In Sermon Illustrations: "Heavenly Things"

Know The True From The False

Contributed by Mark Stepherson on Feb 23, 2012

KNOW THE TRUE FROM THE FALSE I have heard and read several variations of this story. Some relate it to training bank tellers, some to treasury agents, and some to FBI agents. I don’t know which, if any, is true. The story makes a good point even if none of the stories are true. It is important ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Tags: Bible Truth

Denomination: Baptist

The Unending Wish

Contributed by Tim White on Mar 5, 2012

THE UNENDING WISH When I was a boy, my dad asked me if I could have one wish be granted, what would it be? We played that game as a family, and every time my brother or one of my sisters thought of a better wish than I thought about, I would change my wish. Then my dad unplugged all the fun by ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Baptist

Pastoral Ministry Crisis

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2015

2009 Statistics Of Why Pastors Leave the Ministry by Fuller Institute, George Barna and Pastoral Care Inc, Focus On The Family. 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America. 4,000 new churches start each year in America. 7,000 churches close each year in America. 25% of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-29

Tags: Pastoral Leadership, Pastoral Ministry

I'm Ready To Move

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 3, 2015

Alan Robertson- When my brother Jase got out of high school, one of the first things he did was make a list of some of his high school buddies- not to settle old scores, mind you. Jase wanted to see them come to Jesus. So he took his list and started praying for them and sharing the good news of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10

Tags: Savior, Unexpected, Personal Evangelism, Everyday Evangelism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Stubbornness In Marriage

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Oct 13, 2017

If you were asked to name three areas where you and your spouse disagree, you'd likely be able to do it without thinking very hard. Might even be able to produce a top 10 list if given a few more minutes. And sadly, unless someone at your house starts doing some giving in, the same issues are going ...read more

Tags: Wedding, Stubbornness, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Giving

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 17, 2022

Henry Parsons Crowell contracted tuberculosis when a boy and could not go to school. His Father and brother died of tuberculosis, and he should have died of it too. He made a contract with God. If he were spared he would use his abilities to amass large sums of money for evangelism. For the next 50 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Tags: Giving, Purpose Of Giving, Cheerful Giver

Denomination: Baptist

No More Sin!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 8, 2023

David Brooks in his book “The Road to Character” says this about sin... Today the word sin has lost it's power and awesome intensity. It’s now used to refer to desserts... fattening desserts. Most people in daily conversation don’t talk much about individual sin. If they talk about human ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:23, Romans 1:18-20, Ephesians 2:1-3

Tags: Sin, Salvation, Gospel, Depravity, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Alex Navalny - Russian Dissident

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Feb 19, 2024

Russian opposition leader and outspoken Christian, Alexei Navalny. Navalny voluntarily returned to Russia - knowing he would be arrested and imprisoned. Navalny, 47, dies while serving a 19-year sentence in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle. In Navalny’s closing statement during his 2021 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6

Tags: Integrity, Righteousness, Sermon On The Mount, Sacrifice

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[144]. A Message From A Poem – In The Manger Laid – Christmas Poem

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 27, 2025

[144]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN THE MANGER LAID – CHRISTMAS POEM This was written as a simple Christmas poem. There is not much I want to say about it. My thoughts were that the poem can be used on cards or greetings, or for children’s pageants and that sort of thing. It is not meant to be ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:6-7, Luke 2:15-16, 1 John 4:2

Tags: Christmas Poem, Poem For Christmas, Mary, Christmas, Manger, Birth Of Jesus, Shepherds, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Peter Principle - I Will Change Your Name

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 19, 2026

Back in the 60's ... a man named Laurence J. Peter ... visited several corporations ... and studied some of their management styles ... and characteristics. As a result, ... he came up with a maxim ... which was later named after him ... called ... "The Peter Principle." (Pause) I ...read more

Scripture: John 1:42, Acts 5:29, 1 Samuel 16:7, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Name, Heart, Peter, Change, New Creation, Principle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Kent Hughes, Who Pastored In Chicago, Tells ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Aug 13, 2008

Kent Hughes, who pastored in Chicago, tells something which happened to a dear friend. This lady was a missionary on furlough after a particularly difficult season of service. Now, for the first time since they had been missionaries, they had bought a place of their own to rest and recover. The ...read more

Tags: Mercy

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Go To God €" He Is The Source Of Our Goodness On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Go to God – he is the source of our goodness on this earth. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Story: This story about Hudson Taylor – a well known ...read more

Tags: Missions

Heroes Who Can't Swim

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

HEROES WHO CAN'T SWIM Paul Harvey tells the story of Ray Blankenship preparing his breakfast and gazing out the window, when he saw a small girl being swept along in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his Andover, Ohio, home. Blankenship knew that farther downstream, the ditch disappeared with ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:13

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Taken With The Giver

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jan 19, 2009

Taken with the Giver When I used to call home after being gone for seven weeks, my two youngest children would say, "Daddy, what are you going to bring me?" My two older children would say, "Daddy, when are you coming home?" Then when I would get home, these two young ones would give me a peck on ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Dog

Denomination: Baptist

Pleasure Comes From Pain  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Feb 7, 2002

PLEASURE COMES FROM PAIN The world's best cyclist, Lance Armstrong, says this about pain: I become a happier man each time I suffer. Suffering is as essential to a good life, and as inextricable, as bliss. The old saying that you should live each day as if it’s your last is a nice sentiment, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Endurance, Disciplines General, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

Choose Your Color!" 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 4, 2005

“Choose Your Color!” 2 Samuel 1:17-27 Key verse(s) 27a:“How the mighty have fallen!” What is the color of your life? It is interesting that when asked this question most people choose some neutral or dark shade. Very few people actually choose a bright color. That’s because, on the whole, it is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:17-27

Tags: Emotions

Denomination: Lutheran

Boomerang!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 27, 2005

Boomerang! (07.28.05--Appreciation--Ezra 5: 1-2) “When someone does something good, applaud! You’ll make two people happy.” The life-long motto of film magnate, Samuel Goldwyn, he knew that appreciation was a two-way street. The one who received it benefited as well as the one who gave it. Both ...read more

Scripture: Ezra 5:1-2

Tags: Joy, Listen, Obedience, Forgiveness General, Samuel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Just Ask Him!" Judges 16: 28-30 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Nov 2, 2004

“Just Ask Him!” Judges 16: 28-30 Key verse(s): 28: “Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’” Has there ever been a time in your life when things have gotten ...read more

Scripture: Judges 16:28-30, Judges 16:1-31

Tags: Demons, Death, Sickness, Prayer Supplication, Storm  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Let Me Tell You A Story From Alberta History: ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 12, 2002

Let me tell you a story from Alberta history: Cree Chief Maskepetoon met Rev. Robert Rundle, and at their first meeting declared "I will never become a Christian as long as there are horses to steal and scalps to take." Nevertheless Maskepetoon became a staunch friend to Rundle and his attitude ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20

Tags: Christian Liberty, Anxiety, Forgiveness General, God's Image, Prayer, Moving Forward, Supplication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Two Faces Of Change!" 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 9, 2005

“The Two Faces of Change!” 2 Kings 12: 1-8 Key verse(s): 2-3:“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.” On June 4, 1783 at the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 12:1-8

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Lutheran