In Sermon Illustrations: "Go Forth Meeting Christ"

The In-Laws: "Are You A Praying Man?"

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Nov 19, 2010

THE IN-LAWS: "ARE YOU A PRAYING MAN?" Sheldon Kornpett was a quiet, reserved man with a successful dental practice in Manhattan, that is, until he met his future in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Vince Ricardo. Sheldon’s daughter was soon to be married to their son, so Sheldon’s wife hosted a dinner party at ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Byron Deel, Grew Up With An Alcoholic And Abusive ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:6

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, God The Father

Denomination: Grace Brethren

The Empty Chair And The Full Table

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Thanksgiving can be really sweet. Good food. Laughter. Familiar traditions. A little more time with people you care about. But it can also expose what’s missing. Sometimes the empty chair hits harder than the full table. Sometimes the family tension stays quiet until someone says one sentence, and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-2

Tags: Grief, Authenticity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I've Got Two Rings On My Hand Today. This One ...  PRO

Contributed by Kevin Malone on Aug 26, 2007

I’ve got two rings on my hand today. This one is my wedding ring- 24 karat gold, very pure. The other is one my daughter got out of a gumball machine. It looks kind of gold but it is tin at best. The stone is pretty but I’m sure it’s made of plastic. Now which one of these is going to stand up ...read more

Tags: Righteousness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Joseph Parker Said That The Thief On The Cross ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

Joseph Parker said that the thief on the cross proved to be one of the greatest men who ever lived. On the cross there was no outward indication of His Lordship; there was no insignia of royalty. Jesus was a captive, condemned, insulted, and crucified; yet the dying thief saw Him as a King and as ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

When You Have Nothing Left But God, Then Fgod Is Enough

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Pastor Norm Johnson tells the story of Bill who was gravely ill in the hospital. Norm was visiting him when the doctor came in and point blank said, “Bill, you're dead. There’s no hope. You’d better get your things in order.” Just that bluntly, no hope, no comfort, no, “How are you doing?” After ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Hope, God Is Enough

Denomination: Methodist

Pastor Jim Cymbala, In His Book Fresh Wind, Fresh ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on Sep 10, 2007

Pastor Jim Cymbala, in his book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, tells how God answered fervent prayer on behalf of his daughter. He writes: “Our oldest daughter, Chrissy, had been a model child growing up. But around age sixteen she started to stray,…not only from us but also away from God. In time, she ...read more

Denomination: Church Of God

The Following True Story Is From The Life Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 29, 2004

The following true story is from the life of Louis XIV of France: One Sunday when he and his royal party arrived at church, no one was there except Archbishop Fenelon, the court preacher. Surprised to see all the vacant seats, the King inquired, "Where is everybody?" Why isn’t anyone else present ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Shortly After The Dallas Theological Seminary ...

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Jun 6, 2005

Shortly after the Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost had to close. The creditors were about to foreclose at noon on a certain day. Pres. Lewis S. Chafer met with his faculty at the office, praying fervently that God would provide. Present was Dr. Harry Ironside who prayed in ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Prayer Answered

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Preacher Began A Ministry At A Church ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 26, 2007

A young preacher began a ministry at a church that was rife with disunity, so he devised a simple method to eliminate the bickering. Whenever a member came to him to complain, he would take a spiral notebook out of his desk drawer. It was brand new-still had the Wal-Mart sticker on it. Across the ...read more

A Pastor Was Called To A New Church. The First ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A pastor was called to a new church. The first Sunday the pastor was there, his message was taken from John 3:16. The message was entitled, "How to Be Born Again." The message was well received, but no decisions were made. The second Sunday, the pastor’s message was taken from John 3:16 and was ...read more

Tags: Faith

Overloaded

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

OVERLOADED In the book, Overload, by Dr. Richard Swenson, he discusses one of the main reasons our lives have too much anxiety and stress. He says that most of us are just plain overloaded. Think about it. (1) We are overloaded with commitments. We don’t know how to say no. And as a result we meet ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Stress, Time Management

Cotton Pickin' Son Of God

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 28, 2014

We were having our weekly AWANA meeting at our church when something really funny happened. The children were sharing their Bible verse for the week -- John 3:16. One of our little boys was struggling with remembering the words. He was asked, "Can’t you remember John 3:16?" The boy struggled to ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16-18

Tags: Salvation, Bible Study, Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Childlike Forgiveness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

A few months ago, I was in El Paso holding an evangelistic meeting, and the young people were serving dinner to the mothers being that it was Mother’s Day. I was seating in a chair watching what was going on, and right in front, a four-year-old girl pushed a two-year-old boy, who fell on the floor ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

The Fact That Our Good Deeds Are Not Good Enough ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 14, 2003

The fact that our good deeds are not good enough to get us into heaven is no more cruel than it’s cruel for you to tell the fish in the water (I hope your not talking to the fish in the water) “I just can’t breath in your environment.” To say that, is not a cruel statement it is just a statement ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-18, Romans 6:23, Romans 6:2-7, Romans 6:6

Tags: Apologetics General, Apologetics Jesus

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Second Coming Of Jesus

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

In the 19th century, there was a wave of enthusiasm for prophecies predicting the actual date for the Second Coming of Christ. One such prophecy was an Adventist leader name William Miller. After studying Daniel 8, Miller predicted that Christ would return on March 21, 1842, but then revised the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1

Tags: Second Coming, Jesus Return

Denomination: Methodist

George Floyd

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jun 11, 2020

God can use you to make a difference in our broken world no matter your past. Just commit your way to the Lord like Jephthah did and depend on His Holy Spirit. When I think about Jephthah, I think about George Floyd, who was recently murdered in Minneapolis. George was a towering 6-foot by 6-inch ...read more

Scripture: Judges 11:1-3, Judges 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

Tags: Transformation, Grace Of God, George Floyd

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Someone Tells About A Woman Who For Many Years ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on May 13, 2003

Someone tells about a woman who for many years couldn’t sleep at night because she worried that her home would be burglarized. One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate. When he got there, he found a burglar. The husband said to the burglar, "Come ...read more

Tags: Worry, Guilt, Fear

Denomination: *other

The Story Is Told About President James A. ...  PRO

Contributed by Emil Boniog on Dec 10, 2003

• The story is told about President James A. Garfield’s first Sunday in Washington after his inauguration. A member of the cabinet insisted that a cabinet meeting be called at 10 a.m. the following day, which was Sunday, to handle a matter of grave importance. President Garfield said that he had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-5, 2 Samuel 1:1-15, Hebrews 10:25

Tags: Worship Definition, Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Indonesia

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jan 19, 2009

Indonesia Indonesia is a country that is almost 90% Muslim. When I was up in SUNDERLAND in February 1998, when I heard Suzette Hattingh speak. She told us how she held a crusade in Yapura on the island of Irian Jaya and the miracles that she saw. The Indonesian army offered the use of 110 trucks ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Anglican