In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgive Your Enemy"

Blame And Self-Esteem

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 24, 2011

BLAME AND SELF-ESTEEM When I was an Airline Pilot I was responsible for all flight operations, whether good or bad. If you are taxing into the gate and your wing clips a baggage cart, it is the Captain's fault. It doesn’t matter if the lineman steers you the wrong way or not. What the lineman ...read more

Tags: Bitterness

Humility

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 9, 2018

William Carey, often referred to as the father of the modern missionary movement. He was a brilliant man but came from a very humble beginning. In his early manhood, he worked as a cobbler, a shoe repairman. At a dinner party one evening a man said to Carey, “I understand, Mister Carey that you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-6

Tags: Humble, Humility, Humility And Pride

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Getting Even

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

Mrs. Smartt was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle. The curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?” “No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:19

Tags: Getting Even, Vengance, Bitterness, Punishment

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Quote, "Teaching Is The Transfer Of Material ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Quote, “Teaching is the transfer of material from the teacher’s notes to the student’s notebook, without it going through either’s minds.” We can drive ourselves crazy with worry. A man went to his psychiatrist and he said, “Sometimes I think I’m a tepee and ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

European Historian Lord Acton Said, "Power Tends ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

European historian Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” And best-selling novelist Amy Tan gave this ...read more

Tags: Anger

Leaning On His Fence One Day, A Devout Quaker ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Leaning on his fence one day, a devout Quaker was watching a new neighbor move in next door. After all kinds of modern appliances, electronic gadgets, plush furniture, and costly wall hangings had been carried in, the onlooker called over, ’If you find ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Marriage Seminar  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2007

MARRIAGE SEMINAR While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other’s likes and dislikes." He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife’s favorite ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

Eleven Miles Off The Coast Of Scotland Stands The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 2, 2008

Eleven miles off the coast of Scotland stands the Bell Rock Lighthouse. It is the world’s oldest surviving sea washed lighthouse. It was built on an acre of solid rock in the middle of the North Sea. Waves and storms have been crashing into this lighthouse for 200 years. But it still stands strong ...read more

Don't Get Out Of The Boat Until You Are Ordered!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 7, 2022

“Peter did not get out of the boat until he was ordered. God will not bless you in any adventure that He has not ordered. Faith is rooted in the Word of God and the will of God, not your feelings and emotions. It is stepping out on the promises and commands of God.  You don't name and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Faith, Fear, Jesus, Obedience, Peter, Miracles, Walking On Water  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Downward Spiral Of Sin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 19, 2023

DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF SIN Sin will take you farther than you ever thought you’d stray. Sin will leave you so lost, you think you’ll never find your way. Sin will keep you longer than you ever thought you’d ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Judgment, Adam, Sinful Nature, Second Adam, Sinners  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learn To Listen

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 19, 2025

Learn to listen to others with the goal of understanding – NOT JUDGEMENT! Just ask this question, “What’s the story behind that tattoo?” Then, just listen. Try to learn about that person you just met. Then, tell them thanks for sharing. Until you are ready to share your story of becoming a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15, James 1:19

Tags: Judgment, Listen, Tattoo

Denomination: Methodist

The Story Is Told About 3 Brothers Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 11, 2001

ILL. The story is told about 3 brothers who started working at the same time for a fur company owned by an old friend of their father. After working there for more than a year, one son was still receiving the same salary as when he started, & seemed to be unhappy with his job. The second son ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Leadership General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Let's Imagine A Situation Where A Homeless Man ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Mar 16, 2003

Let’s imagine a situation where a homeless man is begging on the streets of New York. A well dressed man in a long limousine pulls up next to him and offers him a job as vice-president of his company. You might say that is ridiculous; nothing like that would ever happen. But that is exactly ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Methodist

Call Home Often  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 22, 2004

CALL HOME OFTEN Max Lucado in his book "In the Eye of a Storm" talks about traveling from one speaking engagement to another. He had traveled from San Antonio to Boston and had spoken at a gathering in Boston. Then he was flying on to Edmonton, Canada to fulfill a speaking engagement there. When ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3

Tags: New Year's Day, Prayer General

You Can't Just Sit Around  PRO

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Jul 3, 2009

"YOU CAN'T JUST SIT AROUND." Larry Walters is among the relatively few who have actually turned their dreams into reality. Larry was a truck driver, but his lifelong dream was to fly. When he graduated from high school, he joined the Air Force in hopes of becoming a pilot. Unfortunately, poor ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Wesleyan

She Was Just Fifteen. Tears Filled Her Eyes And ...

Contributed by Ricki Lee Brooks on May 4, 2010

She was just fifteen. Tears filled her eyes and quivers moved her lips. Quickly she placed her hands over her ears. The shouting from her mother exploded her emotions and her restraint. And, suddenly, she screamed, “SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!” Conflict. From all accounts, he stood above the rest. ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Where Did That Come From?

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Oct 21, 2018

As a Police Officer we were required to use radar to influence drivers to slow down and obey the laws. One evening I parked at a T-intersection where Main Street intersected a major highway.This intersection was very well lite up because of the businesses located there, a restaurant with a gas ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:23, Matthew 28:14, 2 Peter 2:12-15, 1 John 2:15-16, John 15:19, Galatians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 16:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Reprove The World, Gospel Of Jesus Christ, Evangelism, Gospel, Jesus On The Cross, Preach The Gospel, Go Into All The World  (view more)  (view less)

Cross Bearing  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Cross Bearing "The Christian's Passion" There is a powerful question that is too often avoided by preachers and church attendees alike, "Who took the rough edges off the Cross?" Modern day Christianity and the world have generally turned the cross into a nice piece of harmless jewelry, all shiny ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[142]. A Message From A Poem – In Our Weakness He Gives Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 25, 2025

[142]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN OUR WEAKNESS HE GIVES STRENGTH Creatures of dust we are and weak and frail in human strength. Many are the battles we can have and many are the storms that assail us. I do think Christians have a greater measure of these that people in the world because it is ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:2, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 27:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: We Are Frail, A Christian Poem, Strength, Weakness, I Am Weak, Dust Of The Ground, Christian Poetry, Dust Made From Dust  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[159]. A Message From A Poem – Good Seed In The Thorny Ground

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 9, 2025

[159]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GOOD SEED IN THE THORNY GROUND This poem was written for a recent message in a series I am currently doing on the Parables of the Kingdom from Matthew 13. It relates to the third soil type in the parable known as The Sower, {{Matthew 13:22 “The one on whom seed ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-34, Ephesians 5:11, Matthew 13:22

Tags: Riches, Priorities, Choked, Good Seed, Parable Of The Sower, Worries, Thorny Ground, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational