In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Shepherd"

Brothers Reunited After Fighting Each Other ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 30, 2010

Brothers Reunited After Fighting Each Other During the Civil War James Campbell and his brother Alexander immigrated to America in the 1850s. James settled in Charleston where he worked as a drayman and clerk; Alexander lived in New York and worked as a stonemason. On June 10, 1862, Alexander wrote ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Tags: War

Through The Years, I’ve Officiated, Or Been ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jun 4, 2010

Through the years, I’ve officiated, or been involved, in hundreds of weddings … and I’ve pretty much seen the good, bad, and ugly. * I remember one wedding where the three year old son of the bride was so taken with his new daddy-to-be, that he literally wrapped himself around the groom’s legs ...read more

Tags: Weddings

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Burma Shave And The Church  PRO

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 15, 2010

BURMA-SHAVE AND THE CHURCH Dan Betzer told about the old Burma Shave commercials alongside the roadside. Some of you remember how advertisers would use several well-placed slogans on signs to promote their product. Burma Shave was famous for their billboard advertisements. For example, one ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

Trojan Horse! It Appears Innocent Enough, But It ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Aug 14, 2010

TROJAN HORSE! It appears innocent enough, but it is a harmful piece of software that looks legitimate. It tricks people into loading the wrong things into their systems. It gives a hacker access to cause damage. Unless you have a good ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMME, you will get infected and your whole ...read more

Tags: Temptation, Lies

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Culture Of Complaint  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2010

THE CULTURE OF COMPLAINT In 1991, Robert Hughes, an art critic, wrote a book called The Culture of Complaint. His thesis is that we live in a culture in which we perceive ourselves as being entitled to having all our wants and desires fulfilled. When that doesn't happen, we become "victims," we ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:1-21

Tags: God Brings Purpose

The Word And The Spirit Working Together

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 8, 2010

THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT WORKING TOGETHER Why does Satan hate Jesus? Why does He not even want to hear His name? Why does that which is evil hate that which is good? Maybe it has something to do with graveyards? Yes, you heard me right graveyards. Jesus loves to go into graveyards and raise the ...read more

Tags: Jesus' Ministry

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kissing Promotes A Positive Attitude

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

KISSING PROMOTES A POSITIVE ATTITUDE If you want to be happy, healthy, successful, and live longer, give your spouse a kiss before you go to work each day. That’s the conclusion of a study conducted by a group of German physicians and psychologists, in cooperation with insurance companies. ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: *other

Ortberg On God's Presence

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Mar 7, 2011

ORTBERG ON GOD'S PRESENCE John Ortberg’s quote about God’s Presence: "Now let us bring God into the picture. The reality with God is that we are never speaking or acting in his absence. The psalmist said, 'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Engaging God's Power

Contributed by David Owens on Mar 14, 2011

ENGAGING GOD'S POWER Spiritual growth and success is a partnership with God. Paul captured this idea in Philippians 2:12-13, where he wrote: "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." We work ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Bone Or A Steak?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 25, 2011

A BONE OR A STEAK? Which is better, a bone or a steak? Think of it this way. It’s easy to give a dog a bone, but it’s almost impossible to take a bone away from a dog. Even our little Schnauzer, Betsy, the world’s friendliest dog, will growl at me if I try to take a bone away from her. But ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Sitting Down

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

SITTING DOWN It’s said that when Henry Ward Beecher was a boy, he had a teacher at school who asked one of the boys in class a question which the boy answered. The teacher became angry and told the boy he was wrong and commanded him to: "Sit down!" The boy was obviously confused because he’d ...read more

Scripture: Romans 10:9-13

Tags: Believe, Confess, Confidence, Saved

If He Hadn't Taken My Son

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 15, 2011

"IF HE HADN'T TAKEN MY SON" Imagine the following scenario: Three little boys walk into a large electrical compound in Okinawa when the workmen momentarily walks to his truck to get some tools. One of those boys touches a live wire and is instantly electrocuted to death. The parents are ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Baptist

Loved, To Be Love

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Apr 22, 2011

LOVED, TO BE LOVE One of the neatest gifts I've ever received was this little, hand towel. I was given this during my seminary commencement, and have cherished it ever since. The towel has a little saying on it: "Blessed to be a blessing" Isaiah 61:1. Isaiah 61:1-2 says: "The Spirit of the ...read more

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Darwin Kissed And Cried Over Evolution

Contributed by Michael Walther on Jun 20, 2011

DARWIN KISSED AND CRIED OVER EVOLUTION Shortly after Charles Darwin and his wife Emma were married, Emma wrote Charles a letter. In her letter Emma warned Darwin about believing things that can’t be proved and of recognizing the limitations of our minds... That there are things "which if true are ...read more

Tags: Evolution

Denomination: Lutheran

Hit By A Rock

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 28, 2011

HIT BY A ROCK Corrective suffering is tribulation or affliction God allows in our lives to chasten us for unforsaken sin in order to turn us back to Him. In the city of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the broken end of a high voltage wire was lying on the pavement, along which the engineer was walking, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-12

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Spinning A Web: Andy's Story

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

SPINNING A WEB: ANDY'S STORY Andy Fastow was a brilliant kid in the high school graduating class in New Providence, New Jersey. He was one of the really good kids. In fact, he was the student body president of his senior class. He went on to get a great education and a fantastic job. He climbed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-26

Tags: Lies

Under Authority

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 15, 2011

UNDER AUTHORITY I used to be a substitute teacher. Most of the time, I had good classes. Sometimes I had bad classes. But one day, I had a horrible class. Kids were running around the room, throwing paper wads, screaming and yelling. One kid ran out the side door into the courtyard and came back ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:18-22

Tags: Authority

The Anger Of King Henry Ii

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

THE ANGER OF KING HENRY II King Henry II of England, back in around 1200, had a lot of power. He put an end to a long and bloody civil war, and ruled both England and a large chunk of France for many years. He was so famous that a movie was made about him, about 25 yrs ago, starring Richard Burton ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Tags: Anger

Haven: The Real You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Sep 25, 2011

HAVEN: THE REAL YOU What is in you is what comes out and always reveals the REAL you. In fact, that which you say yes to is the tell-tale sign of what is inside you. It is the litmus test of whether you are walking in the Spirit or in the "flesh. What's inside comes out. My wife and I watch a ...read more

Tags: Self

Denomination: Nazarene

When We Have Nowhere Else To Go  PRO

Contributed by Brad Henry on Sep 28, 2011

WHEN WE HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO Over the years we have had many gut wrenching stores of families killed in an accident only to leave a mother or father behind. To wake up in a hospital bed hurting physically then realize that your entire family is gone would be unfathomable. Now none of us are ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties