In Sermon Illustrations: "How To Be Great"

The Guide - What A White Water Rafting Trip Taught Me About God

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Mar 11, 2026

A few years ago my wife, two young daughters and I packed up and headed to Red River, New Mexico for a vacation. For a bit of adventure we decided to try something we had never done before — white water rafting. Before climbing into the raft, we were handed a stack of waivers to sign. You know the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Tags: God, Trust, Guide, Refuge, Raft  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have You Heard About The Little Boy Who Attended ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Nov 3, 2001

Have you heard about the little boy who attended church for the first time and was asked how it went? He replied, "The music ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 11:1-3

Tags: Church General, Church Purpose Of, Foundation

Denomination: Church Of God

Some People Are Like Ken, The Struggling Student, ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

Some people are like Ken, the struggling student, who, during an exam was asked by his teacher, “how close are you to the ...read more

Tags: Truth, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

Smalley Says, "Beliefs Are So Powerful That They ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 4, 2008

Smalley says, "Beliefs are so powerful that they not only change your perception of life but also how you act in response to ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Interviewed After His Engagement To Diana, ...

Contributed by Steven Davis on Oct 9, 2008

Interviewed after his engagement to Diana, Prince Charles was asked how he knew he was in love. He got a quizzical look ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Actually, There Is Only One First Question Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Actually, there is only one first question of government, and it is How should we live? or (this is the same question) What ...read more

Tags: Government

Parents Must Not Cowardly Abdicate Their ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Parents must not cowardly abdicate their authority...In the struggle, the child will acquire experience; he will learn how far he ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Time Is The Coin Of Your Life. It Is The Only ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful ...read more

Tags: Time

During A Very Busy Life I Have Often Been ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"During a very busy life I have often been asked, How did you manage to do it all? The answer is simple: ...read more

Tags: Time

The Following Words Come From The Language Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Mar 24, 2002

The following words come from THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE, by Gary Smalley and John Trent: His leaving had been abrupt and unforeseen. His wife had come home from shopping one day and found the note on the refrigerator. The words were brief and cold. He was tired of trying to make their marriage work. He ...read more

Tags: Divorce, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Harmonious Melody Of Hummingbirds

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 27, 2022

A few months ago, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage bought a harp and began teaching herself how to play it. She can play the piano, organ, flute, and sometimes me. Now she has graduated to the harp. So I guess she’s preparing for heaven, where she’ll play a heavenly harp. She was quite quick ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:12

Tags: Music, Hearing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Lost Art Of Saying Thank You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more.” - David Steindl-Rast Everyone likes to feel appreciated. I remember a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanks, Unthankfulness, Gifts

Denomination: Charismatic

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

The Graduation Gift  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Oct 12, 2002

THE GRADUATION GIFT A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealers showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Tags: God's Provision

Denomination: Baptist

A Preacher Was Walking Home From The Market One ...  PRO

Contributed by Brandon Park on Apr 24, 2003

A preacher was walking home from the market one day and he noticed a little mischeivous boy playing with some old birds in a beat up, rusty birdcage. He asked the boy, "Son what are you going to do with those birds." That squirt of a boy said, "Well, I’m going to poke them with a stick...then I’m ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Nov 19, 2014

91% of Americans have turkey for Dinner. And so... I was thinking about Butterball Turkeys for some reason I know not why. Did you know they have an online help page? Well I went to that computer page and I found some of the problems that people have with cooking turkeys. You may be flabbergasted ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:13-16

Tags: Thanksgiving, Family Days

Denomination: Independent/Bible

We Are Biologically Wired To Trust

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 20, 2023

Henry Cloud in his book, Trust, talks about how we are hard-wired to trust. If you have ever been around a newborn, you may have noticed that newborns do not do much due diligence when they're hungry. They scream with all their might and basically say, "Bring it to me now!" The human ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:12

Tags: Trust, Mothers, Infants, Neuroscience

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Once There Was A Young Girl Who Had Just Got Her ...  PRO

Contributed by David Elvery on Nov 14, 2004

Once there was a young girl who had just got her driver’s licence and was quickly popping down the grocery store for her mum. She hadn’t been driving long and didn’t have much experience behind the wheel. It was a wet day and as she came to the intersection that turned towards her house there was ...read more

Tags: Death Nearness

Denomination: Baptist

The April 2008 Newsletter From Timberdoodle (A ...

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Apr 8, 2008

The April 2008 Newsletter from Timberdoodle (a supplier for homeschooling families) noted a problematic teaching in a Children’s Study Bible used in Sunday school. Referring to Matthew 3.12, the footnote said, “This means that Jesus will come to separate the good people from the bad people, saving ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In The Context Of Eternity

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 16, 2008

In the Context of Eternity "There are numerous individuals in church unaware that they will give an account of what they've done in their short stay on earth. Many have the erroneous idea that all future judgment is eradicated by their salvation. Indeed, Jesus blood cleanses us from the sins that ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational