In Sermon Illustrations: "I Cant"

When Is It Okay To Be Snarly?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 6, 2022

Normally, whatever normal means, I don’t get agitated by many things. I can keep my cool under the most bizarre circumstances. Nothing gets under my skin, and I can take everything with a grin. I can’t remember the last time I lost my temper and got mad. I’ve been married for over 50 years, so I ...read more

Scripture: John 8:44

Tags: Humor, Telemarketers, Snarly, Aggitation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Will We Be Served Coffee In Heaven?

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 5, 2021

The last several weeks have truly been hectic in every sense of the word. Trying to catch up can be a never-ending job. When I think I’m caught up, I see another thing I need to do. I have learned that kicking the can down the street only hurts your big toe. With so much to do lately, it's ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:3

Tags: Coffee, Stress, Heaven

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What It Was, Was A Cookie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 11, 2025

At least once a month The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her daughter will spend a day visiting thrift stores in our community. I’m not sure, so don’t quote me, but I think there’s a 100-mile radius where they do their shopping. This past week was one of those days. As she was backing out ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:2

Tags: Desire, Cookie

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Was One Of Those Weeks

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 19, 2019

At my stage in life, I have experienced a gazillion weeks. I thought about actually counting how many weeks I have lived, but I don’t have that many fingers or toes. It doesn’t matter how many weeks it is. I have lived enough weeks to know, when you think you have experienced everything there is ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:23

Tags: Week Work, Victory

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Temptation Is Oh So Tempting

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 7, 2021

At the beginning of the week, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage informed me that she and some of her friends would be going thrift store shopping on Thursday. I nodded my head and smiled, not knowing where she was going with this. “Now,” she said, “you will have to take care of your lunch. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Humor, Temptations, Yielding

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Who Doesn’t Like Baloney?

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 17, 2024

When I was young, my favorite sandwich was the baloney sandwich. Sometimes, with cheese and other things, but most importantly, baloney. I can’t imagine what my childhood would have been like without those bologna sandwiches. Until I went to school, I thought my mother had invented the baloney ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Pranks, Relationships, Nonsense

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Back In The Saddle Finally

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 17, 2026

After about three months of wrestling with a variety of bug thingamajigs, I ended up with a case of acute bronchitis. Believe me; it was not really cute at all. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I, during that time, competed in a coughing and sneezing contest. Unfortunately, she won the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Tags: Restart, Saddle

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Our Summer Vacation Jamboree

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 15, 2023

After months and months of planning, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finalized our vacation plans for the summer. Because of our busy lifestyle, something like this cannot be done with just a snap of a finger, especially since the great-granddaughter invaded our family circle. If my wife ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:11

Tags: Unity, Vacation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Secure In My Pocket

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jul 28, 2014

My phone was secure. I had it shoved far down into my pants pocket. There was no way it could fall out; no way could I lose it. I denied it at the time but I saw the signs. They read “Please put any items that you do not want to lose in the bins or lockers before getting on the ride.” I chose to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35

Tags: Dying To Self, False Confidence

Denomination: Foursquare

Every Grandparent Can Testify That If Someone ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

Every Grandparent can testify that if someone would have just told them that grandchildren were so much fun, the choice would have been made to have them first! **** She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter as she'd done many times before. ...read more

Tags: Family

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An Ancient Jewish ...

Contributed by Eric Ferguson on Jun 8, 2008

The Farmer's Three Wishes - An ancient Jewish parable: One night a poor farmer was awakened by an angel of the Lord who said: "You've found favor in the eyes of your Maker. He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham. He wants to bless you. Therefore, make any three requests of ...read more

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Is It Time Yet!" Psalm 75: 1-10 Key Verse(S): 2: ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 28, 2004

“Is It Time Yet!” Psalm 75: 1-10 Key verse(s): 2: “You say, ‘I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.’” “Is it time yet?” I can’t tell you how often I have heard those words over the years after having raised four children who were always interested in knowing when the “time” was ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 75:1-10

Tags: Descriptions Of God

Denomination: Lutheran

Sheila-Ism?" Matthew 25:14-30 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 6, 2005

“Sheila-ism?” Matthew 25:14-30 Key verse(s) 24:“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.’” Taking the safest route is something that my father always ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Faith, Faith General, Gift, Money, Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

No Bulldozers Here!" Hebrews 3:1-6 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 26, 2005

“No Bulldozers Here!” Hebrews 3:1-6 Key verse(s) 6:“But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” I grew up watching john wayne movies; courage and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. I remember watching ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:1-6

Tags: Faith General, Doubt, Unbelief

Denomination: Lutheran

Bring Back The Rotary Phone?" Acts 13:42-52 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 11, 2005

“Bring Back the Rotary Phone?” Acts 13:42-52 Key verse(s): 50:“But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.” There are three things you can do in life when ...read more

Scripture: Acts 13:42-52

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

My Tok Doesn’t Always Tik

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 15, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my life, I have always lived on a schedule. Every day is devoted to certain tasks, and it has worked for me so far. I know what day it is by what I am doing that day. Unlike The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I cannot multitask. I have to do one thing at a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-16

Tags: Schedule, Planning

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Maybe We Should Go Back To Smoke Signal Communications

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 30, 2022

I must admit that communication is an essential part of my life today. The longer I live, the more sophisticated those communications become, and it’s challenging to me. Recently, I was working on my latest book using my latest computer and its programs. As I was working, I remembered that I did ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:6

Tags: Communication, Computer, Media

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ice Cream Solves A Lot Of My Problems

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 24, 2024

Like everybody else, I face problems almost every day. Or maybe I should say, my problem faces me. Every Monday, when I get up, I say to myself, “How many problems will I have this week? How many will I solve?” Unfortunately, myself never replies back. Problems are part of life, but it’s tough ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Prayer, Problems, Decisions

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Much Sleep Is Too Much?

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 19, 2025

I have noticed recently that sleeping has become a very important part of my life. This just snuck up on me overnight. When I was young and living at home, I tried to come up with excuses and reasons for not going to bed at night. My parents had an early bedtime schedule that they enforced rather ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 127:2

Tags: Sleep, Energy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance