In Sermon Illustrations: "July 4"

Billy Graham's Conversion

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 18, 2017

In an interview on October 15, 2013 Billy Graham said, “There are two basic needs that all people have: the need for hope and the need for salvation. It should not be surprising if people believe easily in a God who makes no demands, but this is not the God of the Bible. Satan has cleverly misled ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Matthew 5:17-18

Tags: Salvation, Repentance, Billy Graham, Easy Believism

Denomination: Charismatic

Hey! Get Your Own!

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 19, 2019

A few years ago, my wife and I were on vacation, traveling through a Midwestern state. Supper time was getting near, so we thought we’d get a drive-through meal. She wanted an ice cream cone so, I ordered one for her. The young lady working at the drive through window gave me the cone, and I handed ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

Tags: Love, Fellowship, Blessings

Denomination: Baptist

The Importance Of Preaching

Contributed by David Parks on Aug 27, 2020

March 4, 1881 was a beautiful spring day in Washington D.C. James Garfield stood on the Capitol steps, placed a hand on the Bible, another on his heart, faced a crowd of thousands, and was sworn in as the 20th President of the United States. Like every Inauguration, it was a day ripe with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Truth, Preaching, Minister

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Get Back In The Game!

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 19, 2021

What if God started telling your church to do something we had never done before? How hard would you work against it - unwilling to change? There is an old saying – do you know what they put on the tombstone in front of a closed church? “WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE” If that’s the case, we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:12-26, Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Sports, Pastor, Basketball, Laity

Denomination: Methodist

Our Weakness

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Apr 13, 2021

When I was in my early 20s and a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, I was, believe it or not, in pretty good shape. I jogged regularly. I was a karate student. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. I truly was in good shape. Now that I’m older, I’m realizing that I’m not what I used to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

Tags: Weakness, God's Strength, God Sustains

Denomination: Baptist

Be Ready, Have A Plan.

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 17, 2021

PEOPLE NEVER PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN AND BECOME TRAPPED TO BE DOOMED. WHAT IS FAILURE? WHAT IS SUCCESS? LIFE OFTEN HAS MANY TEMPORARY SET BACKS? We must be ready! ALBERT EINSTEIN did not beginning talking until he was 4 years. Many of Einstein’s family and friends thought he was mentally ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 19:7, Matthew 25:10

Tags: Plan, Ready

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Deep Wells Of Hope.

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jun 9, 2021

MIA: MISSING IN ACTION… WHAT DO YOU SEE? MAN IS SHORT OF DAYS AND FULL OF TROUBLE… Years ago I read where a farmer in California was having a terrible time. They had had 4 years of drought in their area and many farmers spoke of leaving farming and moving back into the city. So the exodus began. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 12:3, Romans 4:18

Tags: Water, Hope, Wells

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Ten Rules For Improving The Church

Contributed by David Parks on Jun 3, 2022

TEN RULES FOR IMPROVING THE CHURCH 1. Tell yourself over and over that since you are not perfect you would not fit into a perfect congregation, if one existed. 2. Instead of picking out the worldly members to point to, pick out the sincere, dedicated, spiritual members and thank God for them. You ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-2, 1 Peter 4:8, Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Encouragement, Judgementalism, Church

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Tithe Belongs To God!

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 13, 2022

You don’t give the tithe, you return it back to God. It belongs to Him! There is a cartoon that shows four frames! 1. In the first frame a man looks at a new car! The salesman says, "10% down and low, low payments for 48 months." The man asks, "Where do I sign?" 2. In the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Tags: Giving, Tithing

How To Get To Heaven

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 9, 2009

HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN Bishop Fulton Sheen, in his autobiography "Treasure in Clay," wrote about an experience he had when he was traveling around preaching: I stopped to ask a few boys for directions to the Town Hall where I was giving a lecture. They told me where the Town Hall was and then ...read more

Tags: Heaven

Growing ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

GROWING PLURALISM Most Americans don’t believe their religious tradition is the only way to eternal life, even if their denomination teaches otherwise, finds a Pew Forum study. 57% of evangelical church-attenders believe many religions can lead to eternal life. 70% of Americans with a religious ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Tags: Salvation

Since My Three Year Old Son Sebastian Was An ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Apr 30, 2009

Since my three year old son Sebastian was an infant we have prayed at meal times. If we ever appear as though we are about to eat without praying first, Sebastian will tell, “Uh Oh, daddy, you almost forgot to pray.” Our one year old son, Ephram, is getting in on the pray now too, although when ...read more

Tags: Prayer How To, Prayer General

Denomination: Christian Church

If I Should Wake Before I Die

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2009

IF I SHOULD WAKE BEFORE I DIE A father knelt down beside his little boy’s bed. It was time for prayers, hugs and kisses, and tucking in. The little boy began the childhood prayer he had repeated so many times before: now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Marriage Conflict And Forklifts  PRO

Contributed by Tim Harlow on May 13, 2009

MARRIAGE CONFLICT AND FORKLIFTS Ephesians 4:26 says, "In your anger do not sin." Best story I read on this, as I was doing research this week, was about a woman who attacked her house with a forklift. This is the news report: Diane Fittipaldi, 2013 Sunset Lane, told Municipal Court Judge Levi ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Honor Your Mother And Father

Contributed by Jim Blevins on May 15, 2009

HONOR YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER One Mother's Day I was preaching in another state and during the Sunday School class I told about one of the two times that I sassed my mother. Now my mom is about 4 foot 11 inches tall and I was approaching 6 feet so I towered over her. She had told me to do something ...read more

Tags: Commandments Parents

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Honesty Matters  PRO

Contributed by Michael Deutsch on Jul 6, 2009

HONESTY MATTERS I read about a high school golfer, Chelsee Richard, of Bloomingdale High School in Brandon, Florida. She lost her chance to win the 2004 state championship — by being honest. In the qualifier for the state finals, Chelsee hit her tee shot on the second hole into the rough. Without ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-14

Tags: Commandments Testimony

Denomination: Baptist

Reformation Blot

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Jul 9, 2009

REFORMATION BLOT One of the blots on the career of the great German Reformer, Martin Luther – was his acquiescence to the bigamous marriage of Philip of Hess. In 1530, at the height of the Reformation in Germany – and where the Protestant cause was at its most vulnerable, Philip of Hesse ...read more

Tags: Reformation

Denomination: Anglican

Rosemary's Rag Doll

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 7, 2009

ROSEMARY'S RAG DOLL There is a natural, logical kind of loving that loves lovely things and lovely people. That's logical. But there is another kind of loving that doesn't look for value in what it loves, but that CREATES value in what it loves. Like Rosemary's rag doll. When Rosemary, my ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Baptist

The Jewish People Tried To Work Around Some Of ...

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 9, 2009

The Jewish people tried to work around some of the commands of the Torah that could not be practically enforced once the Jewish nation was no longer sovereign. One of those commands was the Sabbath Year. All debts were to be cancelled, but, under Roman rule, this could not work economically for ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Medical Terminology Play On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

Medical Terminology Play on Words Sandy has seen a lot of doctors this last year, and as I’ve tagged along, I have learned a lot of medical terminology. I’m sure many of you, as you’ve had medical issues, have learned some interesting terminology, as well. It’s a strange language, isn’t it, because ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:2

Tags: Words