In Sermon Illustrations: "Forgiveness For Others"

What Is Your Legacy?

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Sep 16, 2008

What is Your Legacy? This week I had the extreme privilege of praying at a ceremony honoring the memory of Sandra Waugh Bradshaw, one of the heroic flight crew of 9/11's Flight 93. Sandy went to Grays Chapel and had ties to this community. I want to suggest to you that in the moment that brave ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: United Methodist

A Domino A Rectangular Tile With A Line Dividing ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 21, 2008

A Domino a rectangular tile with a line dividing its face into two square ends. A popular way of playing with dominos is lining them up end to end and knocking them over. This domino effect is fun to watch when handling the physical tiles but, if it occurs metaphorically in worldwide financial ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Other

An Obstetrician Approached An Anxious Father In ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 10, 2008

An obstetrician approached an anxious father in the waiting room of a New York City hospital and said, “I am sorry to inform you, but your baby lived but two hours after his birth. We did everything we could to save his life.” As the sympathetic doctor was about to leave, the quick thinking ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Denomination: Wesleyan

In Our Study Group, It Was Mentioned That If ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

In our study group, it was mentioned that if someone broke in and stole all the Christmas gifts not to mention the decorations and Christmas ham, then most of us would have a pretty miserable Christmas. Very few of us would get up and see the empty house and walk outside and start singing the ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: Church Of God

C.s. Lewis, In His Essay "The Law Of Human ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

C.S. Lewis, in his essay "The Law of Human Nature," said, "Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. He may break his promise to you, but if you try breaking one to him he will be complaining "It's ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Be A Line-Guide

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 26, 2009

BE A LINE-GUIDE When they were teaching me to march in the Navy, for a while until they learned that I have eye problems (go figure) they made me a line-guide. A line-guide is in the front corner of the ranks and marches straight, so that everyone else can mark their place off him. The line-guide ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Mennonite

François Fénelon Once ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

François Fénelon once wrote: "Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask for crosses or consolations; I simply present ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Questions For God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

QUESTIONS FOR GOD I came across some post-it notes that contain brief notes that kids wrote to God. Here are a few funny ones… Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed in church. Is that OK? Dear God, I think about you sometimes even when I’m not praying. God, thank you for the baby ...read more

Tags: Children

The Bridge ...

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 23, 2009

THE BRIDGE BUILDER (Unknown) An old man, going down a lonely highway, Came at the evening cold and gray, To a chasm vast and wide, Through which was flowing a swollen tide, The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The swollen stream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:6-12

Tags: Unity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Cast Your Bread

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Feb 1, 2021

True Story: There was a boy who lost his parents when he was about thirteen years old. He has left an Orphan without hope of continuing his education. He was brought to a care home run by a Pastor. He was given food and education. The Pastor who believed in investing in young boys and girls, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

Tags: Care For Poor, Give Gospel

Denomination: Methodist

Easter Service Mishap

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 12, 2021

One year, a bunch of friends and I decided to go to a sunrise service at a super fancy church. This church looks like a European cathedral and we were all dressed up for 5 a.m. singing around a huge fire outside and then going inside for service. Everyone had candles and the whole service is by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-40

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Funny, Sunrise Service

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Small Decisions, Huge Consequences

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 3, 2022

1. We make small decisions all the time, and they can affect the direction of our lives. Take this true story: “When I was a kid, my mom, my cousin, my sister, and I were all about to go to my great grandma's house from my grandma's house. It was not a far drive so my mom allowed my sister ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 14:20-25, Hebrews 6:4-6, Acts 16:31, John 3:16

Tags: Providence, Choice, Consequences, Decisions, Important Choices  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Are Not Saved By Being A Good Samaritan.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

"Recall that the Jewish lawyer asked Jesus, "What shall I DO?. So, here Jesus tosses the "DO" back to him! Don't misunderstand -- Jesus is not teaching a works based way to inherit eternal life, but He is saying in essence if you do this perfectly, without ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Legalism, Pharisees, Good Samaritan, Works, Grace, Law, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Inspect Versus Expect

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

There was a young boy who was notorious for cleaning according to what his parents would inspect, but not necessarily what they would expect. In other words, he would do things like fold and put away the dirty laundry, and put away the dirty dishes thinking they were clean. Things looked tidy on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Expectations, Cover Up

Denomination: Baptist

We're Not Going To Heaven In A Rowboat!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

A friend gave me the illustration of a man in a rowboat to describe salvation. He told about a man rowing a boat across a lake. In one hand was the oar of faith and in the other was the oar of works. He explained that if he was only rowing with the oar of faith, he would go around in circles. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Faith, Grace, Heaven, Salvation, Assurance, Works, Doubts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seek Spiritual Advice From Spiritually Mature Christians

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Aug 7, 2023

Seek Spiritual Advice from Spiritually mature Christians. Albert Einstein ... had difficulty speaking until he was four years old ... and did not read ... until he was seven. Beethovens music teacher said: .... As a composer, ... he is hopeless. When Thomas Edison was a young boy, ... his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52

Tags: Advice, Spiritual

Denomination: Anglican

Conflict Between The Preacher And The Organist

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Conflicts are not uncommon in church, but when the preacher and song leader get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how we should move forward into doing service for others. After this sermon, the song leader led the congregation in singing, "I Shall Not ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 33:11

Tags: Organist, Pastor, Conflict, Preacher

Denomination: Anglican

The Vicar And The Organist

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 12, 2026

Conflicts are not uncommon, but when the Vicar and Organist get into it, stand aside. One week, the Vicar preached on commitment, and how we should move forward into doing service for others. After this sermon, the Organist led the congregation in singing, "I Shall Not Be Moved." The ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Tags: Organist, Vicar

Denomination: Anglican

The Babe Of Roaring Camp  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 22, 2002

THE BABE OF ROARING CAMP Bret Harte wrote a story entitled “The Luck of Roaring Camp”. The story goes that Roaring Camp was supposed to be the meanest, toughest mining town in all of the West. It was reported that there were more murders and thefts than any other place around. It was a ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Advent

Denomination: Methodist

The Church Service Ended At The Lutheran Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Jun 1, 2003

The church service ended at the Lutheran Church in New Sweden, Maine as everyone “passed the peace.” It was the first Sunday after Easter, and the 50 people in attendance headed to the fellowship hour to have some coffee. Some of the people complained that the coffee was bitter, but people ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Methodist