In Sermon Illustrations: "Listening To God"

Charles H. Townes, Who Won A Nobel Prize For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

Charles H. Townes, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in laser technology, opened a talk with a disclaimer: "It’s like the beaver told the rabbit as they stared up at the immense wall of the Hoover Dam: ’No, I didn’t actually build it myself. But it was based on an idea of mine.’" We are often ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Tags: Humility

World Vs. U.s. ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 13, 2009

WORLD VS. U.S. POVERTY A few centuries ago, four-fifths of the French spent 90 percent of their income for food. With only what you and I consider a marginal tip to a waitress, they had to provide for all of their other needs. Europe had been in that condition for thousands of years. Until recent ...read more

Tags: Poverty

Because One Gave

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

BECAUSE ONE GAVE Former seminary and pastor, George Gaston tells the following story that speaks to the value of attitude in giving. Years ago, I pastored a church that decided to build a worship center. The old building had suffered a major fire. Even so, our decision to build a new facility ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Redemption And Restoration In Real Life

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 31, 2022

Many years ago at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, there was a shooting of several people in the church parking lot and building that left three dead and three wounded. The young man, who had done the shooting, killed himself after being shot by a security guard. Earlier that day, he had ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:8-14

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness

Healing Power Of The Church

Contributed by Mark Mitchell on Jan 22, 2023

A YOUNG couple got married and was on their way home from the honeymoon. A tractor-trailer pulled out in front of them suddenly and the young groom swerved to avoid it. The car went into a tailspin and crashed. The groom was okay, but his new bride was bleeding profusely. He knew if he didn’t get ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Tags: Church, Holy Spirit, Healing, Gospel

Denomination: Baptist

Redemption - His Twice

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2023

A little boy worked diligently to build a sailboat. He took it to the lake and pushed it in hoping it would sail. Sure, enough a wisp of breeze filled the little sail and it billowed and went rippling along the waves. Suddenly before the little boy knew it, the boat was out of his reach, even ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:28, 1 John 1:9, Isaiah 43:25, Ephesians 1:3-14, Matthew 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Salvation, Redemption, Price, Paid, Redeemed  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Unsung Heroes: They Helped A Desperate Father

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 14, 2023

Introduction: True friends are those willing to help. These unsung heroes helped a desperate father bring his son to Jesus. Text, Mark 9:17-20a, KJV: 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:17-20

Tags: Jesus, Evil Spirits, Unsung Heroes

Denomination: Baptist

The Dark Side

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

The Dark side we need to see into: Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Years ago, the movie Star Wars came out and my daughters and I made a pact to go see every Star Wars movie together. We have loved the series and one of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:9

Tags: Darth Vader, Evil, Dark Side

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Leave Behind The Past, Reach For The Future

Contributed by Saumiman Saud on Feb 18, 2025

LEAVE BEHIND THE PAST, REACH FOR THE FUTURE Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me the opportunity to enter a new year. May I love and serve You diligently, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Future, Past

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Waiting Actually Feels Like

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

When I was home in Texas, my dad was taken into the ER suddenly because his left hand stopped working like it should. The ends of his fingers were numb, and he couldn’t tell if he was grabbing objects even when he was. I met him at the hospital right before he went back, and when we walked into ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:36-38, Psalm 130:5-6

Tags: Suffering, Waiting

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Have A Religion!" 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 27, 2005

“I Have a Religion!” 1 Samuel 18:1-12 Key verse(s): 11-12:“. . . and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.” In a world where we seek only peace and kindness there is, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-12

Tags: Forgiveness General, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Lutheran

The Covenants

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Nov 27, 2010

THE COVENANTS Eternal covenant, Heb 13:20—The redemptive covenant before time began, between the Father and the Son. By this covenant we have eternal redemption, an eternal peace from the ‘God of peace’, through the death and resurrection of the Son. Edenic covenant, Gen 1:26-28—The creative ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16

Tags: Covenant

Denomination: Brethren

When Mary Almost Turned Back

Contributed by John Allen on Dec 8, 2020

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been rightly regarded as one of the godliest people in history. But she was also human, subject to the same doubts we have. Why, after the biggest announcement in history, does she "hurry away" from her family? Why did she go by herself? Why did she stay ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56, Matthew 1:18-25

Tags: Mary, Christmas

Hell Is Real  PRO

Contributed by Frederick Baker Ii on Apr 5, 2008

Hell Is Real ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I went into my classroom Ready for another year at school. I didn’t want the work, Just wanted to hang and be cool. I had on new clothes, New sneaks on my feet. I was there for class on time Went to the back and took my seat. Yeah, I’m moving up. I’m ...read more

Denomination: *other

Newton's Story

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 21, 2025

The story of John Newton and the hymn Amazing Grace. Newton’s hymn has grown so familiar to us that we sometimes forget the depth of the testimony behind it. Those lines were not crafted by a saint who lived an unblemished life. They were written by a man who walked through the same spiritual ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:12, Ephesians 2:8

Tags: Grace, Redemption

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

May 5, 2004 "You Can Walk Boy!" John 16: 19-24 ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2004

May 5, 2004 “You Can Walk Boy!” John 16: 19-24 Key verse(s): 21 “‘A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.’” Why do Christians have to suffer? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:1-11

Tags: Hardship Of Life

I Was Fortunate To Grow Up In A Home Where My ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 22, 2004

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my father was both a loving and disciplining presence. I guess I would have to say that if there is anything I really remember about my dad is this, he possessed a presence unlike any other person in my life. To me he was always larger than life. He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 16:1-12

Tags: Father's Day, Parenting

Denomination: Lutheran

Step Into The Image Of Christ!" Hebrews 5:1-9 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 14, 2005

“Step Into The Image of Christ!” Hebrews 5:1-9 Key verse(s): 8-9:“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him . . .” Why do we love the Constitution so! A document that is nearly 220 ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-9

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran

Door Knights Without Maidens!" John 17:13-19 ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 28, 2005

“Door Knights Without Maidens!” John 17:13-19 Key verse(s): 17-19:“‘Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into this world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.’” Ingratitude. Doesn’t it seem sometimes that we ...read more

Scripture: John 17:13-19, Romans 6:1

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

In The Chronicles Of Narnia, Several Young ...  PRO

Contributed by Glenn Robertson on Nov 16, 2005

In The Chronicles of Narnia, several young children represent Christians in a world of dragons, elves, unicorns, and many other mythical creatures. One of the children is a young boy named Eustace. Eustace is a very selfish boy. He always tries to see life for how it best benefits him. What he ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Baptist