In Sermon Illustrations: "Lifted From The Mire"

A Lesson From A Short Story

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jan 27, 2023

Text, Matthew 16:26, KJV: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Thoughts: In my last year or so of high school, I took a couple of literature classes. For one thing, I liked the teacher, and for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:26

Tags: Temptations, Souls, Hell

Denomination: Baptist

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Reindeer, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Christmas

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

From Storm To Peaceful Scene.

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jun 6, 2024

Another little me story, I went through a real struggle, mainly of my own making, thinking and due to anger and too much caffeine in Sri Lanka, where I was awake all night and ended up in hospital due to an atrial fibrillation that took 4 days to come right. Why do I share this with you, you are ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32

Tags: Salvation, Anger, Awareness, Stupidity, Ill Health  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

Lesson From The Burning Bush

Contributed by Samuel M on Jul 6, 2024

By looking at your lives, others around you should have a burning bush experience or an encounter with God. Let your lives be burning in the fire of God and in that fire, others around you should have an encounter with God. Allow God's ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:4

Tags: Hope, Faith

A Lesson From A Band Concert

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 19, 2024

Introduction: Sometimes you can find an example or illustration from places you wouldn’t normally expect. Such an instance happened to me recently, Here’s the verse that came to mind when I saw what took place: Text: John 16:13, KJV: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide ...read more

Scripture: John 16:13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Teaching, Encouragement

Denomination: Baptist

A Line From A Poem, "The New Colossus," By The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A line from a poem, “The New Colossus,” by the nineteenth-century American poet Emma Lazarus. “The New Colossus,” describing the Statue of Liberty, appears on a plaque at the base of the statue. It ends with the statue herself speaking: 1 Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

Claria Knall, A Young Mother From Oklahoma ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Claria Knall, a young mother from Oklahoma writes, “It was one of the worst days of my life. The washing machine broke down, the telephone wouldn’t stop ringing, my head ached, and the mailman brought the bill that I had no money to pay. Almost at the breaking point I lifted my one-year-old into ...read more

Tags: Children

A Story From Sports Illustrated. Oklahoma State ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Apr 23, 2002

A story from Sports Illustrated. Oklahoma State Football Coach Bob Simmons, a Coach of the year, who brought a team that was mired in defeat back from the brink, to the place of respectability. But at age 49, his kidneys were failing. By the fall of 1997, his health took a turn for the worst, he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-6

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sin Goes Way Beyond Disobedience. The Deepest ...

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Jun 24, 2009

“Sin goes way beyond disobedience. The deepest problem of sin is that it makes us incapable of knowing the Father…we cannot know the Father’s heart. It makes us so blind that it is impossible for us to see the Father’s face.” C. Baxter ...read more

Tags: Sin, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Pentecostal

While We Were In Jerusalem We Visited A Jewish ...

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Jan 25, 2010

While we were in Jerusalem we visited a Jewish shop “Treasures of the Temple” which was a sort of museum. These Jews are currently recreating all the temple items in preparation of rebuilding the temple to worship in O.T. style. Photos 796-798 We stopped by the Western Wall and there were dozens ...read more

Tags: Grace, Sin Separates From God

Denomination: Baptist

[006]. A Message From A Poem - A New Creation - From Death Unto Life

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 29, 2024

[006]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - A NEW CREATION - FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE This is an unusual poem that may not appeal to everyone, but it is based on emotions experienced by many who don’t know Jesus in their lives. The first, third and fifth stanzas are the viewpoint of one suffering in his/her ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:20, Ecclesiastes 12:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13

Tags: Solution, No Hope, No Satisfaction, Salvation, Miserable  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Post-It Notes—success From Failure  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2010

Post-it® Notes--Success from Failure Everyone knows what Post-it® Notes are. They're those great little self-stick notepapers. Most people have Post-it® Notes. Most people use them. Most people love them. But Post-it® Notes were not a planned product. No one got the idea and then stayed up nights ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Mistakes

The Following Quotes From People At Various ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on Apr 19, 2001

The following quotes from people at various stages of their lives shows the maturity that should take place in our perspective toward God and the world around us. PROGRESSION OF WISDOM WITH AGE You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Age 7 I like my teacher ...read more

Tags: Parable General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Pearls From God—communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Jan 27, 2003

PEARLS FROM GOD-- COMMUNION MEDITATION The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. With her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked ...read more

Tags: Fulfillment, God's Provision

Denomination: Wesleyan

Mother Rescues Son From Alligator And Leaves ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 2, 2009

Mother Rescues Son From Alligator and Leaves Scars on His Arms Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-30

Tags: Lord's Supper

A Man From China Who Was Converted To Christ Told ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

A man from China who was converted to Christ told this story: A man fell into a dark, slimy pit. He tried to climb out of the pit, but he couldn’t. Confucius came along, saw the man and said, "Poor fellow, had he listened to me, he never would have gotten there," and he went on. Buddha came along ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Religion

A Certain Persian King Was Elevated From A ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 16, 2001

A certain Persian king was elevated from a poverty-stricken home to the glory of a royal throne. After he became king he sent his servants to the old shack where he was reared, with orders to gather every relic of those days. They brought fragments of his home: many broken toys, his patched ...read more

Tags: Emotions, Joy, Humility

Denomination: Wesleyan

Lessons From A Tavern, Citation: Charles ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Jul 5, 2001

[Lessons from a Tavern, Citation: Charles Swindoll, Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1.] An old Marine Corps buddy of mine, to my pleasant surprise, came to know Christ after he was discharged. I say surprise because he cursed loudly, fought hard, chased women, drank heavily, loved war and weapons, and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1

Tags: Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups, Compassion, Fellowship, Friendship General, Understanding  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Time Management From The Unleashing Connection, ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Jul 15, 2001

Time management from The Unleashing Connection, Winter 1990, p. 3 "In one year, the average American will read or complete 3,000 notices and forms, read 100 newspapers and 36 magazines, watch 2,463 hours of television, listen to 730 hours ...read more

Tags: Christian Values, Disciplines Meditation, Entertainment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

From The Official Handbook Of The United States ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 21, 2001

From the official Handbook of the United States Peace Corps. What it says that a Peace Corp volunteer has to do if he is attacked by an anaconda snake. The anaconda is the largest snake in the world. You might think it was the boa constrictor. The anaconda is in the family with the boa constrictor, ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9

Tags: Endurance, God In The Hardships