In Sermon Illustrations: "Friend Of Sinners"

Ron Otto Writes, "During My Scuba Diving ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Mar 24, 2004

Ron Otto writes, “During my scuba diving training, I asked what should be done if we see a shark. Should we try to stab it with our diving knife? The instructor said, "Don’t do that! You’ll only make him mad." Then with a smile he went on, "If you see a ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In Conspiracy Of Kindness, Steve Sjogren ...  PRO

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on May 23, 2004

In CONSPIRACY OF KINDNESS, Steve Sjogren (pronounced “SHOW-GREN”) tells the true story of Joe Delaney and his eight-year-old son, Jared, who were playing catch in their backyard. “Jared asked, ‘Dad, is there a God?’ “Joe replied that he went to church only a few times when he was a kid; he really ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Methodist

Three Mischievous Boys Went To The Zoo One Day ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Jul 27, 2004

Three mischievous boys went to the zoo one day for an outing, since they had been at school all week. They decided to visit the elephant cage, but soon enough, they were picked up by a cop for causing a commotion. The officer hauled them off to security for questioning. The supervisor in charge ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical Free

I've Often Admired The Mate-Ship That's Found ...

Contributed by W F on Sep 26, 2004

I’ve often admired the mate-ship that’s found among soldiers. I imagine that entrusting your life into the hands of your mates while in the heat of battle is an experience that forges incredibly strong friendships. You’ve faced death together, and may even owe your life to one another. There seems ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: *other

A Newspaper Held A Competition To Find Out How ...  PRO

Contributed by W F on Sep 26, 2004

A newspaper held a competition to find out how people would describe friendship. The winning answer was, “A friend is someone who’s walking in when everyone else is walking out.” You and I have a friend that will do that, a friend who will stick closer than a brother. Jesus said, “Surely I am ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42, Proverbs 18:24, Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Friendship General

Denomination: *other

While Walking Home From School, Mark Noticed The ...  PRO

Contributed by Mitchell Skelton on Jan 1, 2005

While walking home from school, Mark noticed the boy ahead of him had stumbled to the ground and dropped everything he was carrying. Mark hurried to the boy’s side and helped him collect his belongings. Surprisingly, the boy was carrying an especially hefty load. There was a baseball glove and bat, ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Poem: If  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Jul 6, 2005

It’s like Amy Carmichael wrote in her poem IF: If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude then I know nothing of Calvary love. If I take offense easily, if I am content to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:33-49

Tags: Friendship New Friends, Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

In The Fall Of The Year, Linda, A Young Woman, ...  PRO

Contributed by Earl Graston on Jul 7, 2005

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. The first evening she found a ...read more

Tags: Friendship General, Friendship New Friends

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misfit In This World !!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Mar 28, 2015

A young girl who had recently become a Christian asked the famous Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon…”What friends do I need to give-up now?" The Prince of Preachers replied "Hey, you do not have to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:4

Tags: Age, Friendship New Friends, Assuage

Denomination: *other

One Man Told His Friend: I Lost My Job Because ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Oct 28, 2001

One man told his friend: I lost my job because of illness and fatigue. Second man: Really, how awful! First man: ...read more

Tags: Workplace

I Have A Friend Who Took His Little Six-Year-Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 13, 2004

I have a friend who took his little six-year-old boy fishing with him one day. They put out the line and then went up to the cabin. After an hour, they went back down to the river to see if they had caught anything. Sure enough, there were several fish on the line. The boy said, "I knew there would ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

H. You See Dear Friends, We Learn More About God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

H. YOU SEE DEAR FRIENDS, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD IN THE VALLEY THAN WE DO ON A MOUNTAIN TOP, BECAUSE OUR HEARING IS MORE ACUTE 1. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SUFFERING DOES, IS REMIND US HOW FRAIL AND DEPENDANT ON GOD WE ARE. I. THAT’S WHY C. S. LEWIS CALLED SUFFERING AND PAIN, "GOD’S MEGAPHONE" AND ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Long Ago I Made Up My Mind To Let My Friends ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Long ago I made up my mind to let my friends have ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Do You Have Enough Points To Get To Heaven?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

I heard a story the other day about a guy who died and stood before the gates of heaven. An angel met him and said, “We have a new plan for getting into heaven. We’re now using a point system and you need 1,000 to enter.” The man told the angel that this would be no problem as he started rattling ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Justification, Sinners, Sin, Salvation, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Grace, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Does The Worm Get Inside An Apple?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 12, 2023

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Death, Adam, Salvation, Sin, Sinners, Sinful Nature, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Evel Knievel Fell Short Of The Goal

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

One of the fads of 1970s America was the motorcycle jump. This trend reached its high (and low) point on September 8, 1974. Thousands of spectators gathered around the Snake River Canyon in Idaho to see if Evel Knievel could jump across the chasm in a specially designed “sky cycle.” In the end, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Judgment, Sin, Sinners, Sinful Nature, Glory Of God, Failure  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[138]. A Message From A Poem – If You Live In Sin You Will Never Win

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 19, 2025

[138]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IF YOU LIVE IN SIN YOU WILL NEVER WIN There is nothing truer than the title of this poem. Those who live in sin and claim it as their own will never win in the end. Asaph who wrote Psalm 73 had a problem when he observed people. The godless were always ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:2-5, Psalm 73:9, Psalm 73:13-14, Psalm 73:16-17, Psalm 73:27-28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Judgment, Accountability, Asaph, Sinners, Live In Sin, Sin, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Our Daughter Carrie And Her Husband Shannon Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Mar 22, 2004

Our daughter Carrie and her husband Shannon have a dog; rather he is a small horse. He is called Coltrane. Cole does not realize he weighs 150 pounds. He also does not realize he has "drooling issues". (Now that may be caused by the fact that my wife brings hot dogs to the house whenever we ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-36, Genesis 50:20

Tags: God's Forgiveness

Denomination: United Methodist

Lesson Of The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Darian Hybl on Aug 21, 2013

Recently I read an article that convicted me of my ‘blind spots’ where I have not wanted to ‘cross the road’ or enter deeper into relationship. Alex Early penned an article entitled, “A Pastor Walked into a Gay Bar And…” At first I avoided the article because I thought this article was more a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:23-37

Tags: God As Judge, Real Friend, Parable Good Samaritan

Denomination: Lutheran

The Downward Spiral Of Sin

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 19, 2023

DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF SIN Sin will take you farther than you ever thought you’d stray. Sin will leave you so lost, you think you’ll never find your way. Sin will keep you longer than you ever thought you’d ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Adam, Second Adam, Sin, Sinful Nature, Sinners, Temptation, Judgment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational