In Sermon Illustrations: "First"

The First Handshake In Life Is The Greatest Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

The first handshake in life is the greatest of all: the clasp of an infant ...read more

Tags: Baby Dedication

There Is An Old Motto That Runs, If At First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"There is an old motto that runs, If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. This is nonsense. It ought to read, If at ...read more

Tags: Workplace Success

First Comes Thought; Then Organization Of That ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The ...read more

Tags: Thought

Forgiveness On A Kid's First Job

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

FORGIVENESS ON A KID’S FIRST JOB Forgiveness was the most important lesson best-selling author Tony Hillerman learned as a kid on his first job. His story goes... "I was 14 when Mr. Ingram knocked on our farmhouse door in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma (pop. 38). The old sharecropper lived about a mile ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:27-36

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Sin: Pardon In Conscience First

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 18, 2009

SIN: PARDON IN CONSCIENCE FIRST One of the older writers, one William Romaine wrote, "No sin can be crucified either in heart or life unless it be first pardoned in conscience; because there will be want of ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: *other

Drudge First, Genius Later

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Feb 23, 2010

DRUDGE FIRST, GENIUS LATER When Polish pianist Ignace Jan Paderewski played before Queen Victoria, he won her enthusiastic approval. "Mr. Paderewski," she exclaimed, "you are a genius." Paderewski shook his head. "Perhaps, Your Majesty, but before that I ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Pentecostal

The First Big Church Fight

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 28, 2011

THE FIRST BIG CHURCH FIGHT The first big dispute in the church was not over the deity of Christ, the atoning work of the cross, or the reality of the resurrection. It was over what was and was not necessary for salvation. All the players believed in Jesus as God and Savior; they all ...read more

Tags: Action

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Eve: The World's First Mother  PRO

Contributed by Stan Szelkowski on May 5, 2011

EVE: THE WORLD'S FIRST MOTHER 7 Advantages of Being 1st 1. No "in-laws!" 2. No one to be compared to (Eve never heard, "Johnny's mother...") 3. No bad culture or influences to fight against 4. No birthdays (of your own) to celebrate (perpetually 29 and holding!) 5. You hold the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:27-30, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Take It First To The Lord In Prayer  PRO

Contributed by Palitha Jayasooriya on Apr 3, 2017

Take it to the Lord in prayer My mobile phone crashed a few months ago and I had to switch to my wife's old one as a temporary measure. On the first day of using the phone, there was one particularly important feature that neither I nor my wife could grasp, though we tried to figure it out for a ...read more

Scripture: John 16:24

Tags: Prayer, Trusting God, Trusting Christ

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The First And Second Great Revival

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 24, 2018

The first recorded revival in Christian history happened from a prayer meeting that took place with a handful of disciples in the upper room (Acts 1:14). The result of that prayer meeting was that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:2-4, Acts 4:23-24

Tags: Prayer, Revival

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The First Thing Bartimaeus Saw

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 30, 2020

Think of what Bartimaeus saw when he received his sight! Think of the wonders of seeing for the first time a crowd of human beings just like himself, the walls and palm-tree groves of Jericho, the sky, so blue above him, and the hills of Moab in the distance. But that was not the first thing that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7

Tags: Death, Heaven, Miracles

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

First National Thanksgiving Proclamation Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Thanksgiving, America, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

First-Time Fathers Are A Hoot!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 8, 2024

One day shortly after the birth of their new baby, the mother had to go out to do some errands. So, the proud new papa stayed home to watch his wonderful new son. Soon after the mother left, the baby started to cry. The father did everything he could think of to do but the baby wouldn’t stop ...read more

Tags: Dad, Children, Parents, Training, Fathers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The First Ascent Of The Matterhornmin Switzerland

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on May 18, 2026

This is taken from a sermon I gave in Skillington near Grantham in Lincolnshire in England Charles Hudson was the Vicar of Skillington when he died on 14th July 1865 My interest comes from a former vicar here - Revd Charles Hudson (4th October 1828-14 July 1865). Charles was born in Park Street ...read more

Tags: Matterhorn, Charles Hudson

Denomination: Anglican

Mowing Your Yard In The Midst Of A Flood!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Glen and Jo Ann live in Orange County, California in a low lying area. It flooded one year and the local newspaper sent a reporter in a boat out to Glen and Jo Ann’s neighborhood. The reporter found Jo Ann, sitting on their roof watching large objects floating by, so he climbed up on the roof to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Tags: Humor, Priorities, Seeking The Kingdom First

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Pay On Friday

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on May 24, 2020

I am often asked by those with whom I study: “How often is the often?” How often do believers in Christ take communion? The bible does not say: “every Sunday.” Where does it state: “every first day of the week?” I explain it this way. I share with them one of my job interviews, for a training ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Communion, Contribution, First Day Of The Week

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Unsung Heroes: The Man Who Fed A Hundred Men

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 24, 2020

Introduction: A number of miracles took place in the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 4 alone, there are at least three such miracles mentioned: the pot of oil that kept flowing until all the vessels in town were full and the time, maybe just before this, when Elisha found some meal then used it to cure ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-44

Tags: First Fruits, Elisha, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

He Must Increase And I Must Decrease

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. When you need assurance of Eternity and answer the Gospel call- He must increase and I must decrease! When He bids you take up your cross and be willing then to give all- He must increase and I must decrease! When the storms of life threaten, and you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36, John 20:30, John 1:29

Tags: God First, John The Baptist, Jesus First, Preeminence Of Christ, Exalt Christ, Premience Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Proverbs According To Kids: A First Grade ...

Contributed by N A on Apr 5, 2006

Proverbs According To Kids: A first grade teacher collected old, well known proverbs. She gave each kid in her class the first half of a proverb, and had them come up with the rest. As You Shall Make Your Bed So Shall You... Mess It Up. Better Be Safe Than... Punch A 5th Grader. Strike While ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: *other

Jackie Robinson Was The First African American To ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 29, 2000

JACKIE ROBINSON was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him. He stood ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1-5

Tags: Friendship General, Love, Christian Love, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Wesleyan