In Sermon Illustrations: "Foolish Things"

Heaven's Gateway  PRO

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Aug 26, 2002

HEAVEN'S GATEWAY I recently made a trip to Ellis Island in New York. Ellis Island was once the biggest immigration processing center in the U.S. It processed thousands of immigrants a day. All of these immigrants left their homelands through much difficulty to come to “the land of promise.” They ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, Heaven

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rebellion At The Heart Of Mankind (Funny Story)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 20, 2025

When my granddaughter was about three years old, ... my wife Lee and I ... were babysitting our grandchildren in Morton Illinois. Anna wanted to go outside and play on our own. I thought this was a good teaching moment. So, ... I knelt down beside her ... so that we could look at each other ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 6:12-23, Romans 6:16-18, John 8:34, John 8:31-32  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Slave, Mortal, Freedom, Sin, Heart, Teach, Rebellion  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

A Farm Boy Accidentally Overturned His Wagonload ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Oct 18, 2002

“A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up." "That’s mighty nice of you," Willis ...read more

Tags: Communication General, Workplace

Denomination: Mennonite

An Old Man Named Pete Was Very Much Troubled ...

Contributed by Manuel Amparo on May 10, 2006

An old man named Pete was very much troubled about his sins. Perceiving him one day with a very downcast look, a friend asked him the cause. “O friend, I’m such a great sinner!” “But, Pete,” said his friend, “you are foolish to take it so much to heart. You never see me troubled about my ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Oxen, Nuts And Shells  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 31, 2009

OXEN, NUTS AND SHELLS All of us, at one time or another, have heard humorous stories of people who in a moment of frightful crisis will make extravagant promises to Almighty God, to other people; or, to themselves! Then, when the crisis is over or has subsided, they reduce the levels of their ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 30:1-2

Tags: Gratitude

Feeling A Tug  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

FEELING A TUG A small boy was flying a kite one April afternoon when a low drifting cloud encircled the kite and hid it from view. A man passing by asked the little boy what he was doing with that string in his hand. "I’m flying my kite," the child responded. The man, looking up and seeing ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Tags: Faith, Real Faith, Better Faith, Feeling Faith

There Is A Story Of A Farm Boy Who Accidentally ...

Contributed by Andy Beech on Mar 29, 2008

There is a story of a farm boy who accidentally overturned his wagonload of Corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up." "That’s ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Four Battles With Self Control

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 5, 2023

FOUR BATTLES WITH SELF CONTROL IN PROVERBS: Uncontrolled lust. (Proverbs 6:26: “For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life”). Uncontrolled spending (Proverbs 21:20: “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:26, Proverbs 21:20, Proverbs 23:29-30, Proverbs 29:11, Galatians 5:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Proverbs, Lust, Spending, Anger, Alcoholism, Drunkenness, Fruit Of The Spirit, Self Control  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

From Storm To Peaceful Scene.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Another little me story, I went through a real struggle, mainly of my own making, thinking and due to anger and too much caffeine in Sri Lanka, where I was awake all night and ended up in hospital due to an atrial fibrillation that took 4 days to come right. Why do I share this with you, you are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Salvation, Anger, Awareness, Stupidity, Ill Health  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

This Man Was A Farmer, His Neighbors Were ...  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Aug 13, 2006

This man was a farmer, his neighbors were farmers, and everyone in the area considered him to be the biggest pessimist in the world. His closest neighbor did all he could to encourage him every time they spoke, leaning over a fence that divided their properties on one side. “Look’s like the sun’s ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Flag And The Cross

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 1, 2020

Symbols evoke feelings of adoration or hatred. In this election year, the elephant and donkey mean different things to different people. Let's talk about a symbol that all Americans should be able to adore. In 1813 General Armistead commissioned Mary Pickersgill to make a huge flag that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 2:15

Tags: Patriotic, Cross, Power Of God, United States, National Anthem, Flag Of United States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Astray

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Astray They sing, Farther along we'll understand. Oh, how I wish I'd been a holy man, But I wandered so far astray Now all I can see is Judgment Day. I fell on my knees and begged for Your grace, Then turned around and spat in Your face. I walked along in my foolish will, Now I fear ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:14

Tags: Sin, Repentance, Backsliding

Denomination: Baptist

One Of The Most Memorable Books I Have Ever Read ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

One of the most memorable books I have ever read is A Severe Mercy. This is the story of Sheldon Vanauken and his wife Davy, who happened to be friends of C. S. Lewis. This couple was deeply in love and they sought to build the ideal marriage. They would only read books that the other wanted to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 Corinthians 13:7-10

Tags: Fulfillment, Marriage Commitment, Marriage General, Success

Denomination: Baptist

Few [called By Christ] Would Have Been ...  PRO

Contributed by David Haun on Dec 27, 2003

Few [called by Christ] would have been considered wise in the world’s eyes. Few were powerful or influential decision makers. Few were wealthy. Among the earliest disciples, five were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and the careers of the rest are unknown. None (with the possible exception of ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Faith, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Our Deepest Need

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Apr 13, 2011

OUR DEEPEST NEED Several years ago in an interview during his battle with cancer, theologian Francis Schaeffer said, "The only way to be foolishly happy in this world is to be young enough, well enough, and have money enough--and not give a care about other people. But as soon as you don’t have ...read more

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: *other

The Captain Is My Daddy

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

A little boy was standing on the banks of the Mississippi River waving and shouting at a steamboat that was going by. He was beckoning the steamboat to come to shore. A stranger came by and said, “That's foolish young man. The boat will never come ashore for you. The captain is too busy to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Tags: Answered Prayer, Father

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Watch Your Mind And Mouth

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 5, 2021

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:9-11

Tags: Heresy, Shun, Arguments, Strivings

Denomination: Baptist

Pa Won't Like It  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

"PA WON’T LIKE IT" A farm boy accidentally overturned his wagonload of corn in the road. The farmer who lived nearby came to investigate. "Hey, Willis," he called out, "forget your troubles for a spell and come on in and have dinner with us. Then I’ll help you get the wagon up." "That’s mighty ...read more

Tags: Authority

Letting Go Of The Branch!" Luke 1:5-15 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 31, 2005

“Letting Go of the Branch!” Luke 1:5-15 Key verse(s) 13“But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” Trusting in God is fine, as long as it is something you believe He can do. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-15, 1 Kings 17:8-16

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Some Very Well Known People Experienced Major ...  PRO

Contributed by Stuart Blount on Apr 20, 2001

Some very well known people experienced major knock downs but got up to win. FRED ASTAIRE – a memo circulated after his first screen test for MGM in 1933 – “Can’t act !, slightly bald !, can dance a little” WALT DISNEY – was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Peace, Endurance

Denomination: Pentecostal