In Sermon Illustrations: "Letting Go"

Mr Jackson Learns To Love

Contributed by John Gullick on Oct 22, 2015

Let me tell you a story. Mr Jackson, everyday, looked angrily towards his neighbours. Fushia and Watt. What kind of names were they? It made him angry. Tattoos, and, she had a nose piercing, and, their dog chased his cat. Mr Jackson sighed. Parties sometimes, well barbeques, cars parked on his ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-22

Tags: Murder In The Heart

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The "Root” Of The Problem

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Apr 22, 2020

We used to live in a very nice house which had some live plants near the driveway. One of those plants in particular was a “volunteer elm” and we absolutely hated it. Sure enough, we saw that thing getting bigger—but we didn’t want that to happen. It was out of place! Somehow, I obtained a can of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:15

Tags: Bitterness, Roots

Denomination: Baptist

The Flag And The Cross

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 1, 2020

Symbols evoke feelings of adoration or hatred. In this election year, the elephant and donkey mean different things to different people. Let's talk about a symbol that all Americans should be able to adore. In 1813 General Armistead commissioned Mary Pickersgill to make a huge flag that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 2:15

Tags: Patriotic, Cross, Power Of God, United States, National Anthem, Flag Of United States  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Callous, Cold And Conniving Or Restored, Revived And Redeemed?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2021

(Presented on weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day before the invitation hymn, hymn of decision) Unlike Jesus, David was not sinless on his way to the wilderness or in the wilderness but he is described as a man after God’s own heart. Something David did that was good is that he attended a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19

Tags: Culture, Racism, Civil Rights, Prophetic Zeal

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sing On: Emperor Penguins

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Feb 4, 2022

LET US STUDY BRIEFLY THE EMPEROR PENGUINS… If you ever study the EMPEROR PENGUIN LIFE JOURNEY you will understand how important SINGING is to them. EMPEROR PENGUINS LOVE TO SING. When the emperor penguins are courting the male and the female BOW and SING to each other. The female sings a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 137:1-4, Job 35:10

Tags: Praise, Sing

Denomination: Assembly Of God

I Close A Letter Emailed To Me. It Is From A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

. I CLOSE A LETTER EMAILED TO ME. IT IS FROM A SOLDIER IN IRAQ, WHO WROTE HIS MOTHER ABOUT HIS SEARCH FOR SALVATION: “DEAR MOM, I AM FINE, BUT I LOST MY BEST FRIEND TODAY IN AN AMBUSH AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME, IS TO TELL YOU THIS STORY: IMAGINE YOU ARE CRAWLING, ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Our Family Dog Happy Is A Big Baby! For Such A ...

Contributed by Chris Surber on Oct 25, 2007

Our family dog Happy is a big baby! For such a big dog, she is afraid of some of the silliest and smallest things. Recently my wife and I were at the store and our two year son Sebastian saw a toy that he just had to have. It is a plastic ball that has little raised numbers and farm animals on ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

Jim Rhodes: God's Complainer  PRO

Contributed by Richard Goble on Nov 16, 2007

Jim Rhodes: God’s Complainer Driving through Mineral Wells, Texas, one afternoon in 1994, Jim Rhodes noticed many buildings standing vacant due to the shutdown of a local military base. "I always complain to God about things that bother me," says Rhodes, "so I asked him, ’Why aren’t these buildings ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

I Know Because I See

Contributed by Bruce Montgomery on Apr 21, 2008

I KNOW BECAUSE I SEE The fingerprints of God are everywhere in nature! Faith - at least in part - is the spiritual seeing or perceiving of the fingerprints on the things he has made. We see the order, the beauty, the greatness, the complexity of what he has made - and these are the evidence that ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

37 Things To Say To Your Spouse

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on May 20, 2008

37 THINGS TO SAY TO YOUR SPOUSE A healthy marriage is a safe haven where we can relax and recuperate from the tensions of everyday life. We need to hear positive things from our mate. Just as I gathered together some friends to tell me what not to say to a spouse, so they also suggested what they ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Pentecostal

Medicine For ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

“Medicine for America” “Reformation is Called For” Biblically examining the rule of kings who oversaw the nations of Judah and Israel reveals the truth, God blesses obedience and He chastens for disobedience. 2 Chronicles 17-20 reveals God’s view on the reign of Jehoshaphat. Understanding how ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 19:1-10

Tags: Patriotism

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Thanks Offering For Working In Your Life  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

A Thanks Offering For Working in Your Life Philippians 1:6 says, "...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." The greatest news of redemption for Christians personally is that they do not need stay the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:6, Philippians 1:20-30, Philippians 1:20-31

Tags: Thanks, Thanksgiving Holiday

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Proclaiming ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Proclaiming God’s Word A Necessity in Corporate Worship Congregational worship opens the door for the Holy Spirit gift of proclaiming God’s Word. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Knowing exactly what the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:4

Tags: Worship Purpose

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Return Good For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL Let me share with you the story of a lesser known man, Rev. John Perkins. He was a black minister in the South "lived through the worst nightmares of the civil rights movement." Perkins started a church, then a Bible Institute, a radio program, followed by a health clinic, a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Sermon On The Mount

Contract Vs. Covenant

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 23, 2008

CONTRACT VS. COVENANT In describing the nature of a Christ-Centered covenant, Bruce Shelley in Christian Theology in Plain Language, writes: In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal, ...read more

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Other

Vesuvius: Check The Map

Contributed by Rob O'neal on Jul 7, 2009

VESUVIUS: CHECK THE MAP The people of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum lived at the bottom of a mountain. They loved the mountain, because they believed it was a place where gods dwelt. The land was fertile, and the harbor was good, so the city prospered and grew. Then in 62 and 63 AD, ...read more

Tags: Security

Denomination: Congregational

What It Means To Die To Self

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 6, 2022

Self denial becomes a life pattern. Now what does it mean as a Christian?  Here are some practical things.   When you are not forgiven, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you sting and hurt with the insult or oversight, but your heart is happy and you’re ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Discipleship, Self Denial, Following Jesus, Dying To Self

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Crickets And Crosses

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Mar 30, 2023

Early one Easter morning I stood before an old church graveyard. The crickets were chirping their morning melody for me. I saw three crosses that had been placed there by the congregation, erected as a reminder of the crosses on the hill called Calvary. Calvary, where Jesus was crucified between ...read more

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Morning, Sunrise, Nature, Sunrise Service, Resurrection Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Grief: God's Answer To Overwhelming Grief

Contributed by Raymond Petzholt on Aug 25, 2025

What follows is a true account, which I (Stephen) was fortunate enough to witness firsthand in the spring of 2015. My wife was an only child raised by a single mom, and as such was very close to her mother. Thus, when her mother died after 90 years my wife was severely grief stricken and would ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 1 Samuel 3:9-10

Tags: Death, Prayer, Listen, Grief, Loved One  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Acts 16:16-34 Background:

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Sep 29, 2025

Acts 16:16-34 Background: In today's Scripture, Paul and his mission team were in the city of Philippi. They had been guided to that region by a God-given vision. And people were responding to the good news about Jesus Christ. *But then a young slave girl began to follow the team around. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Tags: Philippian Jailer, Demon Possession, Spiritual Transformation, Evangelism, Salvation, Missions, Paul And Silas, Christian Service  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist