In Sermon Illustrations: "Hardships"

These Words Were Written By The Christian Group ...

Contributed by Pat Cook on May 16, 2005

These words were written by the Christian group Switchfoot. The song is called “Beautiful Letdown”, and they describe a person dealing with the pains and frustrations in his life, leading him to the point of understanding what’s really important. “It was a beautiful letdown when I crashed and ...read more

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Denomination: Baptist

Will Rogers Said, "Good Judgment Comes From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Will Rogers said, “Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that (experience) comes from bad judgment” ….In other words much of what ...read more

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The Royal Palace In Tehran In Iran ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: The royal palace in Tehran in Iran has one of the most beautiful entrances in the entire world. When the palace was planned the architects sent an order to Paris for Mirrors to cover the entrance walls. The mirrors finally arrived in their crates. When they took the crates apart all ...read more

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A Young Woman Named Florence Chadwick Attempted ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A young woman named Florence Chadwick attempted to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast in 1952 in an attempt to set a record for covering that distance. When she entered the water, a heavy fog had settled itself on the path before her. Blinded by fog, she became disoriented and ...read more

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President Calvin Coolidge Went To Church, And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

President Calvin Coolidge went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the preacher ...read more

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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

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I Want To Read You A Page From The U.s. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I want to read you a page from the U.S. Government Peace Corps Manual for its volunteers who work in the Amazon Jungle. The page I’m going to read concerns what to do in case you’re attacked by an Anaconda. The Anaconda is the largest snake in the world. It grows to 35 feet in length and weighs ...read more

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Several Years Ago, The Wall Street Journal ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal carried a story about Sally, an overly conscientious youngster who made herself miserable over the smallest failures and setbacks. Early one fall, while the leaves were still on the trees, there was an exceptionally heavy snowstorm. Sally’s grandfather ...read more

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There's A Story That Abraham Lincoln Went To A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There’s a story that Abraham Lincoln went to a slave market one time, and was moved with compassion to place a bid on a young black girl. He won the bid and walked away with his “property.” There was a sullen, angry expression on the girl’s face, because she knew that here was another white man who ...read more

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As I Begin To Close, In The Cemetery Of Tuskegee ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As I begin to close, in the cemetery of Tuskegee Institute, in Tuskegee Alabama, there is a tombstone which reads: "GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER - Died in Tuskegee, Alabama, January 5, 1943. A Life that stood out as a gospel of Self-Forgetful Service. He could have added Fortune to Fame, but caring for ...read more

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An Old Country Preacher Was Challenged By A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

An old country preacher was challenged by a highly educated agnostic. The skeptic asked, “Why do you Christians constantly claim assurance of victory in the battle of eternity?” The old preacher replied: “Well, Son, it says in the beginning of my Bible that God was in charge when time started up. ...read more

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Blame

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Blame In a recent Peanuts cartoon, Lucy approaches Charlie Brown with a paper and pen and says, “Here, sign this. It absolves me from all blame”. Then she goes to Shroeder with the same paper and says, “Here, sign this. It absolves me from all blame”. Finally she comes to Linus: “Here, sign this. ...read more

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Center Field

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Center Field In Discipleship Journal, Don McCullough wrote: “John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center ...read more

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Upper Lip

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Upper Lip One evening several college students spread limburger cheese on the upper lip of a sleeping fraternity brother. Upon awakening the young man sniffed, looked around, and said, “This room stinks” He then walked into the hall and said, “This hall stinks” Leaving ...read more

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Retaliate  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Retaliate Pastor Ray Stedman told the story of some Americans who were stationed in Korea during the Korean War. While there, they rented a home and hired a local boy to cook and clean for them. These Americans were a bunch of jokesters, and they soon began to take advantage of the young boy’s ...read more

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The Name Jimmy Ellis May Not Be Familiar To You, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The name Jimmy Ellis may not be familiar to you, but he has a quote that I think applies for today. He was a boxer, who was a heavy weight world champion. A reporter one time asked him if he realized of all the world champions, he had been knocked down more times than anyone else. He smiled and ...read more

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A Young Businessman Had Just Started His Own ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A young businessman had just started his own firm and so he rented a beautiful office and furnished it with valuable antiques. As he was sitting behind his magnificent mahogany desk, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wanting to appear busy, he picked up the phone and pretended to be working ...read more

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In 1955 Her First Husband Died And Left Her With ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In 1955 her first husband died and left her with two small boys to raise. Not an easy task in the 1950’s when most wives did not work outside the home. She married again. She and her husband Les were granted a son. In his 7th grade year he was tragically shot and killed. In 1994 her second husband ...read more

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Joseph Parker, A Pastor From 1874 Until His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Joseph Parker, a Pastor from 1874 until his death in 1902, wrote the following in his autobiography…Up until the age of 68 I never had a religious doubt. Then my beloved wife died. My faith collapsed. “In that dark hour, I almost became an atheist. For God had set his foot upon my prayers and ...read more

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Let Me Close With A True Story Of A Humble Black ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Let me close with a true story of a humble black pastor in the inner city of Chicago who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “He was in his late sixties and had been a minister throughout his adult life. His love for the Lord was so profound that it was reflected in everything he said. When he ...read more

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