In Sermon Illustrations: "Forsaken Things"

It Looked Like An Apple Store

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 25, 2011

IT LOOKED LIKE AN APPLE STORE "They looked like Apple products. It looked like an Apple store. It had the classic Apple store winding staircase and weird upstairs sitting area. The employees were even wearing those blue t-shirts with the chunky Apple name tags around their necks," But upon closer ...read more

Tags: Lies

Fear Of Bugs

Contributed by Brad Henry on Jul 26, 2011

FEAR OF BUGS I hear the word camping and run for cover. Through the daily writings most of you know that a number of weird things happen to me. How much more in the open woods. Of all the times I camped OUTSIDE I have never had a good experience. If there are 1,000 people in a field and 1 ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Are You Planting The Right Seed?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

ARE YOU PLANTING THE RIGHT SEED? Some time ago "Reader’s Digest" told the story about a company who mailed out some special advertising business post cards with a mustard seed glued to it with the following caption that went something like this: "If you have faith as small as this mustard seed in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:16-34

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Wearing 30,000 Bibles

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Feb 26, 2012

WEARING 30,000 BIBLES Years ago a missionary returned to England for a brief furlough after many years of faithful service in India. He was invited to a dinner at a great summer resort where he met many women of prominence and position. After dinner he went to his room and penned a ...read more

Tags: Missions

Denomination: Baptist

Beautiful Feet?

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Mar 14, 2012

BEAUTIFUL FEET? The Bible says, in Romans 10:15, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace..." (NKJV). I don't know about you, but when I think about beautiful things, feet don't rank very high on my list. Feet are sweaty and stinky. Did you know that your feet have ...read more

Tags: People In The Gospel

Denomination: Christian Church

The Slightest Wish  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 18, 2012

THE SLIGHTEST WISH During the War Between the States, General Lee one day sent word to Stonewall Jackson that the next time he rode in the direction of headquarters the Commander-in-Chief would be glad to see him on a matter of no great importance. General Jackson received the message and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:46-49

Tags: Obedience

What Commitment?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

WHAT COMMITMENT? When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Against All Odds

Contributed by Ronald Franklin on Dec 28, 2012

Yesterday, the Tennessee Titans beat the Baltimore Ravens in a pro football playoff game. Before the game, all the commentators talked about was that the Titans had lost the last five games to the Ravens, and how the Ravens seem to have their number. Nobody gave the Titans a chance. So, how did ...read more

Tags: Perseverance, Sanctification

Denomination: Baptist

Jealous In A Restaurant  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jan 10, 2013

JEALOUS IN A RESTAURANT There is an old story about an older couple having dinner in a restaurant. The wife sees another couple about their age sitting in a booth nearby. She sees the husband sitting close to his wife, with his arm around her. He is whispering things in her ear, and she is smiling ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:28

Tags: Contentment, Marriage General

Denomination: Baptist

True Worship

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 19, 2013

"True worship is God-centered worship. People tend to get caught up in where they should worship, what music they should sing in worship, and how their worship looks to other people. Focusing on these things misses the point. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Richard Eye On Divorce

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 16, 2013

RICHARD EYRE ON DIVORCE "We now have over 40 years worth of very conclusive statistics that show that children from two parent homes (a mother and a father) are at substantially less risk for drug abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropout, suicide, and a whole host of other problems. Statistically ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 19:6

Tags: Children

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Jesus Used Parables

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 16, 2013

WHY JESUS USED PARABLES The following thoughts reveal why Jesus used the parabolic method (They are adapted from - All the Parables of The Bible by Herbert Lockyer). • Parables attract attention and when fully understood are sure to be remembered. They are a great help for our short-term ...read more

Tags: Parables, Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith When Faced With Death?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Sechler on Jan 25, 2014

My son, Micah died in 2012 from kidney disease and complications. As he lay dying I wrote this in my journal: "Sitting at the bedside of my dying son at 3:48 in the morning. Weeping like crazy. Bertrand Russell once said that 'no one can sit at the bedside of dying child and believe in God.' Well ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Faith, Trial, Child Death, Belief In God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

During The Great Depression A Good Man Lost H...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

During the Great Depression a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his young wife. The only thing he had left was his faith. One day as he combed the neighborhood looking for work he stopped to watch as men did ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Tags: Faith, Suffering, Pruning, Works Tested By Fire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mother Teresa

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

Mother Teresa was attending a party full of dignitaries. The guest list included presidents and statesmen from around the world. They came in their crowns and jewels and silks. Mother Teresa wore her ever-present sari, held together by a safety pin. True leadership must be for the benefit of the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-10

Tags: Mercy, Pastoral Leadership, Showing Mercy

Denomination: Baptist

Several Years Ago Driving Through The Ocala ...

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Apr 26, 2007

Several years ago driving through the Ocala National Forest at night, I spotted a large brown object lying in the middle of the road. I thought it looked like it might be a bear cub that had been struck by a car. I got out and looked at it, and sure enough, that is what it was. About the time I ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Was Preaching To A Church In Australia. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A man was preaching to a church in Australia. The congregation had big black Bibles and severe expressions... And they knew their Bibles, and were proud of that. It was a smallish group, so he decided to engage them in dialogue: ’Who knows who the Pharisees were?’ They did. ’The Pharisees got a ...read more

Tags: Parable Pharisee, Jesus The Light

Dr. W.a. Criswell Wrote In His Book, Standing ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. DR. W.A. CRISWELL WROTE IN HIS BOOK, STANDING ON THE PROMISES: HOW YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIVE AND DEAD CHURCH, “LIVE CHURCHES ARE FILLED WITH FOLKS WITH BIBLES IN THEIR HANDS. DEAD CHURCHES ARE NOT LIVE CHURCHES HAVE NOISY CHILDREN AND YOUTH. DEAD CHURCHES DO NOT LIVE CHURCHES ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

In January 2001 Nairobi Police Raided The Home ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In January 2001 Nairobi police raided the home of a former university lecturer and his wife to find their six children emaciated and starving. The kids were ages 2-11 and could not stand up they were in such a bad state. Their legs were stick thin, their hair was falling out and they were all ...read more

Tags: Knowing God's Will

It Was 103°f In Hell Creek, South Dakota, One ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It was 103°F in Hell Creek, South Dakota, one day in September 1993. Dinosaur hunter Michael Hammer was amazed at what he saw. Sticking out of the ground were the remains of a Thescelosaurus, a plant-eating dinosaur. The skeleton was almost complete. Hammer says he knew right away that it was "very ...read more

Tags: Faith General