In Sermon Illustrations: "Hard Hearts"

I Saw A Roadside Billboard One Time Along I-75 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I saw a roadside billboard one time along I-75 in Michigan that read, ”Dear God, where were you when Columbine High School was under attack? Signed, broken hearted parent.” Under that it read, ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

In William Shakespeare's Play, The Merchant Of ...

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

In William Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice (Act 1, Scene 3), one of the characters (Antonio) says: The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

John Knox, The Scottish Reformer, ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 27, 2008

John Knox, the Scottish reformer, wrote: Quote: “By what means Satan first drew mankind from the obedience of God, the Scripture doth witness: To wit, by pouring into their hearts that poison, that God did not love them”. ( ...read more

Tags: Satan

Denomination: Other

In Its Broadest Connotation "The Kingdom Of God" ...

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 9, 2009

In its broadest connotation “the kingdom of God” indicates God’s kingship, rule, or sovereignty recognized in the hearts and operative in the lives of His people, and effecting their complete salvation, their constitution as a church, and ultimately a redeemed universe (William ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Other

Chinese Proverb About Peacemaking

Contributed by Richard Tow on Apr 24, 2023

An old Chinese proverb says, “If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Tags: Peace, Home, Peacemakers

Denomination: Charismatic

The Reason For Evangelism

Contributed by John Bright on May 15, 2025

The Reason for Evangelism The “WHY” might be the most important missing part for choosing to not share a personal testimony and the Good News with other folks. I recently read the book, “Five Little Words to Change a Life,” by Nick and Rozanne Savoca (2022). Nick shares an experience that uses a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Evangelism, Prodigal Son

Denomination: Methodist

April 21, 2005 "Give Me A Shrub With Character!" ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 19, 2005

April 21, 2005 “Give Me A Shrub With Character!” Proverbs 12:3 Key verse(s) 3:“A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.” There are some plants that you can’t kill! I have long been fascinated by the differences exhibited in hardiness among the many ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 12:3, Proverbs 6:18

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran

Is That My Grandfather’s Hand?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 26, 2025

This past week, I thought of my maternal grandfather. I haven't thought of him for a long time because he died over 50 years ago. I'm not sure what inspired me to think about my old grandpa. As a youngster, I used to spend summers with him on his farm. He owned a farm up in the mountains ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:6

Tags: Family, Old Age

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Think One Of The Area We Need To Work On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

I think one of the area we need to work on the most is expressing that love to our kids. I believe that most Dad’s love their children but for some reason it seems to be hard for us to express it. David had that problem. After Absolom murdered Amnon he fled the country and lived in exile for 3 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:1-33

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Christian Church

The Incredible Gift—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Dawn Marie Turner on Apr 9, 2003

THE INCREDIBLE GIFT--COMMUNION MEDIATION Danny was born with no ears. He could hear all right, but he didn’t have ears like normal people. All his life, Danny endured ridicule and rejection because of his deformity. But he learned to live with it. Thankfully, he had loving parents and a strong ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ, Rejection, Promises Of God, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Time Magazine's Cover Story This Month Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 24, 2006

Time magazine’s cover story this month was entitled, “Does God Want You to Be Rich?” The header said, “A growing number of Protestant evangelicals raise a joyful Yes!” The article opens with the story of George Adams, a man from Ohio who had lost his factory job. His reaction to the job loss ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Dr. Meier Refuses Materialism And God Blesses His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Dr. Meier Refuses Materialism and God Blesses his Ministry In the mid – 1970’s, while Dr. Meier was a professor of pastoral counseling at Trinity Seminary near Chicago, he was offered a high-paying opportunity to leave his seminary position and become the administrator of a psychiatric clinic. “I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Tags: Materialism

Antivirus: Holy Spirit  PRO

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Mar 18, 2010

ANTIVIRUS: HOLY SPIRIT Jesus said in verse 7 of John 16, "For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Jesus was God in the flesh, of course. He could have spoken this world out of existence at any given time, but, I would like to use an ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-20

Tags: Holy Spirit, Salvation, Indwelling, Saved, Holy Spirit Attributes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Imagine With Me For A Moment, If You Had A ...

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on May 7, 2010

Imagine with me for a moment, if you had a beautiful picture in your home that was worth over a hundred thousand dollars because of the artist who had painted it. It was a one of a kind masterpiece. The artist had put excellence into every stroke of his work The colors were awesome. The depth ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Respect

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Before I Became A Counsellor, While I Was Still ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jun 16, 2010

Before I became a counsellor, while I was still going to school, I worked as a family support worker. Essentially I would pick up kids from troubled homes who social workers were involved with but hadn’t taken the children away yet, and I would spend a couple hours with them and take them back ...read more

Tags: Parenting

You Will Meet An Old Lady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2010

YOU WILL MEET AN OLD LADY You are going to meet an old lady someday. Down the road ahead, 10, 20, 30 years; she’s waiting for you. You will be catching up with her. What kind of old lady are you going to meet? That is a rather significant question. She may be a seasoned, soft, and gracious lady. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:43-45

Tags: Character

Jay Fondren Is A Recent Hero. When My Wife ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Surber on May 24, 2007

Jay Fondren is a recent hero. When my wife Christina was an auditor for the Department of Veterans she met Jay in a Veteran’s Regional Office in Waco, Texas. She was conducting interviews to determine the timeliness of transition between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Church

Ii. Anthony Grew Up In An Italian Bakery In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

II. Anthony grew up in an Italian bakery in a mostly Italian neighborhood of New York. His father was the baker, and as long as Anthony could remember he was at work in his father’s business. The sights and sounds of the bakery permeated every aspect of Anthony’s life. The heat of the oven. The ...read more

Tags: Christmas

A Few Weeks Ago I Spent A Lot Of Time Watching ...

Contributed by Jason Duncan on Oct 30, 2007

A few weeks ago I spent a lot of time watching Ken Burn’s documentary called The War on PBS. The documentary ran for 7 nights and was about 14 ½ hours long. It chronicled the history of WWII not through the eyes of historians or professors but through the eyes of the men who served in Germany and ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Benefits Of The Repel Tower

Contributed by Chris Surber on Mar 9, 2009

THE BENEFITS OF THE REPEL TOWER I am not a fan of great heights. I have never been able to stand on the edge of a high cliff or at the top of a tall building without a quick heart beat and a dry throat. I have no problem with climbing a high hill or mountain, but to stand on the edge of falling ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian Church