In Sermon Illustrations: "Humanity"

An Obstetrician Approached An Anxious Father In ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Dec 10, 2008

An obstetrician approached an anxious father in the waiting room of a New York City hospital and said, “I am sorry to inform you, but your baby lived but two hours after his birth. We did everything we could to save his life.” As the sympathetic doctor was about to leave, the quick thinking ...read more

Tags: Revelation

Denomination: Wesleyan

What Forgiveness Is Not...

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 27, 2014

I think there are many today who are confused about forgiveness. Let’s talk about what forgiveness IS NOT. FORGIVENESS IS NOT EASY. It is the most difficult you will ever do to forgive someone who has stolen from you, lied about, hurt you or broken a vow to you. FORGIVENESS IS NOT NATURAL. The ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-20

Tags: Forgiveness, Cross, Forgiving Others, Joseph In Egypt

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Humble Confidence

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Aug 11, 2014

At the outset, I desire to bring to the fore, a ‘juicy’ tale adorning Science history. When, the invention-coal miner’s lamp- of Sir Humphrey Davy began to pale relatively before the astounding discoveries of his far more illustrious pupil Michael Faraday (in the field of electro-magnetism and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:31

Tags: Work, Hardened, Softened

Denomination: *other

Dna Points To A Creator

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 23, 2019

DNA is found in every cell of our bodies (in at least some stage of its development) and has a beautiful appearance, having the shape of a spiral staircase. The steps (or rungs) are like letters in our alphabet and, ascending or descending the staircase, the letters taken together spell words which ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:19-22

Tags: Creator, Dna, Intelligent Design, Natural Revelation

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What A Young Boy Saw In The Face Of A Missionary

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 2, 2023

Many years ago when the great missionary Adoniram Judson was home on furlough, he passed through the city of Stonington, Connecticut. A young boy playing about the wharves at the time of Judson’s arrival was struck by the man’s appearance. Never before had he seen such a light on any ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-23, Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Children, Missions, Testimony, Witnessing, Fruit Of The Spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Does It Mean To Have Joy?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Feb 2, 2023

Joy is God’s gift to believers. Paul speaks of more than just a mood. This is a deep confidence that was rooted in God’s sovereign control of the universe, His on unchanging divine promises and eternal spiritual realities including the assurance of ultimate victory for those in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-22, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Spirit Filled Life, Happiness, Joy, Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Hound Of Heaven

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 2, 2023

In his book The Call, author Os Guinness writes: We cannot find God without God. We cannot reach God without God. We cannot satisfy God without God—which is another way of saying that our seeking will always fall short unless God’s grace initiates the search and unless God’s call draws us to Him ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:5

Tags: Grace, Salvation, Works, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Looking For A Loophole. W C Fields Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God. Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause) W. C. Fields ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Spirit, Battle, Commitment, Flesh, Loophole  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

The Commercial Appeal," Memphis, Tn Tues., Sept. ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 21, 2007

“The Commercial Appeal,” Memphis, TN Tues., Sept. 12, 2006. Study asks: In what God do we trust? Baylor University in Waco, Texas researchers found we may be "one nation, under God," but Americans actually worship at least four versions of the Lord (according to the Baylor Religion Survey released ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Bruise Is Better Than A Bite!" 1 Samuel 1:1-8 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 13, 2005

“A Bruise Is Better than A Bite!” 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Key verse(s): 8:“Elkanah here husband would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’” “Constructive criticism is when I criticize you. Destructive criticism is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-8, John 12:4-8, John 12:4-8

Tags: Emotions, Criticism

Denomination: Lutheran

In Ancient History, Tanning Was Considered A ...

Contributed by John Tung on May 10, 2007

“In ancient history, tanning was considered a “smelly” trade and relegated to the outskirts of town, amongst the poor. Tanning by ancient methods is so foul smelling that tanneries are still isolated from those towns today where the old methods are used. The ancients used leather for waterskins, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:11

Tags: Tanning

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Other Week As I Was Entering The Front ...  PRO

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on Feb 2, 2008

The other week as I was entering the front entrance of my home a foul smell became very evident to me – I knew what it was immediately as it wasn’t the first time, my drains were blocked! You see were an end terrace and our corner house not only serves our own home when it comes to the drains, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Why Worry?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2011

WHY WORRY? In a 2006 article in Time magazine called "Why We Worry About the Things We Shouldn’t" Jeffrey Kluger, writes: As human beings, we pride ourselves on being the only species that understands the concept of risk. Yet we have a confounding habit of worrying about mere possibilities while ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

Tags: Worry

Charley The Cat

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on May 16, 2008

CHARLEY THE CAT "It was around Thanksgiving, just after our daughter turned five, that we brought Charley home. We named him after Charles, Prince of Wales. The name seemed to fit just right for this shy little newly-adopted member of our family. His wonderful blue eyes seemed to look deep into ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Got An Attitude??  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Got an Attitude?? Scripture says this about your attitude: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Attitude General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Joy Of John 3:16  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 19, 2008

The Joy of John 3:16 Max Lucado's thoughts: A twenty-six word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather two thousand years of storms and questions. If you know nothing ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Joy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Biblical Principles Of Work

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Oct 15, 2019

1) Work is ordained by God. It was His creative invention from the beginning. By working, we resemble God. Like God, you have the ability to work, make plans, implement them, and be creative. Additionally, God gave us the task of ruling over and taking care of His creation (Genesis ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:28

Tags: Work, Business

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Distorted Christianity

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 7, 2023

Q: What does the Church think of God the Father? A: He is omnipotent and holy. He created the world and imposed on mankind conditions impossible to fulfill; he is very angry if these are not carried out. He sometimes interferes in an arbitrary way with judgments and miracles, distributed with a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-6

Tags: Distortion, Misconceptions, Ignorance, Slander, Dorothy Sayers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Some Years Ago Before The Death Of Mother ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

Some years ago before the death of Mother Theresa, a television special depicted the grim human conditions that were a part of her daily life. It showed all the horror of the slums of Calcutta and her love for these destitute people. The producer interviewed her as she made her rounds in that ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Forgiveness General, Poverty

True Service  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jan 8, 2003

TRUE SERVICE Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside. Self-righteous service is impressed with the “big deal.” True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14, John 13:1-15

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Discipleship, Servanthood

Denomination: Baptist