In Sermon Illustrations: "Greasy Grace"

In His Book Mortal Lessons, Dr. Richard Selzer, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In his book Mortal Lessons, Dr. Richard Selzer, writes, “I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be like this from now on. The surgeon ...read more

Tags: Faith

Jonah Jones - From Cocaine Trafficker To Christian Counselor

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Mar 27, 2009

*The closer we get to Jesus, the more we will see a change in our lives. *Jonah Jones had a terrible childhood. Jonah’s parents were drug traffickers who introduced him to cocaine when he was 8-years-old. Unbelievable! -- but true. Worse than that, Jonah’s stepfather raped him. His mother abused ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 16:20-25

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus, Testimonies, Changed By Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A U.s. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 28, 2010

A U.S. Volunteer Nurse Does What She Can In Haiti After an Earthquake John Wesley had this for his rule of life: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. We ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:14

Tags: Compassion

Game Of Chance

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 9, 2010

GAME OF CHANCE A person recently said to me as they were dying that the Bible was just a series of myths and stories, and if I want to, I can choose to live my life assuming that it is. I can choose to treat heaven like a GAME OF CHANCE and the Bible as something less than a sure thing. I can ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Are You Being Saved From?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 23, 2011

WHAT ARE YOU BEING SAVED FROM? Vance Havner tells the story of a who lady came forward during the invitation in one of his meetings to be saved. She was a very sophisticated and refined woman. She had a graduate’s degree and was very articulate and intelligent. When she came forward during the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Avoidance Of Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 2, 2011

THE AVOIDANCE OF DEATH I read a great book called The Art of Dying, by Christianity Today editor Rob Moll. In the forward, by Lauren Winner, we read: "We no longer allow people to say that they are dying – rather, they are “battling” an illness. Far from encouraging the perilously ill to ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:23

Tags: Death Nearness

Giving The Poor A Reason To Live

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

GIVING THE POOR A REASON TO LIVE So let's humble ourselves before each other and experience His grace. It's the way to true glory and dignity even if we find ourselves down and out. That's what Abbe Pierre discovered when he founded the Emmaus Communities in 1949. The Emmaus Communities today ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 1:11-17, Galatians 5:13-15

Tags: Servanthood

Gabriel Hurles Was Enjoying His Sixth Birthday ...

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Dec 21, 2012

Gabriel Hurles was enjoying his sixth birthday party. He was so focused on eating his birthday cake, that he hardly noticed the giant package in the corner of the room. When another child pointed out the large gift, Gabriel ran over and began to tear off the wrapping. It wasn’t a bicycle or any of ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The "Root” Of The Problem

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 22, 2020

We used to live in a very nice house which had some live plants near the driveway. One of those plants in particular was a “volunteer elm” and we absolutely hated it. Sure enough, we saw that thing getting bigger—but we didn’t want that to happen. It was out of place! Somehow, I obtained a can of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Bitterness, Roots

Denomination: Baptist

The Leadership Principles Of Jesus

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 11, 2020

The Leadership Principles of Jesus. • Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed. (Consider the disciples. They were not the “religious” elite, yet Jesus used them to start His church). • Jesus released responsibility and ownership in a ministry. (Jesus sent the disciples ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 9:23

Tags: Discipleship, Leadership, Ministry Of Jesus, Business Management

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Run The Race

Contributed by James Chandler on Apr 18, 2024

Run the Race ”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

Tags: Perseverance, Hope

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[149]. A Message From A Poem – It’s The Gospel Truth

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 31, 2025

[149]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IT’S THE GOSPEL TRUTH In this poem I use the word “gospel” in a wider sense than the four Gospels. It examines a number of truths from the bible. I am talking about the good news of the gospel. Each of the 8 stanzas has some truth in it from the bible, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:3-5, Romans 1:16

Tags: Christian Poems, Truth, The Gospel, Gospel Truth, Not Ashamed Of The Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Severely Injured Christian Learned To Read Braille Bible With Tongue

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 28, 2025

Severely Injured Christian Learned to Read Braille Bible with Tongue In the middle of Psalm 37:3 David reminds us that we should trust God enough to follow Him and walk in His ways. Or as David simply said: "Do good." *"Do good." This is God's simple and sure command for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:1-11

Tags: Horrible Times, Righteousness, Rejoice, Shelter, Rest, Hardships, Cast Your Cares, Pain, Peace, Evil, Suffering, Trusting God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

In Max Lucado's Book The "Applause Of Heaven" ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Wafford on Apr 13, 2005

In Max Lucado’s book the “Applause of Heaven” reads, Even though by the “book” I’m guilty, by God’s love I get another chance. Even though by the law I’m indicted, by mercy I’m given a fresh start. “For it is by grace you have been saved … not by works, so that no one can boast.” 9 No other world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

When You First Met "J.e.", You Could Tell He Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Willis on Dec 29, 2006

When you first met “J.E.”, you could tell he was a very angry man. In fact, at age 54 he’d been an angry person for many years. In a Bible study that night, many questions had been raised in his mind. Talking with the leader afterward, J.E. said, “I asked Jesus to be my Savior when I was 9 years ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-7, Romans 12:1-3

Tags: Mind

Denomination: Baptist

I Read An Email Story This Week About A Group Of ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Feb 18, 2007

I read an email story this week about a group of salesmen who attended a convention out-of-town some years back. As they rushed through the terminal to get to their departing flight, one of them accidentally knocked over a table that held a display of apples. They continued running for their ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Following Incident Is Vouched For By A Church ...  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Apr 11, 2003

The following incident is vouched for by a Church of England clergyman who knew all the circumstances. A young woman, who had been brought up in a Christian home and who had often had very serious convictions in regard to the importance of coming to Christ, chose instead to take the way of the ...read more

Tags: God's Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing The Rainbow From God's Side  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on Jul 19, 2003

SEEING THE RAINBOW FROM GOD’S SIDE Some years ago it was my privilege to be one of the speakers in a large Bible Conference held in Dallas, Texas. Inasmuch as I was conducting a revival meeting in Houston that same week, it was necessary for me to fly to and from the Dallas appointment. My oldest ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 6:16-17, Mark 4:35-41

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Baptist

Jars Of Clay

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

JARS OF CLAY In his book "Disappointment with God," Philip Yancey offers a powerful metaphor for the church: I have a bright, talented, and very funny friend in Seattle named Carolyn Martin. But Carolyn has cerebral palsy, and it is the peculiar tragedy of her condition that its outward ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

God's ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“God’s Protection” “Intercession for Our Armed Forces” Psalm 33:16-18 says “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:16-18

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational