In Sermon Illustrations: "I Am That I Am"

A Prison Chaplain Visited Charles Peace A ...

Contributed by Aubrey Vaughan on May 29, 2007

A prison chaplain visited Charles Peace a violent man who was an atheist, just before his public execution. To the chaplain, Peace commented, “I don’t believe all that stuff.” But if I did let me tell you this I would crawl on my hands and knees the length and breadth of England over ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

If You Are Familiar With The Peanuts Cartoon ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

If you are familiar with the Peanuts cartoon strip then you are acquainted with Lucy. She is a constant faultfinder and ever quick to criticize her playmates. One day Linus asks Lucy. "Why are you always so anxious to criticize me? Lucy replies; "I just think I have a knack for seeing other ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Who Was Arrested By Adolph ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, WHO WAS ARRESTED BY ADOLPH HITLER IN WORLD WAR II, SAW IT COMING AND HE SAID, “WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE FEDERALISTS, I DIDN’T SPEAK UP. H. WHEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS, I DIDN’T SPEAK UP. WHEN THE NAZIS CAME FOR THE CATHOLICS, I DIDN’T SPEAK UP. WHEN THEY CAME FOR ME, ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Replacing The Old

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Several years ago I went to my dentist. He said I needed a crown on one of my teeth. The dentist drilled away the decay and damage of the old tooth and replaced it with a new crown. He replaced the old with something new. Faith involves getting rid of the old and replacing it with something better. ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Three Philosophies: The Good Samaritan

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Nov 10, 2010

THREE PHILOSOPHIES: THE GOOD SAMARITAN The parable of the Good Samaritan gives three philosophies of life— The robber's philosophy was "What you have is mine, and I will take it." The priest and Levite had the philosophy that "What is mine is mine, and I will keep it." The Samaritan's ...read more

Tags: Parable Good Samaritan

Denomination: *other

The Pond Of The Soul

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 15, 2012

THE POND OF THE SOUL Thomas Fuller (English preacher of 1600’s) wrote: "Almost 20 years ago I heard a profane jest and still I remember it. How many pious passages of a far later date have I utterly forgotten? It seems my soul is like a filthy pond where fish die soon ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24

Tags: Holiness

Marriage: Preparation Is Key  PRO

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Jan 12, 2013

MARRIAGE: PREPARATION IS KEY "Promises are no substitute for preparation in marriage. Just because you say 'I Do' does not make you able. Just because you say 'I Do' does not make you capable. It only makes you accountable. And when you are accountable for something you are not capable of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:1-7, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tags: Love, Marriage, Wedding, Promise, Marriage Struggle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Bad News And Worse News!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 21, 2023

Doctor to patient: "I have bad news and worse news." Patient: "So let's have it." Doctor: "The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live." Patient: "I can't imagine what could be worse than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 16:33

Tags: Problems, Faith, Tribulation, Difficulties, Bad News, Tests, Trials  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What It Was, Was A Peach Tree

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 15, 2020

For some reason, this week, I had been thinking of my maternal grandfather. I was named after him, and therefore we had a connection. I was thinking about him because this month I turned the same age as he was when he passed. I hope there's no connection there. As a young boy, I would spend a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:23

Tags: Faith, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Little Boy's Knots!" Revelations 19:11-17 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 15, 2005

“A Little Boy’s Knots!” Revelations 19:11-17 Key verse(s): 16:“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KINGS OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” There’s something about being rescued this is so completely satisfying. A number of years ago (pre-cell phone days) I was driving along the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:11-17

Tags: God's Provision, God's Forgiveness, God Cares, Protector, Provider, Strengthen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Who's Going To Wake Jesus Up?  PRO

Contributed by Christopher Roberts (Barrister) on Nov 12, 2012

Who’s Going To Wake Jesus Up? The bible offers us a variety of types of prayer, which we can offer up to God, depending on what our circumstances are. We can pray for provisions, or lost souls, or that God might bring relief to the suffering. But what kind of prayer should we offer up to God when ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 8:8

Tags: Peace, Trust, Worry, Assurance

Denomination: Christian Church

Misapplied Scriptures: Ezekiel 16:6

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Sep 26, 2023

Introduction: Some folks, perhaps well-meaning, will take a verse completely out of its context in order to use the words for something much different than what was intended. This verse is one that to my knowledge has never been used as the person (L, to protect the identity) said to me many years ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 16:6

Tags: Misapplied Scriptures, Blood, Israel

Denomination: Baptist

One Day A Boy Came To His Father And Said, "Dad, ...  PRO

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jan 13, 2005

One day a boy came to his father and said, "Dad, it’s just six weeks before I will be going to college and I was wondering if you were going to give me a going-away present. If you are, I have a suggestion to make." The father smiling answered, ’What is your suggestion, son?" The boy’s eyes ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: Pentecostal

Lessons From A Tavern, Citation: Charles ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jul 5, 2001

[Lessons from a Tavern, Citation: Charles Swindoll, Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1.] An old Marine Corps buddy of mine, to my pleasant surprise, came to know Christ after he was discharged. I say surprise because he cursed loudly, fought hard, chased women, drank heavily, loved war and weapons, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups, Compassion, Fellowship, Friendship General, Understanding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Cut To Fit!  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 25, 2005

Cut To Fit! (08.29.05--Sickness!--Hebrews 12:6) Arthritis is a real drag. As active as you would like to be this day or any, if you are weighted down with joints that are sometimes swollen and often stiff, the day always seems sometime a bit longer, somehow harder to bear. I’ve been an arthritis ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:6

Tags: God In The Hardships, Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Lutheran

Everybody's Doing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

“Everybody’s doing it.” This is a common phrase used today to excuse our behavior, but it is no excuse. We were shocked a decade ago when youth ministries guru Josh McDowell did an extensive survey of Bible-believing church teens that showed that more than half of them were sexually active, even ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

Tags: Purity

Let The Love Of Christ Move You

Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 14, 2009

LET THE LOVE OF CHRIST MOVE YOU I’ve met this guy that I will call Bob. Bob just recently got out of prison. He got caught up in using and did some stupid stuff. He was sent for prison. He had been trying do right and do good but he just got out of control. He was sorry about what he had done and ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Church Of God

Paul Brand's Missionary Mother  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2011

PAUL BRAND'S MISSIONARY MOTHER Dr. Paul Brand, a well known doctor and author, was raised in India. His parents were missionaries there. In his book, titled "In His Image," he writes about his mother. It is one of the most touching stories I’ve ever read. He writes that when his mother was 75 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-13

Tags: Missions

An Observation About Context

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 16, 2020

Context is very important, even in the little things. For example, people have done a lot of damage to Bible verses, stories, doctrines, etc., because they did not or do not consider the context. Someone once remarked that a Bible verse out of its context is like a diamond away from a necklace: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11

Tags: Context, Temptations And Testings

Denomination: Baptist

A Good Start Matters

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Mar 19, 2024

I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was my sixth-grade field day when all the elementary schools gathered for a series of track and field events at the town’s high school track. It was a sunny New England spring morning and I was representing Glen Forest Elementary School in the 50-yard ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Timothy 2:8, Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 4:5

Tags: Prayer, Meditation

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ