In Sermon Illustrations: "Happiness"

It Had Rained For Almost A Week But I Had A ...

Contributed by Kelly Benton on Mar 28, 2008

It had rained for almost a week but I had a brilliant idea! I was going to be super dad for the day and take my boys out shooting. I had fond memories of my father taking my brother and myself out to shoot guns. I thought that is would be a great time in which me and my boys could do some bonding, ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Big Question

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

THE BIG QUESTION “What things are important and what things are trivial?” Christmas night 2002, Jack Whittaker had five out of five numbers in the West Virginia Power ball drawing. Jack Whittaker had just won $314 million, the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history. He took the one lump ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Max Lucado Reminds Us That People On A Plane And ...

Contributed by Skip Alexander on May 9, 2008

Max Lucado reminds us that People on a plane and people on a pew have a lot in common – All are on a journey. Most are satisfied with a predictable experience. We like to say, “It was a nice flight/It was a nice worship service.” We exit the same way we enter, and we’re happy to return next time. ...read more

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Baptist

Bought To Be Freed

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jul 27, 2008

BOUGHT TO BE FREED A young girl was being sold at auction one day. She was a beautiful girl, tall and slender. The bidding was keen, and quickly mounted higher and higher until at last only two men were left bidding for her ownership: the one a low, uncouth foul-mouthed fellow who raised his bid ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian Church

Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed...

Contributed by Bob Gillchrest on Dec 1, 2008

REDEEMED, REDEEMED, REDEEMED... A.J. Gordon was the great Baptist pastor of the Clarendon Church in Boston, Massachusetts. One day he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

The Big Question "What Things Are Important And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

The BIG question “What things are important and what things are trivial?” Illus. Christmas night 2002, Jack Whittaker had five out of five numbers in the West Virginia Power ball drawing. Jack Whittaker had just won $314 million, the largest undivided lottery jackpot in history. He took the one ...read more

Tags: Money

Governor William Bradford's Account Of The Story ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Feb 26, 2009

Governor William Bradford’s account of the story of Plymouth Plantation discusses how the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth and their leaders initially planned to have everyone own and share everything. They planned for the people to work for the common good, and believed that this would produce ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Baptist

Not What Was Expected

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 16, 2022

Integrity is when something is the same all the way through. Pure gold is gold and only gold, all the way through. 14kt gold is less than pure, but other metals give it a hardness that allows more uses such as making beautiful jewelry from it. The bible calls the condition of being one thing ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:21, James 3:11, James 3:12, James 3:13, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Integrity, Hypocrisy, Tongue

Denomination: Charismatic

A Grief Observed

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 20, 2022

C.S. Lewis married when he was older to a woman named Joy. Joy got cancer and died just some years after they were married. Lewis, being a writer, wrote down his thoughts after she died in a journal. He turned that journal in a book called, “A Grief Observed.” The first few pages are somewhat ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, Psalm 88:9

Tags: Loss, Peace, Answers, Grief, Where Is God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Servanthood

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

As Christians can find all kinds of ways to minister in the name of Jesus. For example, there are 21,800 patients per year who receive chemotherapy treatments in Louisville, Kentucky, and most lose their hair. When Lynette Le Gette discovered this, it brought her to tears. She ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10, Acts 9:32-43

Tags: Good Deeds, Servanthood

Denomination: Lutheran

Spreading The Deadly Disease Of Gossip

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 2, 2023

In 1520, one person stepped off a Spanish ship in Mexico and caused the deaths of thousands of people. The man was a soldier under the leadership of Pánfilo de Narváez, and he had smallpox. The soldier didn't know it, but wherever he went he exposed the citizens to a new disease. As a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28-30

Tags: Division, Church, Church Fights, Church Splits, Gossip, Lies, Rumors  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Speaking Death Or Life Over Your Marriage?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Far too many people spend a lot of time speaking death over their marriages. "Psychologists Cliff Notarous of Catholic University and Howard Markman of the University of Denver studied married couples during the first decade of marriage. Among couples who ultimately stayed together, only 5 ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 18:20-22

Tags: Marriage, Words, Putdowns

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Before The Stones Cry Out

Contributed by Samuel M on Feb 15, 2025

But Jesus answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19: 40 What if Jesus literally meant it. Stones have a voice and are waiting to burst forth into praise. Before the stones cry out and praise God, let we start praising ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:40

Tags: Faith, Hope

Why We Celebrate The 4th  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

WHY WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH But there is a reason why we celebrate on the 4th and we can’t forget that! It was the day the day the colonies declared their independence from England. Freedom was declared in some famous words of the Declaration of Independence, which starts: We hold these truths to be ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Tags: 4th Of July, Independence Day

Dreams

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“There are many ways of breaking a heart. Stories were full of hearts being broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away its dream - whatever that dream might be.” - Pearl S. Buck Everybody has a dream. What’s your dream? What was your dream when you were young and full of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 34:18

Tags: Adversity, Brokenhearted, Broken Dream

Denomination: Charismatic

In God's Time, In God's Way! The Fern And The ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 29, 2007

IN GOD’S TIME, IN GOD’S WAY! The Fern and the Bamboo... Unknown One day I wanted to quit.... I wanted to quit my job, I wanted to run from my relationship and my spiritual journey ... I just wanted to quit life. Stop this world and let me off. I went to the woods to have one last good talk ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Passing Through The Shadows!" 1 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 21, 2005

“Passing Through The Shadows!” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Key verse(s): 26:“‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.” “Smile and the world smiles with you! Cry and you cry alone.” Walking through life with a smile on our faces is something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Did My Body Warranty Just Expire?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 21, 2025

Just when I recover from the latest ache in my body within a few minutes, I will get a “Boo, I’m back.” I’m not quite sure why these Aches and Pains love my body so much. Why don’t they just get over it and move on to another circus. The problem is, after I’m through with one ache, the next ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Pain, Blessing, Warranty

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Do You Remember The Story About Tony Toto, Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 26, 2001

Do you remember the story about Tony Toto, of Allentown, PA.? He operated a pizza parlor there. Tony Toto survived at least 5 attempts on his life, all arranged for or carried out by his dear wife, Frances, & her lover. Twice she arranged for assailants to beat him over the head with baseball ...read more

Tags: Commandments Adultery, Dignity, Honesty, Marriage Commitment, Unconditional Love, Purity, Respect, Self Honesty  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ