In Sermon Illustrations: "Forsaken Things"

No One Thanked Him.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Back in 1860, an excursion boat on Lake Michigan collided with a freighter and began to sink less than a mile from the shore. Hundreds of passengers began screaming as they leaped into the icy water. Edward Spencer was a student at a nearby seminary, and he ran down to the beach to see what he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Selfishness, Depression

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Witness Barber

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

There was a barber that thought that he should share his faith with his customers more than he had been doing lately. So the next morning when the sun came up and the barber got up out of bed he said, "Today I am going to witness to the first man that walks through my door." Soon after ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Witness

Denomination: Methodist

Our Weakness

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 13, 2021

When I was in my early 20s and a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, I was, believe it or not, in pretty good shape. I jogged regularly. I was a karate student. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. I truly was in good shape. Now that I’m older, I’m realizing that I’m not what I used to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

Tags: Weakness, God's Strength, God Sustains

Denomination: Baptist

Looking In A Mirror

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 28, 2021

Here is part of a story by Gabrielle Moss? I've been known to waste massive amounts of time using mirrors to do respectable, adult things, like trying to straighten my bangs. Surely you've had the pleasure of breaking a mirror and having some helpful person inform you that you have now ...read more

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Tags: Examination Of Self, Seeing The Real Person

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Got You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 2, 2021

I like to take my dogs places with me. They have their own seats in the back seat of my pickup. I have a small elderly dog named Bambi who has always had anxiety, I think from having to survive on her own when she lived in the streets as a tiny little thing with no one to feed or care for her. A ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 54:4, 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Adversity, Assurance, Anxious

Denomination: Charismatic

A Great Thanksgiving Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Back in 1860, an excursion boat on Lake Michigan collided with a freighter and began to sink less than a mile from the shore. Hundreds of passengers began screaming as they leaped into the icy water. Edward Spencer was a student at a nearby seminary, and he ran down to the beach to see what he ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Remember When I First Began In The Ministry. I ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 28, 2007

I remember when I first began in the ministry. I was a young Marine Sergeant living in Yuma, Arizona. I had gotten involved with a retired Pastor. He and I would lead a chapel service every Sunday at various retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and at rescue shelters. I was ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

John Was Born In 1917 In Brookline, ...

Contributed by Ronnie Knight on May 1, 2007

John was born in 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He attended school at Harvard University. He was the author of two books. One was his thesis at Harvard, which was entitled Why England Slept. The other was Profiles in Courage, which won him a Pulitzer Price. He was the Captain of a PT boat in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Boy Was Leaving For Iraq And On His Last ...

Contributed by Bob Marcaurelle on Jun 16, 2007

A young boy was leaving for Iraq and on his last night at home he went out with his friends. Arriving home about 11:30 he made his regular stop at the refrigerator. The mother and father were in bed upstairs, and as always did not feel right until they heard him come in. The mother said to the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Shackleton Found Them Ready  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: Shackleton Found Them Ready While on one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton was once compelled to leave some of his men on Elephant Island, with the intention of returning for them and carrying them back to England. But he was unavoidably delayed, and by the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-13

Tags: Cross Agony

Every Christian Ought To Be Ready To Stand Up ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Every Christian ought to be ready to stand up courageously and unashamedly for the Lord. How inconsistent that a person redeemed by the blood of Christ experiencing saving power should cower before an unbelieving world On one occasion Frederick the Great invited some notable people to his royal ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Tags: Witness, Faith, Forgiveness, Boldness

There Was A College Girl Who Wrote This Letter ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a college girl who wrote this letter to her Dad: Dear Dad, Sorry I haven’t written sooner. My arm really has been broken. I broke it, and my left leg, when I jumped from the second floor of my dormitory . . . when we had the fire. We were lucky. A young service station attendant saw the ...read more

Tags: Joy

This Week I Came Across This Tongue Firmly ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

This week I came across this tongue firmly implanted in cheek article titled “Pastor Quits Sports”. Here is why this pastor quit going to sporting events: 1. Every time I went they asked me for money. 2. The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly. 3. The seats were too hard and ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The People There Were A Labor Of Love For Paul, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The people there were a labor of love for Paul, and now, it looked like things might fall apart because of some insignificant argument or offense. Have you ever been there? You’ve put your heart and soul into some project or person, and something so small that it goes unnoticed or ignored gets in ...read more

Tags: Peace

Behind The Scenes Of An Arizona Circus, Bobb ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Behind the scenes of an Arizona circus, Bobb Biehl started chatting with a man who trains animals for Hollywood movies: " ’How is it that you can stake down a ten-ton elephant with the same size stake that you use for this little fellow?’ I asked, pointing to a baby elephant who weighed three ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Serving Jesus

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Serving Jesus • A certain family in a Southern Baptist Church had been inactive for years. • The family simply never went to church any more and every effort to get them to attend had failed. • One day one of the sons, name John, was bitten by a rattlesnake. The father immediately sent for the ...read more

Tags: Hell

Shortly After Dallas Theological Seminary Was ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning they met in the president’s office with Dr. Chafer for prayer that God would provide. In that prayer ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

As Time Passed, However, The Inevitable ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As time passed, however, the inevitable occurred. They began to lose and lose and lose. The blame fell, at least in part, not on Coach George Allen, but on a quarterback named Sonny Jurgenson, in my opinion one of the most gifted and effective quarterbacks to ever play the game. Jurgenson possesses ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Some Years Ago A Book Was Written By A Noted ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Some years ago a book was written by a noted American historian entitled "When The Cheering Stopped." It was the story of President Woodrow Wilson and the events leading up to and following WWI. When that war was over Wilson was an international hero. There was a great spirit of optimism abroad, ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

In World War Ii Merchant Ships Were Used To Take ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In World War II merchant ships were used to take food and supplies across the sea. One day a Father took his son down to the docks to see the boats being unloaded. "Brave men have risked their lives to bring us this precious cargo," he told him. The boy noticed a line painted around each vessel. ...read more

Tags: Lord's Prayer