In Sermon Illustrations: "Gifts Talents"

Transformed By An Elevator  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 24, 2002

Transformed by an Elevator A family from a remote area was making their first visit to a big city. They checked in to a grand hotel and stood in amazement at the impressive sight. Leaving the reception desk they came to the elevator entrance. They’d never seen an elevator before, and just ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:10-16

Tags: Change, Gifts General, Holy Spirit General, Transform

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is The Goal Of Playing Football?  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 31, 2002

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF PLAYING FOOTBALL? Well, of course, we would say winning. But there is a clearer point than winning, it is scoring points. We might score 6 points in a touchdown, three points in a field goal, two points in a safety, or one point in a point after the touch down. WHAT IF I TOLD ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Gifts General, Leadership General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

It Was Pentecost Sunday. As The Congregation ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 23, 2004

IT WAS PENTECOST SUNDAY. As the congregation filed into church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the festive spirit of the day. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 4:19, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1

Tags: Gifts Giving, Giving General, Stewardship, Tithes, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Story Is Told Of A Boy Whose Dad Took Him To ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 22, 2004

The story is told of a boy whose Dad took him to a play one Saturday night and spent a lot for the tickets. Afterwards the Dad talked about how good the play was an how it was worth every penny. The next morning coming home from Church the mother asked the Father what he thought of church. And the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15

Tags: Mothers, Giving Yourself, Gifts Giving, Time, Wait  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Your Two Dirty Pennies Are An Insult

Contributed by David Goering on Aug 14, 2018

Suppose somebody befriended you in your town and offered to buy you a big beautiful house, and told you that you could choose the house you wanted. Then when he was handing you the title deed you reached in your pocket and pulled out two pennys, and when you did they accidentally fell out of your ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Free Gift, It Is Finished, Salvation, Righteousness, Good Works  (view more)  (view less)

Christmas Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 8, 2020

One Christmas my husband put an assortment of beauty products in my stocking. I tried one of the facial masks, and was about to wash it off when my eight-year-old son, Callum, walked in. I explained to him that it was a present from his dad and it would make me beautiful. He patiently waited by my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-18

Tags: Christmas, Children, Cute, Honesty, Gifts, Christmas Present  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Get Off The Bench And Get In The Game!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 2, 2023

A well-known coach was once asked, “How much does college football contribute to the national physical-fitness picture?” “Nothing,” the coach replied abruptly. “Why not?” the startled interviewer asked. “Well,” said the coach, “the way I see it, you have 22 men down on the field desperately ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13

Tags: Service, Ministry, Church, Disciples, Spiritual Gifts, Volunteers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Regalo Para Kay Tatay

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jun 26, 2024

Isang umaga nakatanggap ako ng text mula sa aking anak mga 4 na araw bago ang Father's Day at nagpalitan kami ng mga text na ito. Dad anong size ng shirt mo. Malaki, Extra Large, o Extra, Extra Large. Ako: Extra Large. Anong size ng pants ang suot mo? Ako: 36 by 34 Anong laki ng sapatos ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Regalo Para Kay Tatay, Father Day Gift

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Smart Phone Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Oct 29, 2024

Smart phones are really smart. Even smarter than I know. I use my phone for so much more than calling and texting but it’s not uncommon for me to learn new features and abilities my phone has that I previously had never known. Over the years I’ve learned that my phone is a compass, can take video ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Service, Holy Spirit, Power, Temptation, Gifts, Giftedness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Horse In The Basement

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 6, 2025

Imagine having what we need but not using it – like the hoarse in the basement or the car that can drive at highway speed but you never go over 25mph. I heard a story about a guy who was looking at chainsaws at the hardware store. The salesman told him, “If you buy this chainsaw, you can cut ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Chainsaw, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, Car, Horse  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

[244]. A Message From A Poem – Being A Part Of The Body

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Dec 26, 2025

[244]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BEING A PART OF THE BODY I would call this an unusual but interesting poem. The message is an important one though because so much is involved – harmony, nurture, compassion, serving one another, building up the Body of Christ. The poem came to me with the first ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-6, Ephesians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 1 Corinthians 12:27

Tags: The Body Of Christ, Members Of The Body, Christian Poems, All Have Gifts, Part Of The Body, Comfort, Help, One Body, Gifts, One Another  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Think It Was C H Spurgeon Who Had A Lady Come To ...  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Oct 28, 2000

think it was C H Spurgeon who had a lady come to him saying that she felt called to the ministry. Spurgeon asked about her home and family and when he heard she had 13 children he exclaimed, "Well, praise God, not only ...read more

Tags: Servanthood, Christian Disciplines, Gift, Give, Giving, Present, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

There Was A Great Theologian Who Came To The Usa ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 6, 2002

There was a great theologian who came to the USA from England and was being interviewed by a group of seminary students. The question was asked, “What is the most profound thought that ever occupied your mind.” The answer was, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” You may go ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-17

Tags: Amazing Love, Ultimate Gift, Unconditional Love, Love For God

Denomination: Baptist

He Was Healed  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 4, 2002

HE WAS HEALED Tony Campolo tells a story about being in a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Campolo ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Healing, Miracles Of Jesus, God's Forgiveness, Gifts Healing, Cure  (view more)  (view less)

As We Conclude – Today I Want You To Imagine That ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 19, 2002

AS WE CONCLUDE – today I want you to imagine that your life is over… and you are led to a room.. there are 2 chairs in the room, one is for you and one for God and there is a DVD player. God pops in the DVD. It has your name on it – it says “Steve Malone – What Might have Been” IMAGINE – ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Gifts General, Good News, Death Nearness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Girl That Was Blind

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

Once there was a blind girl named Ramona. She hated herself because she could not see. She had no eyes. The only person in the whole world that she loved was her boyfriend Daniel and he loved her. He was always there for her. He told her that he wanted to marry her. He didn’t care that she was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Gifts, Dreams Shattered, Love, Marriage, Rejection, Blindness, Heartbreak  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

But One Time About Six Years Ago I Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Peck on Jan 17, 2001

But one time about six years ago I was complaining to someone about the Christian church, when suddenly an image flashed in my mind of a bride and a groom on their wedding day. In that mental image I walked up to the groom and said to him, "Your bride sure is ugly." Now no one would ever do that ...read more

Tags: Gift, Divinity Of Christ, Church Body Of Christ, Church Purpose Of, Spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mr. Holland’s Opus": Leaving A Legacy, ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jun 15, 2001

["Mr. Holland’s Opus": Leaving a Legacy, Citation: Mr. Holland’s Opus, (Hollywood Pictures, 1995), rated PG, written by Patrick Sheane Duncan, directed by Stephen Herek; submitted by Greg Asimakoupoulos, Naperville, Illinois] Mr. Holland’s Opus is a movie about a frustrated composer in Portland, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

Tags: Family, David, Fulfillment, Gifts General, Jonathan, Legacy, Leadership General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Abilene Christian University Researchers, Dr. ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2006

Abilene Christian University researchers, Dr. David Lewis and Dr. Carley Dodd have recently concluded a cross-generational study (six different tests) to measure fathers’ positive and negative influences upon teens’ spirituality. The found that "every time" dad’s role "as teacher came out be the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Call, Children, Gift, Father, Fatherhood, Fathers Day, Youth, Parenting  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Want To Play Beethoven's Piano?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 5, 2023

J Vernon McGee offers the following illustration of humility of mind and adds a practical application. The story is told of a group of people who went in to see Beethoven’s home in Germany. After the tour guide had showed them Beethoven’s piano and had finished his lecture, he asked if any of them ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Lowliness Of Mind, Service, Honor, Humility, Spiritual Gifts, Position, Servants  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational