In Sermon Illustrations: "Good Soil"

In The Play A Raisin In The Sun, There's A Scene ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 25, 2010

In the play a Raisin in the Sun, there’s a scene where Walter has lost all of the family’s savings, savings that were going to make his family’s dream come true. His sister, Beneatha, is so disgusted with him she says, “There ain’t nuthin’ left to love.” In an emotion filled moment, Mama puts her ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

As An Amateur Photographer, I Have Often Been ...

Contributed by Michael Tkachuk on May 17, 2010

As an amateur photographer, I have often been asked to take photos of people at various events – maybe it was at a wedding, or for a school yearbook, or for the press. Well, some of the photos turned out very pleasing but some were not so flattering. The request has always been to destroy bad ...read more

Tags: Truth Absolute, Photographer

Denomination: Catholic

Ruth Bell Graham Tells Childhood Story Of Son, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 30, 2010

Ruth Bell Graham Tells Childhood Story of son, Franklin with His Toy Gun Ruth Bell Graham tells this story about her son Franklin: Franklin was sleeping on the front porch with his cowboy boots and toy gun. We were having problems with some polecats (skunks), and Franklin told me not to worry ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:18-19

Tags: Children

In March 2009, A 62-Year Old Woman Was Charged ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 23, 2010

In March 2009, a 62-year old woman was charged with stealing more than $73,000 from her church in the state of Washington. When the detectives interrogated her, she told them: “Satan had a big part in the theft.” It sounds like she was saying that the devil made her do it. Satan may have played a ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God's Standard For Sin

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 30, 2010

GOD'S STANDARD FOR SIN At a former church, a youth leader came up to me one day and said, "I'm trying to figure out the way God judges sin. The best I can figure it, I assume he grades on the curve like they do at school. You know, 70% good is a passing grade." I had bad news for him. God has a ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

David Brainerd: Spiritual Messenger

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 31, 2010

DAVID BRAINERD: SPIRITUAL MESSENGER Tomahawks in hand, the Indians crept toward the strange tent. As they cautiously peered under the flap, their intention to kill was forgotten. There, in the center of the tent was a man on his knees. As he prayed, a rattlesnake crossed his feet and paused in ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: *other

Through The Darkness

Contributed by Ray Mckendry on Feb 14, 2011

THROUGH THE DARKNESS (John 1:1-14) It’s a dark night and even though your car headlights are on and shining brightly, you notice how dark it is outside: it’s a dark night. You have been driving through the night, a long way from your home, but you will soon be home. Even after your long drive ...read more

Tags: Home

Denomination: Baptist

Proof Of Who He Is

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2011

PROOF OF WHO HE IS This reminds me of the three lunatics in an insane asylum: The first lunatic said to the second, "Did you know that I'm Napoleon Bonaparte?" Indignantly, the second lunatic replied, "I beg your pardon! It just so happens that I am Napoleon Bonaparte!" The first one said, "Oh ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

A Servant, Not A Celebrity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2011

A SERVANT, NOT A CELEBRITY Colonel James Irving is a former astronaut who is part of the crew that made a successful moonwalk. He experienced the thrill connected with leaving this planet and seeing it shrink in size. He watched earth rise one day and thought how privileged he was to be a member ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:24-28

Tags: Servanthood

Do You Know Who I Am?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on May 22, 2011

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? A student sat through an exam. The teacher supervising said time up but still the student carried on. The teacher said; "Hand your exam paper in now or I'm not going to accept it." Still the student carried on. Thirty minutes later the student got up and stood before the ...read more

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Brethren

Trapped On A Tram

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jun 1, 2011

TRAPPED ON A TRAM It was a beautiful sunny day in Ostrava, Czech Republic, a city of 300,000. It was 1995, and I had just moved there to take an intense Czech language course. After half a day of Czech grammar, I was tired. I got on the tram and spaced out for my 20-minute ride to the suburbs ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Lutheran

Disposable Guilt Bags

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

DISPOSABLE GUILT BAGS Several years ago a new product called "Disposable Guilt Bags" appeared in the supermarkets. It consisted of a set of ten ordinary brown bags on which were printed the following instructions: "Place the bag securely over your mouth, take a deep breath and blow all your guilt ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:1-5

Tags: Guilt

Take My Wife...please

Contributed by Perry Greene on Nov 30, 2011

TAKE MY WIFE...PLEASE A hooded robber burst into a Texas bank and forced the tellers to load a sack full of cash. On his way out the door, a brave Texas customer grabbed the hood and pulled it off revealing the robber’s face. The robber shot the customer without a moment’s hesitation. He then ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:25

Tags: Marriage General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

For Blessings Already Received

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Feb 23, 2012

FOR BLESSINGS ALREADY RECEIVED "Returning thanks for blessings already received increases our faith and enables us to approach God with new boldness and new assurance. Doubtless the reason so many have so little faith when they pray is because they take so little time to meditate upon and thank ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

A.w. Tozer: The Position Of Christ In The Church  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

A.W. TOZER: THE POSITION OF CHRIST IN THE CHURCH The present position of Christ in the gospel churches may be likened to that of a king in a limited constitutional monarchy. The king is in such a country no more than a traditional rallying point, a pleasant symbol of unity and loyalty much like a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20, Matthew 6:10

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

The Impact Of Mothers On Conscience

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2012

THE IMPACT OF MOTHERS ON CONSCIENCE According to research published in Psychological Science (October 2004 issue), children who have the good fortune to interact with their mothers a lot develop healthier consciences. These researchers conducts a couple of experiments where they encouraged ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:20-23

Tags: Mother's Day

If Crumbs Of Joy Now, What Next?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2012

IF CRUMBS OF JOY NOW, WHAT NEXT? A widely respected man known as "Uncle Johnson" died in Michigan at the incredible age of 120. Perhaps his advanced years could be credited in part to the cheerful outlook that characterized his life. One day while at work in his garden, he was singing songs of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: Joy

Ali Kissed 'em!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 16, 2012

"ALI KISSED 'EM!" Former boxing writer Harold Conrad visited a women's prison with heavyweight fighter Muhammad Ali. "All the inmates lined up," wrote Conrad. "They were ooh-ing and aah-ing as he went along. There were some good-looking ones. But he kissed only the ugly ones." After they left the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:7

Tags: Kindness

The Blue And Red Spigots

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Sep 13, 2012

THE BLUE AND RED SPIGOTS John Michael Cussick (Surfing for God, 104) took out two brass spigots. One has a red knob and the other has a blue knob. The red knob represents how we often look at the Christian life. The assumption is that the source from which the water flows is a cesspool and so we ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

The Bible: Like No Other Book

Contributed by Hal Seed on Nov 9, 2012

THE BIBLE: LIKE NO OTHER BOOK The Bible has been burned and banished by more people and cultures than any other book. For centuries the only translation of the Bible available to the peoples of Europe was a fourth-century Latin translation called the Vulgate. Only priests and scholars knew Latin, ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist