In Sermon Illustrations: "Free To Serve"

Finishing Well

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

John Baker was too short and too slight to be a runner for his high school track team but he loved to run. His best friend was tall and lanky and had the perfect build to be a runner but wanted nothing to do with the sport. So John went to the track coach to convince him to let John on the team ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Finish, Running The Race, Overcoming, Ending Well

Denomination: Methodist

Who Invented The Autocorrect?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 15, 2023

The other day I recognized something that had been happening for quite a while. As I was texting, I noticed that there was AutoCorrect. So whenever I spelled a word, it would finish the spelling before I was done. And, if I was spelling it wrong, it corrected me. A few times, I am typing a word, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:11

Tags: Correct, Errors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’m Not Diabetic But I Am A Sweet Guy

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 20, 2024

Lately, I've been very tired, which has nothing at all to do with my age. Rather, it has everything to do with all these spam calls I get every day. It seems most spam calls come during lunchtime when I’m eating. How dare they? I don't know who created this idea of spam calls, but I would ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 18:3

Tags: Diabetes, Age

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroes: Nebuzaradan Of Babylon

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 7, 2024

Introduction: Many unsung heroes in the Bible were Hebrews or Israelites. That wasn’t always the case, though. There were some people who were not even Jewish or from Israel, but they did some very noble things indeed. Here’s the story of one such unsung hero: 1 His kindness towards the people of ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 39:8-14, Jeremiah 40:1-6

Tags: Jeremiah, Unsung Heroes, Nebuzaradan

Denomination: Baptist

[301]. A Message From A Poem - There Was An Obedient Fish

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 1, 2026

[301]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THERE WAS AN OBEDIENT FISH Disobedience was the first sin in all of human history. Adam and Eve disobeyed, and through that disobedience gained a sin nature. Disobedience has remained at the forefront of sin and this can also be applied to Christians. Jonah was ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:2, Jonah 1:3, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:2, Psalm 69:15, Jonah 2:10, Isaiah 19:23-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Nineveh Repented, Jonah A Type Of Jesus, Whale, Disobedience, Nineveh, Fish, Assyria, Christian Poems, Jonah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[359]. A Message From A Poem – Everyone Is Greedy For Money

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 3, 2026

[359]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EVERYONE IS GREEDY FOR MONEY Everyone is greedy for money and they have a multitude of schemes to acquire it. Because I am old I can remember back in the 1950s when we went shopping with mum and shopkeepers were honest and always gave you good value. In those ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:13, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Timothy 6:9, Matthew 8:20, 1 Timothy 6:10-11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Money, Greed, Poverty, Gain, Extortion, The Love Of Money, Christian Poems, Multinationals, Prices, Heavenly Riches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Jacket Required  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 27, 2004

NO JACKET REQUIRED I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn’t be the right place. After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this place was all about. But, this just couldn’t be ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Mission Of David Livingstone  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

THE MISSION OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE The modern missionary movement really got started about 150 years ago with people who were concerned about the continent of Africa. There was a Scottish preacher by the name of Robert Moffatt who was serving in South Africa. He returned to Scotland to try to enlist ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:14-24

Tags: Missions, Intercessory Prayer

What’s So Bad About A Knucklehead?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 26, 2023

Dr. James L. Snyder As I got older, the least little thing brought back memories from a lifetime ago. From some of the memories, I must have had an incredible boyhood. Too bad I can't live it again. I might improve those memories. Who knows. For some reason, I remembered the word ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Crazy, Knucklehead

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Turkey, Reindeer, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Saint Arnold Janssen

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Jan 10, 2025

Saint Arnold Janssen: A Prophetic Vision of Divine Encounter in a Transformative Century Intro: In a world often fragmented by ideological, cultural, and religious divisions, Janssen's vision offers a hopeful alternative—a spirituality of connection, respect, and mutual ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Tags: Leader, Mission, Founder, Saint Arnold Janssen, Father  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

[195]. Message From A Poem – Not In Degrees Or Pedigrees But On Your Knees

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 10, 2025

[195]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NOT IN DEGREES OR PEDIGREES BUT ON YOUR KNEES One thing that used to frustrate me in teaching was to see really good teachers who did not get recognition because they did not have a string of degrees. The Education Department thinks the more qualifications, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:4-8, Acts 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Apostle Peter, Poison, Equipped, Qualifications, Academic Degrees, Pedigrees, Holy Spirit, Pride, Appointment, Ability  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Was Once A Great And Noble King Whose Land ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Feb 21, 2006

There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning homes, only to be snatched into the dragon’s jaws or talons. Those devoured ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9

Tags: Transfiguration, Transformation, Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Lutheran

The Dragon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

"The Dragon" I would like to tell you a story this morning about a dragon. "There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:25-34

Lessons From A Gps  PRO

Contributed by Coz Von on Jul 13, 2016

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 16:9, 3:6. I’m sure you’ve driven a car with a Global Positioning System (GPS). A number of years ago I settled into the passenger’s seat of a fully equipped ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:9

Tags: Gps, Eternally Lost, Divine Direction, Heart For The Lost, Parable Lost Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can Remember My Cousin Jenny As A Joyful, ...  PRO

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Jul 29, 2007

I can remember my cousin Jenny as a joyful, delighted-with-life little girl who wasn’t like the rest of us, but could make the grumpiest of grumps smile because her love of life and underlying happiness was so infectious. The message here is that all of us have opportunity to give sacrificially to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:1, 1 Corinthians 13:5

Tags: Love, Worship, Give, Life, Thanks, Life Situations, Always, Giving Yourself, Ups And Downs, End Of The World, End Times, Eschatology, Last Days, Guidance, Hypocrite, Impossible  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Power Of Prayer

Contributed by Larry Grant on Jan 12, 2025

Luke 18:1-8 “The Power of Prayer” January 5, 2025 All of us have prayed about serious problems that God has not or did not seem to give us an answer to. Every one of us has had an issue that we have brought before the Lord and it seems as if He did nothing. Most of us have suffered some type of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Power, Refine, Redirect, Plans, Petitions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[338]. A Message From A Poem - What Of Israel The Nation?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 18, 2026

[338]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHAT OF ISRAEL THE NATION? Israel will always be a thorn in the side of haters and detractors and those who dismiss the great, unfulfilled promises for Israel found in scripture. In fact the Old Testament prophetic books are so full of prophecy such as the coming ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-11, Jeremiah 31:31-33, Romans 11:27, Romans 11:25-27, Romans 11:11-12, Genesis 12:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Israel, The New Covenant, The Jews, Restoration Of Israel, Curse Israel And Be Cursed, Covenant With Israel, Persecution Of The Jews, Christian Poems, Haters Of Israel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[344]. A Message From A Poem - Why, Lord, Why? The Lament For My Birds

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 1, 2026

[344]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - WHY, LORD, WHY? THE LAMENT FOR MY BIRDS This poem is in blank verse because I just did not feel like any rhyme. It is written “as is”, just giving out my feeling. I very rarely write blank verse; I think maybe 2 or 3 times. The subject is about the terror of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1, Jonah 4:6, Romans 8:20-22

Tags: Compassion, Understanding, Lament, Sorrow, Cunning, Unfairness, Snakes, Finches, Brown Tree Snake, Boiga Irregularis, Evil Snake, Sly, Night Tiger, Snake Of Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes, July 4th

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational