In Sermon Illustrations: "God Shows Up"

Hospitality To Strangers  PRO

Contributed by Susan Babb, Osl on Oct 9, 2008

A. Friend – some years ago B. Sunday worship service, church like ours C. Service begun – member of congregation began worship, no pastor yet D. Man dressed shabbily in a heavy overcoat and wild hair and who could of used a bath came into service 1. Trouble finding a seat, pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45, Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Love, Acceptance, Compassion, Hospitality, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Muscle Memory Of The Violin

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

From 5th grade through high school graduation, I played the violin. I was serious about it, participating in all-region orchestras, competitions, all of that. My senior recital was performing the Bach Double Concerto with one of my best friends. Here's the thing about playing a string ...read more

Scripture: John 21:3, Romans 7:15

Tags: Spiritual Drift, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

And We Try….  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 6, 2002

& we try…. A pilot always looked down intently on a certain valley in the Appalachians. "What’s so interesting about that spot?" Asked a fellow pilot. "See that stream? Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish. Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and ...read more

Tags: Freedom

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have You Ever Heard Of Rockin' Rollin ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

ILL. Have you ever heard of Rockin’ Rollin Stewart? Let me ask you another question. How many of you have ever watched a sporting event, a Super Bowl or Monday night football game, & have seen the giant sign saying "John 3:16?" How many of you have seen that? That’s amazing! Rockin’ Rollin ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sin Demands To Have A Man By Himself. It ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2001

Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 1:2-8

Tags: Stronghold

I Hope That They Are Praying As Well Just As Two ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Baker on Sep 13, 2005

I hope that they are praying as well just as two men did on September 11, 2001. I read this story in this week’s lookout. Two men were on the 81st floor of tower #2 of the World Trade Center, desperately trying to avoid the fate that was claiming so many that day. Stanley Praimnath, an ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Isaac Watts Was A Well Known Minister And Writer ...

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Jan 21, 2007

Isaac Watts was a well known minister and writer of songs in the 1700’s. Among his better known songs are, “Joy to the World,” “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.” The theme of this last hymn reflects Isaac’s great interest in the afterlife with Christ. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Following Song By "Casting Crowns" ...

Contributed by Gary Miller on May 11, 2007

The following song by "Casting Crowns" illustrates the importance of praising God: Praise You in This Storm words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms I was sure by now, God You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

I'm A Pretty Technically Minded Guy, And I Like ...

Contributed by Bruce Pratt on Feb 11, 2008

I’m a pretty technically minded guy, and I like gadgets as much as the next person. But I just don’t seem willing or able to embrace the technology that has sprung up around cell phones. They make me feel positively old-fashioned. Maybe it’s just that when I hear the word phone, I assume that the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Vigilant ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Vigilant Nation The Foundation of a Nation That Truly Says “In God We Trust” * * * * * * * * Vigilance has never come easy, and America has always had her share of enemies. Many today still remember the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and every day in some way we are reminded of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:12-22

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Washing Dishes For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

WASHING DISHES FOR GOD Brother Lawrence, a 17th century lay brother and a good cook, spent most of his years in a monastery as a cook. He did not have the education necessary to become a cleric and his mundane duties included cooking meals, running errands and scrubbing pots, anything but changing ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Oscar Greene Learns About Compliance And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2010

Oscar Greene Learns About Compliance and Exercising Due Diligence As I start to sit down, now, listen to the story of the African-American Episcopalian lay leader, Oscar Greene, of West Medford, Massachusetts! One day, he was invited to serve as a Bank Director! He was hesitant to accept the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:7

Tags: Christian Values

Intending To Grow

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

INTENDING TO GROW In the 1920s there was a young African American child who was growing up in Cleveland. One day a famous athlete named Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to the students. At the time Paddock was considered "the fastest human being alive." He told the children, "Listen! ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6-10

Tags: Growth In Christ

Beauty

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Pastor Randy Kanipe tells the story of a Sabbath time away from his church while he was struggling with failure. He happened to be walking by a cow pasture and stopped to gaze over the fence, pondering the ’green pastures’ that he imagined God leading him through - my attention was drawn down to a ...read more

Scripture: James 3:2, John 1:5

Tags: Failure, Failures, Poop

Denomination: Methodist

[027] A Message From A Poem – Based On Psalm 91

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 10, 2025

[027] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BASED ON PSALM 91 When people are asked for their favourite Psalm, usually Psalm 23 is given, the Shepherd Psalm. There are a few who chose Psalm 91 as a Psalm they love and the reasons are not hard to find in this Psalm. This is a beautiful Psalm. I am pasting ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:9-11, Psalm 91:1-4, Psalm 91:5-10, Psalm 91:11-13, Psalm 91:14-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Compassion, Angels, Protect, Rescue, Care, Refuge, Shelter, Deliver  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Lewis Awakening 1949-53  PRO

Contributed by Scott Malone on Mar 1, 2005

THE LEWIS AWAKENING 1949-53 1. In 1949, on Lewis, one of the Hebrides Islands off the coast of Scotland, two sisters became burdened with the spiritual coldness of their land. One sister was 82. The other was 84 and blind. 2. They devoted themselves to prayer and “waiting on God”. One ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 84:1

Tags: Prayer Adoration, Mercy, Wait, Vision

Denomination: Baptist

The Story Is Told Of A Family Living In The ...  PRO

Contributed by David Haun on Jan 8, 2004

The story is told of a family living in the northern United States. As happens in many families, the wife was an active church member. She would take the children to church services. Her husband didn’t feel it necessary or important to go. It just wasn’t his thing. One Christmas eve, his ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Lesson Of Grace From A Can Of Soda

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 29, 2009

A LESSON OF GRACE FROM A CAN OF SODA The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Christians in Corinth. "For God made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might be righteous, holy and forgiven in God's sight." In the world of psychology this is called "transference." God ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Grace, Sinner, Saved

Waiting 20 Years For The End Of The Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2011

WAITING 20 YEARS FOR THE END OF THE STORY In her book The God Who Hung on the Cross, journalist Ellen Vaughn retells a gripping story of how the Gospel came to a small village in Cambodia. In September 1999, Pastor Tuy Seng (not his real name) traveled to Kampong Thom Province in northern ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:46-48

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

The Lord Gave Me This Message This Past Tuesday, ...

Contributed by William Noel on Dec 31, 2006

The Lord gave me this message this past Tuesday, while at a home school choir concert. · I have to admit, the style of music that they sing is not what I normally listen to. · Also, since Sis. Noel takes the kids to their weekly rehearsals, I didn’t know anyone there. · And to top it off, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Denomination: Baptist