In Sermon Illustrations: "Joy To The World"

God With Us

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 24, 2009

GOD WITH US Count Zinzendorf, the founder of the Moravians, was converted in an art gallery in Dusseldorf while contemplating a painting of Christ on the cross which had the inscription, "I did this for thee. What hast thou done for me?" This picture had been painted by an artist three hundred ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23

Tags: Christmas Advent

How Many Times Would You Forgive Your Dog?

Contributed by Scott Berry on Aug 13, 2009

HOW MANY TIMES WOULD YOU FORGIVE YOUR DOG? Think for a minute, how forgiving would you be as if your pet messed the carpet several times a day? I think eventually you’d give up on your pets and take them out into the wilderness and set them free, you know what I mean - dump them. God’s love and ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Baptist

Battlefield Away From Home

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Sep 15, 2009

BATTLEFIELD AWAY FROM HOME He cherished every letter that came from her. His deployment had started six long months ago. No end date was in sight. These were the days before emails and webcams. Those handwritten letters from his sweetheart was his only lifeline out of those trenches to back home. ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran

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

Tony Campolo Confronts Congregations Lack Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 10, 2009

Tony Campolo Confronts Congregations Lack of Compassion If you can be concerned about something as trivial as a plant, should I not be allowed to be concerned about something as important as these people-not to mention their livestock? Jonah’s resentment had distorted his perspective and it will do ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Tags: Compassion

Hindu Finally Understands The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 12, 2009

Hindu Finally Understands the Incarnation The story is told of Hindu who was being witnessed to by Christian missionaries. He wondered at this strange concept he was told of that was called the incarnation—the claim the missionaries made that the Great God who created the world entered human ...read more

Scripture: John 1:6-18

Tags: Humanity Of Christ

Gi Cook Picks Out An Enemy Infiltrator During ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

GI Cook Picks Out an Enemy Infiltrator during World War II I read the true story of GIs stationed on Leyte in the Philippines during WW II. Although the region was secure, sometimes the enemy tried to infiltrate their food storage area. One such adversary, dressed in GI clothing, had worked himself ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Tags: Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Holiday

Examples Of Famous People Who Tithed Before They ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 30, 2009

Examples of Famous People Who Tithed Before They Became Rich A young man accepted the call to become an African missionary but found on further examination that his wife could not stand the climate of Africa. It made her very sick. He was heartbroken, but he prayerfully returned to his home and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Tags: Tithes

A Conference With The Devil

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 15, 2022

A fictitious story has been told of a conference between Lucifer and his demons. It seems as though Satan was upset because he had not deceived enough souls and so he called for a conference with his head demons. "What are we going to do! We are not claiming enough souls for the Kingdom of ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Satan, Parable, Demons, Excuses, Invitation, Today, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Don't Monkey Around With Eternity!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on May 31, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Tags: Eternity, Commitment, Satan, Discipleship, Temptation, Possessions  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Servanthood

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Aug 4, 2022

As Christians can find all kinds of ways to minister in the name of Jesus. For example, there are 21,800 patients per year who receive chemotherapy treatments in Louisville, Kentucky, and most lose their hair. When Lynette Le Gette discovered this, it brought her to tears. She ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10, Acts 9:32-43

Tags: Servanthood, Good Deeds

Denomination: Lutheran

Kidnapped

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 8, 2022

It was December 5 - and I was turning 50 years old. My wife and I went out for dinner with some close friends. During dinner I was informed that we were staying at a hotel by the airport tonight because we had to catch a flight in the morning. Surprise! Happy birthday! Fred, we are taking you on ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1, John 14:1-17, Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Peace, Birthday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Greedy Little Monkey

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2022

I once heard about how animal catchers used to catch wild monkeys for zoos. I was told that they would set an empty glass pop bottle in an open field with a peanut dropped into it. Then they'd hide in the bushes and wait. After a while, a monkey would sneak up to the pop bottle, squeeze its paw ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Greed, Discipleship, Riches, Kingdom, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Cheapest Way To Park A Rolls Royce!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

In Mattew 25, Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples. The parable shows the value of investing wisely by those who took their talent and multiplied it through wise negotiation. The one who buried his talent and did not invest was scolded by the Lord. Here is a funny ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Talents, Investing, Saving Money, Parables, Business, Kingdom Of God, Money Management  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Redemtion - The Bank Ledgers

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

Hear Gods Word: BIBLE God made him who had no sin ....to be sin for us ... so that in him ... we might become ... the righteousness ... of God. END (2 Corinthians 5:21) Years ago ...... when I was a young banker in Ohio, ... we used large leather-bound ledgers ......where all accounts... were ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Blood, Salvation, Redemption, Ledgers

Denomination: Anglican

Winston Churchill's Resolve

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

After the Nazis drove the British army from the European continent at Dunkirk and obtained France’s surrender in June of 1940, the Germans were certain that victory in Europe was at hand and that Great Britain would seek a peace agreement. France also believed that was true. French General Maxime ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:62

Tags: Resolve, Commitment

Strength To Forgive

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Aug 12, 2024

Some of life's hurts are so deep and painful that to forgive the people who caused them seems impossible. Yet Jesus says that we can't experience His forgiveness if we have an unforgiving spirit. In World War II, Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were arrested for concealing Jews and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-15

Tags: Forgiveness, Lord's Prayer, God's Strength, Forgiving Others, Corrie Ten Boom, Enemies  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Think Before You Speak

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 6, 2025

Taking a moment to think before you speak is like installing a verbal facemask —it gives you a chance to avoid regrettable word splatter before it happens. Now, let’s be honest—there are four types of people in this world: 1. Those who think before they speak (a rare and majestic ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 21:23, Proverbs 18:21

Tags: Speak, Words, Think Before You Speak

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

From Boxer To Preacher

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Mar 22, 2025

George Foreman died in March 2025 at age 76. Foreman was a heavyweight boxer for the USA in the 1968 Olympic Games - winning the Gold medal. He later became a professional Boxer and world Champion. In 1977 after a fight with heavyweight Jimmy Young, Foreman had a crisis experience. He thought he ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 19:1-10

Tags: Born Again, Salvation, Gospel

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 28, 2005

Are We There Yet? (06.28.05--Direction--John 21:11-14 ) WHen I’m There, will I know that I am there? When we finally reach that point in life where all things finally work together and we’ve arrived at our life’s goal, that place where the many years of education, accumulated wisdom and just plain ...read more

Scripture: John 21:11-14

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Lutheran