In Sermon Illustrations: "Good"

Dietrich Bonheoffer Wrote, "It Is A Good Thing ...

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jun 10, 2009

Dietrich Bonheoffer wrote, "It is a good thing to learn early that God and suffering are not opposites but rather one and the same thing and necessarily so; for me, the idea that God himself ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Good Hope, Alabama Is A Small Town With Small ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 15, 2010

Good Hope, Alabama is a small town with small town values. In Cullman County you can’t legally buy beer. Daystar Church, which had grown dramatically under pastor Jerry Lawson, ran up against the sensibilities of this conservative north Alabama community by focusing a month-long series on sex. ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Baptist

We Need Christ In Good Times And Bad

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2011

WE NEED CHRIST IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD Presbyterian minister of the 19th century, J. R. Miller, once wrote that "We need Christ just as much in our bright, prosperous, exalted hours as in the days of darkness, adversity, and depression. We are quite in danger of thinking that religion is only for ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

Tags: Jesus Christ

A Good Name: The Case Of Butch O'hare

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2011

A GOOD NAME: THE CASE OF BUTCH O'HARE His name was Butch O'Hare, one of the heroes of World War II. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

Tags: Character

If People Are Coming.....the Product Must Be Good!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 1, 2016

In his awesome book, Selling Jesus, by Douglas D. Webster, the author gives an incredible quote about the lack of spiritual discernment in American church growth and marketing today: "American Christianity is increasingly tolerant of any and all methods, as long as they bring NUMERICAL results. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-17

Tags: Discernment, Truth, Church Growth, Marketing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overcoming Evil With Good; David, Saul, And God

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Aug 30, 2017

King Saul tried to kill David numerous times. When Saul would be in David’s hand, David would refrain from showing him evil. Instead, he would spare Saul. He showed respect for his office of king, which led him to showing the mercy that Saul didn’t deserve. Sometimes, this led Saul to seeing ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Tags: Mercy, Revenge, Good, Overcome Evil

Denomination: Lutheran

Four Ways To Minister Like The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

As we study the characteristics of the Good Samaritan, let’s ask ourselves if these qualities are true of us as well. He opened his eyes. Although all three men physically saw the critically wounded man, only the Samaritan looked and stopped to help. Before we can meet needs, we must be aware of ...read more

Tags: Service, Ministry, Parables, Neighbor, Kindness, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Return Good For Evil - Martin Luther King

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 11, 2025

Jesus doesn’t just ask us to avoid revenge—he calls us to actively do good in return. Not because the other person deserves it, but because he deserves our obedience. And we’ve seen it lived out—not just in Bible times, but in our own history. Perhaps one of the clearest modern examples is Dr. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Tags: Evil, Martin Luther, Doing Good

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

President Calvin Coolege Went To Church, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Apr 19, 2003

President Calvin Coolege went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the preacher ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday, Cross

Denomination: Baptist

The Author Lee Strobel Has Written A Book Titled ...

Contributed by David Haun on Apr 5, 2004

The author Lee Strobel has written a book titled God’s Outrageous Claims. In it he writes these words: "Jesus was tied to a post and beaten at least thirty-nine times – and probably more – with a whip that had jagged bones and balls of lead woven into it. Again and again the whip was brought down ...read more

Tags: Cross, Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sacrificial Love

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 13, 2014

Watchman Nee, a Chinese evangelist, tells of a Christian he once knew in China. He was a rice farmer, and his fields lay high on a mountain. Every day he pumped water into the paddies of new rice. And every morning he returned to find that an unbelieving neighbor who lived down the hill had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:21

Tags: Evil, Overcome, Good, Unbeliever

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two Brothers Were Convicted Of Stealing Sheep...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 9, 2015

Two brothers were convicted of stealing sheep many years ago in England. In accordance with the punishment of those days, they were branded in the forehead with the letters “ST” for sheep thief. One brother, unable to bear the stigma, fled to a foreign country where he died full of bitterness and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1

Tags: Holiness, Saint, Good Reputation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Baseball - The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Baseball And The Curious Case Of Scooter Gennett Baseball is known for its surprises. It's a beautiful game that lets grown men play a kids game. For more than a century of baseball and thousands of games, only 16 men have homered four times in one game. The last was Josh Hamilton, five years ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Romans 5:1-4

Tags: Perseverance, Hope, Good News

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Boat In The Storm

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Oct 27, 2019

ILLUS: BOAT THRU THE STORM Imagine you’re in a small boat and a sudden storm comes up. The sky is dark the wind is howling; the waves are raging. All of a sudden there are 20-foot swells and your boat is being tossed like a twig in a stream, one minute you are at the bottom of the swell the next ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12

Tags: Good Fruit, Bad Fruit

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Lesson From A Damaged Lock

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 20, 2019

Moving from one place to another is always a challenge, no matter how many times you’ve gone through this “process”! My wife and I recently made a move and learned a strange, but interesting lesson—one that was valuable for us, too. As sometimes happens, there is too much stuff and not enough ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20

Tags: Theft, Possessions, Worldly Goods

Denomination: Baptist

Most Churches Do A Good Job Of Getting People ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 25, 2001

“Most churches do a good job of getting people to first base or maybe even second base. People will receive Christ, be baptized and join the church (that’s getting them to first base). Some churches also do an excellent job of helping believers develop the habits that lead to spiritual maturity ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Growth In Christ, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Church Of God

There's Nothing Like A Good Crisis To Increase My ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

There’s nothing like a good crisis to increase my energy and remind me how much I need God.” ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

If You Try To Improve One Person By Being A Good ...  PRO

Contributed by Judah Thomas on May 15, 2002

If you try to improve one person by being a good example, you’re improving two. If you try to improve someone without being a good ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In His Book "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" Chicago ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2002

In his book "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene chronicles his infoant daughter’s first year of life. When little Amanda began crawling he records: This is something I’m having trouble getting used to. I will be in bed reading a book or watching TV. And I will ...read more

Tags: Worship Definition, Church Practices

Can Any Good Thing Come From Nazareth? That ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Mills on Sep 27, 2002

Can any good thing come from Nazareth? That back water, that hole in the earth? Nazareth was on the "wrong side of the tracks." Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown, but they had already rejected Jesus. Near where I live is the "town" where Johnny Cash was born. Looking at the town, you would never ...read more

Tags: Christmas