In Sermon Illustrations: "Life Lessons"

Edison Couldn't Make Life

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 15, 2012

EDISON COULDN'T MAKE LIFE Are you extremely proud of your lifetime accomplishments? It was on November 21 of 1877 that Thomas Edison announced to the world that he had invented the phonograph. Edison's accomplishments are often forgotten. In his Menlo Park, New Jersey fix-it shop he designed the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Tags: Pride

Denomination: Baptist

Bertrund Russell's Thoughts On Life And Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2014

Many people fear death because they believe death is the end. Bertrand Russell was a 20th century philosopher and an atheist. As he approached his death in 1970, he wrote: "The life of Man is a long march through the night, surrounded by invisible foes, tortured by weariness and pain, towards a ...read more

Scripture: John 11:25-26

Tags: Death, Atheism, Worldly Wisdom, Resurrection Of Jesus Christ

Intimacy: How Is Your Prayer Life?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 18, 2014

INTIMACY: HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE? Eugene Peterson: "She came to see me at the recommendation of a friend. She had been troubled for years, seeing psychiatrists and not getting any better. The consultation had been arranged on the telephone so that when she walked into my study it was as a first ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Prayer, Intimacy, Biblical Sexuality, Intimacy In Marriage, Intimacy With God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

My Life: Crazier Than It Has To Be

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Nov 18, 2020

Last Friday was a crazy day. But I made it crazier than it had to be. High winds blew through the region the night before leaving hundreds without power including the church building – well, sort of. One of our assistants called me when she got in the office and said the lights were out, which ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 33:20

Tags: Faith, Trust, Hope, Worry, Wait, Waiting  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"living Life With Purpose"

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Jul 2, 2021

Jewish novelist Chaim Potok (his novel "The Chosen" sold over 3 million copies) gave a lecture at Johns Hopkins University. He had wanted to be a writer from an early age. But when he was ready to go off to college his mother took him aside and said; “I know you want to be a writer but I ...read more

Scripture: John 10:10, Philippians 1:21

Tags: Death, Life, Purpose, Meaning

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

An Outline Of Joseph's Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 13, 2022

The story of Joseph’s life can be outlined by several key events in Genesis:   1. REJECTION (37:1-36) – Jacob selected Joseph as the favored son and he was despised by his brothers. They threw him into a pit and left him for dead.   2. REFINEMENT (38:1 – 40:23) – Traders came by and ...read more

Tags: Faith, Temptation, Rejection, Joseph, Will Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Four Descriptions Of A Life Without Christ

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 2, 2023

Satan hates God and everything and everyone in the Kingdom of God. He fights the Kingdom on a daily basis and will continue to try to stop the Gospel from spreading (I Thess. 2:18, Ephesians 6:11-12). Paul described the condition of all of those who are unbelievers and living in the Kingdom of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:10, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Acts 16:31, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 4:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Satan, Salvation, Gospel, Lost, Unsaved, Spiritual Blindness, Unbelievers, Perishing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Key To Life Is Forgetting The Right Things

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 27, 2024

The thing that has concerned me as I have aged was about forgetting things. How could I remember everything when I was crowding my brain with all kinds of new things? In this regard, there is no comparison between The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I have a problem remembering, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-15

Tags: Remember, Forget

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Salvation Is Free, But It Will Cost Your Life

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 28, 2024

I am often asked, "How can salvation be free, but, yet, Jesus said that we cannot by His disciple unless we forsake everything for Him?" (Luke 14). Let me explain the answer to this question in a story. Once there was a man who collected and traded in pearls. He had a fine collection of ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Salvation, Discipleship, Free, Eternal Life, Grace, Mercy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

There Are Three Stages Of Motherhood: Young, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There are three stages of motherhood: young, middle age and “you’re looking fine.” I don’t know about you, but my mother was responsible for teaching me some of the most valuable life lessons I ever learned. Someone sent me some valuable reminders of Mom lessons and I wanted to share a few of them ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:46-50

Tags: Mother's Day

A Runner And His Daughter

Contributed by David Rumley on Jan 4, 2007

A runner and his daughter: • A daughter asked her father, who ran on a consistent basis… After one cold morning like today… the daughter asked… • Dad, do you determine how far you will run each time, or do you go as far as you feel like it? • I find if I am running and think about how I am ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

You Know, Whoever Said, "Timing Is Everything" ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 3, 2005

You know, whoever said, “Timing is everything” was brilliant. Chuck Noland, in the movie “Cast-Away” understood that. He thought he had his life planned out perfectly, “no worries,” great job, giving his girl an engagement ring... that was just before his plane crashed and he was left on a deserted ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian Church

The Day Of The Fire Storm!  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 1, 2005

My Story: The Day of the fire storm! I was at Boy Scout Camp when I discovered the terrible damage a fire storm could do to my life. It was a lazy afternoon very hot and dry. John and I were sent back to camp to start dinner for the guys. When I got back to camp I discovered that the camp fire ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Two Horses  PRO

Contributed by Bob Soulliere on Jan 12, 2007

Two Horses ~ Author Unknown Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. >From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:46-48

Tags: Value Of Life, Life, Accountability

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Message Of The Straight Jacket

Contributed by Christopher Roberts (Barrister) on Jan 22, 2013

THE MESSAGE OF THE STRAIGHT JACKET Satan employs a number of tactics against us, which most often God uses for our greater good. One of those tactics is to place a straight jacket of circumstance upon us, something that we are unable to deal with ourselves. Such a straight jacket might relate to a ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Denomination: Christian Church

None Of Us Get Out Without Pain

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 13, 2009

NONE OF US GET OUT WITHOUT PAIN There is a calendar entitled "The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said." Each day, it features a stupid statement from someone. A page in the calendar had this amazing quote, "Listen closely: If you bought our course, ’How To Fly In Six Easy Lessons,’ we apologize for any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Life's A Little Thing! Robert Browning Once ...  PRO

Contributed by Wayne Burnett on Jan 15, 2001

Life’s a little thing! Robert Browning once wrote. But a little thing can mean a life. Even two lives. How well I remember. Two years ago in downtown Denver my friend, Scott Reasoner, and I saw something tiny and insignificant change the world, but no one else even seemed to notice. It was one of ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Miracles Of Jesus, God's Provision

Denomination: Church Of God

With His Life In Disarray, Steven Lavaggi Sat On ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile Diabetes. As if coping with the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-15

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Baptist

Albert Schweitzer Said, "The Tragedy Of Life Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 25, 2001

Albert Schweitzer said, "The tragedy of life is what dies inside ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Many Years Ago, Executives Of The Time-Life ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Jones on Nov 1, 2000

Many years ago, executives of the Time-Life publishing organization discovered that the company’s profit margin had shrunk to an alarmingly low level. Consequently, they began an intensive effort to try to cut costs. Efficiency experts suggested that substantial savings could be effected in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:7

Tags: Love, Mercy, God's Forgiveness, Endurance, Promises Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist