In Sermon Illustrations: "Jonah 3 1 5 10"

His Last Thoughts Were Of His Children

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2010

HIS LAST THOUGHTS WERE OF HIS CHILDREN A Union sergeant was killed on the first day of fighting in Gettysburg. He was just one of more than 3,000 Union soldiers who died in the three-day conflict. When his body was found later that week, lying in a secluded spot in Gettysburg, he was holding a ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-2

Tags: Love, Father's Day

Ranking The Silver Screen's All-Time Top Romantic ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

Ranking the silver screen’s all-time top romantic films "You must remember this: A kiss is just a kiss ..." So begins the signature song from the 1942 movie "Casablanca." The American Film Institute (AFI) had no difficulty remembering. Its new list of the 100 best US screen romances ranks the ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Marriage General

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

The Cost Of Redemption - Hosea Buys Back Gomer

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 27, 2022

One man started the bidding: “12 pieces of silver!” “13!” Said Hosea. “14 pieces of silver!” Hosea’s bid was “15!” The low bidders were beginning to drop out, but one man continued bidding: “15 pieces of silver and five bushels of barley!” Hosea said, “15 pieces of silver, 5 bushels of barley and a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 3:1-5, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38

Tags: Hosea, Redemption, Covenant Love

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Intercession: Pyramid Prayer?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

INTERCESSION: PYRAMID PRAYER? Philip Yancey in his book on prayer tells of a young American soldier in Iraq who learns that his wife back home has advanced cervical cancer. Doctors gave a bleak prognosis. In desperation, he sent an urgent email to his church with the request that everyone in turn ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:6

Tags: Intercession

Slow And Steady

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but for sanctification, a process that is slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match into it. It makes a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Energy, Fuel

[078]. A Message From A Poem – Failure Leads To Hurt And Sorrow

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Apr 12, 2025

[078]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – FAILURE LEADS TO HURT AND SORROW This poem was written one Sunday morning while waiting for a church service to start. It flowed quickly. It was around the time I was speaking on a series in the life of Peter. Identify yourselves if you have never failed the ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-10

Tags: Hurt, Forgiveness, Sin, Failure, Sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Fear In The Work Cubicle

Contributed by Troy Borst on Apr 4, 2015

IN THE WORK CUBICLE (p) It’s a normal day at the office. You got to work 5 minutes late like usual. You find your normal parking place open and you whip your car into the spot and grab all that you need from the passenger seat. You are soon in the elevator heading to your floor. The elevator ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15

Tags: Evangelism, Workplace, Sharing Christ, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Inmates 4 Times As Many Prisoners Are Released ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2006

Inmates 4 times as many prisoners are released into society today as 20 years ago. An estimated 600,000 U.S. prisoners will be released in ’04 (over 1,600 are released daily). The Justice Bureau of Statistics estimates that 2 out of 3 released inmates were “rearrested within 3 years,” wreaking more ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Symptoms Of Stress Overload  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Symptoms of stress overload: 1. Decision-making becomes difficult (both major and minor kinds). 2. Excessive daydreaming or fantasizing about "getting away from it all." 3. Increased use of cigarettes and/or alcohol. 4. Increased use of tranquilizers and "uppers." 5. Thoughts trail off while ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, Emotions, Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Signs You're In A Bad Church  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 5, 2009

Signs You’re in a Bad Church 10. The church bus has gun racks. 9. The church staff consists of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor and Socio-pastor. 8. The Bible they use is the "Dr. Seuss Version." 7. There’s an ATM in the lobby. 6. The choir wears leather robes. 5. Worship services are B.Y.O.S.: ...read more

Tags: Church General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Here Is The Message Solomon Is Seeking To ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 27, 2007

Here is the message Solomon is seeking to communicate to us today from Ecc. 6:10-12 1. God knows everything we do not! 2. God has already named all the events in our life and it’s up to us to invite God into our life-time. 3. It is useless to try to argue with God He is always right. 4. It is ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Companies That Nurture A Culture Of Philanthropy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2008

Companies that nurture a culture of philanthropy are more profitable, says Dover Management research. The study found that companies with a solid link between giving and operating earnings outperformed the S & P 500 ...read more

Tags: Giving General

What Is Your Money Doing To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

WHAT IS YOUR MONEY DOING TO YOU? On their way to church on Sunday, a mother gave her child a one-dollar bill and a quarter. "Sweetheart," the mother said, "you can place either one in the offering plate. It’s entirely up to you." As they were driving home, the mother asked the daughter what she ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money

The Humanity Of Christ In Scripture

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 6, 2022

The result of the virgin birth is that God became a man. He was born like a man. He lived like a man. He died like a man. In the Gospels, Jesus Christ exhibits all the signs of being human. But He was God wrapped in flesh (John 1:14). • He had a human parentage – Luke 1:31; Gal. 4:4. • He had a ...read more

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Virgin Birth, Humanity Of Christ

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Responding To The Cross  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2004

RESPONDING TO THE CROSS "If they did it in church, that's fine. Downtown's not the place for that." Such were the comments offered by area residents as they passed Patrick Conaty, a hair-stylist in Leeds, Alabama as he hung on a cross. Conaty splattered fake blood on his body and climbed onto a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Tags: Lord's Supper, Forgiveness In Jesus, Cross

Shrek The Sheep Survives 6 Years In New Zealand ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2009

Shrek the Sheep Survives 6 Years in New Zealand Cave Do we need a savior – the story of Shrek the Sheep Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years? When he was finally discovered in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by musterer Ann ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:24-25

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

Nfl Player's Loyalty And Commitment To His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

NFL Player’s Loyalty and Commitment to His Wife One of the greatest statements of a husband’s love is when he protects his wife regardless of the cost to himself. Joseph’s story is the story of one such man. When Chris Spielman played for the Buffalo Bills, he was everything a middle linebacker ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Resurrection Tree

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

RESURRECTION TREE In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Tags: Immortality

Who Do You Say I Am—in England?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 9, 2011

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM--IN ENGLAND? A teaching assistant accused of looting. An 11 year old girl appears in court and admits breaking windows in Nottingham. Teenagers appear before Magistrates with no parent in attendance. Magistrates ask, "Where are their parents?" Two girls interviewed by the BBC ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:4-10

Tags: Sin Exposed