In Sermon Illustrations: "Happenings"

Love Of Christ: "We Don't Believe"  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2008

LOVE OF CHRIST: "WE DON’T BELIEVE" Fred Craddock once told the story of Oswald Goltar. He was a missionary sent to preach the gospel in India near the end of World War II. After many months the time came for a trip back home. His church wired him the money to book passage on a steamer, but when he ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Hope In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

HOPE IN PERSECUTION Hope is a strange thing. It will give you confidence in the bleakest of times. But hope is not any good unless you have your hope in someone that will not let you down. There are a lot of things that we hope for, and a lot of things that we wish for. The hope I am talking about ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-37

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

While Attending Ministerial School (Seminary) In ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on May 22, 2007

While attending MINISTERIAL SCHOOL (SEMINARY) in Lubbock, Texas, I had a CLASS MATE, Lloyd, who shared a STORY about an incident that HAPPENED to him while in Vietnam. I can’t remember all the DETAILS, but this is what I recall. Lloyd was a HELICOPTER MACHINE GUNNER. While on a MISSION flying ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is A Story About A Young Preacher That In ...

Contributed by Gerald Albers on Jun 5, 2007

There is a story about a young preacher that in 1995, he was in Glasgow Scotland. He wrote: I was living in a Center City Hotel. One morning I got up and decided that I was going to jog over into the south side of the city of Glasgow. I ran across the river Clyde on a bridge, and as I jogged ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Thermostat War

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

I had a roommate, and we had this thing with the thermostat. I’d set it where I wanted it. He’d walk by and bump it up. I’d walk by and bump it back down. He’d change it again. This went on for weeks. Neither of us said a word about it. It was a completely silent war. And finally, I did what any ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-2

Tags: Conflict, Pride

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You A Christian?

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on May 7, 2009

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Two men met on a plane and one man asked the other, "Are you a Christian?" "Yes I am." "Wonderful! Are you Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox?" "I’m a Protestant." "That’s great. So am I. Are you Calvinist or Arminian in your theology?" "I’m happy to say that I’m a staunch ...read more

Tags: Unity

Let's Say That I Am At Home, Sitting In My ...

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 7, 2009

Let’s say that I am at home, sitting in my favorite chair and Diana comes in and puts her hands out. In her hands, is a beautiful watch that she says she has purchased for me. Now, what would happen if I yelled at her in anger and said for her to get it away from me and to never do such a thing ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: *other

Courage: Breaking The Barrier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

COURAGE: BREAKING THE BARRIER Seek courage and strength to move out of your comfort zone. You will need it. Even the smallest of changes even if they are for the best disrupts our relational systems. Without courage, without trusted companions, and with strength, growth and maturity will never ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13

Tags: Growth In Christ

Some Time Later

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 10, 2010

SOME TIME LATER Day after day the drudgery of books had began to depress me. Don't misunderstand. I love reading books. I was working in a warehouse at the time. Two of us would work in a large cubicle to pack books into boxes according to a computer order and convey them to be stacked onto ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Minor Detail, A Major Distraction

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 26, 2011

A MINOR DETAIL, A MAJOR DISTRACTION Anything that hinders the worship of God incites the anger of God, and should be abandoned immediately. "It was a majestic evening. On Friday, October 18th, 1991, the world-class Chicago Symphony presented the final concert in its year-long celebration of the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:21-24

Tags: Worship Purpose

Shoot The Moon

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jul 17, 2011

SHOOT THE MOON The other day I needed to take my mind off things, so I opened my computer and played a game of hearts. Now, like all card games, no matter how diligent you play, there's time when the unexpected happens, and you're hand turns to disaster. One sneaky move from an opponent and it's ...read more

Tags: Suffering Joy In

Denomination: Lutheran

The Love Of A Sister

Contributed by Rev.james Kelly on Aug 15, 2011

THE LOVE OF A SISTER What is love? This story was found while watching Crime Investigation Channel in our home here in the Philippines: Kip Kinkel was a troubled young men and at the time of this story I am about to tell you happened when Kep was seventeen. Kip lived with his parents, Faith and ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:13-17

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The New ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2012

THE NEW STUDENT Wendy has the typical dreams owned by the typical High School students. She wants to make friends, she wants to join some clubs, she wants to become a cheerleader, and ultimately wants to graduate and make a living for herself and her future family. There’s only one problem however. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Tags: Lies

A Funny Thanksgiving Joke To Share!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 18, 2021

A FUNNY THANKSGIVING JOKE TO SHARE! A retiree in Florida phones his daughter in New Jersey and says, “Honey, I have bad news for you. Your mother and I have decided that 52 years of marriage is enough. We’re calling it quits and getting a divorce.” His daughter yells, “Are you crazy? What the ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Humor, Jokes, Sermon Introduction, Funny Stories  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Spirit Of Fear

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

There was a lady who died in 1916 named Hetty Green. She has been called “America’s greatest miser.” When she died in 1916, her estate was valued at $100 million. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-7

Tags: Fear, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Spirit Of Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Met A Young Man Not Long Ago Who Dives For ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2001

I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He said one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Doubt, Discipleship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Proud Young Man Walked Into A Room Looking For ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Oct 27, 2002

A Proud young man walked into a room looking for his friend. He passed two blond young women near the door who looked him over then looked at each other and said and the same time ‘NINE’. The prideful young man puffed out his chest and drew a big smile on his face then walked over to his waiting ...read more

Tags: Humility, Temptation Pride

Since God Is Good, Can I Have His Name?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2003

SINCE GOD IS GOOD, CAN I HAVE HIS NAME? If you’re in Lake City, Fla., one of these days and happen to run into a 50-something fellow with a sandy moustache, a receding hairline, and aviator glasses, you may be in the presence of I Am Who I Am. Really. But that’s because Columbia County Court ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Everyone Enjoys Clowns At The Circus. Some Put ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Mar 28, 2004

Everyone enjoys clowns at the circus. Some put on a happy face with a big red nose. Some have lots of curly hair while others are bald. White faces, red, green and yellow, clowns are as different as your imagination. Yet under the costume and beneath all the makeup is a real person. A clown ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Disappointment, Character

Denomination: Assembly Of God

When You Were Growing Up, Do You Remember The ...  PRO

Contributed by Robbie Shivar on Jun 4, 2004

When you were growing up, do you remember the phrase "Do-Over" that was often used during playtime? It would happen during a game of kick ball. The kicker would wallop the ball into the air over toward the trees. The ball would then bounce it way down through the branch and then get stuck. The ...read more

Scripture: John 21:12-19

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist