In Sermon Illustrations: "How To Get Stronger"

Facts About Fasting

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 31, 2022

BASIC REMINDERS --- to those who are fasting or considering a fast: (1) This is not about FOOD. It is about spending more time alone with God. It is about showing Him that there are no other gods before him. He is Lord of all areas of our life. (2) Do not become PROUD and brag to others about ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:23

Tags: Holy Spirit, Revival, Repentance, Fasting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Watch?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 18, 2024

I read the story of a young boy that lived on a farm in the mountains. The grandparents, parents, his brothers and sisters lived in the old farm house. Every time the young boy got a chance he told anyone that would listen: HE WANTED A WATCH. His grandfather had a pocket watch, so did his dad. The ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:37, Isaiah 21:11

Tags: Watch, Ready

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Am/Pm Alarm Mishap

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Some mornings I don’t walk out of the house feeling good. Some mornings I wake up, look at my phone, and realize I set my alarm for 6 PM instead of 6 AM. Which means I didn’t set an alarm. Which means I’m now late. Which means that quiet, unhurried morning I had planned, Bible, coffee, a few ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1

Tags: Conflict, Sinful Nature

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Portfolio For Nobody

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

It was 2017. I had just left a software development company. Cassy was working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens, and we were living in Lubbock, Texas. I started doing freelance graphic design, photography, videography, motion graphics, all of that. But the whole time I felt like I needed to be ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:2, Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Faith, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Muscle Memory Of The Violin

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

From 5th grade through high school graduation, I played the violin. I was serious about it, participating in all-region orchestras, competitions, all of that. My senior recital was performing the Bach Double Concerto with one of my best friends. Here's the thing about playing a string ...read more

Scripture: John 21:3, Romans 7:15

Tags: Spiritual Drift, Sanctification

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

9998; Imagine You Have Moved To A Beautiful ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 7, 2004

✎ Imagine you have moved to a beautiful beach front home on the Pacific coast (we’re using our imagination, so you may as well have your dream house). The movers have just left and you are faced with the daunting task of getting settled in. That’s when the phone rings. I call and say, ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Had The Meanest Parents In All The World. When ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 3, 2002

I had the meanest parents in all the world. When I was seven years old they dared to spank me just because I told them I would not do what they asked me to do to help around the house. My friend next door never got spanked. He didn’t have to help at home. He had nice parents. I had the meanest ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Evangelical Free

The Key … After 29 Floors

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 12, 2008

5411 The Key … After 29 Floors Three men, John Newton, Louis Weatherford, and Samuel Preston, were out to find the best that this life had to offer. Willing to try anything, they were now on their way to New York City to “to the Ambassador Hotel, a twenty-nine floor building. Upon entering the ...read more

Denomination: Other

Living The Full Christian Life

Contributed by Chris Surber on Oct 24, 2008

Living the Full Christian Life As believers, we have received a great inheritance and legacy. In Acts 17:11, Luke writes, "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian Church

9/11: The Last One Rescued

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 19, 2011

9/11: THE LAST ONE RESCUED Genelle Guzman McMillan wanted a change from her home in Trinidad, so she moved to New York in 1998. In order to stay in New York, McMillan knew she needed to get a good, steady job. She couldn't believe it when she was hired at one of the World Trade Towers and was ...read more

Tags: Testimonies About Jesus

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Blessings In The Messes

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

Sometimes life is a mess! As I sit in my own office you can barely see the top of my desk and just about every available flat surface is cluttered with some books or papers of some sort! Sermons to preach, classes to teach, meetings to prepare for, schedules to keep - my office sometimes ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:4

Tags: Resolution, Busyness, Ordinary People, Blessings, Count Your Blessings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Carnival Ride

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 9, 2017

Some years ago, while our family was vacationing in the high Sierras, we decided to visit a small county fair near the town of Quincy. There weren't many people there that morning. In fact, we were about the only ones visiting the carnival rides. So when I climbed into the Tilt-O-Wheel with my ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15

Tags: Sin, Sin Cycle

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

There Was A Farmer Who Had Three Sons: Ron, Don ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Apr 29, 2001

There was a farmer who had three sons: Ron, Don and Little John. All had their names on the church roll but none ever attended church or had time for God. Then one day Don was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and he did all he could to help Don, but the outlook for his recovery was ...read more

Scripture: James 1:26-27, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 13:6-9

Tags: Faith, Commitment To Christ, Clean

Denomination: Baptist

While I Was In Bible College I Worked Part Time ...  PRO

Contributed by Dan Cormie on Feb 28, 2005

While I was in Bible College I worked part time on the side for a construction company as a laborer. One day I was given the job of moving the 2 x12 planks the brick layers use on their scaffolding from one job site to another across town. This was supposed to be a two or three trip job as the ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Mennonite

Once On A Ship Liner On A Journey Through The ...

Contributed by Steven W on Mar 26, 2005

Once on a ship liner on a journey through the Atlantic Ocean, the apostle Smith Wigglesworth was in the Great Banquet Hall where all the guests and ship staff gathered together to have a gala time. And everyone was having a jolly good time getting drunk and making merry. (Sounds like our present ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When I Was A Boy In School From Time To ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Aug 7, 2005

ILLUS: When I was a boy in school from time to time I would get into trouble. The first time I was sent to the principal’s office was a real education for me. By the way, back in those day they believed in spanking boys that did something wrong. So, another young man and I was sent to the ...read more

Tags: Sin Punishment Of

Denomination: Baptist

Several Years Ago, My Wife Was Going To Take Our ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 12, 2005

Several years ago, my wife was going to take our son, Ben, to the park. As with most children, Ben simply loved the park. But in order to get to the park, they would have to drive and Ben would need to be placed in his car seat. Ben was a stubborn two year old who was going through a phase in ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

I Recently Read A News Story About A Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Lin Smalec on Dec 8, 2005

I recently read a news story about a little village in Austria named Rattenberg. It is “the smallest town in Austria, and getting smaller each year. The town has lost 20 percent of its population in the past two decades, and as of 2005 had only 440 residents. The reason? Darkness. Rattenberg is ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Of The Need To Be Deliberate And ...

Contributed by Michael De Rosa on Sep 9, 2006

Illustration of the need to be deliberate and diligent: The weeds overcome When we lived in KCMO, we rented a duplex on Walrond Avenue. We had our own fenced in back yard and along the entire fence line, we had a lot of shrubs and weeds. I did not like that and wanted to get those things out of ...read more

Denomination: Free Methodist

A Man Has A Dream, He Dies And Goes To Hell!  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Mar 28, 2003

A MAN HAS A DREAM, HE DIES AND GOES TO HELL! While in hell the man notices there are many tables and starving people are sitting all around the great tables. There is hot food of all taste on the table. In Hell, they are starving with food tortuuring them right before their eyes. While all this ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Assembly Of God