In Sermon Illustrations: "Know God"

In His Book Mortal Lessons, Dr. Richard Selzer, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In his book Mortal Lessons, Dr. Richard Selzer, writes, “I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be like this from now on. The surgeon ...read more

Tags: Faith

Adopted By Christ  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Jul 9, 2001

Illus.: “Adopted by Christ” John was born into a family of 12 children. They were very poor. He was the youngest. He never remembered his father eating a meal with the rest of the family. He had to work long hours to feed his family. One day his father ran off with another woman, leaving his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:11-20

Tags: Beauty, Ashes, Children, God's Provision, Trinity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

[019] A Message From A Poem - An Atheist’s Lament

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jun 22, 2024

[019] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - AN ATHEIST’S LAMENT I do not know how many nations know what the 1st of April is. In western society it is known as April Fools’ Day and is a time when some play tricks on others. The Day is also known as “All Fools’ Day.” The following is taken from The Editors ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1-2, Ecclesiastes 2:14

Tags: April Fools Day, Fools, Atheists, There Is No God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Twelve Year Old Boy Became A Christian During ...  PRO

Contributed by Jon Sigler on Jun 20, 2001

A twelve year old boy became a christian during a revival. The next week at school his friends questioned him about the experience. "Did you see a vision?" asked one friend. "Did you hear God speak?" asked another. The youngster answered no to all these questions. "Well, how did you know you were ...read more

Scripture: John 6:41-51, John 6:44-47

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation, Promises Of God, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Holiness

Spiritual Health Checks

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (Hungry for God's Word) A healthy Christian will not find his strength or determine his weakness in the size of the church he attends. Healthy Christians gain strength to overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil by what is written in Acts 2:42, "They devoted ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Soapmaker, Who Was Not Saved, Walked Along The ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

A Soapmaker, who was not saved, walked along the road with a preacher one day. He said to the preacher, “The gospel you preach has not done much good. There is still a lot of wickedness in the world, and wicked people, too.” Quietly they walked on. The preacher did not reply to his ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

If Power Could Deliver Us From Fear, Then Joseph ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jan 28, 2002

If power could deliver us from fear, then Joseph Stalin should have been fearless. Instead, this infamous Russian premier was afraid to go to bed. He had seven different bedrooms. Each could be locked as tightly as a safe. In order to foil any would-be assassins, he slept in a different one ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry, God's Provision, Power But Fear

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Good Friend Of Mine Recently Told Me About An ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

A good friend of mine recently told me about an incident that happened to him that explains why a person can worship, and yet still not know God. It all began before the plane took off. Roger Williams III was sitting in the window seat and was looking forward to thumbing through a magazine on a ...read more

Tags: Holiness, Apologetics General, Church General

Denomination: Baptist

Tony Crawford Was A Police Officer In The Dallas ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Mar 13, 2001

Tony Crawford was a police officer in the Dallas Police Department. He was shot by two teenagers & was left paralyzed from the waist down. Finally, the trials were completed, & the last assailant was found guilty & sent to prison. But there was a really tender scene pictured in the newspaper ...read more

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Get Up And Do It

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Nov 15, 2020

Mother Teresa – So many leaders have the idea that to lead greatly you have to focus on everyone. Mother Teresa took a different approach. She saw the poor. The hurt. The dying. And she knew something had to be done. When you know that there’s that many hurting people out there, you might think ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-9

Tags: When God Speaks, Get Up And Do It

Denomination: Independent/Bible

He Is Our Strength

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 12, 2021

My beautiful mama was always so strong, a tower of strength, courage and faith that stood like a beacon for our family. Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As I meditated on this, I remembered a time when I was about 3 years old or so. I saw myself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 37:39, Exodus 15:2

Tags: Fear, Protection, Strength, God Is Our Strength

Denomination: Charismatic

The Only True Wisdom  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Aug 7, 2013

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." (Socrates) You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 14:9

Tags: Wise, Wisdom Of God, Godly Wisdom, Real Wisdom

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Catch-22 Of Incompetence  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 26, 2001

THE CATCH-22 OF INCOMPETENCE Most incompetent people don’t know they are incompetent. In fact, researcher Dr. David A. Dunning of Cornell University reports that people who are incompetent are more confident of their abilities than competent people. Dunning and his associate Justin Krueger ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Philip Yancey, Author Of The Jesus I Never Knew ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2002

Philip Yancey, author of The Jesus I Never Knew and other books, relates a time when he happened to be in Washington, D.C., when a huge gay-rights demonstration took place directly in front of the White House. He beheld a startling confrontation. There were about 40 mounted policemen forming a ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Kingdom Of God, Sharing My Testimony

Welcoming Misfits  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2004

WELCOMING MISFITS Ryan Johnson, minister in Glen Elder, Kansas, shares this story: I was heading north out of Salina, Kansas when I saw him. His name was Charlie. Charles was sitting in the ditch with large army bags. The cold misty rain was drenching him and his bags. He wore his Vietnam ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:12-24

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Parable Great Banquet, Compassion

One Of Golf’s Immortal Moments Came When A ...  PRO

Contributed by Rob Culler on Mar 21, 2001

One of golf’s immortal moments came when a Scotsman demonstrated the new game to President Ulysses Grant. Carefully placing the ball on the tee, he took a mighty swing. The club hit the turf and scattered dirt all over the President’s beard and surrounding vicinity, while the ball placidly waited ...read more

Tags: Sports, God Brings Purpose, God The Father, God's Son, Holy Spirit, Adam And Evil, Adam And Eve, Finding Fulfillment  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

New York Events  PRO

Contributed by John Gullick on Sep 12, 2001

New York events. It was the day of the tragic events in America when the New York twin towers and the Pentegon had suffered such terrible attack. That night I took the church annual meeting - He came into the meeting late. He was stooped and grey yet young for his eighty five years. The former ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General, Forgiveness For Others, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Confusing Directive Was Recently Issued By A ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 24, 2001

A confusing directive was recently issued by a British Admiral. It read: “It is necessary for technical reasons, that these warheads be stored bottom-side-up, that is, with the top at the bottom and the bottom at the top. That there be no doubt which is the bottom, and which is the top, each ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, God's Omniscience, Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

Every Day Is A Celebration  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 6, 2004

EVERY DAY IS A CELEBRATION I have a habit that may seem strange to some: I tape football games and watch them again—and again and again, if the game turns out right. Super Bowl 32 is one of my favorites, the one where the Broncos defeated Green Bay 31-24. (I’m a Bronco fan.) The first time I saw ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:11

Tags: Post Easter, Miracles Of Jesus, Easter Resurrection, Emmaus Road

How Much Does Prayer Weigh?  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

How Much Does Prayer Weigh? Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill ...read more

Tags: Prayer Answered, God's Provision, Examples Of Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal