In Sermon Illustrations: "Golf Ball"

Do You Feel Intimidated? Marty Springstead, ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jul 24, 2006

Do you feel intimidated? Marty Springstead, supervisor of American League umpires, said he will never forget his first assignment behind the plate. It was in a 1966 game at Washington. Frank Howard was playing for the Senators, and on the first pitch to the mountainous slugger, Springstead called a ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Independent/Bible

All Hail The Power

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 7, 2009

ALL HAIL THE POWER E. P Scott was a pioneer missionary to India who One day found himself surrounded by a murderous band of tribesmen. On impulse, he took out his violin and began to play and sing, "All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name." When he reached the stanza "let every kindred and every tribe" ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Only One Opinion Counts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

ONLY ONE OPINION COUNTS An umpire named Babe Pinelli once called Babe Ruth out on strikes. When the crowd booed with disapproval, the legendary Ruth turned to the umpire and said, "How could you call that a strike? There are 40,000 people here who are of the opinion that the last pitch was a ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:7

Tags: God's Judgment

The World Slept When Jesus Came.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

Ken Gire writes, “Where you would have expected angels, there were only flies. Where you would have expected heads of state, there were only donkeys, a few haltered cows, a nervous ball of sheep, a tethered camel, & a furtive scurry of curious mice. Except for Joseph, there was no one to share ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Christ, Bethlehem, Birth Of Christ, Mary And Joseph  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Wife And I Have Invested In Some Exercise ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Nov 12, 2008

My wife and I have invested in some exercise equipment through the years. We’ve bought a stationary bike, an exercise ball, a weight set and even an Abs-machine. But, most of these items never met their intended goal. Our tone didn’t improve like we intended and we didn’t get stronger. Why? ...read more

Tags: Preparation

Denomination: Lutheran

Examples Of Perseverance:

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 29, 2009

Examples of Perseverance: George Washington, USS Squalus, Ben Hogan The tragedy of life is not the wound because life is so constituted that the wound is inevitable! The tragedy comes when we quit or give up on life because of the wound - when we fall down and we can’t get up! There are times, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Endurance

Years Ago I Was Working Two Jobs Trying To Get ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Dec 18, 2009

Years ago I was working two jobs trying to get into professional golf. One of those was a courier job where you had to use your own vehicle. I had a very reliable Honda civic hatchback, great for driving in the city, a fair bit of space in the back with the seat folded down. It was the best car I ...read more

Tags: Mistakes

When Someone Becomes Really Great At What They ...  PRO

Contributed by Justin Meek on Jun 6, 2001

When someone becomes really great at what they do, it almost always because they spent years dedicating themselves to it. Pete Rose didn’t just wake up one day as a great ball player, he dedicated his life to being a great ball player. Tori Murden didn’t just hop into a boat one day out of the blue ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Christian Disciplines, Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

How Long Things Last, Frank Kendig And Richard ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Nov 26, 2003

How Long Things Last, Frank Kendig and Richard Hutton, 1979 · Experts estimate that if a normal cassette tape is played about 100 times a year, sound quality will deteriorate somewhat after about 10 years. But the tape itself will play on. · A lightening bolt lasts 45 to 55 microseconds. · The ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Assurance Of Salvation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Courage To Be A Christian

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 1, 2008

The boy sobbed, "But Dad, I want my ball..." "You can play with your ball," I said, "but you’ll have to go downstairs and get it yourself" Now the tears flowed. Tony’s playroom held the stuffed animals, toys, and games that four-year-old love. He spent hours there. But to turn on the ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Baptist

Pleasure Comes From Pain  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 7, 2002

PLEASURE COMES FROM PAIN The world's best cyclist, Lance Armstrong, says this about pain: I become a happier man each time I suffer. Suffering is as essential to a good life, and as inextricable, as bliss. The old saying that you should live each day as if it’s your last is a nice sentiment, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Endurance, Disciplines General, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

The Mush God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2002

THE MUSH GOD The Mush God has been known to appear to millionaires on golf courses. He appears to politicians at ribbon-cutting ceremonies and to clergymen speaking the invocation on national TV at either Democratic or Republican conventions. The Mush God has no theology to speak of, being a ...read more

I Remember Reading About An Obituary That Is ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Sep 15, 2004

I remember reading about an Obituary that is meant to make you stop and think: · He brushed his teeth twice a day · The doctors examined him twice a year · He ate low-carb, low-fat every day · He gave up his tonsils, his adenoids, his gall bladder … and traded in a few worn-out glands · He golfed ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Has Given Us All A Sweet Spot—in Fact, ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Emmert on May 29, 2001

God has given us all a sweet spot—in fact, Paul says that God has given us the gift of a sweet spot so that we could serve God and produce the maximum result and maximum satisfaction both for God and for us. Mark McGwire said, “When I feel the ball hit right on the sweet spot, a home run is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Tags: Field, Gifts General

Denomination: United Methodist

Lyle Arakaki Of Honolulu, Hawaii Tells The ...

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

Lyle Arakaki of Honolulu, Hawaii tells the following story about himself. "In Hawaii, because of the time difference with the continetal U.S., the National Football League Monday night football game is played in mid-afternoon; so the local TV station delays its telecast till 6:30 in the evening. ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

British Children's Answers To Church School ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2005

British Children’s Answers To Church School Questions: Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark. The fifth commandment is Humor thy father and mother. Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, and a ball of fire at night. When Mary heard she was to be the mother of Jesus, she went off and sang the ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Bible Study

Jackie Robinson

Contributed by Scott Maze on Feb 15, 2007

Jackie Robinson was the first black major-league baseball player. He was the victim of racial hatred nearly everywhere he played baseball. There were fast balls thrown at his hear and curses and slurs hurled at him from the dugouts and stands. One day, playing at home in Brooklyn, Jackie ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Stay Focused

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 29, 2010

STAY FOCUSED God's Word. That's what focuses our hearts so that we watch continuously, ready for Jesus. In a way, you might say, God's Word is like my glasses. Without my glasses, I couldn't even begin to catch a football. I wouldn't see it coming. But even with my glasses on, I still need to ...read more

Tags: Meditation

Denomination: Lutheran

How God Calls It  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2011

HOW GOD CALLS IT A major league baseball player hit the ball far out in left field. Bases were loaded. The one who was on 2nd base made it all the way to home plate and he collided with the catcher. Immediately, the one team yelled, "He's safe, he's safe, he's safe." The other team yelled, "He's ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:3-5

Tags: Abortion

Abound, Then Rebound

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

ABOUND, THEN REBOUND Abundant Love must REBOUND. Rebounding, as every good basketball team knows, is the cutting edge between defense and offense. Whichever team rebounds most successfully becomes the team in control of the ball. The team that rebounds becomes the offense, goes on the move and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist