In Sermon Illustrations: "Helpful"

Ordinary People For Christ

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

ORDINARY PEOPLE FOR CHRIST Bud Villers was a good man. Bud was my neighbor. I grew up beside him until he died when I was in college. Bud helped my dad put a roof on our house, he assisted my dad when they poured concrete sidewalks and porches. My dad helped him put a roof on his patio. When Bud ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6

Tags: Evangelism How To

Osceola Mccarty, African-American Philanthropist  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 3, 2009

Osceola McCarty, African-American Philanthropist The late great African-American laundry woman, author, and philanthropist, Osceola McCarty (1908 - 1999), did one thing all of her life: laundry! For decades, Osceola, a frugal Christian woman who never bought a car - who never got married - who ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13

Tags: Giving General

Most Action Movies I Have Seen Have Some Aspect ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 8, 2010

Most action movies I have seen have some aspect of revenge in their storyline. And I must admit it, when the bad guy finally gets killed, I find myself agreeing with the hero as he says “The guy was a jerk and deserved everything he got!” Am I the only one? Some friends of mine were driving me ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Asking God Questions

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on May 29, 2010

I get the privilege and opportunity to speak to many old people in the course of my day. Being a chaplain and Pastor in an aged care facility (fancy name for old people’s nursing home) I am fascinated by the amazing lives that they have led. Last week I spoke to a woman in her 90’s who said she ...read more

Tags: Doubt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sarah's Vase  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 21, 2011

SARAH'S VASE Just like life comes in the place of death, so honor comes in the place of service. Pediatrician David Cerqueira tells the story of a little girl in his wife's Sunday School class. His wife had prepared a lesson on being useful and told the children that everyone can be useful in ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-26, Mark 14:1-9

Tags: Servanthood

The Grace Gate

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 17, 2011

THE GRACE GATE An active, dedicated, hard-working church member dreamed that he passed away after a long and satisfying life. As he approached the heavenly gate, he noticed a sign posted which read, "ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT: 1,000 POINTS." The man looked a bit worried. He walked up to the ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Anxious Moments, I Experienced Some Years Back, ...

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Dec 6, 2011

Anxious moments, I experienced some years back, when I had to disturb a "sleeping boss"! There I was between the devil and the deep blue sea (many years ago during my secular stint of 13 years in the Indian oil sector) pacing nervously in the Hotel aisle, peering frighteningly at the “Do not ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: *other

Be Holy?

Contributed by John Kilough on Apr 24, 2014

"Be holy, for I am holy." For most people this can be a very intimidating statement. The Lord God says, "Be holy, for I am holy." The issue with that is, well God is God and I am not. It is easy for Him to say be holy, but I just have way too many faults. However, we love the Lord and we are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:16

Tags: Holiness, God's Commandments

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Stethoscope Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Aug 12, 2021

I recently attended a “White Coat Ceremony” for first year medical students. During the ceremony the incoming first year students receive a white coat symbolic of the beginning of their journey into the medical profession. Before the white coats were distributed the Dean of the college introduced ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, James 1:19-20, James 3:3-12, Proverbs 10:19

Tags: Hear, Communication, Wisdom, Listen, Hearing, Listening  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Surface Level Fellowship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2022

Bill Hybels recalls a time when “Dr. Bilezikian said there’s life-changing fellowship in biblically functioning community. That was a far cry from the childhood experience of a lot of his audience! The only kind of fellowship that many of his listeners had witnessed revolved around the fifteen or ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

Tags: Fellowship, Community, Small Groups

Unsung Heroes-Aquila And Priscilla

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Aug 12, 2023

Introduction: This couple is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but with each mention it’s clear they were serving the Lord. They are truly unsung heroes of the Bible! 1 Ministering with Paul in Corinth Text: Acts 18:1-3. KJV 1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-3, Acts 18:18-21

Tags: Priscilla, Aquila, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

A Lesson From A Band Concert

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 19, 2024

Introduction: Sometimes you can find an example or illustration from places you wouldn’t normally expect. Such an instance happened to me recently, Here’s the verse that came to mind when I saw what took place: Text: John 16:13, KJV: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Teaching, Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

Shoveling Snow

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 3, 2026

It was frigid—bone-chilling—and we had another heavy snowfall. When I opened my garage door, I quickly realized that looking at the big picture wouldn’t be helpful. Instead, I needed to focus on just one shovel of snow at a time. Blinders would have been useful, so that I wouldn’t see to the left ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-21

Tags: Slow Down, Trials

Denomination: Methodist

Knocking People Down

Contributed by N A on May 23, 2010

KNOCKING PEOPLE DOWN Coach Shug Jordan at Auburn University asked his former linebacker Mike Kollin, who was then playing for the Miami Dolphins, if he would help him do some recruiting. Mike said, "Sure, coach. What kind of player are you looking for?" The coach said, "Well Mike, you know ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Denomination: *other

It Was Sunday Morning And Harry Was Off. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 29, 2001

It was Sunday morning and Harry was off. He pulled out of his driveway in his 2-seater convertible, with the roof closed because of typical Melbourne driving rain, and headed for church. But as he turned into the main road he saw ahead of him three bedraggled figures huddled under a single umbrella ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14-17, Esther 4:8-14

Tags: Memorial Day, Christian Love, Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Dr. John Trent Tells The Story Of A Couple In ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

Dr. John Trent tells the story of a couple in West Texas. The wife, Betty, was very athletic, & had been a cheerleader & very popular in high school. Now she is 55 & has come to Dr. Trent for medical help. She hurts a lot & her joints are beginning to swell. After examining her, he tells her ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment, Unconditional Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Francois Fenelon, A Seventeenth Century Roman ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Mar 26, 2001

Francois Fenelon, a seventeenth century Roman Catholic said this about prayer: Tell God all that is on your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles, that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys, that He may sober them; tell Him your ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Prayer General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

There Is An Old Story About A Lighthouse Keeper ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 25, 2001

"There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:1-7, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Matthew 25:1-13

Tags: Excuses, Responsibility, Integrity

I Once Heard About A Man Who Worked With Children ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Barnes on Jun 2, 2001

I once heard about a man who worked with children who lived in sewers - somewhere in South America I think. He used to go into the sewers himself to try and help the children who were living there. Imagine you had been one of those children - virtually blind through living in the darkness ...read more

Tags: Holiness, God's Provision, God's Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day A Farmer's Donkey Fell Down Into A Well. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Kolk on Aug 4, 2001

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey So he invited all his neighbors to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-18

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist