In Sermon Illustrations: "Foot Washing"

What Am I?

Contributed by Kenneth Henes on Jun 23, 2004

Dear Lord, I have been re-reading the record of the Rich Young Ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has set me to thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not -- ride in a car, have any surgery, turn on a light, buy penicillin, hear a pipe organ, watch TV, wash dishes in ...read more

Tags: Joy, Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It's Like A Salesman Trying To Sell A Housewife ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeremy Houck on Feb 19, 2003

It’s like a salesman trying to sell a housewife on a home freezer, a salesman pointed out, "You can save enough on your food bill to pay for the freezer ." "Yes, I know," the woman agreed, but you see we’re paying for our car on the bus fare we save. Then, we’re paying for our washing machine on ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Christmas Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 8, 2020

One Christmas my husband put an assortment of beauty products in my stocking. I tried one of the facial masks, and was about to wash it off when my eight-year-old son, Callum, walked in. I explained to him that it was a present from his dad and it would make me beautiful. He patiently waited by my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-18

Tags: Christmas, Children, Cute, Honesty, Gifts, Christmas Present  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Erwin Mcmanus States, "Once Survival Has Become ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 26, 2008

Erwin McManus states, "Once survival has become our supreme goal, we have lost our way... the church is not called to survive history but to serve humanity. As with each individual, there is a difference between living and existing for the church...The church exists to serve as the body of Christ, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-28

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Here Kitty  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 11, 2002

HERE KITTY Once there was a man named Jim who let his dog out to do its business late one night. He watched some TV and then remembered to let the dog back in. When he opened the door, he was shocked at what he saw! In his dog’s mouth was his neighbor’s cat, dead! "Bad dog! BAD DOG!" said the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1, Jonah 1:1, Jonah 1:1

Tags: Faith, Leadership General, Truth

Relatively Blessed, Deeply Responsible  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 18, 2003

RELATIVELY BLESSED, DEEPLY RESPONSIBLE An assistant professor of theological ethics at Duke Divinity School, Amy Laura Hall, makes the following observation about Thanksgiving: "Saying grace before the Thanksgiving meal is a tradition for many Americans, but too few remember to be ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Joy

Dirty Laundry

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Mar 15, 2011

DIRTY LAUNDRY I have to admit, I dislike washing the laundry, but I detest wearing filthy clothes even more. Okay, truth be told, I don’t usually have to wash the clothes. My wife does most of it, and she does it well. I’m thankful, though, she doesn’t toil in the same manner as our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Lutheran

Our Apartment In Romania Was Close To The Train ...

Contributed by Ovidiu Radulescu on Oct 16, 2008

Our apartment in Romania was close to the train station. And one of our distant relatives, Emil, who happens to run a small business two hundred miles from us, discovered how convenient is to have a place to stay for free while he was around shopping for his business, in our area. So from time to ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Keep Your Eyes On Me

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME One day, a man hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After many hours, they came to a high and remote mountain pass. To the man’s dismay, he saw the path had almost been washed out. What could he do? To the left was a sheer rock cliff, to his ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2

Tags: Disciplines General

On The Australian Coat Of Arms Is A Picture Of A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Browne on Dec 9, 2000

On the Australian coat of arms is a picture of a emu and a kangaroo. These animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to our forefathers. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-14, Matthew 14:22-33

Tags: Australian, Growth In Christ, Healing, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

Os Guiness Gives A Very Helpful Definition Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Erickson on Nov 21, 2000

Os Guiness gives a very helpful definition of doubt in his book In Two Minds. He says, "When you believe, you are in one mind and accept something as true. Unbelief is to be of one mind and reject that something is true. To doubt is to waver between the two, to believe and disbelieve at the same ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:1, James 1:6-8

Tags: Emotions, Doubt, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Is Told About The Baptism Of King ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 24, 2006

The story is told about the baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in the middle of the fifth century. Sometime during the rite, Patrick leaned on his sharp-pointed staff and inadvertently stabbed the king’s foot. After the baptism was over, Patrick looked down at all the blood, realized what he had ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Missing Husband

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

MISSING HUSBAND A woman went to the police station to report her husband as missing. She described him as "29 years old, six foot three, athletic, and handsome." The sergeant shook his head. "Wait a minute, lady. I know your husband. He’s 50, short, and overweight." The woman said, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:19

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Did You Know That An Impala Can Jump To A Height ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Did you know that an impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet they can be kept in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals won ’t jump if they cannot see what’s on the other side. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Listen To This Song Of Praise About The ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Walker on Dec 21, 2000

Listen to this song of praise about the incarnation written by Graham Kendrick: Meekness and majesty, human and deity, in perfect harmony the one who is God. Lord of eternity dwells in humanity, kneels in humility and washes our feet. Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible, love indestructible ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Humanity Of Christ, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Couple Rented A Vacation Cottage For A ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

A young couple rented a vacation cottage for a week. One afternoon the husband looked out a window at the swimming pool and exclaimed, "Let’s change our clothes and go get some exercise!" His wife, who was washing the dishes in the kitchen and looking out the window watching some people play ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 18, 2004

Dear Lord, I have been re-reading the record of the Rich Young Ruler and his obviously wrong choice. But it has set me thinking. No matter how much wealth he had, he could not—ride in a car, have any surgery, turn on a light, buy penicillin, hear a pipe organ, watch TV, wash dishes in running ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: Baptist

Steve Atkerson States This About Water Baptism: ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 3, 2007

Steve Atkerson states this about Water Baptism: The OT is replete with examples of ceremonial cleansings accomplished through the use of water (Nu 19:11-21; 31:21-24). Thus, the Jews were not surprised that John the Baptist used water graphically to portray repentance and forgiveness of sins (Mk ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Power May Make A Task Easier. But It Still ...

Contributed by Allen Calkins on Nov 24, 2009

ILL: Power may make a task easier. But it still takes an effort to accomplish. A power riding lawn mower or a power push mower makes mowing much easier than using a push mower with no motor. But it still requires an effort on our part. An automatic dishwasher makes the core of washing dishes ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Longfellow Could Take A Worthless Piece Of ...

Contributed by Dave Kinney on Nov 9, 2008

Longfellow could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth 1000’s of dollars – and we call this genius! Rockefeller could sign his name on a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars – and we call this riches! An artist can take the courses ...read more

Tags: Authority

Denomination: Baptist