In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Men"

Jumping The Grand Canyon

Contributed by Daniel King, D. Min. on Jul 25, 2018

Main Idea: No matter how good you are, you cannot make it to heaven through your own effort. Verse: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). Illustration: Once, two men had ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Sin, Need For Christ, Need For Salvation

Denomination: Charismatic

From Betty Lukens- A Roman Soldier's Letter To ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 26, 2009

From Betty Lukens- A Roman soldier’s letter to his parents in the 1st century AD. “But the most shocking experience I’ve had lately was over 40 men who denounced the gods to become Christians. They have really caused a stir. Nothing our priests could do, nothing they could offer them, nothing ...read more

Tags: Persecution

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Of The Most Powerful Prayers In The Midst Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:46, Luke 23:34, Matthew 12:31-32

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Humility, Prayer, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness, Suffering  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

An Old Story Tells Of A Desert Nomad Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An old story tells of a desert nomad who awakened hungry in the middle of the night. He lit a candle and began eating dates from a bowl beside his bed. He took a bite from one and saw a worm in it; so he threw it out of the tent. He bit into a second date, found another worm, and threw it away ...read more

Tags: Cross Agony

G ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 31, 2008

GLASS There’s an old story about a miserable rich man who went to visit a rabbi. The rabbi took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. “Look out there,” he said. The rich man looked into the street. “What do you see?” asked the rabbi. “I see men, women, and children,” answered the ...read more

Tags: Materialism

The Golden Rule Is The Culmination Of The Entire ...

Contributed by Danny Presswood on Jan 26, 2009

The GOLDEN RULE is the CULMINATION of the ENTIRE SEMON ON THE MOUNT. As I said earlier, "THEREFORE" is the key word - it means - BECAUSE of everything that I’ve already said here on the mount - you MUST do this! Because of the BEATITUDES-THE BLESSED BE’S - because YOU are the SALT OF THE EARTH and ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Baptist

The Key To Happiness...?

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 7, 2012

THE KEY TO HAPPINESS...? Want to be happy? A 26-year study of Germans suggests it’s not that hard: • Marry someone who’s not neurotic. • Focus more on friends and family, less on material goods. • Get involved in making the world a better place. • Have a job but also enough time for ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:13

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Baptist

A Christmas Letter To God  PRO

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Feb 14, 2012

A CHRISTMAS LETTER TO GOD A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he wanted. "I've been good for six months now," he wrote. After a moment's reflection, he crossed out "six months" and wrote "three." After a pause he changed that to "two weeks." There was another pause ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-8

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Baptist

Application: Draw Smaller Circles As You Tell ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Jul 4, 2010

APPLICATION: Draw smaller circles as you tell this story. God’s promises here in Psalm 125 are not for mankind. No, it is much narrower than that. It is not for religious men, for Baptist men, nor for Bible carrying men. It is not even for all ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Baptist

The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

"The Invasion" • In his book The Faith, Chuck Colson has a chapter entitled "The Invasion." In it he describes the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. • D-Day was the largest seaborne landing in history. • More than 150,000 U.S. troops • Employing 6,900 vessels, 4,100 landing craft, and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Christmas

The Modern Rich Man

Contributed by Sajeev Painunkal, Sj on Oct 30, 2010

A popular story recounts a meeting that may have taken place at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago in 1923. There is debate whether the meeting in fact occurred, but what is not in question is the actual rise and fall of the men featured in the story, who were nine of the richest men in the world ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Catholic

The Importance Of Public Confession

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC CONFESSION There's a parable about an ancient philosopher who came to a city to save its people from its sins. The inhabitants of the city, who at first listened to the philosopher, gradually turned away. One day a child asked the learned man why he went on - did he not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:32-33

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

In China Many Years Ago There Lived An Old Man, ...

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jan 21, 2008

In China many years ago there lived an old man, with his son and a horse. Back in those days, having a horse was like owning a car today, so you can well imagine how valuable a property the animal must have been. One morning, when the man went to his field to feed the horse, the animal was gone. ...read more

I Am ...

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on May 1, 2006

I am Tired I am tired checking the time Hurrying to move on To complete one task Move on to another. I am tired seeing men suffering Women crying Children begging I am tired going to funerals Seeing grown men cry And big women hold their bellies I am tired!! I am tired of men killing men Women ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4, Revelation 22:1-4

Tags: Tired, Patience, Perseverance, Anticipation

Denomination: Adventist

Chaplains Give Their Lives To Save Sailors During ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 26, 2010

Chaplains Give Their Lives to Save Sailors during World War II On February 3, 1943, the USS Dorchester would become another casualty of World War II. But unlike others before it, what would take place on the upper deck of the Dorchester would become a testament of brotherly love and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28

Tags: Sacrifice, Heroism

[195]. Message From A Poem – Not In Degrees Or Pedigrees But On Your Knees

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 10, 2025

[195]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – NOT IN DEGREES OR PEDIGREES BUT ON YOUR KNEES One thing that used to frustrate me in teaching was to see really good teachers who did not get recognition because they did not have a string of degrees. The Education Department thinks the more qualifications, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:4-8, Acts 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Apostle Peter, Poison, Equipped, Qualifications, Academic Degrees, Pedigrees, Holy Spirit, Pride, Appointment, Ability  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Works-Oriented Salvation Verses Saving Faith

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

Works-Oriented Salvation verses Saving Faith Muhammad Ali was once asked what his faith meant to him. Ali replied: "[it] means [a] ticket to heaven. One day we’re all going to die, and god is going to judge us, [our] good and bad deeds. [if the] bad outweighs the good, you go to hell; if the good ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

A Parable From The Chilean Mining ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Oct 16, 2010

A PARABLE FROM THE CHILEAN MINING DISASTER Once upon a time there was a wise, good and powerful King. His kingdom was known as the kingdom of Hope and it was the richest kingdom in the world. He ruled his people with love and justice. The kingdom of Hope was known throughout the world and other ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[325]. A Message From A Poem - Vanitas Vanitatum – Part 3 Of 3

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 27, 2026

[325]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - VANITAS VANITATUM – PART 3 of 3 This poem begins with the story of a man who is committed to so many things but in the end he became worn out and finally could not find fulfillment in what he was doing. He began to despair and could not see the purpose of life. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, 1 Timothy 6:7, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 10:1, Ecclesiastes 9:13-18, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Vanity, Wisdom, Despair, Foolishness, Under The Sun, Appointed Time, Remember Your Creator, Vanity Of Vanities, Vanitas Vanitatum, Christian Poems, Under Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What The Church Needs Today Is Not More Machinery ...

Contributed by Scott Malone on Mar 1, 2005

What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can ...read more

Tags: Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Baptist