In Sermon Illustrations: "Grow Up"

A Christmas Story: Filling The Hole

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 30, 2009

A CHRISTMAS STORY: FILLING THE HOLE One of the most popular films [of this season] is a little vignette set in the 50s called A Christmas Story. In the plot, young Ralphie sets his heart on an air rifle for Christmas, enduring ridicule and scorn in his quest for this gift he believes will make him ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Catholic

A Father Insures The Safety Of His Son In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

A Father Insures the Safety of His Son in a Blizzard A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day finally arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad’s father, sensing the danger, hesitated ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:18

Tags: Servanthood

Its Like This Story Of A Man Racing Through The ...

Contributed by Guy De Swardt on Apr 1, 2010

Its like this story of a man racing through the airport to catch his flight. He passed through security in record time and reached the gate with only moments to spare. Hurrying aboard the aircraft, he found his seat, opened his laptop computer and tried to work. ...read more

Tags: Direction, Sermon On The Mount

Denomination: Baptist

These ...

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Apr 30, 2010

“These Hands” A young man and a young woman were engaged to be married and were looking forward to a near wedding day when the young man was suddenly called to serve his country. From the field of warfare letters regularly came and went and love shone brightly in all of them. The letters from ...read more

Tags: Commitment

Denomination: Christian Church

I Remember When God Called Me To The Ministry ...

Contributed by David Moore on May 19, 2010

I remember when God called me to the ministry and I resigned my job. I was called to the Managing Director’s office, and he said, “I hear you are leaving us for the ministry?” “Yes”, I said. “Can I not persuade you to stay on with us?” “No”, I replied, a little taken aback by his suggestion. “What ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Church Ministry

Denomination: Baptist

Pastor Learns To Trust God When Displaced By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2010

Pastor Learns to Trust God When Displaced by War During the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, German pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5

Tags: Taxes, Trials

Make A Wish

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 10, 2010

MAKE A WISH Have you ever dreamed of finding a genie in a lamp where you could get three wishes? Our Pastor, who is in charge of the prison ministry, always tells the same joke, because the prisoner population has a new turnover each time he visits. He always sets them up by asking if they had ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:16

Tags: Fool

A Call To Die

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 28, 2010

A CALL TO DIE The story is told of the military legend Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia (336-323) and conqueror of Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia, almost all of the known world. One day on the warpath, Alexander and small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sodom And Sydney

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jul 29, 2010

SODOM AND SYDNEY Sydney is well known for its GAY & LESBIAN MARDI GRAS. It is an annual parade, dance party and festival, the largest such event in the world and attracts many international and domestic tourists. For many years Fred Nile, a Christian minister has railed against their wickedness, ...read more

Tags: Homosexuality

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

3) I Heard A Story About A Couple Who Went On ...

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Aug 11, 2010

I heard a story about a couple who went on holiday, they had been away a couple of weeks and when they arrived home, after picking up a litre of that watery green top milk from the dairy, and getting their mail from their neighbors place. They went into their home to find they had been burgled. ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Salvation Army

Faith And Works  PRO

Contributed by David Parks on Aug 26, 2010

FAITH AND WORKS There was once a Scotsman who rowed people across a river. On one oar he had carved the word 'faith' and on the other oar he had carved the word 'works'. One day as he was rowing, one of the passengers noticed the carvings and asked him about them. The Scotsman did not reply but ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Make Me!

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 14, 2011

"MAKE ME!" They had behaved badly in class but they were equally disruptive in the detention room, swearing, acting tough and defying anything I said with a smart comment. Unacceptable behaviour. I have never really had a problem with anger, but the closest I came was in that classroom. Teaching ...read more

Tags: Murder

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Leaks!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2011

"HE LEAKS!" A country church was having their annual revival meeting. On the first night the preacher preached a message about repentance and the need to return to the Lord. At the altar call, a man came down the aisle saying "Fill me Lord, fill me". The next night the preacher challenged the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:10, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Peter 1:13-16

Tags: Revival, Selfish

Bathed In The Spirit

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2011

BATHED IN THE SPIRIT I remember when I had my cancer surgery in 1979. Susan and I had a pact that when I came out from the anesthesia, no matter how bad the news, she would tell me the truth about my prognosis. When I woke up from the anesthesia, I turned to her from my bed and whispered hoarsely, ...read more

Tags: Comfort

Denomination: Baptist

Surprise Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 15, 2011

SURPRISE GIFT When Gabriel Hurles turned six a couple of years ago (January 2009), 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. ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Tags: Christmas

I Tithe—he'll Find Me.  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on May 1, 2011

"I TITHE--HE'LL FIND ME." Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there. So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:5-21, Matthew 23:23

Tags: Offering, Tithe, Tithes

Denomination: Wesleyan

What Would You Do?

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jun 30, 2011

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? A number of years ago, a young police officer was taking his final exam for the police academy when he came upon the following question: "You are on patrol in the outer city when an explosion occurs in a gas main in a nearby street. On investigation you find that a large hole ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Anglican

The Impact Of Optimism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

THE IMPACT OF OPTIMISM Just a few years ago (2004), Fox News reported on a study that came from the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers studied 1,000 people aged 65-85 trying to determine the importance of a positive attitude in dealing with life. After almost 10 years of follow-up, these ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tags: Attitude General

You Can Make Him Drink

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

YOU CAN MAKE HIM DRINK Howard Hendricks, one of my professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, sometimes talked about his days when he was a student at the same seminary. In one of those stories, he tells about the time he was invited to preach in west Texas. "You've all heard of Nowhere? Well," ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Evangelism How To

The Croquet Lesson

Contributed by Scott Spencer on Oct 16, 2011

THE CROQUET LESSON Some missionaries in the Philippines set up a croquet game in their front yard. Several of their Agta Negrito neighbors became interested and wanted to join the fun. The missionaries explained the game and started them out, each with a mallet and ball. As the game progressed, ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Calvary Chapel