Up: New Barna Research reports 44% of adults read the Bible in the previous week (other than while at church), up from 37% in ‘94 and 36% in ‘99. Bible reading jumped most among Protestants (up from 47% in ‘94 to 59% in ‘04) and residents of the west coast ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Bible Reading Upl Today, 45% Of U.s. Adults Read ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

Bible Reading UpL Today, 45% of U.S. adults read the Bible during a typical week, not including when they are at church, up from 31% in ‘95. The rise is largely due to increased reading among Baby Busters and residents of the western states. 67% of born again individuals read the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5-8

Tags: Bible Study