In Sermon Illustrations: "Girls"

The Door To The Father's House Is Always Open (Father's Day Story)

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 7, 2023

JC. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Fathers, Families, Children, Father's Day, Prayer, Mothers, Prodigal Son  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing Where The Fire Has Already Been!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jun 26, 2023

“Many years ago, a father and his daughter were walking through the grass on the Canadian prairie. In the distance, they saw a prairie fire, and they realized that it would soon engulf them. The father knew there was only one way of escape: they would quickly begin a fire right where they were and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9

Tags: Reconciliation, Assurance, Blood Of Jesus, Roman Road, Wrath Of God, Holiness Of God, Forgiveness, Satan, Salvation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Winning Streak Of One!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 1, 2005

“A Winning Streak of One!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Key verse(s) 16“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” It’s important to make sure that every day of our lives we practice gladness and condition ourselves to finding ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Lutheran

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It's "A Hard-Knock ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Luthy on Jan 23, 2002

Poor Little Orphan Annie! It’s "a hard-knock life" for her and her friends. All the hard chores, the abuse, and the neglect only add insult to injury to these poor little girls already carrying the weight of abandonment. But if you’ve seen the musical "Annie," either on stage or screen, you know ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance, Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

There Goes My Life  PRO

Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Dec 17, 2003

THERE GOES MY LIFE Kenny Chesney has a new song/music video out entitled, “There Goes My Life…” It’s a ballad focusing on the life of two young kids in high school that find themselves in a crisis moment of a pregnancy out of wedlock. (I want to say here that I’m not advocating the immoral ...read more

Tags: Christmas, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Nazarene

Little Ones To Him Belong

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 21, 2009

LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONG Author Keith Miller tells of an outgoing 40-year-old woman who was part of a sharing group he led. Here is her story: "When I was a tiny little girl, my parents died, and I was put in an orphanage. I was not pretty at all, and no one seemed to want me. But I longed to ...read more

Tags: Adoption

Denomination: Wesleyan

El Soldado Y El Sargento — The Soldier And The Sergeant

Contributed by Dr. Samuel Sanchez, Ph.d. on Aug 21, 2009

“El soldado y el sargento” THE SOLDIER AND THE SERGEANT (TRANSLATION BELOW) Un joven soldado y su sargento, viajaban en el tren juntos, y los unicos asientos disponibles estaban entre el medio de una Hermosa señorita que viajaba con su abuelita. EL SONIDO DE UN BESO- Y EL SONIDO DE UN CACHERADA. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: Christian Church

The Absence Of A Loving Father  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 6, 2010

THE ABSENCE OF A LOVING FATHER Dr. Paul Vitz, Professor of Psychology at New York University, studied the lives of more than a dozen of the world's most influential atheists over the last four centuries. As a result, Vitz discovered they all had one thing in common: defective relationships with ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags: Father's Day

God Gave Her A Flying Cat!  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2014

GOD GAVE HER A FLYING CAT! Have you heard the story about the pastor who had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc., but the kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Prayer, Miracles, Prayer Answered

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Peter Pan

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 2, 2019

Peter Pan and The Hope Of Heaven… St. John’s is the oldest of all the cities in North America. Embedded in this 400-year-old city are many stories. Bowering Park is one of the oldest parks in St. John’s. It was established by a grant of land from the Bowering family in 1911 on the 100th ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Grief

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Thank You, God, For Sending A Professional!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 8, 2024

As I was gathering my sermon, I couldn’t help thinking about a story of a little girl who was home alone and ill. She called her mother at work and told her, “Momma, I need you and I need you really bad.” This mother asked to get off work and frantically rushed down to the corner drug store to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Prayer, Thanks, Humor, Miracles, Gratitude, Thieves, Answered Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Movie Casualties Of War, Michael J. Fox ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 9, 2001

In the movie CASUALTIES OF WAR, Michael J. Fox plays Private Erikson, a soldier in Vietnam who is part of a squad that abducts and rapes a young Vietnamese girl. He didn’t participate in the crime. Afterward, as he struggles with what has happened, he says to the other men in his squad, "Just ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 20:1-3

Tags: Death Nearness, Funerals Christian, Judgment

A Couple Of Years Ago The Cartoon Strip, "For ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 21, 2001

A couple of years ago the cartoon strip, “For Better or for Worse,” showed Dad coming into the room where his teenage daughter was sitting on the couch watching television & munching popcorn. So he decided to sit down next to her & help himself to the popcorn. As he was sitting there, a little ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Mary Pipher, The Author Of Reviving Ophelia Says ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 22, 2001

Mary Pipher, the author of Reviving Ophelia says children need both and control (limits) and affection (grace). ?These two dimensions interact to produce different outcomes for teenagers. Low-control and low-acceptance parents produce teens with a variety of problems including delinquency and ...read more

Tags: Children, Parenting

Denomination: United Methodist

New York Events  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Sep 12, 2001

New York events. It was the day of the tragic events in America when the New York twin towers and the Pentegon had suffered such terrible attack. That night I took the church annual meeting - He came into the meeting late. He was stooped and grey yet young for his eighty five years. The former ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

According To A Baptist Press Release, 16 Year Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Oct 1, 2001

According to a Baptist Press release, 16 year old Jennifer Cody attended a youth camp in July 1987, sponsored by the Southern Baptists. She had missed the registration deadline at The Church on Mill in Tempe, Arizona, where she attended, but a boy canceled his and that made it possible for her to ...read more

Tags: Mothers Love, Grace, Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

Faithful To Return—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Apr 23, 2002

FAITHFUL TO RETURN--Communion Meditation W. Paul Jones tells the story of women who shared this story from her childhood as a polio victim: “When my mother left me in Sunday School, I always asked to wear her locket. She thought I like the locket. That wasn’t it at all. I knew I wasn’t worth ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Promises Of God

Denomination: Church Of God

The Fine Art Of Doing Nothing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

The Fine Art of Doing Nothing The sign on the stage proclaimed: "The Motionless Man: Make Him Laugh. Win $100." The temptation was irresistible. For three hours boys and girls, men and women, performed every antic and told every joke they knew. But Bill Fuqua, the Motionless Man, stood perfectly ...read more

Tags: Church General

Well, Let Me Tell You A True Story About A Young ...

Contributed by Greg Buchner on Mar 28, 2005

Well, let me tell you a true story about a young fireman. In the midst of a blaze he stepped forward and volunteered to go rescue a little baby, even though the chief had said that the flames were too strong and the building too unstable. As soon as that young fireman was able to get that little ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Jesus Christ

Denomination: Methodist