In Sermon Illustrations: "Hoping"

Can't Stop Crying  PRO

Contributed by Charles Jones on Dec 16, 2010

CAN'T STOP CRYING Consider this there was a story about a little boy who would not stop crying. No matter what his mother did, he would always cry. So one day this lady next door after hearing the baby cry thought she knew the answer to the problem and assured the mother that she could stop her ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Pentecostal

Hymn Story: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 6, 2011

HYMN STORY: O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO BY GEORGE MATHESON George Matheson was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Instead of giving up, Matheson immediately continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Tags: God's Love

White As Snow  PRO

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on May 15, 2011

WHITE AS SNOW Ash Wednesday — it’s kind of a solemn day. It’s the start of Lent —a word which means “spring” in German. But more than this, it’s the time each year when we intently focus on the path Christ Jesus laid out for us to follow — to be true to his word, true to his calling, and ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:14, Joel 1:14-27

Tags: Deception, Confession Of Sin

Denomination: Lutheran

The Jim Twins. ...

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Dec 18, 2012

Maybe you’ve heard the story of the Jim twins. Jim Springer and Jim Lewis were twin sons of a fourteen-year-old Italian girl. She gave birth to them in a small town in Ohio and then disappeared. They were adopted into two separate loving families, but after 39 years of life had never seen one ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:6-9

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Husband Doesn't Get It

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Jun 19, 2013

TWICE A WEEK After just a few years of marriage filled with disagreements and arguments, a young man and his wife decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling. Things had slipped from bad to worse as the months passed, turning their marriage into a marathon of misery. They had ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:19

Tags: Communication, Marriage, Husband, Relationships

Denomination: Baptist

The Ugliest Suit Ever

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

Note: this story is told from my perspective - Jim Butcher of Madison WV. When I was at Southern Seminary in Louisville, there were a few days in the spring when they offered official photos. It was a professional photographer with a nice backdrop and the prices were reasonable. The seminary ...read more

Tags: Change, Transformation, Appearances

Denomination: Baptist

Where's The Bagel?

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 6, 2019

On one occasion during my college days in Peterborough I was invited to the Dean of Students residence for a social gathering. Hoping to find food aplenty I was disappointed to see the large dining room table containing a lonely plate of bagels. I quickly grabbed one, but my first bite was more of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Faith, Mistakes

Denomination: Pentecostal

Victorious Living

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

2 weeks ago as I sat in the office of my lawyer, he showed me a photocopy of a handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln that was written to my lawyer’s great-great uncle. The uncle happened to be the president of the University of Pennsylvania at that time. He was involved in writing a pamphlet on ...read more

Scripture: John 16:19-22

Tags: Victory, Hard Times

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Packed And Ready To Go?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye" but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Rapture, Ready, Readiness, Maranatha, Feast Of Trumpets, Prepared, Church, Preparation, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Beyond Fiction

Contributed by Jung Lee on Jan 20, 2024

In a humorous yet thought-provoking comment, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson critiqued movies like 'Armageddon' and 'Moonfall' for violating more laws of physics per minute than any other movies. This observation serves as an interesting analogy for our spiritual lives. Much like ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Tags: Fiction, Physics, Gift Of God, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Eternal Consequences, Movie Analogies, Spiritual Life, Reality, Jesus Christ, Eternal Life, Disobedience, God's Law, Forgiveness, Sin, God, Salvation, Gift, Redemption, Faith, Death, Sacrifice, Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Spit It Out!

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 5, 2024

Use part one to open the sermon. Humor: Spit it Out! One Sunday morning after church as I was shaking hands with a young dad, suddenly he said, “Pastor, excuse me, please.” He had noticed his little 4-year-old with something in her mouth. Fearing what she may have in her mouth, he demanded her to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17, 1 Peter 3:15, Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Soul Winning, Winessing, Salvation, Testimony, The Gospel, Ashamed, Sharing The Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Beseeching – True Spiritual ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Beseeching – True Spiritual Awakening Unlike the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, a nation that is vigilant has Christians and leaders who are not blinded by their sin. People who have a Biblical understanding about the heart of mankind find joy in what the prophet Joel wrote, “Even ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:12-13

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fathers, Serve With Intensity  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

"Fathers, Serve With Intensity" The Bible gives four Christian character traits that can build a lasting legacy for the Lord. The second is to live a life that serves with intensity. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24

Tags: Service, Father, Father's Day, Legacy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Blood Gift  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

BLOOD GIFT In 1949, my father had just returned from the war. On every highway you could see soldiers in uniform hitchhiking home to their families. The thrill of the reunion with his family was soon overshadowed by my grandmother’s illness. There was a problem with her kidneys. The doctors told ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Giving General, God In The Hardships

Flawed Individuals On A Rescue Mission  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

FLAWED INDIVIDUALS ON A RESCUE MISSION The author of the book entitled, "The Word and Power Church: What Happens When A Church Seeks All God Has to Offer," Doug Banister, writes, "The Spring of 1940 found Hitler’s panzer divisions mopping up French troops and preparing for a seige of Great ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:7-12

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Why Should I Worship A Dead Jew?

Contributed by Christine Forehand on Oct 22, 2008

"Why Should I Worship a Dead Jew?" This challenging question was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by the author and composer of this hymn, Alfred H. Ackley. Mr. Ackley's answer to this searching question, ultimately prompted the writing ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Pentecostal

One Giant Leap For Mankind  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 10, 2008

ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND ONE OF THE GREAT EVENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY took place on July 20th, 1969, at exactly 4:17 P.M., EDT, when the Lunar Module "Eagle" landed on the surface of the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the moon. It was the 5th human spaceflight ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Wesleyan

Don't Save It For The Funeral  PRO

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 19, 2008

Don't Save It For The Funeral An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way ...read more

Tags: Encouragement

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Good Gifts

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

GOOD GIFTS 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! This story about Hudson Taylor, a well-known ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

John Newton: Infidel Restored  PRO

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 18, 2009

John Newton: Infidel Restored John Newton continued his ministry into his old age, turning a deaf ear to friends who urged him to accept retirement, as by the time he reached 80 he was almost blind and partially deaf. "I cannot stop" he replied. "What! Shall the old African blasphemer stop while ...read more

Tags: Christian Witness

Denomination: Baptist