In Sermon Illustrations: "Gifts Mercy"

Compassion For The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

Compassion for the Down-and-Out “I heard (this story) from a friend who works with the down-and-out in Chicago: A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she told me she had been renting out her daughter – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 16, 2023

John Smith was a loyal carpenter, working for a very successful building contractor who called him into his office one day and said, "John, I'm putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order all the materials and oversee the whole job from the ground up." John ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7, Numbers 32:23

Tags: Sowing, Reaping, Cheating, Stealing, Judgment, Selfishness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Let The Sun Confuse You

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 10, 2025

When Laura and I were blessed with a gift of a cruise, we had a blast. On the way back from the western Caribbean, we opened the cabin curtains to watch another sunset. But, there was no sun. I checked the television station that had mapped our trek and displayed our current location. The cruise ...read more

Scripture: John 12:46

Tags: Confusion, Direction, Guidance

Denomination: Baptist

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Grandfather In The Bones - Humor

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Nov 25, 2025

There was a quote from an elderly Christian that hit home for me concerning this battle with sin.... He would say: .... "Kill the old man......Kill him every day." Paul calls it a battle.... A daily battle ... that is fought within. This battle with the old flesh.......is ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12, Hebrews 2:15, Romans 6:3, Romans 6:23

Tags: Battle, Sin, Sanctification, Grandfather, Old Man  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Get Your Mule Out Of The Boat- Faithing

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 25, 2026

When attempting the impossible... you must get your mule ... out of the boat. Peter received a word ... a command from the Lord ... and he got his rear-end out of the boat ... and walked ... walked on the water. (Matthew 14:29) Beloved Simon Peter ... (Slow & Powerful) turned his faith ... ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:9, James 2:20, Mark 6:48-50, Matthew 14:27-33

Tags: Walter, Faith, Walk, Action, Impossible, Boat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Just Another Day In Ems  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2003

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN EMS I delivered a baby on the ambulance stretcher I baptized a newborn who’s life ended before it began. I hugged a frightened child. I was kissed by an intoxicated old man. I held the hand of a teenage girl while she delivered a 3 pound baby. I listened to the mournful ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic, Father, Christian Disciplines

Daniel Payne Got Angry. It Wasn't 1955, But ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

Daniel Payne got angry. It wasn’t 1955, but rather closer to 1835, when he was asked to get up out of his seat on the train. He was 70 years old, a distinguished bishop and professor at Gettysburg College, but he was black. Sixty years earlier, he had been there as Absalom Jones, an ordained ...read more

In Max Lucado's Book The "Applause Of Heaven" ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Apr 13, 2005

In Max Lucado’s book the “Applause of Heaven” reads, Even though by the “book” I’m guilty, by God’s love I get another chance. Even though by the law I’m indicted, by mercy I’m given a fresh start. “For it is by grace you have been saved … not by works, so that no one can boast.” 9 No other world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

In Robert J. Morgan’s Book, The Promise, He ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Jan 9, 2010

In Robert J. Morgan’s book, The Promise, he tells the story of John Peterson. When John was a teenager he had a remarkable singing voice and was in high demand as a performer. His greatest ambition was to become a famous vocalist. “Only in singing did I feel competent and confident,” he wrote. ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Christian Church

Australia Is In The Middle Of Grand Final Fever ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Oct 1, 2010

Australia is in the middle of GRAND FINAL FEVER with the NRL - THE DRAGONS VS THE ROOSTERS. What are the characteristics needed for those chosen to be the warriors of this battle? What is it that will win the game and bring victory? What will provide the competitive edge that guarantees success in ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God Has To Judge All People But All Have A Choice!

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 6, 2022

Genesis 6:11-22 Devotional v11-12.. original Hebrew word for “corrupt” alludes to “going to ruin” Why was the earth “going to ruin”? • Full of violence….. malicious (a desire to cause harm) and wrong • All the people “corrupted” their ways v13: God calls Noah! Why? – there are many ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:11-22

Tags: Love, Salvation, Flood, Judgment, Free Will  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Evidence For The Resurrection Is Reliable And True

Contributed by Timothy Lueking on Apr 3, 2023

It was the middle of the 1800s and a man by the name of Simon Greenleaf was teaching a class on evidence of law at Harvard University. Greenleaf was considered by many to be the greatest expert on evidence of law the world has ever known. He had been praised for his knowledge and when it comes to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Peter 1:3

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Evidence, Reliability Of Truth, Jesus The Risen Savior  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[116]. A Message From A Poem – Having A Chat With God

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 27, 2025

[116]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HAVING A CHAT WITH GOD There is nothing pretentious here. It is a simple prayer mixed with thoughts of the Lord. This poem is a meditation, one that I hope you can relate to in your life. Some make prayer a sanctimonious affair and it is about as dead as a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 John 4:19

Tags: Grace, Love, Hope, Prayer, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Chat  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[315]. A Message From A Poem - Thoughts Prompted By Romans Chapter 1

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 19, 2026

[315]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGHTS PROMPTED BY ROMANS CHAPTER 1 This is not taking the bible’s verses for Romans 1 and refashioning them for a poem as I do sometimes. The poem is based on thoughts from the reading of the chapter, not on exposition of the chapter. The opening chapter of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:15-16, Romans 1:18

Tags: Salvation, Gospel, Righteousness, The Wrath Of God, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

To Say The Least, I Was At First Shocked To Read ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2001

To say the least, I was at first shocked to read the headline, Baby Ate Cocaine Dad Left Nearby. According to the Associated Press a father from Ravenna, Ohio was sentenced to one year in prison for endangering his daughter, who was six-months-old at the time of the incident. He evidently stashed ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:1

Tags: Children, Father's Day, Parenting

16 Year Old] Nathan Johnson Dreamed Of Starting ...  PRO

Contributed by John Shearhart on Sep 10, 2006

“[16 year old] Nathan Johnson dreamed of starting a revolution for Christ. [He wrote in his diary, “God’s] will for me is to radically impact my school for Him." But before he could see the revolution become a reality, Johnson’s life was cut short by an automobile accident [after] striking a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-13, Colossians 3:1-7

Tags: All Things

A Path We Feared To See!" Philippians 2:5-11 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 10, 2005

“A Path We Feared to See!” Philippians 2:5-11 Key verse(s): 8:“‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even the death of the cross.” We love so many things in this life! Yet, there is one thing so worth loving that is seldom afforded even the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Lutheran

Christmas Can Still Arrive When You Least Expect ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeffery Russell on Dec 6, 2007

Christmas can still arrive when you least expect it, sometimes in the most unexpected manner. Dr. James Dobson relates a story of an elderly woman named Stella Thornhope who was struggling with her first Christmas alone. Her husband had died just a few months prior through a slow developing cancer. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Beginning Of Lee  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

THE BEGINNING OF LEE Lee, a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and a self-professed atheist was sitting at his desk on Christmas Eve. A slow news day he found himself reminiscing about the Delgado family that he had featured while writing a series of articles about Chicago’s neediest people a few ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-22, Luke 23:43, Luke 24:13-35

Tags: Christmas, Evangelism How To