In Sermon Illustrations: "I Am That I Am"

Is Being Sane Too Much To Ask?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 28, 2021

When young, I remember my grandfather often saying to me, "the world wasn't like this when I was your age." Then he would go on a long rant about how things were much different when he was my age. Finally, he would conclude by saying, "It's an insane world out there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Sanity, Culture, Generational

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

One Mouth Too Many Words

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 5, 2022

I read somewhere where the average woman speaks 20,000 words a day, and the average man speaks 7,000 words a day. I’m not sure if that’s true because I never believe everything I read, particularly on my computer, unless I write it. If this is true, who came up with it and how did they get to this ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28

Tags: Speak, Silence, Worde

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Things Have A Way Of Catching Up With Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 31, 2020

I have learned in my life, and probably just one thing: things have a way of catching up with me. I can't get away with anything. It's not that I don't try. There were a few times when I've come pretty close to getting away with something, but it didn't turn out the way I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Money, Humor, Fraud

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Have Nose, Will Snore

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 8, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder Having been married as long as The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself, there are very few things we disagree. I run by the idea, “Do you want to be happy, or do you want to be right?” That has guided me through many a storm these past years. Almost every day, I ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Unity, Agree

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Are You Ready For Fall?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 11, 2021

With such a tumultuous summer, I’m glad we are now beginning the fall season. There for a while, I didn’t think it was going to come. But, contrary to my negativity, it has arrived, and I’m delighted. Summer wasn’t quite the way summers have been in the past. My family didn’t have many ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Tags: Humor, Blessings, Seasons

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Minister And A Day Off His Rocker

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 5, 2019

I was tootling along one day last week, quite focused on getting my business for the day done. In fact, I was feeling good about the progress I was making with my “to-do list.” Nothing is more satisfying to me than the sense of being in control of my schedule. I love checking off items on my “to-do ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 11:28

Tags: Faith, Love, Trust, Hope, Surrender  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If It Was Up To Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 13, 2021

Fifty years ago, I was a teenager. Boy, do I miss those Days of Yore. It's not that I would like to relive them, but I was a much different person back then. As a teenager, I knew everything, and all you had to do was ask me. Even if you didn't ask me, I still would tell you what was on my ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19

Tags: Wisdom, News, Politics

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s All In The Script

Contributed by James Snyder on May 14, 2022

Everybody is concerned about details in various aspects of life. I like overseeing the details of my life to make sure I'm going in the right direction. I'm not always going in the right direction, as you can imagine. However, everybody's idea of detail management is not always the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:5

Tags: Script, Commercials

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Much Is Laughter Really Worth?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 30, 2023

Of all the things I prioritize in my life, laughter is at the top of the list. I appreciate laughter more than any other thing. Some people get paid for their jokes, while others pay mightily. I am in the latter category. I like to make people laugh, but sometimes it costs me. Whenever I see ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: Laughter, Medicine

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Power Of The Holy Spirit To Change Lives

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 27, 2023

Dr. Harry A. Ironside the great evangelist and Bible teacher was living in the San Francisco Bay area working with a group of believers called “Brethren.” One Sunday as he was walking through the city he came upon a group of Salvation Army workers holding a meeting on the corner of Market and Grant ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-9

Tags: Changed Lives, Power Of The Holy Spirit, Henry Ironside, Holy Spirit, Transformation, Agnosticism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

[208]. A Message From A Poem – Our God Is Our Strength

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 21, 2025

[208]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR GOD IS OUR STRENGTH {{Psalm 81:6-10 “I relieved his SHOULDER of the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. Psa. 81:7 YOU CALLED IN TROUBLE, AND I RESCUED YOU. I answered you in THE HIDING PLACE of thunder. I proved you at the waters of Meribah. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Psalm 81:16, Psalm 81:6-10

Tags: Finest Wheat, Rescue, Honey, Shoulder, Trouble, Honey From The Rock, Christian Poems, Water, Call  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are Homemade Cookies Addictive?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 8, 2020

Some people say we are living in the "new normal." I'm not sure exactly what they mean, and I don't have the time to ask, nor the desire. If the "new normal" is what I have been experiencing in the parsonage for the last several months, I'm all for it. Let it ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:18

Tags: Humor, Negioating

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What A Wacky World We Live In

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 1, 2023

I like the old saying, “Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does.” This is the kind of world we live in today, and I’m still not adjusted to this sort of thing. I’m not sure I will ever adjust to the world around me. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I will be watching the ...read more

Tags: David, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Boli Zhang, A Young Chinese Writer, Was Born In ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on May 26, 2002

"Boli Zhang, a young Chinese writer, was born in Heilong Jiang Province in China. He studied writing at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing University. His news reporting had won several literature awards in mainland China and Taiwan. In 1989, Zhang participated in the ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Sharing Your Faith, Humility

Denomination: *other

Viktor Was Seated In A Crowded Train Headed For ...  PRO

Contributed by Bryan Ness on Sep 4, 2002

Viktor was seated in a crowded train headed for Budapest. He was one of the leading bee experts in Hungary and he was transporting a box of bees, which he had placed under his seat. He was enjoying the passing scenery and the cool breeze coming from the open window. As he was talking to the ...read more

Tags: Human Body, Doubt

Denomination: Adventist

In The Year 1873, Haroatio Spafford, A Lawyer ...

Contributed by Fred Sigle on Apr 5, 2007

In the year 1873, Haroatio Spafford, a lawyer from Chicago, placed his wife and four daughters on the LUXURY LINER “Ville du Havre” sailing from New York to France. Spafford expected to JOIN them in about 3 or 4 weeks after finishing up some BUSINESS, but with the exception of his wife he never ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

King George And Queen Elizabeth And Then Princess ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Nov 24, 2007

King George and Queen Elizabeth and then Princess Elizabeth set the example of being great leaders of and role models for their people by being servants. The Rev. Dr. John C. Maxwell is an honored pastor in the Wesleyan Church Dr. Maxwell and founder of two companies world renowned EQUIP and ...read more

Tags: Gifts Leadership

Denomination: Methodist

The Value Of The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

THE VALUE OF THE BLOOD Several years ago in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, George and Vera Bajenksi’s lives were changed forever. February 16, 1989, on a very normal Thursday morning, the phone rang at 9:15 a.m. "There’s been an accident..." It involved their son Ben. As they approached the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19

Tags: Blood Of Christ

This Great Nation Will Endure As It Has Endured, ...  PRO

Contributed by Gary Harrison on Oct 27, 2008

This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself——nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark ...read more

Tags: Anxiety

Denomination: Methodist

My Son, Dan, Was Pulling Out Of His Apartment ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 17, 2009

My son, Dan, was pulling out of his apartment complex on his way to school, when suddenly wham, a car hits him going 40 miles an hour about a foot in front of where he was sitting in our Mini-van. The next 15 to 20 minutes he was out. He awoke up confused wondering “Where am I?” and “What is ...read more

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

Denomination: Baptist