In Sermon Illustrations: "Inexpressible Words"

Irritated By The 1971 Canadian Census Form ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 19, 2008

Irritated by the 1971 Canadian census form defining the husband as the Head of the household, I wrote in the space marked Householder comments: “In this family my husband and I definitely share the household equally, and I wish to register my complaint at your archaic wording.” Several days later, ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

As We Read This Text, According To Dr. Schmit, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2008

As we read this text, according to Dr. Schmit, and I quote, "We know that we too are individual members of a large flock of faithful disciples who seek to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. In other words, the work we do is never ours alone to accomplish. We do our part and trust that God ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Tell Them Out Loud  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

TELL THEM OUT LOUD Scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer once said "The best way to send an idea is to wrap it up in a person." The theological word for all of that is incarnation, meaning "in the flesh." Jesus was the incarnation of God. Jesus was the way that God sent His "idea" to humanity; there was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:18-25, Hebrews 1:1

Tags: Christmas

Faith Isn't Comfortable

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Jan 29, 2009

FAITH ISN'T COMFORTABLE "You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings. God gives us the promises in a quiet hour; God seals our covenants with great and gracious words, then He steps back and waits to see how much we believe; then He lets the tempter come, and the test seems to ...read more

Tags: Disciplines General

Denomination: Christian Church

As D. L. Moody Was Nearing Death, He Told A ...

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Feb 23, 2009

As D. L. Moody was nearing death, he told a friend, "Someday you will read that D. L. Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher. .. . I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856; That which is ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Baptist

Mohandas Ghandi, The Famed Leader Of The Indian ...

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Jun 17, 2009

Mohandas Ghandi, the famed leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The independence movement began with a handful of people and he led it into a mass movement of millions. He once made the statement: "I would be a Christian if it were not for other Christians." Robert Ingersoll, an infidel ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Evangelism Urgency

Send Me Anywhere, Only Go With Me

Contributed by Nathan Ingram on Nov 30, 2009

SEND ME ANYWHERE, ONLY GO WITH ME David Livingstone was a pioneer missionary to Africa. His wife died early in their ministry, and he faced stiff opposition to his ministry from his Scottish brethren. He ministered half blind, and walked over 29,000 miles. Listen to these words from his diary: ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

On Regret

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

ON REGRET John Greenleaf Whittier, one of our most astute poets, wrote: For of all the sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been.' That is what Regret is all about. The world is full of people who Regret having thoughtlessly chosen the wrong path. Life is a series ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Tags: Disappointment

I Was Working With Some Particularly Complex Lab ...

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 13, 2010

I was working with some particularly complex lab equipment last week, and it was not doing what I needed it to do. After I got it working, I realized that the words I was muttering under my breath as I struggled with it were not songs of thanksgiving. I won’t quote myself. But I am reminded by ...read more

Tags: Give Thanks, Prayer General

Denomination: Catholic

A Letter For Joe

Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jun 8, 2010

A LETTER FOR JOE Joseph Parker was a popular preacher in London, England in the late 1800's. He was the pastor of the large City Temple. One Sunday as he was going to the pulpit a woman in the balcony tossed a piece of paper on the platform before him. He picked it up and read it. It contained ...read more

Tags: Dealing With Conflicts

Denomination: Baptist

Defeated...

Contributed by Patrick Nix on Jul 9, 2010

DEFEATED... On June 15, 1815, as Napoleon came against England in the Battle of Waterloo, reports came back from the front lines... The last message before the fog rolled in: "Wellington Defeated." Later that day, their sorrow of defeat was transformed into the joy of victory when then were able ...read more

Tags: Easter Good Friday

Denomination: Baptist

Stats On Forgetfulness

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 18, 2010

STATS ON FORGETFULNESS I was relieved recently to find out that I’m not the only one who forgets things. According to researcher Karen Bolla, everyone does at one time or another. These are the six things people most often forget: • (6). faces 42% • (5). what was said 49% • (4). words 53% • (3). ...read more

Tags: Memories

Denomination: Brethren

God Is Like A Strainer

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 7, 2011

GOD IS LIKE A STRAINER I have only made applesauce once in my life, and that was a month or two back when the Newells brought all those apples to church for all of us. I made sauce the easy way; I had a press down apple corer / section maker, and then threw the apple slices – skin and all – into ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Positive Stillness

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 30, 2011

A POSITIVE STILLNESS "The greater mystery, surpassing all words, summons us to silence. It must, of course, be a silence with content, not just the absence of speech and action. We should expect the liturgy to give us a positive stillness that will restore us. Such stillness will not be just a ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:4

Tags: Disciplines Silence

Denomination: Catholic

John Macarthur: Christ Was Born To Die

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 14, 2014

John MacArthur: "The reason that Jesus Christ was born was to die. It greatly concerns me today that there are some who are always talking about the fact that Jesus was a wonderful person who through a set of circumstances got Himself into a mess and wound up getting crucified. However, the Word ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:23

Tags: Foreknowledge, Cross Of Christ, Cross Of Calvary

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Simpson's Cocoa Powder

Contributed by Jason Albertson on Nov 8, 2014

There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:8

Tags: Purity, Personal Holiness

Denomination: Methodist

Funny Epitaph On Tombstone

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Nov 20, 2019

I am told that an Indiana cemetery has a tombstone that is over 100 years old which bears the following epitaph: "Pause, stranger, when you pass me by. As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me." An unknown passerby read those ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

Tags: Hell, Death, Eternity, Decision, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Stop Look And Listen

Contributed by David Parks on Oct 11, 2023

Stop Look and Listen Early in the 20th century, with the advent of the automobile, the country's largest railroad became concerned about the many collisions at crossings. The company offered $2,500 for the three best words to use on a warning sign. The top prize winner was paid $833 for ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:15-21, Romans 10:17, Psalm 19:1

Tags: Faith, Spirituality, Materialism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Faith To Hear The Silent ...

Contributed by Bradley Berglund on Feb 4, 2009

Faith to Hear the Silent Notes for Conversations in the Marketplace by Pastor Brad Berglund (First Baptist Church) Feb 6, 2009 At a recent prayer meeting, I was told of a young pianist who is working on a doctor’s degree in performance. According to his professor, the young man has abilities ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Tags: Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Baptist

Faith To Play The Silent Notes  PRO

Contributed by Bradley Berglund on Feb 14, 2009

FAITH TO PLAY THE SILENT NOTES by Pastor Brad Berglund (First Baptist Church) Feb 6, 2009 At a recent prayer meeting, I was told of a young pianist who is working on a doctor’s degree in performance. According to his professor, the young man has abilities that leave his peers far behind. To the ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-6

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Baptist