In Sermon Illustrations: "God Allows"

A Magnificent Surprise

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 17, 2019

The accumulation of surprises at Bethlehem, humble country characters, a young peasant girl, an animal stall, a manger, shepherds, Magi, the threat of Herod and fleeing as refugees, though fascinating- are all secondary matters. The ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Christmas, Incarnation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sin As Your Secret Lover

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 8, 2021

“Sanctified people still sin. However, the difference is that in the life of a sanctified person, sin becomes your permanent enemy and no longer your secret lover!” Dr. Timothy Tennent “The Call to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Sin, Santification

Denomination: Methodist

Andrew Murray Said,

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 9, 2009

Andrew Murray said, “We can never have more faith than we have humility.” He continues, “As long as we take glory from another, we do not seek ...read more

Tags: Humility

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Recently I Received An Email With The Subject ...

Contributed by Judith Hand on Oct 15, 2009

Recently I received an email with the subject line:”Photo of a perfect man.” When I opened it, it said “Image not available.” Well, now that is funny at least to the females in the congregation, ...read more

Tags: Men And Women

Denomination: Methodist

Don't Dress Up Your Sin

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Nov 9, 2024

Some churches like to play dress-up. They like to dress up their sin and give it fancy labels like equality and tolerance. But sin is still sin, yall. When you ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Sin, Consequences Of Sin, Veering Off The Right Path

Denomination: Charismatic

When The Heart Says Yes

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

I have often thought that the most beautiful sound in a service is not the organ, not the choir, not even the preacher’s voice, but the sigh of a surrendered heart—the moment when a man or woman stops ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 6:8

Tags: Surrender, Yielding

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Testimony Of Iris Blue

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2013

TESTIMONY OF IRIS BUE God is still welcoming prostitutes and publicans into His kingdom. Iris Blue grew up in Houston, Texas. She lived a rebellious life and got involved in drugs, alcohol and prostitution when she was a teenager. When she was seventeen she was arrested and spent seven years in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Love Lifted Me!

Contributed by Rick Palmer on Nov 4, 2018

God took a big basket and put everything in my life that was important, everything of value, and everything worth living for into the basket. Then he lifted it up very high and turn that basket upside down and shook it until it all scattered. Let me clarify, at the age of 36 I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 3:19, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:25, Ezekiel 18:30, Proverbs 28:13, Acts 3:26, Psalm 40:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Judgement, Cross Of Jesus, Jesus The Rock, Pray For The Lost, He Choose Me, Salvation Testimony, Lifted From The Mire, Salvation, Divorce, Depravity, Suicide, Cross Of Christ, Iniquity  (view more)  (view less)

There Once Was A Weak And Sickly Man. The Man Was ...

Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Nov 17, 2008

There once was a weak and sickly man. The man was so sick and he could not afford going to town to the doctor. The man lived in the deep back woods in an old log cabin, his condition seemed to grow worse. Out in front of his cabin was a huge boulder. The rock was massive in front of his place. One ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered

Denomination: Baptist

Parallels Between Isaac And Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 19, 2014

PARALLELS BETWEEN ISAAC AND JESUS There is no clearer picture of the Cross and the sacrifice the Father made for us in Christ than Genesis chapter 22. Notice the powerful parallels between Isaac and Christ. Isaac is one of the clearest types of Christ in the Old Testament. 1.Both fulfilled ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, Romans 5:8, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Christ, Salvation, Gospel, Cross, Isaac, Typology  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Teach Your Kids!

Contributed by Eduardo Quintana on Oct 4, 2015

God’s word instructs us to be teachers to our children. For the past 5000 plus years, children would help with the family business. If they were carpenters, the children would help doing work that was appropriate for them. As they helped, they would become masters at the skill that they were being ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Fatherhood, Teach Children, Dirty Shoes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 19, 2019

Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking The Gospels depict Jesus as having spent a surprising amount of time healing people. Although, like the author of Job before him, he specifically rejected the theory that sickness was God's way of getting even with sinners (John 9:1-3), he nonetheless ...read more

Scripture: James 5:14, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 1:33-34

Tags: Healing, Salvation, Power, Prayer, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Forgiving When You Can't

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 15, 2010

FORGIVING WHEN YOU CAN'T by Jeannette Williams Her car had killed my husband, a school crossing guard. She had struck Tom down while he was on duty, helping the children. The investigating officer and witnesses had told me it was a "no fault" accident. I didn't want to believe them. In the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Training Of Arabian ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 5, 2009

Training of Arabian Horses The gospel we as Christ-followers are called to proclaim requires that we make sacrifices and at times even suffer a bit, but because of what Christ has already done, the return on such sacrifices is enormous! God’s Kingdom is glorified and expanded! With that in mind, I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:40

Tags: Discipleship

[087]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Os

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 24, 2025

[087]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Os There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the third one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:45, James 4:6, 1 Samuel 15:22, Hebrews 5:8-9

Tags: For All Christians, Obey, Opposition, Poetry, Open, Poem, Oppose, Obedience, Wrong  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[096]. A Message From A Poem – From Earth To Heaven

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 3, 2025

[096]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN This poem is one of rhyming couplets and the theme is “now on earth, but looking towards being in heaven with the Lord.” Do you love the world? Well my answer is yes and no. I absolutely love the world, that is, the creation in the world. ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2-3, Hebrews 6:19, Romans 3:11-18, Psalm 8:3, Psalm 19:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Creation, Glory, Heaven, Hope, Poem, The World, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Compassion's Reward  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

COMPASSION'S REWARD Born over sixty years ago in Yugoslavia, she responded to God’s call on her life while still a teenager. A missionary’s strong challenge to give her life to teaching in India resulted in her appointment to the city of Calcutta. Some months later she saw a sight which ...read more

Tags: Poverty, Christian Disciplines, Christian Love

Showing Respect For Mom  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2002

SHOWING RESPECT FOR MOM Adrian Rogers, Pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, tells a story about a man, his boys, and respect for their mother: "It seems that one of the boys lipped off to his mother one day. Now I don’t know about your home, but in the Rogers home showing ...read more

One Of The Sweet Christians In Church History Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Ed Wood on May 30, 2002

One of the sweet Christians in church history was a little guy named Billy Bray. He was a Cornish miner. He had one of the most remarkable salvation experiences you ever saw in all of your life. Billy Bray was so happy — he shouted all the time. He bothered people. He had so much joy, just shouting ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Sara Hughes Illustration: The Women's' Ice ...  PRO

Contributed by William Yates on Jun 12, 2002

Sara Hughes Illustration: The Women’s’ Ice Skating Competition in the 2002 Winter Olympics was supposed to be a clash of the Titans for the gold with U.S. skater Michelle Kwan pitted against Irina Slutskaya. Sara Hughes, a 16-year-old fourth place contender, however, stunned the world when she took ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself