In Sermon Illustrations: "Hardship Of Life"

In A View From The Zoo, Gary Richmond Tells About ...  PRO

Contributed by Johnny Creasong on May 11, 2002

In A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond tells about the birth of a giraffe: The first things to emerge are the baby giraffe’s front hooves and head. A few minutes later the plucky newborn is hurled forth, falls ten feet, and lands on its back. Within seconds, he rolls to an upright position with ...read more

Tags: Creation, God In The Hardships, God's Omniscience

Denomination: Church Of God

A Heart Focused On God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 16, 2004

A HEART FOCUSED ON GOD One writer (Warren Wiersbe) wrote a book called Victorious Christian about a woman named Fanny Crosby. Crosby was the author of over 8000 songs including several that we sang today. In fact she wrote so many that she had to write under pseudonymns just so she could get more ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-19

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Peace, God In The Hardships

As I Prepared For My Sunday Sermon And I ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2004

As I prepared for my sunday sermon and I struggled with my own hardships and how to describe the security that we have in Christ, I began to observe the spider. Every week I would faithfully rid the house of cobwebs. And every week I would find more. And I felt in my heart that as Christains we ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Human Body, Prayer Hardship

God, Can You Help Me Mother?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 2, 2005

GOD, CAN YOU HELP ME MOTHER? Elisa Morgan, President of the Christian mother’s organization called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International, writes: “I’m probably the least likely person to head a mothering organization. I grew up in a broken home. My parents were divorced when I was 5. My ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:1-31

Tags: Parenting, Mother's Day, God In The Hardships

Prayer And The Motorcycle  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Nov 13, 2012

PRAYER AND THE MOTORCYCLE There was a woman at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter. She returned to her car to find that she had locked the keys inside the car when ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28, John 13:31-38, Proverbs 28:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Tags: Renewal, Alive, Rededication, Prayer Hardship

Denomination: *other

One Of The Loneliest Times We Can Have Comes When ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Shockley on Apr 16, 2001

One of the loneliest times we can have comes when we face a time of need without having a loving friend to talk to about it. Everyone needs at least one trusted friend in whom to confide. Elisha A. Hoffman, author and composer of more than 2,000 gospel songs, was pastor of a church in Lebanon ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Prayer Hardship, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: *other

In The First Century, A 12-Year-Old Would Have ...  PRO

Contributed by Todd Schäve on Jun 26, 2001

In the first century, a 12-year-old would have been well along in their life since: -a third of those born would have died by age 6; -60% by their mid-teens; -by their mid-twenties 75%; -90% by their mid-forties; and -maybe 3% reached their 60s. Bruce J. Malina and Richard L. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:42

Tags: Jesus Life, Children, Death Nearness

Denomination: Baptist

A Drastic Change  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Jan 14, 2002

A DRASTIC CHANGE Dr. Bernard Nathanson was the leading abortion doctor in the United States in the 1970’s. He had campaigned vigorously for the legalization of abortion and he himself had performed 60,000 abortions. He even believed his intentions were good and that he was doing a righteous ...read more

Tags: Abortion, Life, Sanctity, Repentance, Ultrasound  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Missing The Circus  PRO

Contributed by Ryan Johnson on Mar 6, 2002

MISSING THE CIRCUS A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve and had never in all his life seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus was coming ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-10

Tags: Fulfillment, Abundant, Lukewarm, Life, Risk  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Day A Man Was Talking To His Grandson ...

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jul 2, 2002

ILL. One day a man was talking to his grandson right after he had graduated from high school. And he asked, "My boy, what are your plans? What are you going to do with your life?" The grandson said, "I plan to go to college & then graduate from college. His grandfather ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26, Luke 9:25

Tags: Eternity, Graduation, Future, Life, Planning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The First Christmas Card  PRO

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 15, 2002

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD The first Christmas card ever produced had its own disturbing qualitites. It was designed by an English artist named John Calcott Horsley in 1843, after he was commissioned for the task by Sir Henry Cole, a businessman from Bath, England. There were 1,000 of the ...read more

Tags: Jesus Life, Birth Of Jesus, Christmas

Denomination: Methodist

Your Legacy

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 2, 2014

What is the soil of your heart like? Is it growing and producing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven – are you using your life for eternity? 1. Quote: “I will not waste my life! I will finish my course and finish it well. I will display the Gospel of the grace of God in all I do. I will run my race to ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Afterlife, Godly Legacy, Blessed Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gift Of The Heart

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat." - Author Unknown His name was Justin Timion. He was only nineteen years old the day it happened. A good looking, fun loving kid, he loved doing auto mechanics with his Dad and often used his skills to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 13:20

Tags: Life, Giving Generous, Big Heart

Denomination: Charismatic

Watch Where You're Going!

Contributed by Tim Smith on May 28, 2015

I had just flown back home from attending a class for my Doctorate in Pasadena, CA. The week was filled with long days and short nights. I had an early morning flight and then flew most of the day. By the time I got home, I was exhausted. Yet I didn’t want to miss my workout so I headed to the gym. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Tags: Consequences, Watchful Servants, Direction Of Life

Denomination: Methodist

There Is No Racial Distinction In The Kingdom Of God

Contributed by Howard Gunter on Mar 29, 2017

All human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” obviously includes all ethnic groups. I like to use the following illustration which works as well with ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

Tags: Human Life, Jesus Died For All

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Five Facts About Valleys

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 17, 2017

God designs valleys for His sheep to grow and sometimes He has to "make us lie down" there to teach us how to trust Him. Here are 5 facts about valleys we need to remember: 1. Valleys are INEVITABLE. Jesus promised valleys would come in this world (John 16:33). 2. Valleys are UNPREDICTABLE. ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-4

Tags: Character, Tests, Trials, Valleys Of Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Room At The Cross For You

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 1, 2020

On the deck of a sinking ship stood an African slave- the last man on board. He was to be the last person to get on the last lifeboat. The life boat was loaded to the water line. The slave had something in his arms and the sailors refused to take him until he let that go. He pressed to his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12, John 3:16, John 15:13

Tags: Salvation, Cross, Eternal Life, Perish

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Some Thoughts About Veteran’s Day

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 15, 2022

Text, James 1:12, KJV: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Thoughts: Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day. This was because on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:12

Tags: Veterans, Crown Of Life, Veteran's Day

Denomination: Baptist

I Was Scammed!

Contributed by Paul Robinson on Mar 7, 2023

It was the summer after my freshman year of Bible college. On this particular day, I was lounging at home, when all of a sudden, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but I answered anyway. The man on the other end said, "Congratulations! You've won the Dreams Come True ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:10

Tags: Scams, Wasted Life, The Devil's Tricks

Denomination: Baptist

Parallels Between Jesus And The Manna In The Wilderness

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 18, 2024

The manna that fell in the Wilderness can be compared to Christ in 5 specific ways: CAME FROM HEAVEN: Manna, as described in the Old Testament, serves as a symbolic representation of Christ. Let me explain further. Heavenly Origin: Manna was a miraculous food provided by God to sustain the ...read more

Tags: Christ, Bread Of Life, Manna, Typology

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational