In Sermon Illustrations: "How To Get Stronger"

Growth Takes Time

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 18, 2018

GROWTH IS RARELY AN ACCIDENT, GROWTH HAS A PLAN… GROWTH REQUIRES EFFORT… THE MORE EFFORT THE MORE THE GROWTH WILL THRIVE… Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall get exactly what he expected. Les Brown tells a wonderful illustration that we need to consider… There is a tree that grows in ...read more

Tags: Plan, Growth

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Weeping Over Others

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Do you weep for your family, friends, church, nation and world? 1) Jesus did- Jesus wept over the sins of others, over their bitter consequences in judgment and death, and over Jerusalem which would not receive him. Jesus was a Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53). Why? Because he took our sins upon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Intercession, Beatitudes, Lost, Weeping, Mourning, Evangelism, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Be Real?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 18, 2020

Excerpt from the Story of the Skin Horse “The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Love, Children, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Real, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom's Apron

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023

As I looked through the old photo album, my eyes fixed upon a picture of Mom in her blue Sunday dress wearing a soiled, yellow apron. I smiled as, in my mind, I returned. It seemed like just yesterday, For I had left on it my small handprints— From playing in Carolina red clay. Mom had called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:2, Ephesians 6:1-3, Ruth 3:5-6, Proverbs 1:8-9, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Titus 2:3-5, Song of Songs 8:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Aprons, Mom, Mothers, Mother's Day, Memory, Poetry, Examples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Christians: We Should Be Jumping For Joy!

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Oct 3, 2025

Christians: We Should Be Jumping for Joy! Acts 16:34 says, "Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household." The saved jailer rejoiced in His salvation! And that word "rejoiced" has the great ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Evangelism, Paul, Salvation, Missions, Silas, Crisis, Christian Service, Philippian Jailer, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Chris Had A Vision To Share The Gospel With Every ...

Contributed by Ken Sowers on Nov 11, 2002

Chris had a vision to share the gospel with every student at Dunwoody high school. Problem was that Chris was a skater and had very few friends. But he did have a great dream. Mark grew up in Miami with his mom. His folks split up and he moved to Atlanta, when he became a teen be fell to alcohol ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

This Last Week I Started Reading The Book, ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 2, 2008

This last week I started reading the book, “Pivotal Praying,” - Connecting with God in times of great need. The book is written by John Hull and Tim Elmore. The book has been enlightening to say the least but in chapter 5 Tim shares about how important it is to run to God in prayer when we find ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Overcoming The Loss Of Hands And Feet

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jul 16, 2008

David and Becky Guinn have been on my mind this past week. In 1997, the Lord blessed me to go with David on a mission trip to Ukraine. It was a life-changing experience for me. David and Becky deeply love the Lord. They have faithfully served the Lord for years in college ministry, mission work and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30, Matthew 12:9-15, 2 Timothy 1:1-12

Tags: Faith, Perseverance, Overcome Difficulty

Denomination: Baptist

True ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

TRUE WORSHIP I want to read to you an excerpt from James Montgomery Boice’s book, "Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace?" to preface my opening statements. This is from his chapter entitled, "Reforming Our Worship". In it he cites two sources from which he got his information. I cite my ...read more

Scripture: John 4:23-24

Tags: Worship, Worship Definition

Baptism Of Ivan The Great Tsar Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 8, 2009

Baptism of Ivan the Great Tsar of Russia Ivan the Great was Tsar of Russia during the Fifteenth Century. He brought together the warring tribes into one vast empire. As a fighting man he was courageous. As a general he was brilliant. He drove out the Tartars, establishing peace across the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21

Tags: Baptism

Come Sweet Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

COME SWEET DEATH The picture is indelibly etched on my memory, I'm sure because at the time the incident seemed so bizarre, so peculiar. The scene was an elementary school talent show; all of us had been groomed and polished and persuaded that we had some talent or another to display before our ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Tags: Death

The Bible Thoroughly Equips

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Nov 4, 2012

THE BIBLE THOROUGHLY EQUIPS 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training for righteousness, so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is the Word of God and is useful for thoroughly ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking With God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 1, 2016

“Walking with God” Sermon Opener (Humorous) Micah 6: 1-8 Years ago, in the small town of Catlettsburg Kentucky, there lived several town-drunks. These men where classic characters, each unique in his own way, and from time to time they found themselves arrested ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Tags: Indictment, God's Requirements

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

In January Of 1997 A Mystery Was Solved That Had ...  PRO

Contributed by Matthew Rogers on May 20, 2002

In January of 1997 a mystery was solved that had baffled people for nearly a decade. Someone was giving away millions of dollars! The recipients didn’t know why the gifts came or how to ask for more. But still the money drizzled in, to universities, hospitals and service groups around the globe, ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-13

Tags: Giving General, College, Daughter, Perspective

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Modern Fable  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jun 11, 2002

A Modern Fable Once upon a time there was a little boy. When he was three weeks old his parents turned him over to a baby-sitter. When he was two, they dressed him up like a cowboy and gave him a toy gun. When he was three, everybody said, “How cute as he went about singing a beer ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Wesleyan

Jerry West, The Nba's Top Executive Who Signed ...

Contributed by Victor Yap on Aug 29, 2002

Jerry West, the NBA’s top executive who signed Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles, walked away from the Lakers after 40 years with the organization as a player, a coach, then an executive. He couldn’t even watch his team win the championship in 1999 after a long drought. He couldn’t ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Leadership General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

One Of The Most Touching Moments In Sports Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

One of the most touching moments in sports came at the end of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, in which the US hockey team beat the Russians. It was an incredible feat. All during the games the cameras focused on goalie Jim Craig, one of the heroes of the team and on his father in the stands. Craig’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:1

Tags: God's Provision, Christian Liberty

Denomination: Christian Church

Robert Fulghum In His Wildly-Popular Book, "All I ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 8, 2003

Robert Fulghum in his wildly-popular book, “All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,?spelled out how things learned as a child will shape the philosophy of an adult. These life-changing kindergarten rules, principles, and advice include: “Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Independent/Bible

When I Was Very Young, I Remember Swimming At A ...

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Jul 12, 2004

When I was very young, I remember swimming at a lake during a Gregory family reunion. I know, the thought of such a reunion is more than some of you can stomach. At the lake, there was a dock. I would walk a little ways out on the dock, jump in the water, and then walk back to shore. Each time ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Baptist

Triumph From Tragedy  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 26, 2004

TRIUMPH FROM TRAGEDY Sometimes tragedy kind of sneaks up on you. It comes at you like termites at an old wood-frame house. It eats away for years, then one day the rafters of the house give way before you ever realized what was happening. Sometimes tragedy simply hits you full-body and knocks you ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Ruth, God In The Hardships