In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgive Your Enemy"

Striking The Last Note

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Aug 10, 2010

STRIKING THE LAST NOTE It is said of one of the famous composers that he had a rebellious son who used to come in late at night after his father and mother had gone to bed. And before going to his own room, he would go to his father's piano and slowly, as well as loudly, play a simple scale, all ...read more

Tags: Rebel, Rebellious, God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Pentecostal

Recovery Is Connection

Contributed by Bret Toman on Jan 3, 2011

RECOVERY IS CONNECTION Henry Cloud in How People Grow writes, "Virtually every emotional and psychological problem, from addictions to depression, has alienation or emotional isolation at its core or close to it. Recovery from these problems involves helping people get more connected to each other ...read more

Tags: Church Small Groups

Denomination: Baptist

Paul Billheimer: The Agent Of Destruction

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 21, 2011

PAUL BILLHEIMER: THE AGENT OF DESTRUCTION In his book, Don't Waste Your Sorrows, Paul Billheimer wrote: "Satan is the agent of destruction, not God. Who was it that destroyed Job's fortune, family, and health when God permitted it done? Satan. Satan brings about accidents, sickness, disease, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Only One Opinion Counts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

ONLY ONE OPINION COUNTS An umpire named Babe Pinelli once called Babe Ruth out on strikes. When the crowd booed with disapproval, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire and said, "How could you call that a strike? There are 40,000 people here who are of the opinion that the last pitch was a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:7

Tags: God's Judgment

The Cure We Need

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2011

THE CURE WE NEED A man limps into a hospital to have his foot X-rayed and is asked to wait for the results. Some time later an orderly appears and hands the man a large pill. As he’s handed the pill, a mother with a small child in need of immediate attention enters and the orderly disappears with ...read more

Scripture: James 4:17

Tags: Mistakes

Trying To Walk Two Roads

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2011

TRYING TO WALK TWO ROADS There is an old West African proverb which says, "The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants." (Janet Weiss, Leesburg, Florida, heard in a conversation by her father, a missionary to the Maninka tribe) That’s the way it is with those who try to live for the ...read more

Scripture: James 4:4

Tags: Worldliness

Is That All?  PRO

Contributed by Thomas Cash on Jul 14, 2011

IS THAT ALL? Listen to the words of Francis Chan: "You go to a building, someone gives you a bulletin, you sit in a chair, you sing a few songs, a guy delivers maybe a polished message, maybe not, someone sings a solo, you go home. "Though Christians believe in an almighty and all powerful God ...read more

Tags: Zeal

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He Didn't Ask

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jul 21, 2011

HE DIDN'T ASK A man works as a signalman by the sea, giving important signals to the ships as they move into the narrow harbour. On one stormy night, a ship crashed because they couldn't see his signals. He was taken to court because they wanted how the accident happened. The judge asked, "Were ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Answered Prayer

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 28, 2011

ANSWERED PRAYER When I say YOUR prayers to our Lord Jesus who has the power to do anything, let me tell you this. The MRI clearly showed 4 tears to different tendons and ligaments. But when the doctor got in he could not see them! What he did see were some large spurs that we rubbing against my ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Not Ashamed

Contributed by William L. Vincent on Aug 15, 2011

NOT ASHAMED No matter what you are looking for, you can find a religion or philosophy to fit your state of mind. We find this culture creating pressure on the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We find people church-shopping--looking for the right “fit” for their needs. And I realize that we need to ...read more

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Orthodox

The Reverend And The Rose

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 30, 2011

THE REVEREND AND THE ROSE Rev. Jerry Parnell, pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church of Anderson, South Carolina, will often conclude one of his sermons with an illustration using a live rose. He tells how that God gives us a fresh flowing in life, but that over the course of time we make bad ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

The Lord's Prayer...?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jan 15, 2012

THE LORD'S PRAYER...? Two men were drinking in a bar when the topic of conversation got round to religion. One man turned to his friend and said; “I bet you don't even know the Lord's Prayer." "Wait a minute," said his friend, "I do too know the Lord's Prayer." So his friend pulled out a £20 and ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

Denomination: Brethren

Humility Under Oath

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2012

HUMILITY UNDER OATH "Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have." Henry Augustus Rowland, professor of physics at Johns Hopkins University, was once called as an expert witness at a trial. During cross-examination a lawyer demanded, "What are your ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-7

Tags: Humility

A Little Boy Told His Father, "I Want A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Phillip Parkin on Nov 24, 2012

A little boy told his father, "I want a new bike". The father said, "In this house we pray and ask God for the things we want and need". That night the little boy prayed, " Dear God, I need a new bike". The next morning the little boy woke up and ran to the garage but there was no bike. The little ...read more

Scripture: John 16:23, Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Men's Day, Prayer, Provision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stressed Santa

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

STRESSED OUT SANTA A shopping mall Santa Claus in California had a meltdown after refusing to cuddle a bawling toddler, calling the mother evil and ripping off his beard and costume in front of startled children. Kelly Fornatoro, 33, said she told Santa her 19 month old son, Brian, would stop ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Stress

Denomination: Methodist

A Woman Sees A Father Shopping With A Fussy ...  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 3, 2013

A woman sees a father shopping with a fussy two-year-old in his grocery cart. “Be patient, Billy,” he whispers. “You can handle this, Billy. It’s okay, Billy.” The woman said to him, “I don’t mean to interrupt your shopping, but I just had to tell you how wonderfully loving and patient you are ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-33, Genesis 15:1-6

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Temptation, Adam And Eve, Sin

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Learning/Growth

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 9, 2019

LEARNING MORE? AM I GROWING? COME AND GO WITH ME: TO COCONUT GROVE, THE YEAR IS 1942, SATURDAY NIGHT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND… Doctor VINCENT SENNA was enjoying a meal at the MELODY LOUNGE. The basement lounge was so crowded with people celebrating the holidays. DOCTOR VINCENT SENNA received and urgent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:45

Tags: Plan, Growth, Purpose

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Levels Of Spiritual Maturity

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

There are 4 levels of spiritual maturity for believers in Christ. I have created the names of each phase to add to this great quote from John Maxwell: #1 - REBELLION: I'm going to do what I want regardless of what God says. #2 - CONDITIONAL LOVE: If God gives me what I want, I will give Him ...read more

Tags: Spiritual Maturity, Growing In Grace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Billy Graham's Great Regret

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

Billy Graham was once asked, "If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently?" He answered: “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough, I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Bible Study, Word Of God, Pastors, Sermon Preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational