In Sermon Illustrations: "Giving"

Volcanic Rock And Coal

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Feb 3, 2009

VOLCANIC ROCK AND COAL When I went to Italy on holiday, one of the tours was to visit Mount Vesuvius. I climbed to the summit, and there was a huge crater with smoke coming out of it because, although the volcano is dormant just now, deep down in the earth there's molten rock. When the pressure ...read more

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Bible Literate

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

BIBLE LITERATE Americans are among the world’s most ’Bible-literate’ people with Spaniards, French and Italians among the least, claims a Catholic Biblical Federation study. The 9-country poll (U.S., Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Spain and Poland) found Americans are ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Deuteronomy 30:19, Deuteronomy 30:6-11

Tags: Bible Study

My Wife Has Become A Historian

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 5, 2019

I had a brother once tell me: "That my wife, has become a historian." Of course, I inquired a little further, into what appeared to be a wonderful achievement. So I asked: “What do you mean my brother?” He replied: “She can tell me everything I have done wrong since we've been ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:10-12, Hebrews 10:15-18

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Marriage, Wife, Understanding, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Discipleship Is A Call To Suffer

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

John R. Scott gives a modern example of one who suffered for the gospel observing that… "Few men of this century have understood better the inevitability of suffering than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He seems never to have wavered in his Christian antagonism to the Nazi regime, although it meant for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12, Philippians 3:1-20, Romans 1:16

Tags: Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Suffering, Will Of God, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Offering A Comfortable Christian Message

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Most evangelistic appeals today pitch the gospel as the way to have an abundant life. “Jesus came to offer you abundant life. Trust in Him and He will give you peace, joy, and a truly happy life.” While all of those claims are true if properly defined, what the salesman hasn’t told the potential ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12, Luke 9:23, Galatians 2:20, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 1:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Truth, Suffering, Greasy Grace, Comfortable Christianity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Steinway Pianos Are Crafted

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 14, 2021

THE POUNDER ROOM The Steinway piano has been preferred by keyboard masters such as Rachmaninoff, Horowitz, Cliburn, and Liszt and for good reason. It is a skillfully crafted instrument that produces phenomenal sound. Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 140 years ago when Henry ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Tags: Discipline, Trials, Tests Of Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Covenant?

Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 20, 2022

Devotional - Genesis 9:7-28 (also glance at Chapters 10-11) What was the command to Noah and his family? – populate the earth (we exist today because of Noah and family) Covenant – “berith” – a brand new word! What can we learn about this word in context? – a promise and commitment to do ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:7-28

Tags: Agreement, Covenant, Promise, Population

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Self Control - The Conductor Of Your Orchestra!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 27, 2023

Let’s face it. We’ve been created with a multitude of moods, passions, and desires. They all need managing. They must be under control or they will end up controlling us. Lewis Smedes says that self-control is like the “conductor of a symphony orchestra.” Under the conductor’s baton the multitude ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Works Of The Flesh, Self Control, Spirit Filled Life, Holy Spirit, Lust, Spiritual Warfare, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spiritual Victory, Desires  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Dangers Of Toying With Sin

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 12, 2023

Several years ago our family visited Niagara Falls. It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river. As I viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, I could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice. Gulls by the score were riding down the river feeding on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Temptation, Deceit, Sinners, Sin Nature  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Must Increase And I Must Decrease

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. When you need assurance of Eternity and answer the Gospel call- He must increase and I must decrease! When He bids you take up your cross and be willing then to give all- He must increase and I must decrease! When the storms of life threaten, and you ...read more

Scripture: John 3:22-36, John 20:30, John 1:29

Tags: God First, John The Baptist, Jesus First, Preeminence Of Christ, Exalt Christ, Premience Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Was Esther Taken Forcefully In Sex Trafficking?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 21, 2023

"So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies were gathered to Susa the capital into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women". (Esther 2:8). I’m intrigued by ...read more

Tags: Esther, Rape, Force, Sexual Sins, Sex Trafficking  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Funny Prayers

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 2, 2025

I found this collection of funny prayers on-line: • Lord, I ask that you give me the superpower to eat as much pizza as I want without gaining any weight. It would truly be a miracle and make my life complete. Amen. • Lord, I ask that you make all the calories in donuts and ice cream disappear, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Tags: Holy Spirit, Food, Prayer, Flesh

Denomination: Methodist

Silent Night (Stille Nacht)

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 3, 2025

It’s Christmas Eve in 1818, in the little village of Oberndorf near Salzburg. St. Nicholas Church will soon be full. Father Joseph Mohr has words for a new carol—but no melody. He walks through the snow to the nearby village of Arnsdorf and asks his friend, schoolteacher Franz Gruber, “Could you ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2

Tags: Worship, Peace, Incarnation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Resisting A False Culture

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Mar 6, 2026

In the late 1980s, the world witnessed the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. One of the central figures in the Velvet Revolution of Czechoslovakia was Václav Havel. Havel had been a playwright and dissident long before he became president. He spent years imprisoned because ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, Colossians 4:2-6

Tags: Culture, Scattered, Resisting, Gathered

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I Was Scammed!

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 7, 2023

It was the summer after my freshman year of Bible college. On this particular day, I was lounging at home, when all of a sudden, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but I answered anyway. The man on the other end said, "Congratulations! You've won the Dreams Come True ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Scams, Wasted Life, The Devil's Tricks

Denomination: Baptist

[043] A Message From A Poem – Christ Upholds The Battling One

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2025

[043] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRIST UPHOLDS THE BATTLING ONE (Longer Introduction) Do you face battles? Do trials and opposition buffet you and make the way ahead very hard? This poem partly addresses that. Well there is good news for you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Your Saviour goes with you all ...read more

Scripture: John 10:2, John 10:11, John 10:14, 2 Timothy 3:12

Tags: Battling, Mary Stevenson, Comfort, Dreams, Poetry, Burdens, Footprints In The Sand, I Had A Dream, Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

While Out On A Date One Evening I Decided To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 5, 2001

While out on a date one evening I decided to drive out to a favorite parking place to talk. I didn’t have enough money to do anything else. After we stopped the car and was just sitting there talking in the dark I leaned my head against the stering wheel a couple of times. I don’t know why I did ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Romantic Love

What Were To Happen If You Were Leaving For ...  PRO

Contributed by Lance Ladd on Aug 14, 2001

What were to happen if you were leaving for vacation and you went to flip of the breakers that ran the hot water heater so that you could save money not heating water that you didn’t need and instead you mistakenly flip the breaker for the refrigerator. You leave for two weeks and when you return ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Soren Kierkegaard, The Great Danish Theologian ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 2, 2001

Soren Kierkegaard, the great Danish theologian told this story: A prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage his eyes fell upon a ...read more

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Christmas Advent

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Answered Prayer—with Cattle  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Feb 4, 2002

“Answered Prayer—With Cattle” Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning they met in the president’s office for prayer that God would provide. In ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 50:10

Tags: Prayer Answered, Prayer General

Denomination: Wesleyan