In Sermon Illustrations: "Gifts"

I Prayed Her Home  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 10, 2011

I PRAYED HER HOME Praying in Tongues From August 2002 to December 2010 my family suffered the affliction of brain cancer which was placed by Satan (2 Corinthians 12:7; Luke 13:10-17) upon my “helpmate,” (Genesis 2:18-25) Bonnie K. Laughlin. Just like many conservative preachers of the Word of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:18

Tags: Gifts Tongues

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Annie Dillard: "I Had Been My Whole Life A Bell, ...

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Apr 26, 2012

Annie Dillard: "I had been my whole life a bell, and did not realize it ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Lutheran

Artist, Steven Lavaggi

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012

With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile Diabetes. Then he lost his ...read more

Tags: Gifts Discernment

Denomination: Methodist

Hiring A Dog

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

A sign was hung in an office window. It read: Help wanted. Must type 70 words a minute. Must be computer literate. Must be bilingual. An equal opportunity employer. A dog was ambling down the street and saw the sign. He looked at it for a moment, pulled it down with his mouth, and walked into ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:26

Tags: Service, Gifts

Denomination: Methodist

My Ongoing Grudge With Santa

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 18, 2021

I’ve had sort of a grudge with old Mr. Santa Claus. I was introduced to Santa Claus by my parents, who informed me that he was the one that brought all of my Christmas presents on Christmas day. And I believe my parents. I remember on Christmas Eve we had to go to bed early to give Santa Claus ...read more

Scripture: John 8:31-32

Tags: Christmas, Gifts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Richard Moss Said, "The Greatest Gift You Can ...  PRO

Contributed by Pat Cook on Aug 12, 2005

Richard Moss said, “The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.” That’s ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Baptist

True Love's The Gift Which God Has Given To Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"True love's the gift which God has given To man alone beneath the heaven. It is the secret sympathy, The silver link, the silken tie, Which heart to ...read more

Tags: God The Father

You May Give Gifts Without Caring But You Can't ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

You may give gifts without caring but you can't ...read more

Tags: Giving General

When I Was 10 Yrs. Old My School Class Had A Gift ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Shreve on Dec 23, 2003

When I was 10 yrs. old my school class had a gift exchange. We each came with a gift to give that cost no more than five dollars. I brought a good size gift to exchange and thought someone would be happy to receive my gift. When I entered the classroom my eyes were fixed on this huge candy cane and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

In Case You Ever Run Out Of Gift Ideas, Heres A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In case you ever run out of gift ideas, heres a little tip: give me your laugh. Whether its mischievous, tender, loud, or quiet, simply give me a laugh from ...read more

Tags: Humor

God Gave You A Gift Of 86,400 Seconds Today. Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2006

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"” ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Christmas Giving To Others

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Ann Voskamp writes, “It’s almost a dozen years now, nothing under the Christmas tree here. Strange, the way children teach adults. It started at bedtime one year, I do remember that. Smoothing back hair, kissing foreheads, pulling up the blankets over my kids. Tucking them in. Prayers said all in a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:4

Tags: Christmas, Gift Giving

Denomination: Methodist

I Was Talking To A Young Man Just A Few Days ...

Contributed by Fred Parker on Jan 27, 2015

I was talking to a young man just a few days ago about our greatest gift. He guessed several different things such as health, strength, possessions (Cars, houses, plenty of money) and each time he would give me an answer I would tell him, “No.” He said, “If I only had plenty of money everything ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Gifts Of God, Greatest

Denomination: Pentecostal

Singing

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 18, 2014

Do not neglect your gift. Susan Boyle, age 48, of Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland. REMEMBER HER? She thrilled England and the world when she stood on that stage competing in the Britain’s Got Talent contest on April 11, 2009, and sang, “I Dreamed A Dream.” That was the most watched youtube clip ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:14

Tags: Spiritual Gifts, Using Talents, Gifts Talents

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Seems There Was A Barber In A Small Local Town ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Jul 11, 2001

It seems there was a barber in a small local town who had been the only barber in town for years. Everyone went to this barber to get their hair cut. Then, one day a big hair salon franchise came to town and opened up shop. They advertised, “All Haircuts for $3.00” Slowly, the barber’s ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, Gifts Discernment, Gifts Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Grace At Christmas

Contributed by Joel Arndt on Jan 9, 2020

Early on in my ministry, I was called to the home of one of the people in the congregation who said they had a Christmas gift for me. Shortly after getting out of my vehicle I heard shouting coming from the house that I was called to. I gently knocked on the door and the woman of the house opened ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23

Tags: Christmas, Grace, Forgiveness, Gift

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

God Has Given Us All A Sweet Spot—in Fact, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 29, 2001

God has given us all a sweet spot—in fact, Paul says that God has given us the gift of a sweet spot so that we could serve God and produce the maximum result and maximum satisfaction both for God and for us. Mark McGwire said, “When I feel the ball hit right on the sweet spot, a home run is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Tags: Field, Gifts General

Denomination: United Methodist

The Lost Art Of Saying Thank You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more.” - David Steindl-Rast Everyone likes to feel appreciated. I remember a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanks, Unthankfulness, Gifts

Denomination: Charismatic

Let Me Close An Excerpt From Sharon Jaynes' Book, ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Dec 16, 2002

Let me close an excerpt from Sharon Jaynes’ book, Celebrating a Christ-centered Christmas: An African boy listened carefully as his teacher explained why Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. "The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship for ...read more

Tags: Gift, Christmas, Easter Resurrection

Denomination: *other

Derek Kidner Points Out That An Offering Is "A ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Oct 3, 2002

Derek Kidner points out that an offering is "a gift of ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Gifts Giving

Denomination: Church Of God