In Sermon Illustrations: "God Allows"

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh Like Catfish With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh Like Catfish with Codfish Years ago in the northeastern United States codfish was a big commercial business. There is a market for eastern cod all over, especially on the West Coast. The demand posed a problem to the shippers. At first they froze the cod, then shipped them ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Tags: Affliction

A Man's Skin Changes After Being Swallowed By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

A Man’s Skin Changes After Being Swallowed by Fish Dr Harry Rimmer told of a man in 1926 who was swallowed by a fish and spent two days inside the fish and lived to tell the story. He was displayed in London as “the Jonah of the twentieth century.” Dr. Rimmer interviewed him two years later after ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5

Tags: Jonah

Adhesive Oxymoron

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 3, 2010

ADHESIVE OXYMORON Why can’t we all just coexist? You believe what you believe, I believe what I believe. Whatever you believe is whatever you believe. Have you seen those "Coexist" bumper stickers? I always laugh when I see a "Coexist" bumper sticker. You know, the ones where a symbol from ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If A Person Sees A House On Fire And Does ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Mar 18, 2010

If a person sees a house on fire and does everything he can to rescue the occupants, he is heralded as a hero. And that’s the way it should be. Why is it, then, that a Christian who accepts what God says in the Bible about hell and tries to warn people is ridiculed as an alarmist? We read about a ...read more

Tags: Sin Exposed

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gifts In The Fries

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 8, 2010

THE GIFTS IN THE FRIES If you have one or more of the gifts of service, you are critical to the work and glory of God. Do not think lightly of your place in God’s plan. A man goes to buy a hamburger for lunch. The young lady behind the counter asks, “Do you want fries with that?” The man ...read more

Tags: Gifts General

Denomination: Baptist

Robert A. Fryling, In His Article Titled, A ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jul 12, 2010

Robert A. Fryling, in his article titled, A Renewed Mind: The Practice of Humble Thought, said, “A blessed person is one who is delighted and immersed in the teachings of the Lord. Such a person is consciously choosing to have a right relationship with God and consequently exhibits a life of ...read more

Tags: Thought

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Little Girl's Trust

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2011

A LITTLE GIRL'S TRUST It's a lesson we need to learn, as well. Our true security comes from God and God alone, so we must learn to trust Him. Don't trust in a lie. Don't trust in an idol. Trust in the Lord. Then and only then will you be truly secure. Five-year-old Jessica became a bit ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 30:1-24

Tags: Trust

Salvation Belongs To The Lord

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jun 6, 2011

SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD To say that we cooperate with God in any way in our salvation undermines the doctrine of salvation, robs our confidence in God, and tempts us to pride. It is like the man who collapses from a massive heart attack and is rushed to the hospital. The doctor doesn’t ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Lutheran

The Law And The Gospel

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL John Wesley: "There is no [conflict] at all between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away, in order to the establishing of the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Working For Food

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 10, 2011

WORKING FOR FOOD I like the story of the rich executive who announced to his church one morning that he was going to give up all he owned so that he had to depend on his faith in God for everything he needed. He sold everything, gave it to the poor, and moved into a rented home down on the bad ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34

Tags: Prayer Of Faith

Could It Happen Every Day?

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012

COULD IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY? Jeff Ingle tells the story of spending four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor's Prayer Summit in Wisconsin. He writes, "In my time I've been to many camps, conferences and retreats but never have I been to anything like this. For four days, we met together with no ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Methodist

Position Versus Discipleship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2013

POSITION VERSUS DISCIPLESHIP C. Gene Wilkes, in his book Jesus on Leadership, says, "Confusion arises when you equate higher 'positions' with leadership . . . As long as 'position' is honored above discipleship -- being a follower -- church leaders will honor the ambitious over the obedient." We ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

How Can You Tell When A Church Is Dying?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 31, 2022

FUNNY STORY!!! Calvin Coolidge, our thirtieth president, was an extremely quiet and reserved man with very little personality. When questioned, he rarely answered in more than two or three words—a tendency which earned him the nickname, “Silent Cal.” The public saw him as a stiff and emotionless ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Renewal, Church Growth, Acts, Death Of A Vision, Church, Revival  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Before This Month Began To Prepare Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Kerry Kinchen on Nov 10, 2003

". . . before this month began to prepare our ground against seed-time. In the midst of April we began to set, the weather being then seasonable, which much encouraged us, giving us good hopes of after plenty: the setting season is good till the latter end of May. But it pleased God for our further ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Favor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simeon  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Dec 15, 2005

The years are catching up to me, Simeon thought as he made his way through the dirt-covered streets of Jerusalem. This was once an easy walk; in the corner of his mind’s eye he recalled himself as a younger man bounding through the alleys, markets, and crowded roads that led to the place of ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Truly Amazing Grace

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Timothy Paul Jones in his book, Proof writes about his middle daughter who had been previously adopted by another family. He was sure this couple had the best of intentions, but they never quite integrated the adopted child into their family of biological children. For one reason or another, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8

Tags: Grace, Sin, Chosen, Rebellion, Adoption  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Our 7-Year-Old Daughter Had Just Won $2.00 For ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Sep 23, 2001

Our 7-year-old daughter had just won $2.00 for her memory work in Sunday school. After the morning service, the pastor’s wife congratulated her. Our daughter proudly announced, "And I put it all in the morning’s offering!" "My, how wonderful!" the pastor’s wife exclaimed. "I’m sure God will be ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sam Walton  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 8, 2002

Sam Walton Sam Walton was in the mid 90’s named as one of the richest men in America. You’d never know it! He drove a pickup and lived like a regular person. Asked why he didn’t drive a Rolls Royce he replied, “Where would I put my dogs?” He was successful at least in part because he connected ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-23

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Believe In Miracle, But Not Too Much Miracle, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

I believe in miracle, but not too much miracle, for too much miracle would weaken us, make us dependent on miracle instead of our obedience to natural law. Just enough miracle to let us know he is there, but not too much, lest we depend on it when we should depend on our own initiative and on his ...read more

The Ultimate Violation Of The Fifth Commandment ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

The ultimate violation of the Fifth Commandment is soberly brought to light by nationally known cases of children murdering their parents. One example is the much publicized Eric and Lyle Menendez trials of 1993. The brothers admitted to killing with premeditation both their parents with a ...read more