In Sermon Illustrations: "James On Doing"

The Cookie Monster Has Returned

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 11, 2023

Sitting in my office working on some projects, I was suddenly surrounded by a familiar aroma. This surprised me because I had no idea what was happening. That aroma was familiar, but I couldn't identify it. I’m like that most of the time. My nose doesn't work quite like The Gracious ...read more

Scripture: James 4:17

Tags: Stealing, Cookies, Sneaking

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Being Sick Is Not My Cup Of Tea

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 27, 2024

I do not have a history of being sick. I rarely even have a headache, but I must confess, I give headaches. The last two weeks have been different for me. I have never experienced such a long stretch of sickness before. One day in the hospital and then two weeks in bed. What kind of experience is ...read more

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Sickness, Doctors, Nurses

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Thinking Has A Way Of Getting Me Into Trouble

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 26, 2019

Just when I think I have all my bases covered, a new one shows up, and it’s not a homerun. I know all my tocks don’t tick, but I do the best I can. I may not be the best all the time, but I try, and I try, and I try. I do not want to be a nuisance to anybody, so I try not to, especially with the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:2

Tags: Family, Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Saw A Peanuts Cartoon. Charlie Brown And Linus ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

I saw a Peanuts cartoon. Charlie Brown and Linus are inside all bundled up and Snoopy’s out in the cold shivering in front of his empty dog dish. Charlie and Linus are having a discussion on how sad it is that Snoopy is hungry and cold. "He’s cold and hungry. We ought to do something about it." ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Poverty, Giving General

Boyfriend Trouble

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2024

A teenager brings her new boyfriend home to meet her parents. They’re appalled by his haircut, his tattoos, his piercings. Later, the girl’s mom says, “Dear, he doesn’t seem to be a very nice boy.” “Oh, please, Mom!” says the daughter. “If he wasn’t ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-15

Tags: Daughters, Sermon Intros, Boyfriends, Parents, Moms, Teenagers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Grandma Is Cramming For Her Finals!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 15, 2024

Every time a little boy went to a playmate’s house, he found the friend’s grandmother deeply engrossed in her Bible. Finally, his curiosity got the better of him. “Why do you suppose your grandmother reads the Bible so much?” he asked. “I’m not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:9-16

Tags: Death, Children, Heaven, Judgment, Bible Reading, Grandmothers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Day A Farmer's Donkey Fell Down Into A Well. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Kolk on Aug 4, 2001

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey So he invited all his neighbors to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-18

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Baptist

The Church That Voted God Out!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

The story is told about a poor woman who lived across the tracks and wanted to join a very fashionable church. She talked to the pastor about it, but he sought to discourage her. He suggested she go home and think about it carefully for a week. At the end of the week she came back. He said, “Go ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-12

Tags: Church, Revival, Favoritism, Pastors, Membership, Partiality  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In "Share Jesus Without Fear", Bill Fay Speaks ...

Contributed by Robbie Peay on Apr 19, 2004

In “Share Jesus Without Fear”, Bill Fay speaks very bluntly about the sin of silence. He states that believers sin when they remain silent and do not share Jesus with others. He says that the sin of silence is a deadly sin and he’s right. We erroneously think that by remaining silent about our ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-20

Denomination: Baptist

Asking For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 7, 2009

ASKING FOR GUIDANCE I heard a great joke this week about a man who himself had a great joke to share. He was in a dimly lit restaurant and he leaned over to the lady at the table next to him and said, "Hey, would you like to hear a very funny blond joke." The lady replied, "I’m 6’3" blonde and am ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-16

Tags: Prayer General

What Happens Every 15 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

What Happens Every 15 Minutes Hands on Illustration: Set the timer for 15 minutes – I am setting this timer for 15 minutes and 15 minutes from now it will ring and at that point I will tell you how valuable 15 minutes are in this world. When the Timer goes off and rings this is what would have ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Tags: Time

Sign Your Name Or Forget It

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 8, 2011

SIGN YOUR NAME OR FORGET IT J. Vernon McGee tells of an incident that happened in one of his pastorates. A man came to him and said, "I want to tell you about a certain situation." He told him about a certain man who was involved in a particular sin. The man wanted to do something about it. He ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Tags: Tongue

Invalids' Prayers Bring Revival  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2011

INVALIDS' PRAYERS BRING REVIVAL Max Lucado told of a church in Scotland back in the 1940s that was struggling to keep the doors open. A couple of its members were two older ladies who were invalids and couldn’t get out for worship any longer. But these ladies refused to allow their infirmities to ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-20

Tags: Prayer Persistence, Serving

Position Versus Discipleship

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 7, 2013

POSITION VERSUS DISCIPLESHIP C. Gene Wilkes, in his book Jesus on Leadership, says, "Confusion arises when you equate higher 'positions' with leadership . . . As long as 'position' is honored above discipleship -- being a follower -- church leaders will honor the ambitious over the obedient." We ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

A Young Boy Was Sitting On The Front Row ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 6, 2001

A young boy was sitting on the front row watching a ventriloquist perform with his dummy on his lap. Interacting with the boy, the dummy proceeded to ask the boy questions and talk with him. Thinking that the boy had found a new friend, he approached the dummy after the show to ask him to come ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Faith

Knowing Everything Is A Blessing And A Curse

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 5, 2023

If you ever spent more than five minutes with me, you would conclude that I do not know everything. I would agree 100%. It is not bad that I don't know everything. I know today more than I knew ten years ago, if that is any consolation. The thing that is surprising to me is that I do not ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Blessing, Curse

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Master And The Child  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 17, 2012

THE MASTER AND THE CHILD The folklore surrounding Poland's famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski, includes a story, which though fictional, provides a true picture of what God can do with us: A mother, wishing to encourage her young son's progress at the piano, bought ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: God In The Hardships

Brandt States, "Bitter Envying And Selfish ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 6, 2003

Brandt states, "Bitter envying and selfish ambition in the heart does not show. You can be very hostile toward a man, and walk up to him and put your arm around him and say, Hi, friend." You can hide the inner thought of your soul by developing your acting ability. If you practice looking like a ...read more

Scripture: James 3:16

Tags: Faith, Repentance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It’s My Tongue I’ll Wag It If I Want To

Contributed by James Snyder on May 29, 2021

Like everybody else, I have my share of trouble. It’s not that I want to get into trouble, but trouble always seems to be somewhere near where I am at the time. I regret that time when I was first introduced to trouble. Some trouble I can't prevent. It just happens, and no matter what I do, ...read more

Scripture: James 3:5

Tags: Tongue, Trouble

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Will You Wash My Dishes?  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 10, 2001

[Will You Wash My Dishes?] Sometimes we get a distorted idea about what love is. One night, a man decided to show his wife how much he loved her. After dinner he began to recite romantic poetry, telling her he would climb high mountains to be near her, swim wide oceans, cross deserts in the burning ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-12

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Patience, Servanthood, Romantic Love

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational