In Sermon Illustrations: "Hard Times"

I Can't Tell A Lie

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jun 5, 2011

I CAN'T TELL A LIE A grandmother was looking after her two little grandchildren, a 7-year-old girl, and a 5-year-old boy, and both these children had been very, very naughty. As the time drew near for their mother to pick them up, the little girl asked, "Are you going to tell Mummy how we ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Brethren

Sexuality, Self, And Identity

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 11, 2011

SEXUALITY, SELF, AND IDENTITY Michael Foucault, in The History of Sexuality: "Sexuality is a word that now serves a purpose like the word soul did in the Middle Ages. In that period, people believed that one's soul united the various aspects of human identity and gave significance to that ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Have An Awareness Of Sin?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 26, 2012

DO YOU HAVE AN AWARENESS OF SIN? John MacArthur: A basic mark of true spirituality is a deep awareness of sin. In Scripture those who most despised their sinfulness were often those who were the most spiritual. Paul said he was the chief of sinners. Peter said to Jesus, "Depart from me, for I ...read more

Tags: Lies, Death, Sin, Deception, Sanctification  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Passionate Counseling

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 9, 2012

PASSIONATE COUNSELING A distraught man brought his wife to see the pastor. The woman was listless and unresponsive. After about thirty minutes of futile attempts to counsel them, the pastor walked over to the woman, pulled her from the chair, wrapped his arms around her and gave her a passionate ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:19

Tags: Marriage Struggle

You Gotta Look At It!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

YOU GOTTA LOOK AT IT! A man was seated on a park bench when a little chap of about five sat down beside him and started winding what appeared to be a most prized possession--a watch. "My, what a pretty watch," remarked the man. "Does it tell you the time?" "No sir," replied the boy; "you gotta ...read more

Scripture: John 17:17

Tags: Hold, Bible Truth

Praying Together: Greater Than The Sum Of Our ...

Contributed by Christopher Gregas on Sep 8, 2012

PRAYING TOGETHER: GREATER THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS Someone wrote, "At a horse-pull in Canada, one horse pulled 9,000 pounds, another pulled 8,000 pounds. Together, we might assume that they could pull 17,000 pounds. However, when harnessed together these mighty steeds pulled 30,000 pounds, over ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What's Your Dream Job?

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jan 27, 2013

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM JOB? What would be your dream job? According to http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/top-ten-dream-jobs.asp here are some dream jobs indicated by a recent survey: Author Jet Pilot Inventor Pro-Athlete Race Car Driver Video Game Tester Chocolate Taste tester Hit Man Pro ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:27-30

Tags: Workplace Success

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kyle Idleman On Carrying Your Cross

Contributed by Kevin Karhoff on Mar 18, 2013

There is no comfortable way to carry a cross; I don’t care how you position it. I often talk to people who are convinced that some suffering or pain in their lives is an indication that they must not be following Jesus. After all, if they are following Jesus, the Son of God, doesn’t it follow ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Surrender, Jesus Christ, Commitment To Christ, Carrying Your Cross

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

"I Love You, Daddy. Amen."

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 14, 2014

James Dobson tells of the time he was away on a business trip. While he was away, and his wife and 2 children were sitting down to eat, his wife turned to their two year old son Ryan and asked if he would like to pray before he and sister ate. The invitation startled the little boy, but he folded ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Children, Fathers Day, Prayer Before Meals

Following Jesus

Contributed by David Simpson on Mar 23, 2017

Mark Batterson said in his book: “All In” – “Most people in most churches think they are following Jesus, but I’m not so sure. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is this: they have invited Jesus to follow them.” Too many times I want Jesus to follow me, to serve my ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 58:11

Tags: Following Jesus, Follow Jesus

Denomination: Christian Church

Snake Eggs

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

SNAKE EGGS There are some things that strike terror in the hearts of most of us. For most of us a poisonous snake causes our bodies to shake with fear. Can you imagine being trapped in a small room with 1000 deadly vipers? That is not a very pleasant thought, but we as humans let Satan sow snake ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1-10

Tags: Sin, Terror

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Deer Become Thirsty

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

There are 2 times when a deer develops tremendous thirst - one is when he is running from danger, the other is when he is facing an opponent in combat. When he is hunted, he will take to the river and stay submerged as long as he can hold his breath. He will then swim downstream in the middle so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Psalm 42:2

Tags: Psalms, Worship, Deer, Hungry For God, Longing For God, Thirsting For God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom, Why Do You Have White Hair???

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 5, 2022

One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast to her brunette hair. She looks at her mother and inquisitively asks: “Why are some of your hairs white, ...read more

Tags: Sermon Introductions, Aging, Humor, Mothers, Mother's Day, Grandmothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wright Brothers And The Wrong Message

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-12

Tags: Unsaved, Confused, Message, Gospel, Missions, Witnessing, Lost, Birth Of Christ, Evangelism, Christmas  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Is Good

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 1, 2025

There is a problem at the heart of Christianity. If God is good and loving why is there evil and suffering in the world? There is an old response when you are asked to do something: “I would if I could but I can’t so I won’t.” That response is like one of the ways our world tries to solve this ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:17

Tags: Evil, Suffering, Goodness Of God

Denomination: Methodist

On His Side

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2008

On His Side During the US civil war, Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. Lincoln was a man of deep, if at times unorthodox, faith. At one point one of the ministers said, "Mr. President, let us pray that God is on our side". Lincoln's response showed far greater ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines

God Is Everywhere

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2008

GOD IS EVERYWHERE Some time ago, a man wrote to Reader's Digest about his son Doug. The man said one night, Doug was looking at a full moon. Little Doug asked his mom if God was in the moon. She said, "God is everywhere." Little Doug said "Is God in my tummy?" His mother said "Well, sort of..." ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

Put The King In First

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

PUT THE KING IN FIRST In the Berlin art gallery there is a painting by the famous artist Mengel that is only partially finished. It is supposed to be a painting of King Frederick of Germany talking to his generals. Mengel painstakingly painted the generals first around the outside of the painting. ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

H.b. London Jr., Of Focus On The Family, Writes ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2009

H.B. London Jr., of Focus on the Family, writes about his relationship with his father, who was a pastor: "My father was a great preacher. I only wish I had known him better. He was an absentee dad. I searched for a relationship with him until the time of his death, but I never found it. To give ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Run To The Refuge

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

RUN TO THE REFUGE Bunker gear, over 1,000 degrees of heat, protection from fire scene elements, provides a refuge/safety for self... importance of ARFF truck...refuge, responsible for protection of firefighters, T3000 3,000 gal. of water, large truck, nozzles, discharge 1,000 gpm...truck was place ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 35:6-34

Tags: God In The Hardships