In Sermon Illustrations: "Giving Spirit"

What Is Great Learning?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2012

WHAT IS GREAT LEARNING? Thomas Fuller was born in Africa about 1710. He was sold as a slave in Virginia in 1724. There is some disagreement about whether someone taught him to count to 100 or if he taught himself. He never had a day of formal education. He taught himself to figure in his head how ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25

Tags: Learning

Many Men Of Science, Too Few Men Of God  PRO

Contributed by Ken Henson on Nov 4, 2012

MANY MEN OF SCIENCE, TOO FEW MEN OF GOD In 1948, at an Armistice Celebration, (Armistice was the declaration of peace at the end of World War I) it was declared on November 11 at 11.00 am. So 11, 11 at 11. They did that symbolically because they felt that they were at the eleventh hour. They ...read more

Tags: Peace, Called To Serve

Denomination: *other

A Confident Faith  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Apr 2, 2013

A CONFIDENT FAITH Jesus indicted the Pharisees saying: "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:2-3

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Testimony Of Astronaut Charles Duke

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 21, 2013

TESTIMONY OF ASTRONAUT CHARLES DUKE Through the years, I’ve heard people say, "I wasn’t looking for God when He found me." Let me give you a modern example of this process. Astronaut Charles Duke is one of only twelve men who have left footprints on the moon. He was the lunar module pilot for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Tags: Becoming A Christian

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

Do You Believe?

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 13, 2019

DO YOU BELIEVE? That the bible is the inspired word of God That God created the everything in 6 days That God rested on day 7 That God created man and put him in the garden of Eden (a perfect Place) That God took a rib from Adam and made Eve to be a helper and companion to Adam That Satan entered ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Faith, Believe

Denomination: Pentecostal

Trust The Prayer

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jan 2, 2021

A TRUSTING PRAYER Did you hear about the young preacher that graduated Bible School? He accepted a small country church to be the pastor. It was the only church that would have him. He was the only candidate that would go to the small church. So they were matched up pretty well. His first ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:28-31

Tags: Trust, Prayer

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Four Ways To Minister Like The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we study the characteristics of the Good Samaritan, let’s ask ourselves if these qualities are true of us as well. He opened his eyes. Although all three men physically saw the critically wounded man, only the Samaritan looked and stopped to help. Before we can meet needs, we must be aware of ...read more

Tags: Service, Ministry, Parables, Neighbor, Kindness, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Misusing The Image Of God

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 27, 2022

Genesis 11:1-9… v1: as Noah and his family continues life from the ark (likely they had other children) A couple of things in context helps us: Genesis 10 talks about the nations of people and their own languages Gen 10:24 on – we only read about Joktan’s sons, not Peleg’s Gen 11:10 – only 2 ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Tags: Man, Sin, Babel, God's Image, Nations, Languages  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God Is Bigger Than Our Box

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Mar 20, 2023

(Have 4 boxes of different sizes for illustration) Here is a box. Its a small one. For some people, what they think of God could fit in this box. They have few expectations and limited knowledge of who God is. Here is another box. It is a little larger. Many people would be comfortable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Tags: God Is Able, Power Of God, Limiting God, Bigness Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Get Rid Of Your Pastor!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 9, 2023

What a blessing it is to have a pastor who loves the Lord, who teaches the Word, and who leads his "flock" aright. I thank God we have a man like that in the church which I attend. In these days of apostasy, when there is such a tragic departure from an emphasis on the Word, how we ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11

Tags: Division, Preachers, Ministry, Pastors, Apostasy, Man Of God, Churches  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Dying For Treasure

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 11, 2023

Have you ever heard about a man named Forrest Fenn? Forrest Fenn was a pilot in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Major and awarded the Silver Star for his sermon in Vietnam, which flew 328 combat missions within a year. After his service to his country, he ran an art gallery where he made his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Tags: Money, Treasure

Denomination: Brethren

Celebrate The Victory

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 29, 2024

Opal Stout, of Cottageville, West Virginia wrote, "When the fireworks display began on the Fourth of July, my six-year-old nephew became so frightened I had to take him home. As we drove away, he said, "I bet God is mad at those people shooting at him!" (Christian Reader, "Kids ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:57, Psalm 98:1, 1 John 5:4

Tags: Fourth Of July, Celebrate, Victory In Jesus, Voltaire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

Extraordinary Impact Through Simple Acts Of Kindness

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, Joanne Turner, a 56-year-old customer service representative at the Real Canadian Superstore in Kelowna, British Columbia, encountered a situation that called for compassion beyond her job description. During one of her shifts, Joanne received ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7

Tags: Humility, Kindness, Impact, Serving

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The King Who Humbled Himself

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

In John's Gospel, Jesus shared these words: BIBLE "If I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet." Jesus did this as an example. Then Jesus took the bread and the cup and set another example. "Do this, in remembrance of me." ...read more

Scripture: John 13:14, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Tags: Body, King, Visit, Humbled, Blood  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Patriotic Testimony - Sgt. York, Christian Soldier

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 23, 2016

SERGEANT YORK the Christian Soldier If someone remembers the name Sergeant York, they remark by saying, “That’s the movie starring Gary Cooper, right?” Who is this hillbilly from Tennessee? This is where our story begins. In December 1887, in the hills of Pall Mall, Tennessee, Alvin York was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: July 4th, Testimony, Christian Soldiers, War Heroes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The High Cost Of Low Living

Contributed by Larry Grant on Nov 8, 2025

Judges 16:15 "THE HIGH COST OF LOW LIVING" November 9, 2025 There is an old preacher story of a large carnival that came into a country town every two years. And people from miles around would bring their children to see all the colors and sights and sounds. But there was a particular ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:15

Tags: Lifestyle, Lessons, Losses

Denomination: Baptist

He Was Graduated From The Finest Four-Star ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

He was graduated from the finest four-star Christian college. The product of a distinguished evangelical church, he had a good personal grasp of the Scriptures. From a strong Christian family, he was a personable and handsome green shoot -- the whole nine yards! Like many in his league, however, ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

As I Have Attended Secular Schools I Have Seen ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 6, 2009

As I have attended secular schools I have seen the dark force – discriminate, attack, intimidate and belittle Christian students. These students are marked by the force just because they are Christian. They are targeted just because they have a Christian and Biblical value system. I have seen with ...read more

Tags: School

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational