In Sermon Illustrations: "First Things"

The Journey Of 1,000 Miles Begins With An Apple Fritter

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 12, 2025

Life has many paths, and I have discovered that traveling any of them takes a lot of energy. Unlike The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, my energy comes from those wonderful Apple Fritters. I can't remember the first time I had one, but I vividly remember the last time. Trying to get ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Agreement, Discussion, Apple Fritters

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Little Red Bible - The Living Word Of God

Contributed by Perry Hancock on Nov 10, 2021

My Little Red Bible - The Living Word of God Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful..." When I was 6 years old my parents gave me a little red Bible. Today, if you saw it, you would say that it has surely seen better days. Every time I pick it up it loses a little ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: The Bible, Scripture, The Word Of God

Denomination: Baptist

My Ongoing Grudge With Santa

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 18, 2021

I’ve had sort of a grudge with old Mr. Santa Claus. I was introduced to Santa Claus by my parents, who informed me that he was the one that brought all of my Christmas presents on Christmas day. And I believe my parents. I remember on Christmas Eve we had to go to bed early to give Santa Claus ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Christmas, Gifts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When Everything Goes My Way

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 7, 2020

I have had a certain dream many times over the years. Of course, it might lean towards being a nightmare if it does not come true. The dream is that one day in the week; I can have everything go my way. The nightmare part of that dream is that it never tells me which day everything will go my ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Partnership, Together, Choice

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s My Pain I’ll Use It If I Want To

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 1, 2025

When I think I've turned a page to a new chapter in my life, I realize there is nothing new in life. I'm referring to pain. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't have some pain. In the years of my naivety, I never imagined that when I got older, I would experience more ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Tylenol, Pain, Doctors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Lessons From A Gps  PRO

Contributed by Coz Von on Jul 13, 2016

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 16:9, 3:6. I’m sure you’ve driven a car with a Global Positioning System (GPS). A number of years ago I settled into the passenger’s seat of a fully equipped ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:9

Tags: Gps, Eternally Lost, Divine Direction, Heart For The Lost, Parable Lost Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I’m Not Diabetic But I Am A Sweet Guy

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 20, 2024

Lately, I've been very tired, which has nothing at all to do with my age. Rather, it has everything to do with all these spam calls I get every day. It seems most spam calls come during lunchtime when I’m eating. How dare they? I don't know who created this idea of spam calls, but I would ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:3

Tags: Diabetes, Age

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Tribute To Ms. Gossips-A-Lot

Contributed by James Snyder on May 3, 2025

I was sitting in the shopping mall, drinking coffee and taking a break. I don't like going to the mall, but sometimes I have to go and pick up something for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Sometimes, I think she does it on purpose, knowing how much I dislike it. I try to make the most ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:19

Tags: Community, Gossip

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Something For Stevie  PRO

Contributed by Alan Braun on Mar 22, 2002

Titled: Something for Stevie I try not to be biased, but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee and wasn’t sure I wanted one. I wasn’t sure how my customers would react ...read more

Tags: Joy, Forgiveness General, Name

Denomination: Baptist

Love Gives Itself

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Thomas Merton: “Without love, almsgiving is no more important an action than brushing your hair or washing your hands, and the Pharisees had just as elaborate a ritual for those things as they had for alms, too, because all these things were prescribed by law, and had to be done so. “But love ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Walking In The Confidence Of God  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Walking in the Confidence of God Self-existent Christians can walk in confidence because this God is self-existent: John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3

Tags: Confidence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beloved I Stand Here Today To Tell You...the ...

Contributed by Hugh Laing on Feb 17, 2010

BELOVED I STAND HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU...THE CHURCH HAS TO REDISCOVER 2 THINGS...FIRST WE MUST REDISCOVER THE MAJESTY AND THE HOLINESS OF OUR GOD ... AND SECOND THE SINFULNESS OF OUR SIN. Believe me, those 2 things can only be found in convicted prayer with God and prayer is not the easiest thing ...read more

Tags: Prayer In The Spirit

Denomination: Baptist

Americanism Means The Virtues Of Courage, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"Americanism means the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity and hardihood the virtues that made America. The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of ...read more

Tags: America

Jesus Honored Marriage And Weddings

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 7, 2022

Note the high honor our Lord places upon marriage and the wedding ceremony in his very first miracle. It honors God when we come to a wedding pure and proclaim our trust in God for the marriage to succeed! By his presence at the marriage feast, the Son of God said, ‘This is an honorable thing’ ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Marriage, Miracles, Weddings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Have Lived In This World Just Long Enough To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

I have lived in this world just long enough to look carefully the second time into things that I ...read more

Tags: Thought

People Become Really Quite Remarkable When They ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

When I Finally Decided To Do What God Wanted, I ...

Contributed by Michael Huddlestun on Jun 20, 2004

When I finally decided to do what God wanted, I realized this first hand. Within the span of one week, my wife and I had several negative things happen in our lives. First, a close family friend died of a massive heart attack. Two days after that, we found out that her grandmother was diagnosed ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Prayer Hardship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Elderly Women Went To An Orchestra Concert. ...

Contributed by Shane Hargrave on Mar 31, 2009

Two elderly women went to an orchestra concert. On the way home one asked the other, "How did you like it?" The other woman said, "The way the first violinist blew his nose after the first selection just ruined the entire evening for me." ...read more

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

An Interview With Tia And Tamara Mowry, The ...

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Nov 13, 2003

An interview with Tia and Tamara Mowry, the stars of WB’s Sister, Sister yielded a very mature comment from these then 19 years old. One of them said (they’re exact twins); “A lot of girls expect this prince to come into their life on a white horse and make everything wonderful. What the Lord told ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Becoming A Christian

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Read A Statement From Dr. Lester Sumrall He ...

Contributed by Charles Jones on Aug 29, 2007

I read a statement from Dr. Lester Sumrall he said " One of the disturbing things about Christianity is that very few Christians ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal