In Sermon Illustrations: "Helping The Grieving"

The Story Goes That A Man Had A Dream. He Stood ...

Contributed by Donny Granberry on Mar 29, 2008

The story goes that a man had a dream. He stood at the gate of Heaven and confronted Peter. The man asked, “What does it take to get into Heaven?” Peter answered, “One Thousand Points.” OK the man said, “I have been faithful in church attendance all my life.” Peter said, “That’s one point.” The man ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

How To Find Volunteers For A Ministry

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 31, 2008

How to find volunteers for a ministry: WHAT NOT TO DO: 1. Do not generally stand in front of your congregation and make a plea for help. 2. Never beg people to join your ministry. 3. Never invite someone to join your ministry team unless you’re confident in their abilities to fulfill the roles you ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Young Banker Was Driving His Bmw, In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2008

Illus. A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of ...read more

When You Take A Public Speaking Class, You're ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on May 15, 2008

When you take a public speaking class, you’re often told that an attention getting step is one of the best ways to keep your audience focused on what you want them to hear. People tend to notice when you say something that seems out of place or show something people can look at. I once used a ...read more

Denomination: Lutheran

In A Popular "Saturday Night Live" Comedy Skit, ...

Contributed by Scott Jensen on Jun 12, 2008

In a popular "Saturday Night Live" comedy skit, one of the characters, Stuart Smalley, attempted to console people as they struggled with their issues and dilemmas. In one of the more popular skits, he attempted to counsel Michael Jordan, the famous basketball player, with a non-existent struggle ...read more

Tags: Comfort

Denomination: Lutheran

Have You Ever Received A Gift That You Wanted For ...

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jun 20, 2008

Have you ever received a gift that you wanted for a long that had great sentimental value to it? What did you do with this gift once you had it? You probably utilized it for whatever uses it was for, until it was unusable of course. God gives every believer the gift of the Holy Spirit the moment ...read more

Tags: Ignorance

Denomination: Baptist

God Does The Remembering

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 7, 2008

GOD DOES THE REMEMBERING A 91-year-old lady reads the Scriptures regularly, but now her memory is failing her. Friends commented, "So what’s the use of all this reading when you cannot remember what you’ve read." Her answer is always the same. "God has blessed me richly. I eat well and sleep ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Independent/Bible

People Need You To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

PEOPLE NEED YOU TO CARE People want other people to care about them. Many people will respond to evidence of your Christian concern. Remember the old saying: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I read about a lady named Mamie Adams. She always went to a ...read more

Tags: Compassion

A Missionary To South America Once Wrote A ...

Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Sep 6, 2008

A missionary to South America once wrote a reflective piece about his life in the jungles. He and his family knew the discomforts of such things as snakes and bugs. He told how he and his family were cleaning the house one day when they decided to take a break and have some tea. While sitting at ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Belief In The Resurrection  PRO

Contributed by Todd Leupold on Nov 3, 2008

J. Vernon McGee once pointed out: "Martha believed in a resurrection. But listen, it makes less demand upon faith to believe that in a future day we shall receive glorified bodies than it does to rest now on the assuracne that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. It is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Baptist

The Girl And The Lions

Contributed by Jesse Bennett on Nov 9, 2008

THE GIRL AND THE LIONS A 12-year-old girl in rural Ethiopia was kidnapped from her family. Her captors yelled at her, beat her, and almost raped her during her seven-day ordeal. They wanted to force her into marriage by selling her to the highest bidder; who knows what kind of situation she would ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Baptist

A Young Banker Was Driving His Bmw, In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 11, 2008

A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the ...read more

Tags: Money

Depression And Aloneness

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

Depression and Aloneness Author Bernard Anderson in "Out of the Depths" speaks of this remembering the multitudes and the house of God and makes a worthy observation. He says, "This is not a longing for a one-to-one relationship with God in mystic solitude. The poet yearns to be surrounded by the ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

A Young Banker Was Driving His Bmw, In The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the ...read more

Tags: Money

Hope Changes Everything

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jan 3, 2009

HOPE CHANGES EVERYTHING From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would ...read more

Tags: God Brings Hope

Denomination: Christian Church

I Know How It Works. I Built It.

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jan 12, 2009

"I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. I BUILT IT." Years ago, the early part of the last century, a man’s car broke down on the side of the road. He was out working on the car, unsuccessfully trying to get it started, when another man stopped to help. The second gentleman looked at the engine, worked on it for ...read more

Tags: Creation

Denomination: Baptist

Golden Years

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

GOLDEN YEARS New research finds the happiest Americans are the oldest. Older adults are more socially active than the stereotype of the lonely senior suggests, social activity can help keep away the blues. Duke Univ. aging expert Linda George reports the odds of being happy increase 5% with every ...read more

Tags: Aging

Grace & Works Story/Joke

Contributed by Bruce Blythe on Oct 23, 2021

Made this one up for my sermon on the whole Book of Romans (Works, Grace & Living). Hope some people find it helpful. Blessings. Bruce A Jew, and an Islamic, and a Christian were drinking coffee. As they sat and talked the conversation turned toward God. The Islamic said, “Now, regular prayer ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-6, Romans 12:3-8, Romans 3:20, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Grace, Christian Living, Works

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Give Without Enabling?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

How do you give biblically and with a Christ-like approach to needy people, yet not enable the person to become co-dependent on your giving heart? (1) Learn to distinguish between DIVINE appointments and drive-by-guiltings (Luke 10:33/ 1 Timothy 5:8/ Deuteronomy 15:11 and Galatians 6:10/ ...read more

Tags: Needs, Enabling, Wisdom, Discernment, Giving, Finances, Tithing, Good Samaritan, Sacrifice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Story Of The Christian Lion

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 20, 2022

A missionary in Africa was walking through a jungle when he heard the ominous roar of a lion behind him. He was very scared and dropped immediately to his knees and started praying feverishly! "Oh Lord," prayed the missionary, “You know I have served you my whole life. I have even ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3

Tags: Thanksgiving, Protection, Prayer, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational