In Sermon Illustrations: "Hardship Of Life"

Faith When Faced With Death?  PRO

Contributed by Michael Sechler on Jan 25, 2014

My son, Micah died in 2012 from kidney disease and complications. As he lay dying I wrote this in my journal: "Sitting at the bedside of my dying son at 3:48 in the morning. Weeping like crazy. Bertrand Russell once said that 'no one can sit at the bedside of dying child and believe in God.' Well ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Faith, Trial, Child Death, Belief In God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Two Upper Rooms

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 24, 2014

In his book Life Looks Up, Charles Templeton remarks how ironic it is that the course of human history has been affected so positively and negatively by events that have occurred in two small upper rooms. One of them is a drab apartment in London's Westside, dirty, curtain less, with stacks of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:22-28

Tags: Last Supper, Lord's Supper, Upper Room

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Give Of Yourself - Serve Others

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 30, 2018

When we are out of control, God is in control. But, God is not selfish. He may desire to use you to help others, even to stop your own life from spinning out of control. Are you a victim or a volunteer? Would you be willing to say as did, Isaiah, "Here am I Lord, send me," (Isaiah 6:8) or would ...read more

Tags: Serve Others, Give Your Time, Stewards Of Grace

Denomination: Christian Church

What Khris Davis Did That No One Has Ever Done Before

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Oct 16, 2018

Khris Davis is an outfielder for the Oakland Athletics in the majors. In 2015, he batted .247 for the year. In 2016, he batted .247 for the year. In 2017, he batted .247 for the year. And during the last season, in 2018, he batted . . . , you guessed it, .247 for the year. He went 0-for-2 in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Baseball, Batting Average, Evangelism, Example, Consistency  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Tomorrow

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 10, 2019

It is reported that Colonel Rahl, commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn't bother to read it until his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Tags: Procrastination, Tomorrow

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sowing And Reaping

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

SOWING and REAPING In my life time I’ve eaten a lot of taters and beans In fact, I’ve grown a lot of taters, and I’ve grown a lot of beans. But I’ve never raised beans from a tater plant, nor have I ever got taters from a bean bush. If fact, I found that 99% of the time you reap what you sow, ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:6-8

Tags: Sowing, Reaping

Denomination: Pentecostal

Psalm 51 (Ad)

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Sep 23, 2019

Psalm 51 (AD) The only sacrifice you ever desired was done On that rugged Cross by Your own holy Son. In Your sight, I have sinned only against Thee. The painful burden of that sin is ever with me. If You took my life, it would be just and well. You have every right to send my soul to Hell. I ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Sorrow

Denomination: Baptist

You Pick It Up

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 29, 2020

The worst defeat in college football came in 1916 when Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland College of Kentucky 222 to 0. Cumberland never even made a first down. The much smaller Cumberland players were being mauled. Halfway through the first half one of the Cumberland players fumbled the ball. As ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Knocked Down, Fumble

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Happiness

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 11, 2020

Augustine on Depravity and Grace; “Without you what am I to myself but a guide to my own self destruction?” “... the self which willed to serve (God) was identical with the self which was unwilling. It was I. I was neither wholly willing nor wholly unwilling. So I was in conflict with myself ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:7-25

Tags: Grace, Sin, Depravity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Lazarus Churches That Are Dead And Stinketh!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

Vance Havner once commented that ministries often begin with a man who has a vision. That vision is captured by others and becomes a movement. As the movement gains followers and momentum, it becomes a machine. After a while, people forget all about the vision and what was once a movement ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Tags: Book Of Acts, Backsliding, Dying Churches, Church, Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Door Is Always Unlocked When You Come Home...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 15, 2022

J. C. Ryle tells of a mother whose daughter ran away and lived a life of sin. For a long time, no one knew where she was, but she finally came back, turned to Christ in repentance, and believed in Him. Someone asked the mother what she had done to bring her daughter back and she replied, “I prayed ...read more

Tags: Parables, Rebellion, Lost, Lost Sheep, Prodigal Son, Daughters, Parents, Mothers, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Great Story For Mother's Day

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 19, 2022

Years ago, a young mother was making her way across the hills of South Wales, carrying her tiny baby in her arms, when she was overtaken by a blinding blizzard. She never reached her destination and when the blizzard had subsided her body was found by searchers beneath a mound of snow. But they ...read more

Tags: Children, Women, Mothers, Mother's Day, Leaders, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Believers Throughout Church History – The Early ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Jun 6, 2007

Believers throughout church history – the early church fathers, the Reformers, the Puritans – have been inspired by Scripture to reduce spiritually to two lists known as “the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues” of saintliness. The sin list includes pride, envy, anger, sloth, avarice, gluttony ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lamak Was Born Into A Wealthy, Powerful Muslim ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Jun 7, 2007

Lamak was born into a wealthy, powerful Muslim family in South Asia. His family’s reputation put pressure on him to live like a Muslim. Everything changed when Lamak turned his life over to Jesus Christ while working in Singapore. When he returned home four years later, he accepted the risks ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Read A Fable About A Man Who Was Browsing In A ...

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 18, 2007

I read a fable about a man who was browsing in a store when he made the shocking discovery that God was behind a sales counter. So the man walked over and asked, "What are You selling?" God replied, "What does your heart desire?" The man said, "I want happiness, peace of mind, and freedom ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Well, In Nascar Racing, Nearly Every Car Has A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Well, in NASCAR racing, nearly every car has a sponsor. Sponsors are the people who supply the racer with the resources to run the race. Often they’ll supply the car, the engine, the tires, and the funding for the pit crew. They are the people that make it possible for the driver to win the race. ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Warren Bennis In "Why Leaders Can't Lead", ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Warren Bennis in "Why Leaders Can’t Lead", writes: "The flying Wallendas are perhaps the world’s greatest family of aerialists and tightrope walkers.... I was struck with (Karl Wallenda’s) capacity for concentration on the intention, the task, the decision. I was even more intrigued when, several ...read more

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

The Happy Hypocrite." It Is A Story About A Man ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

“The Happy Hypocrite." It is a story about a man who was born with an awful facial deformity. He grew up alone and lonely. When reaching adulthood, he decided to move from his town to begin a new life. On his way he discovered a beautiful mask that fit his making him look handsome. At first the ...read more

Tags: Grace

It's Been Said That God Is Like Coke...he's The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

It’s been said that GOD is like Coke...He’s the real thing. GOD is like General Electric...He brings things to life. GOD is like Bayer Aspirin...He works wonders. GOD is like Hallmark Cards...He cares enough to send the very best. GOD is like Tide...He gets the stains out that others leave ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence

The Scary Ride

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A father said: On a summer day I took my three-year-old daughter to a Kiddy Park in Dallas, Texas to ride the rides. I put her on a small ride which she insisted on trying even though it was the ’scariest.’ As she whipped around the corners in the kiddy car, she wrinkled up her face into a ...read more

Tags: God's Omnipotence