In Sermon Illustrations: "Helping Others"

When Are You Going To Talk About Sin?

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Jun 28, 2019

It was early in the year, and I asked myself, “What is the most important things my congregation needs to know.” I had decided to preach a series on what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, or the Plain, if you go by Luke. I mapped out the series, then I began to talk about what Jesus had to ...read more

Tags: Forgive, Judging Others, Sermon On The Mount, Judgement, Forgiveness, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

On Living And Dying

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jun 22, 2021

Martin Luther King Jr. on living, dying and his funeral. If any of you are around what I have to meet my day, I don’t want along funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I would want them to say. Tell them not to ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20

Tags: Loving Others, Death, Love, Giving, Servanthood, Serving, Funerals  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Who Are We Here For??

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 9, 2023

The story has often been told about the message the founder of the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General William Booth was unable to attend personally because of ill health, so he cabled the delegates a message containing one word: "OTHERS!" In the popular comic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Bearing Burdens, One Another, Others, Ministry, Service, Selflessness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If God Had Voice Mail  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 12, 2002

If God had Voice Mail Most of us have now learned to live with "voice mail" as a necessary part of our daily lives. But have you ever wondered what it would be like if God decided to install voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the following: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11, Psalm 89:15, Acts 4:8-12

Tags: God The Father, Carera

God Won’t Ask What Kind Of Car You ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Gibson on Nov 23, 2000

1. God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation. 2. God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3. God won’t ask about the fancy clothes you had in your ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Judgment, Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: *other

The Homeless Man

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

THE HOMELESS MAN There is a big church in North Carolina that has classes every summer to help train people in different ministries. During one such period a few years ago, a young man appeared on campus where hundreds of others were. But this young man didn’t take part in any classes. He was ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Spiritual Atheist?

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 27, 2010

SPIRITUAL ATHEIST? Let’s think about this. Good equals Godly? Good equals spiritual? How exactly does being good and being spiritual parallel? I give a man on the street a warm meal and a place to stay. That’s a good thing. How is giving a man a warm meal and a place to stay a spiritual ...read more

Tags: Atheism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What We Can Learn From The "Lesser Knowns"

Contributed by Tom Mccrossan on Jan 21, 2004

What We Can Learn From the "Lesser Knowns" The media makes note of the well-known celebrities who die, and this year there is quite a long, sad list: John Ritter. Fred Rogers. Johnny Cash. June Carter Cash. Bob Hope. David Brinkley. Gregory Peck. Katharine Hepburn. Buddy Hackett. Buddy Ebsen. But ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Funerals Christian, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

There Was A Woman Who Was Going Through Some Very ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005

There was a woman who was going through some very difficult and trying circumstances. She was experiencing major distress in her marriage, her job was very unfulfilling and was causing her heartache. She became so distraught over her circumstances that she felt like just giving up. She felt ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31, Luke 10:1-39, Isaiah 40:28-31, Romans 8:1-4, Psalm 18:1-30  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love Others, Freedom, God In The Hardships, Giving, Choice, Endurance, Slavery  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Misusing The Good

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 23, 2019

The Gospel does not alter God's promises for Israel. It is not meant for that, just as a laser light has specific purposes but can be misused. Laser pointers are not toys. [https://phys.org/newsstory below:] Concern is growing over the safe use of small, battery powered, hand held lasers. For ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-20

Tags: Israel, The Gospel, Damage, Ignorance, Mischief, Charlatans, Expense Of Others, Wreckless  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Great Christmas Illustration

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 19, 2022

Jesus came to offer Himself for the sins of the world. o He was born in another man’s stable. o He was laid in another man’s manger. o He would preach in another man’s boat. o He would ride into Jerusalem on another man’s colt. o He would eat His last supper in another man’s upper room. o He ...read more

Tags: Jesus, Christmas, Birth Of Christ, Sacrifice, One Another, Others, Messiah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Voice Mail  PRO

Contributed by Dru Ashwell on Dec 20, 2001

VOICE MAIL While we have a direct access to our Heavenly Father, imagine if He had one of those computer-answering devices. It might be something like this: As we begin to pray we hear... Thank you for calling your Heavenly Father’s house. Your call may be monitored for quality assurance. Please ...read more

Tags: Ever, God's Omniscience, Illustration, Prayer Adoration, Prayer General  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Making Your Life Count For Something

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2011

MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNT FOR SOMETHING Many years ago at a Presbyterian retreat center near Asheville, NC, the annual summer conference was being held. An elderly man with a neatly clipped white goatee and resonant voice rose to speak. He explained that he was a medical doctor and he had a story to ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Tags: Missions

Strength To Forgive

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Some of life's hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit. In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, God's Strength, Forgiving Others, Corrie Ten Boom, Enemies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poor Man's Philanthropist  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2011

POOR MAN'S PHILANTHROPIST In 2005, when Thomas Cannon died of colon cancer in a hospital in Richmond, Virginia, he was 79. Thomas described himself a "poor man's philanthropist." When Thomas was three years old, his father died. Once Thomas' mother remarried, the family of six lived in a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, 2 Corinthians 9:15

Tags: Giving General

Thankful People Are Happy People  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 19, 2011

THANKFUL PEOPLE ARE HAPPY PEOPLE I read a news story once of a woman who was getting ready to jump off a 44 story building in New York City. Witnesses said that she did not look like the type of person who would do such a thing. She was very distinguished and well dressed. All the attempts ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Family, Gratitude, Share

Kindness Trumps Riches

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Kindness Trumps Riches Like many American Christians, Keith Taylor has benefited from the generosity of other people in different times and different ways. For example, while Keith was attending graduate school in Tennessee, his car broke down, and the subsequent repair bill caused him to be short ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Tags: Giving General

Be A Magnet!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 29, 2003

Be a Magnet! MAGNET DEMONSTRATION A piece of steel metal under ordinary conditions-- in the "As-is" situation -- does not have magnetic properties. It is not a magnet. It can not attract and/or hold. It can not do the work of a magnet. Why? The molecules are in "chaos". Each molecule has a Plus ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2

Tags: What Is Evangelism?, Sharing My Testimony

One Of The Most Powerful Prayers In The Midst Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 29, 2001

One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:46, Luke 23:34, Matthew 12:31-32

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General, Forgiveness, Suffering, Prayer, Humility, God's Forgiveness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Recently One Of The Testimonies At A Missions ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 23, 2001

Recently one of the testimonies at a Missions conference was so powerful it seemed to take the breath away from the people attending. It was the story of a blind woman by the name of Pani. She was listening to the Jesus film in her village as those with their sight were watching. Pani was greatly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:35-43, Luke 18:35-43

Tags: Deliverance, Cross Agony, Forgiveness For Others, Serving, Miracles Of Jesus, Joy, Listen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational