In Sermon Illustrations: "Hard Heart"

The Big Announcement

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT We hear good news in lots of different ways, and I am glad that we got to hear the Easter story told by some of our children this morning. There is something about hearing a child tell this great story that gives it new power. I can no longer hear the Resurrection story ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Navy Seals

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 9, 2011

NAVY SEALS I don’t know much about the army but here is something I read recently about those Navy Seals who shot Osama Bin Laden. It’s good to be a Navy SEAL right now. The elite sailors are being showered with praise for their successful operation in Pakistan that resulted in the killing of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Life's Deeper Meaning

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 29, 2011

LIFE'S DEEPER MEANING Examining life for deeper meanings is a twentieth century preoccupation. We assume that things are not what they seem. Words disguise Hidden Feelings. Actions symbolize Something Else. We sometimes try too hard to discover the hidden meanings when there just might not be ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

Designed Dilemmas

Contributed by Steven Ferber on Jun 21, 2012

DESIGNED DILEMMAS In Dr. Tim Kimmel’s book Raising Kids Who Turn Out Right, he has a section called Designed Dilemmas. Kimmel is convinced that most modern parents pamper their kids to the point where they don’t ever have to face situations that force them to grow up, mature, learn responsibility. ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Lutheran

Worship At A Garbage Dump

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 21, 2012

WORSHIP AT A GARBAGE DUMP Imagine a town built atop an active landfill. That is "Garbage City" in Cairo, Egypt, longtime home to an impoverished, marginalized community of Coptic Christians for whom life is only going to get harder. The so-called Zabbaleen have been the trash collectors of Cairo ...read more

Scripture: John 4:24

Tags: Worship General

Dr Cephas Mashiyach

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 28, 2016

Dr Cephas Mashiyach Suppose I were to tell you about a fabulous preacher that I encountered by the name of Dr Cephas Mashiyach? The power of his preaching and his dynamic sermons is unsurpassed. People come from miles around everywhere he goes. Then I told you that Dr Mashiyach was available to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:1-26

Tags: Rejection, Rejection Of Jesus, Acceptence

Denomination: Baptist

A Dog Like Me

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 9, 2017

A little boy in Texas wanted to buy a special dog. He went to the pet store to look at all the dogs. He held each one. “How much are your dogs?” asked the boy. “All those dogs are $10.00,” said the storeowner. The boy petted each dog again and then cuddled one of the dogs. He held him up to his ...read more

Tags: Christmas, One Of Us, Christ Came, Jesus Became Human

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Sins Will Find You ( Billy Bob)

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 18, 2019

Billy Bob –South Pittsburg My friend Billy Bob Johnson lived in South Pittsburg, Tennessee when he was a young whipper snapper. By our standards South Pittsburg Would be considered out in the sticks at that time, but they had a soda shop at the local drug store. That is where all the young ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-7

Tags: Punishment, Sins

Denomination: Pentecostal

Where's The Bagel?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

On one occasion during my college days in Peterborough I was invited to the Dean of Students residence for a social gathering. Hoping to find food aplenty I was disappointed to see the large dining room table containing a lonely plate of bagels. I quickly grabbed one, but my first bite was more of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Faith, Mistakes

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It's Never Too Late To Start Over

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 28, 2019

At age 5 his father died. At age 16 he quit school. At age 17 he had already lost four jobs. At age 18 he got married. Between ages 18 and 22, he was a railroad conductor and failed. He joined the army and washed out there. He applied for law school, he was rejected. He became an insurance sales ...read more

Scripture: John 3:1-7

Tags: Success, New Birth, Don't Quit, Never Too Late

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jingle Bells At A Funeral?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 22, 2022

Several years ago, a pretty well-known singing group made a monster mistake at a funeral service. This group traveled all around the USA singing and sharing Christ. One of the men in their home church back in Texas told them that he prayed for them, supported them greatly and loved to hear them ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Tags: Christmas, Communication, Confession, Confusion, Embarrassment, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Patience Makes It Happen

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 12, 2023

"The history books are full of stories of gifted persons whose talents were overlooked by a procession of people until someone believed in them. To name a few ... "Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read". Einstein became one of the greatest ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Long Suffering, Flesh Vs Spirit, Endurance, Patience, Fruit Of The Spirit, Spirit Filled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Joy Of Hearing Your Name

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Apr 26, 2023

This week is the National Football League Draft, a day that thousands of young men have been anticipating for years. I love to watch as the player hears his name called. The smiles. The hugs. Going to the platform and being congratulated by the commissioner. And then donning the jersey and cap of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Heaven, Reward

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Cost For Preaching The Truth About Baptism

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 22, 2024

Baptism is identification with Christ. Baptism allows the believer in Christ to openly identify with Christ who died, was buried and who rose again on his behalf. It is a public testimony to say I have identified with Christ. I will live for Christ. On October 15, 1517, an Augustinian monk nailed ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-34

Tags: Baptism, Persecution, Immersion, Reformation, Church History, Count The Cost  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

No Coasting

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 7, 2026

Whenever the price of gas goes up, people start thinking about saving gas by coasting their cars downhill. I have a vague memory of a news story from way back in the 1970s about a guy who was going downhill and decided to turn the car off to save gas. One little problem – that was when new cars ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10-11

Tags: Assurance, Falling

Denomination: Methodist

Great Quotes On Forgiveness

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 10, 2022

When everything in you wants to hold a grudge, point a finger and remember the pain. God wants you to lay it aside. Why? Because, when you release it, you will be set free. - R.T. Kendall Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and realizing that you were the prisoner. - Max ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Forgiving Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[071]. A Poem Message – Excerpts Certain Psalms Part 2 – Psalms 81, 37

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 1, 2025

[071]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXCERPTS FROM CERTAIN PSALMS PART 2 – PSALMS 81, 37 {{Psalm 7:17 “I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, AND WILL SING PRAISE to the name of the LORD Most High.”}} We have here PART 2 of the postings in illustrations that feature a series ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:7, Psalm 37:23, Psalm 37:4

Tags: The Righteous, The Wicked, Fretting, Psalms, Call, Sing, Delight, Trouble  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Men Are Seated In A Plane. The First Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-23, Psalm 66:10

Tags: Temptation, Tempt, God's Provision

Post-It Note Christianity

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jul 6, 2021

I’m a minister and, for the most part, the people I’m around know that. But in the church I serve we don’t wear any special clerical clothing, so on occasion I find myself in conversations with people who don’t know I’m a minister. That can create some interesting situations. I golf occasionally ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:3

Tags: Faithfulness, Sincerity, Faith, Commitment, Dedication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[085]. A Message From A Poem – For All Christians - The Three Ps

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 21, 2025

[085]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FOR ALL CHRISTIANS - THE THREE Ps There are 9 poems in this Trilogy series. This poem is part of a Trilogy - three sets of three. The first set is addressed to MEN, the second to ALL CHRISTIANS and the third is SPECIFIC. This is the first one in the second set ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 47:5-7, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 12:11-12, Psalm 57:7-9

Tags: Vital Links, Praise, Prayer, Patience, Poetry, Poems  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational