In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Shepherd"

Be More Active In Knowing What You Are Buying And ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 23, 2008

Be more active in knowing what you are buying and who you are buying it from. For example, fair trade is a designation used for coffee and tea to not only make sure that justice is done by paying farmers fair wages but they also make sure that these farmers farm responsibly: they take care of the ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Church Of God

The Need For Lights

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

The Need for Lights Benjamin Franklin wanted to interest the people in Philadelphia in street lighting. He did not call a town meeting nor try to persuade the people by talking about it. He acted upon what he considered a good idea. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket in front of his ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

What Is Christmas Is Really About? I Would Say It ...

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008

What is Christmas is really about? I would say it is not about simply being filled with joy and singing and family and relationships as the Whos seem to think Christmas is about. In fact Christmas is about a person: Jesus. It is about the one who was born as an outcast. His mother and father ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Church Of God

What Is Christianity?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY? A number of years ago, in preparation for a discussion period on a Christian radio program, an interviewer went into the streets of Philadelphia to ask people this question: "What is Christianity." The answers were surprising. Some said that Christianity is "the American ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Cleaning Up Our Wounds

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 8, 2009

CLEANING UP OUR WOUNDS Moira, Stephen and I love watching ‘Casualty’ on BBC1. We were catching up on an old episode this week, so please turn away if you’re squeamish! (But I won’t show you my scars!) A lady had an open wound in her foot. As the nurse rolled back her thick socks to reveal the ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Anglican

Too Much Evidence For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

TOO MUCH EVIDENCE FOR ATHEISM Patrick Glynn, a former arms-control negotiator for the Regan Administration, began his journey to atheism in grade school when he encountered evolution and became a confirmed atheist by the time he received his doctorate from Harvard University in the 1970’s. After ...read more

Tags: Apologetics God

The Importance Of Relationships

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Mar 4, 2009

THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS I recently read some interesting statistics that show how IMPORTANT relationships are in our lives. The American Institute of Stress conducted research on 232 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery. Of those patients, 21 died within six months. Here are two ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Your Face Gives It Away  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 12, 2009

YOUR FACE GIVES IT AWAY There's a story of three prospectors who found a rich vein of gold in California during the gold rush days. They realized what a great discovery they had, and they decided, "We’ve a really good thing going here, as long as no one else finds out about it." So they each took ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

What Will Your Legacy Be?  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Van Wyk on Feb 24, 2013

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE? I visited the home of Elvis in Graceland, Tennessee. After so many years after his death, I was amazed at the crowds of people that take the tour and listen to his life’s story. The sad thing is, the story will never change, because he has lived his life and what he has ...read more

Tags: Opportunity

Denomination: Charismatic

The Lawyer's Invitation

Contributed by Ken Pell on Jun 1, 2013

THE LAWYER'S INVITATION A pastor told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Nazarene

Culture's Collaborators  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 3, 2013

Tim Woodroof: We live in a world that has shaped our priorities, skewed our perspectives, and taught us what to value. Rather than permitting God to challenge those values--to confront and replace them--a great deal of energy is expended in the attempt to win God’s approval and support of the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:14-15

Tags: Core Values, Detestable, Godly Values, Christian Values

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wooden Legged Friend  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2014

WOODEN LEGGED FRIEND Two farmers were talking about their livestock when a pig walked by them that had a wooden leg. One farmer was amazed and said, "Is that your pig? Why does he have a wooden leg?" The other farmer smiled and said, " That pig is my best friend! He saved my life." ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-10

Tags: Friendship, Christian Friendship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Several Years Ago I Read A Story Written By A...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 11, 2015

Several years ago I read a story written by a preacher in the Philippine Islands. One day he was passing a large church on Good Friday when he spotted many selling incense, candles, veils and rosaries. He also saw several small boys who were running about selling crosses. He heard them calling, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Take Up Your Cross, Carrying Your Cross, Message Of The Cross, Cheap Grace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Bass And Carp

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 18, 2019

two fish (Bass –Carp) One time there was two fish who were best friends. They we an odd couple, one was a high-strung bass the other a laid-back carp. One day they were swimming around talking about girl fish and enjoying each other’s company. Then suddenly, a worm drops in front of them, the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22-24

Tags: Temptation, Bait

Denomination: Pentecostal

We Saw Your Smoke Signal!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

I read a story about a shipwreck. When the sole survivor reached a small, uninhabited island, he prayed for God to rescue him, but help didn't come. Eventually he built a hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements. One day he returned from scavenging for food and found his hut in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Will Of God, God's Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pursuit Of Happiness

Contributed by Larry Hinkle on Dec 12, 2019

A disgruntled early American once complained to Ben Franklin, “so where is all this happiness that the Constitution was supposed to guarantee me?” Franklin is said to have responded, “The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Tags: Happiness, Joy

Denomination: Methodist

Sleeping Church

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Sep 26, 2020

Martin Luther once dreamed that the devil was listening to reports from his agents on the progress they were making against the Kingdom of God. One reported, "A company of Christians were crossing the desert, and I loosen the lions on them, and all were lost." The devil replied, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:5

Tags: Against The Kingdom Of God, Sleeping Church

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is The Bible?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

What is the Bible? "THIS BOOK contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Truth, Word Of God, Memorize The Scripture

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cod And The Cat Fish

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 9, 2022

TELL THE STORY OF THE COD… There was a favorite fish along the east coast. It is the COD. The cod was so tasty and it was a favorite dish along the coast. So the market expanded but something was lost in the shipping. The frozen cod was mushy and tasteless. So they began shipping the cod alive in ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 42:5, Genesis 41:41

Tags: Enemy, Forgive

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Getting The Gospel Right!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 18, 2022

Martin Niemoeller was a German Pastor during the Nazi era and was imprisoned multiple times for his opposition to Hitler. Niemoeller understood that Hitler was distorting the gospel to serve his political agenda. In April 1945 American forces liberated northern Italy where Niemoeller had been ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-9

Tags: Faith, Salvation, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational