In Sermon Illustrations: "Give Of Self"

Family Resemblance

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 23, 2025

Family Resemblance *There will always be resemblance in families, and I'm not just talking about our physical appearance. I'm talking about the way we talk, our mannerisms, our quirks, our habits, and our attitudes. Well, what's true about our earthly families is also true about ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 144:1-15

Tags: Traitors, Deceivers, The Lord Of Hosts, Floods, High Tower, Righteous War, God's Help, Deliverer, King David, Brevity, Praise The Lord, Mortality, Shield, Salvation, Joy, Rock, Fortress  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

[231]. A Message From A Poem - Reflections In Older Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 18, 2025

[231]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REFLECTIONS IN OLDER LIFE This poem was completed in 2020 when I was 77 years old. I don’t think I am unique in any way. I believe as people get older and know that most of their life has already gone, there comes a time for reflection on one’s life. That is what ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:31, Psalm 71:17-18, Isaiah 46:4

Tags: Grey Head, Old, Old Age, The Shepherd, Reflections, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[234]. A Message From A Poem - Rigid Trees Are Our Example

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 24, 2025

[234]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - RIGID TREES ARE OUR EXAMPLE Trees are a wonderful aspect of God’s creation and they are the mightiest organic structures on earth, discounting the great coral reefs. This poem is not about trees in general, but specific trees. Those are the ones that are often ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, Psalm 1:3

Tags: Christian Poems, Melaleuca Trees, Paperbarks, Rigid Trees, Gales, Strong Tree Trunks, Character, Wind, Stand Strong, Trees, Deep Roots  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Standing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

STANDING ALONE Richard Exley relates a story in his book, Deliver Me. He grew up in a very similar church as to what this one is now. In fact, the church that he is from, in years past, held the same convictions that we still hold today. In the past, you could not tell a difference between how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Tags: Temptation General, Temptation Resisting

Not Everything Is As It Seems

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 25, 2020

For the last five days, I have not been able to sleep nor close my eyes at night. It’s been a nightmare. During the last four weeks, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly have been sequestered in our home and loving it. I cannot remember a time in our marriage that we have spent ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:4

Tags: Humor, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Unsung Heroes: The Servants At The Wedding In Cana

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 12, 2020

Introduction: Wedding feasts were happy times, especially in the days of the Bible. This story describes how a handful of people kept a disaster from taking place! Text (John 2:1-11, KJV): 1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Tags: Weddings And Marriages, Miracles, Jesus Christ, Servants, Cana Of Galilee  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Another Christmas Tree In The Bag

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 26, 2020

It's hard to believe, but another Christmas has come and gone. It comes so slow but leaves so fast. I guess I'll never understand that. This Christmas was probably the most unusual that I have ever experienced. When I was young, I remember those first Christmases; they were so slow in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:35

Tags: Christmas, Humore

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Best Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

THE BEST GIFT Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them, and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them, and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Do I Need A New Mask For Halloween?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 28, 2023

The older I get, the less patience I have for holidays. I certainly am not a holiday guru in any sense of the word. When I was younger, my favorite holiday was Christmas because of all the presents I got. I could never get enough gifts for Christmas. When I got older, got married and had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 95:2

Tags: Halloween, Masks

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Regifting Queen Of The Family

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 30, 2023

Sitting around the Christmas tree with my family and opening up Christmas presents, it stirred fond memories of my Aunt Edith. She was known as The Regifting Queen of our family. And believe me, she earned that name quite well. Most of the family didn't catch on to what she was doing. I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Gifting, Christmas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How To Catch A Monkey  PRO

Contributed by Doug Sanders on Jan 2, 2001

HOW TO CATCH A MONKEY Native hunters in the jungles of Africa have a clever way of trapping monkeys. They slice a coconut in two, hollow it out, and in one half of the shell cut a hole just big enough for a monkey’s hand to pass through. Then they place an orange in the other coconut half before ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:38, Matthew 8:5-13

Tags: John Wesley, Human Value, Lost, Grace, Support, Sovereign, Sacrifices, Salvation, Riches, Need, Course, Church, Business And Marketplace, Encouragement, Wisdom, Track  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Charles Swindoll In His Book "Three Steps ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Charles Swindoll in his book “Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back” tells the story of a farmer who wanted to impress his hunting buddies. To impress them, he bought the smartest, most expensive hunting dog he could find. He trained this dog to do things no other dog on earth could do---impossible ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-13

Tags: Faith General, Emotions

Denomination: Baptist

Tevye, The Jewish Dairy Farmer In The Fiddler On ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 5, 2001

Tevye, the Jewish dairy farmer in the Fiddler on the Roof, lives with his wife and five daughters in czarist Russia. Change is taking place all around him and the new patterns are nowhere more obvious to Tevye than in the relationship between the sexes. First, one of his daughters announces that ...read more

Tags: Discipleship, Faith, Commitment To Christ, Disciples, Plan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Answers Prayers  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS Have you ever heard of George Mueller? One day he looked down the streets of Bristol, England, & saw 100’s of homeless children. He was so moved with concern for them that he decided that something had to be done. He had only two pence in his pocket. That’s two cents. ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

These Days, However, Even Scientists Are ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 4, 2001

These days, however, even scientists are questioning the validity of the theory of evolution. In his book, Beside Still Waters: Searching for Meaning in an Age of Doubt, Award-winning journalist Gregg Easterbrook, writes: If the Big Bang had been slightly less violent, the expansion of the universe ...read more

Tags: Creation, Apologetics God

Denomination: Baptist

65279;mary Had Grown Up Knowing That She Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Barron on Jul 3, 2001

Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, ...read more

Tags: Children, Christian Love, Miracles Of Jesus

Denomination: Methodist

I Refuse To Be Discouraged  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Sep 1, 2001

To Think About:   I Refuse to be Discouraged. I refuse to be discouraged, To be sad, or to cry; I refuse to be downhearted, and here’s the reason why . . . I have a God who’s mighty, Who’s sovereign and supreme; I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team. He is all wise and powerful, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:11-30

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Change You Owe To Jesus  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 21, 2001

THE CHANGE YOU OWE TO JESUS John Wesley was a popular evangelist in early America and often rode from one church to another to preach. On one such journey, stopped by a highwayman who shouted, "Halt, your money or your life." Wesley got down from his horse, emptied his pockets to reveal only ...read more

Tags: Great Commission, Grace, Repentance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Earlier That Same Year, 1885, Three Christian ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Hereford on Oct 30, 2001

"Earlier that same year, 1885, three Christian boys had shed their blood for Christ in Uganda. The king had ordered the arrest of these page boys in an effort to stamp out Christianity. The eldest was fifteen and the youngest was eleven-year-old Yusufu. They held fast their faith and staked their ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-12, John 14:12, 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Microsoft Has Formally Launched The Final ...  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Mar 6, 2002

Microsoft has formally launched the final revision of its Windows operating system for PCs. It’s called Windows "Me"—short for Windows Millennial Edition. One feature of Windows Me that has caused a stir is its new "system restore" feature. How does it work? Suppose you suffer a system crash on ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ