In Sermon Illustrations: "Living Hope"

When You Have Nothing Left But God, Then Fgod Is Enough

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Pastor Norm Johnson tells the story of Bill who was gravely ill in the hospital. Norm was visiting him when the doctor came in and point blank said, “Bill, you're dead. There’s no hope. You’d better get your things in order.” Just that bluntly, no hope, no comfort, no, “How are you doing?” After ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Hope, God Is Enough

Denomination: Methodist

Stoyan's Father By Nik Ripken

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 14, 2019

When Stoyan was twelve, they imprisoned his protestant pastor father. His father remained in custody for ten years. “At first,” he said, “they held him in a secret police place in our city.” “Every morning one of the guards would take some of his own human waste and spread it on the piece of toast ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:13, 1 Peter 1:3

Tags: Faith, Persecution, Hope

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Politics And Religion

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 19, 2019

Politics always competes with religion (joining it, tolerating it when it must, and absorbing it when it can) in order to promise, if not a life beyond, then a new deal on this earth, and a leader smiling charismatically from the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4, Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 23:1-25

Tags: Hope, Politics, Culture

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unexpected Journey

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

Let’s go back to Wednesday April 13th – I left after the scope with Dr. H. – I was in shock – I walked out to my truck into a severe storm – drove home in the storm! When I got home, I went and sat down in my chair in front of our bay window. I was looking at the raging storm as I sat there looking ...read more

Tags: Dove, Hope, Cancer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sharing Love

Contributed by Rob Roy on May 22, 2024

In Irving Illinois a group purchased the old school building and made it into a long term alcohol recovery program. Some of those started coming to worship at the Irving church, two had met there, Matt and Kim, I and not using their real names. My favorite wife, Lisa and I got to know them, ...read more

Scripture: John 21:15-19, Mark 12:30-31

Tags: Service, Hope, Blessings

The Journey Of A Black Artist

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 30, 2024

Consider the journey of a fictional Afro American artist named Maya, who grew up in a neighborhood plagued by inequity. Her early life was fraught with challenges—families losing homes, schools underfunded, and dreams foiled by systemic barriers. However, Maya found solace in art, a channel ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:25

Tags: Hope, Faithfulness, Restoration

Denomination: Methodist

Some Thoughts On The 4b Movement

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Nov 15, 2024

Introduction: Ever since the November 2024 American elections, there seems to be more and more reference to the “4B” movement. That this movement began in South Korea a number of years ago seems to be of little importance to any number of American women. This is especially true of those American ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:19, Romans 13:9, Acts 15:29

Tags: Women, Christian Living, 4b Movement

Denomination: Baptist

If You Were To Sit Down In Your Living Room, Hit ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

If you were to sit down in your living room, hit the remote control and nothing happened, what’s the first thing you’d do? Call the cable company? Call KDKA and ask what happened to their signal? Call ABC & CBS & NBC & Fox? Probably most of you would check the batteries in the remote. Or you’d see ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost, God's Provision, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

We Should Make Work What We Live To Do ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Oct 28, 2001

“We should make work what we live to do for the Lord, not ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Baptist

Would You Live With Ease? Do What You Ought, And ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

Would you live with ease? Do what you ought, and not what you ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Money, Workplace

Long Days Ago A Very Poor Woman Living In England ...  PRO

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 25, 2002

Long days ago a very poor woman living in England near Windsor Castle. She lived so close that she could look over the palace gardens and see grapes growing there. Her little child became very sick and she thought how good it would be to have a few of those grapes for nourishment. She took a ...read more

Tags: Assurance Of Salvation

Have You Ever Lived Somewhere You Hated? In My ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 5, 2002

Have you ever lived somewhere you hated? In my Army days, soldiers often said their favorite assignment was “the last one and the next one.” A ...read more

Tags: Disappointment, Peace

Denomination: Congregational

I've Lived To Thank God That All My Prayers ...

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 8, 2002

“I’ve lived to thank God that all my prayers have not been ...read more

Tags: Prayer General, Prayer Answered

Denomination: Congregational

If God Intended Man To Live On Bread, Why Didn't ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 31, 2002

‘If God intended man to live on bread, why didn’t he create a bread tree?’ And the answer, in effect, is that God could have created a tree that produced crusty loaves of bread, but he prefers to offer us a grain and invite us to buy a field and plant the seed. He prefers that we till the soil ...read more

Scripture: John 6:54, John 6:51

Tags: Giving Yourself

Denomination: Methodist

God Does Prefer One Way Of Living Over Another. ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Squires on Oct 24, 2002

God does prefer one way of living over another. And that which He prefers is based on a bedrock commitment to His word and His ways. And the results are always supernatural. A TV camera crew was on assignment in Southern Florida filming the widespread destruction of Hurricane Andrew. In one scene, ...read more

Tags: Bible Truth, Bible Influence

Denomination: Pentecostal

Quote: If I Had My Whole Life To Live Over ...

Contributed by David Hill on Jul 8, 2004

Quote: If I had my whole life to live over again, I don’t think I’d have the strength. ...read more

Tags: Character

Denomination: Baptist

When I Lived In Ghana I Remember Hearing About A ...  PRO

Contributed by Gregory Fisher on Jul 1, 2004

When I lived in Ghana I remember hearing about a certain man. He lived in a village near Kumasi that is known for the production of kinte cloth. You know these Ghanaians dress very smartly in their kinte cloth. This particular man was very talented at cloth weaving, and designed and wove a very ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Foursquare

Ann Along With Her Two Small Sons, Went To Live ...  PRO

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 2, 2004

Ann along with her two small sons, went to live with her parents in Texas for the duration of World War II, while her Air Force husband was busy in Europe. It was Christmas time and mother and grandparents were making great plans for the boys. The tree was up and decorated. Gifts were bought and ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Once When I Was Living In St. Louis, I Was Going ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 13, 2004

Once when I was living in St. Louis, I was going to the driving range a few miles away. I was zooming down Interstate 270 in my Mazda pickup when I suddenly lost power. The speedometer went from 80 mph (yes, I confess to speeding!) down to 25 in a few seconds. I pulled onto the shoulder, popped ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

A Few Years Ago, When I Lived In West Virginia ...  PRO

Contributed by Drake Caudill on Mar 8, 2005

A few years ago, when I lived in West Virginia with my parents, my father wanted some chickens. My mother did not really want any chickens running around the yard, but she finally gave in. So my father went on a search to find some chickens. He finally found some "Game" chickens. I did not know ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:25-41

Tags: Frustration, God's Provision, Promises Of God, Storms Of Life

Denomination: Baptist