In Sermon Illustrations: "Funeral Service"

This Story Comes From Reggie ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

This story comes from Reggie McNeal: I was sitting on a bench on a beach boardwalk late one afternoon, resting after an hour walk. I had passed a woman in a green uniform pushing a broom several times. She came toward my bench doing her meticulous sweeping of the sidewalk. Suddenly she stopped, ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Biblical Fellowship  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 15, 2010

BIBLICAL FELLOWSHIP If the local church is going to develop the kind of beauty that God says is possible, that which will attract others to Christ, we much commit to becoming together, the kind of church Christ calls us to be. A church that is a biblical fellowship. In his book, Rediscovering ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Have You Found Jesus?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 9, 2010

HAVE YOU FOUND JESUS? One Sunday afternoon there was a drunken man who was staggering down a country path. He came upon a baptismal service at a pond. There were many to be baptized that day and the drunk, not knowing what was going on, got in the line to be baptized. Finally it was the drunk's ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Loneliness And Belonging

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 16, 2011

LONELINESS AND BELONGING Chip Ingram notes: "In his landmark book Bowling Alone, Robert Putman makes the case that loneliness is America’s new epidemic. People are searching for a place to belong. In the 1970s, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to leave a job that paid well and go off into the woods ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Tags: Suffering Loneliness

Understanding The Spiritual Gifts By Dr. Dale A. ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 13, 2011

Understanding The Spiritual Gifts By Dr. Dale A. Robbins 1. The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. After He established His church on the earth and ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to equip His church with power and ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christmas Quotations

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 5, 2012

CHRISTMAS QUOTATIONS "Christmas is the harvest time of love. Souls are drawn to other souls. All that we have read and thought and hoped comes to fruition at this happy time. Our spirits are astir. We feel within us a strong desire to serve. A strange, subtle force, a new kindness animates man and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Faith In Tragedy: Luther Bridges  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2012

FAITH IN TRAGEDY: LUTHER BRIDGES A Methodist preacher by the name of Luther Bridges was born in 1884. He married and had 3 sons. Pastor Bridges accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky in the year 1910, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law & made the trip to ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:20-21

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

If We Want To Come To Jesus There Will Be Opposition

Contributed by Ken Henson on Oct 15, 2012

If we want to come to Jesus there will be opposition. John Stott was the pastor of All Saints Church in London. I had a chance to meet John Stott while I was in London. He died last year. He is really credited with starting the evangelical movement in England. Before that movement was started, ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: *other

It's Too Late To Do Anything!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 8, 2020

Here is an illustration of these two basic approaches to righteousness: SAVIOR or SELF? An Englishman by the name of Ebenezer Wooten had just concluded a preaching service in the village square. The crowd had dispersed, and he was busily engaged in loading the equipment. A young man approached ...read more

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

Tags: Salvation, Righteousness, Witnessing, Works, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Need Of A Clarion ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 25, 2009

THE NEED OF A CLARION VOICE Sanders wrote in his epic book Spiritual leadership, "The church has always prospered most when it has been blessed with strong and spiritual leaders who expected and experienced the touch of God in their service. The lack of such men is a symptom of the malaise that ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 85:6

Tags: Revival

The Only One In Thirty-Five Years

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Aug 5, 2009

THE ONLY ONE IN THIRTY-FIVE YEARS A soldier in the American Third Army was sent to a rest camp after a period of active service. When he returned to his outfit, he wrote a letter to General George Patton and thanked him for the splendid care he had received. General Patton wrote back that for ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Christian Church

Claiming That Suitable Behavior Towards Christ's ...

Contributed by Rickey Bennett on Aug 16, 2009

Claiming that suitable behavior towards Christ’s ontological significance, according to Joseph Parker a 19th century English preacher, is paramount, and he wrote, "There are other men who do not come to worship Christ; who simply come to speculate upon Him…such patronage they offer the Son of God! ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: *other

I Was Filling In As Pulpit Supply Years Ago, When ...

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Nov 9, 2009

I was filling in as pulpit supply years ago, when I was approached by a man after the service. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “That has to be worst sermon I’ve ever heard.” Then he turned and stormed out of the church. I felt crushed. I’d worked hard on that sermon; praying that it ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22-24

Tags: Holy Spirit, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Leper Requests To Sing

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2009

Leper Requests to Sing "Count Your Many Blessings" A man named Jack Hinton was on a short-term mission’s trip to the island of Tobago. He was leading worship at the leper colony there and there was time for one more song, so he asked if anyone had a request. A woman who had been facing away from ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:19

Tags: Music

Do You Think God Knows What He Is Doing?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 4, 2022

A young woman prepared for missionary service on foreign fields. She had been appointed by the mission board and was ready to sail when she received a telegram saying that her sister had died in a western state. She cancelled her reservation and went home. The sister left four little children ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Missions, Trusting God, Providence, Will Of God, Missionaries, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Way Is The Best.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on May 31, 2022

I read the story about a young woman who had prepared for missionary service on foreign fields. She had been appointed by the mission board and was ready to sail when she received a telegram saying that her sister had died in a western state. She cancelled her reservation and went home. The ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Faith, Trust, Obedience, Purpose, Providence, Will Of God, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Things You Will Never Hear In Most Churches!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2022

THINGS YOU WILL NEVER HEAR IN MOST CHURCHES! "Hey! It’s my turn to sit on the front pew!" "I was so excited, I never even noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes!" "Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf." "I volunteer to be the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:14

Tags: Church, Complaining, Pastors, Laziness, Church Members, Gossip, Murmuring, Division  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Can Turn Evil To Good

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 26, 2023

Myra Wattinger was 40 years old and living in Pasadena, Texas when she experienced a traumatic event in her life. She was raped and then became pregnant. She did not feel that she could take care of a child, so she placed an ad in the Houston Post newspaper at the time she gave birth to a baby ...read more

Tags: Sovereignty, God's Will, Testimony, Providence, Rape, Preachers, Miracles  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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