In Sermon Illustrations: "Helping Others"

Expect People To Be Better Than They Are; It ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Expect people to be better than they are; it helps them to become better. But dont be disappointed when they ...read more

Tags: Human Life

Two Longstanding Church Members Were In A Boat ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Two longstanding church members were in a boat fishing with a new Christian. Fishing is a great time for conversation and each was proclaiming his fervent faith and devotion to God. As they were discussing their faith, one’s hat blew into the water. So he stood up, calmly stepped onto the water, ...read more

Scripture: Judges 1:1-7

Tags: Discipleship, Faith General, Faith, Fiddler On The Roof

Denomination: Baptist

In His Book, Thirteen Days To Glory, Author Lon ...

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Apr 19, 2004

In his book, Thirteen Days to Glory, author Lon Tinkle tells about Colonel Jim Bowie and the brave defenders of the Alamo. That sacred Texas shrine had only 183 defenders against a huge army led by Santa Anna. On March 3, 1836, two hours before dusk, the Mexican guns quit firing. William Travis ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness, Death

Denomination: Baptist

Nature Is Mortal. We Shall Outlive Her. When ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Mar 9, 2006

“Nature is mortal. We shall outlive her. When all the suns and nebulae have passed away, each one of you will still be alive. Nature is only the image; the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendor which ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Orthodox

The Importance Of Focus

Contributed by Mark Tonkery on Feb 3, 2012

THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUS When the Alaskan Pipeline was being built, there were many Texans who went to Alaska and found work on the pipeline. The Texans could only work a few hours in the frigid weather, yet the Eskimos, the native Alaskans, could work indefinitely in the cold. They decided to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:4-8

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Standing Up For Persecuted Christians

Contributed by John Crowe on Oct 29, 2015

Michael Horowitz is a Jewish attorney in Washington, D.C. who has done more for persecuted Christians than almost any Christian I know. He recently wrote to me that from his long experience with efforts to help rescue persecuted Christians, his sad experience is that U. S. Christian leaders are ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41

Tags: Persecution, Persecuted Christian

Denomination: Baptist

Fools

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Aug 16, 2021

It was a cold and silent night. The weather was freezing cold. A group of monkeys were on a tree. They were clinging to its branches. One of the monkeys said, “I wish we could find some fire. It will help us to keep warm.” Suddenly they noticed a flock of fireflies. One of the young monkeys ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20, Ephesians 5:15-20

Tags: Fools, Correcting A Fool

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Heard The Story Of A Little Boy Who Had ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

I heard the story of a little boy who had misbehaved and was sent to his room. After a while the little boy came out and informed his mother that he had thought about what he had done and that he had said a prayer. The mother said, “That’s wonderful. If you ask God for forgiveness and to help you ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To

It's Like Little Mary Who, Having Been Naughty, ...

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Dec 22, 2011

It's like little Mary who, having been naughty, was sent into her bedroom to "think things over." Coming out all smiles after a while, she said, "I thought and prayed." Her mother said, "Fine! That will help you to be good." Mary responded, ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In Water-Safety Courses A Cardinal Rule Is Never ...  PRO

Contributed by Erik Estep on Apr 30, 2004

In water-safety courses a cardinal rule is never to swim out to a drowning man and try to help him as long as he’s thrashing around. To do so is basically to commit suicide. As long as a drowning man thinks he can help himself, he’s dangerous to anyone who tries to help him. The reason why is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:13

Tags: Holy Spirit Baptism, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Martin Luther Prayed: Lord, Although I Am Sure ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Sep 13, 2002

Martin Luther prayed: Lord, although I am sure of my position, without your help I cannot ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication, Prayer Confession

Denomination: Baptist

911 Or You!" Obadiah 1: 1-14 Key Verse(S): ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 15, 2004

“911 or You!” Obadiah 1: 1-14 Key verse(s): 10-11: “Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever. On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates you were like one of them.” We ...read more

Scripture: Obadiah 1:1-14

Tags: Poverty

Denomination: Lutheran

Douglas Coupland, Who Coined The Term ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Sep 29, 2002

Douglas Coupland, who coined the term ’Generation X’, concludes in his book Life After God, "my secret is that I need God - that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no ...read more

Tags: God The Father, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Prayer For A Nation At War  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 19, 2003

A PRAYER FOR A NATION AT WAR Our Father in Heaven, We thank You that You know exactly what is going on here on earth. We sinful human beings constantly find ourselves confused, distressed, and alarmed because of our own behavior and that of others. What miseries result from our sinful ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, War, Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It's A Fascinating Story That ...

Contributed by Kevin Earls on Oct 25, 2006

Illustration: It’s a fascinating story that comes out of the 1989 earthquake which almost flattened Armenia. This deadly tremor killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of all the confusion of the earthquake, a father rushed to his son’s school. When he arrived there he ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Don't Magnify Yourself Against Those That Are Fallen

Contributed by James Dina on Oct 9, 2020

DON'T MAGNIFY YOURSELF AGAINST THOSE THAT ARE FALLEN "If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach" (Job 19:5) 1. Many people forget their own frailty, how easy is it for them to fall. We should be taught by the mistakes of others to avoid being ...read more

Scripture: Job 19:5, Psalm 35:26

Tags: Love, Exaltation, Correction

Denomination: Pentecostal

I Am Thankful For…  PRO

Contributed by Troy Mason on Aug 23, 2002

I am Thankful for......... ....the taxes I pay ....because it means I’m employed. ....the clothes that fit a little too snug ....because it means I have enough to eat. ....my shadow who watches me work ....because it means I am out in the sunshine. ....a lawn that needs mowing, windows ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Peace

Denomination: Baptist

Spurgeon On Experiencing Fullness In Heaven

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2013

SPURGEON ON EXPERIENCING FULLNESS IN HEAVEN The renowned 19th-century English preacher C. H. Spurgeon told this story about King Cyrus, the man who conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from captivity: A visitor who was admiring Cyrus' gardens said it gave him much pleasure. "Ah," said Cyrus, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Husbands Love

Peace

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Lucinda Norman writes of her experience Christmas shopping at the mall. People had been pushing, elbowing and cutting in front of her all day. During a 10 minute extra 10% off special, one woman grabbed a lace table cloth from her hands, looked her in the eye and said, “Mine!” She yanked it back ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Tags: Christmas, Stress, Peace, Shopping

Denomination: Methodist

African-American Inventors  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVENTORS Granville T. Woods was known as "the black Thomas Edison" for his many inventions. Example: his 1889 automatic cutoff switch, an ancestor of the circuit breaker. In honor of Black History Month, the website of home improvement retailer Lowe’s paid tribute to Woods and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:12-20

Tags: Leadership General, Racism