In Sermon Illustrations: "Long Sermon"

Unfold Your Deck Chair - Funny Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

In a "Peanuts" strip, ... Charlie Brown and Lucy were discussing ... theology. Lucy said, ... "On the great cruise ship of life, ... some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the bow. And some people ... take their deck chairs ... to the stern. Where do you put your deck ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:22-34, John 14:6

Tags: Deck Chair, Faith, Life, Ship, Chair  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Passing Through The Shadows!" 1 Corinthians ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 21, 2005

“Passing Through The Shadows!” 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 Key verse(s): 26:“‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes’.” “Smile and the world smiles with you! Cry and you cry alone.” Walking through life with a smile on our faces is something to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Just As We Are!" Exodus 14:13-14 Key Verse(S) ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 29, 2005

“Just As We Are!” Exodus 14:13-14 Key verse(s) 14:“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Keeping a positive outlook on life is pretty hard when nothing much positive seems to be happening in your life. Let’s face it, when things are going bad, really bad, there is nothing worse ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:13-14

Tags: Disappointment

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

I Just Kissed Yesterday Goodbye

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 15, 2022

Focus is an essential part of getting something done. Sometimes my focus is more on yesterday than it is today. I waste a lot of time looking backward. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage often rebukes me because I look in the past. I talk more about yesterday than I do today. On the other ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Blessing, Focus

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Oh My What A Nice Slice Of Pie

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 13, 2022

Whenever things go better than you can imagine, it is always a red flag to pay attention because something is wrong. I don’t always catch it, and I have paid the price. One day this past week, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and our daughters and granddaughters planned a girl’s day. I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Together, Sharing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

When Rickey Shive Was A Kid Growing Up On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

When Rickey Shive was a kid growing up on the farm, one of the annual jobs he always looked forward to was the "chicken harvest." Apologies should be made in advance for the somewhat graphic nature of this illustration. Nonetheless, he looked forward to the chicken harvest. No, he wasn‘t some ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:12-14

Tags: Fulfillment, God Brings Purpose, Sin Deceptive

Glitzy Grammy Gifts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

GLITZY GRAMMY GIFTS The New York Post reports that producers of the 2002 Grammy ceremony showered each of the show’s stars with a personalized gift basket said to be worth $16,000 each. Britney Spears got a pair of $1,900 diamond earrings, a Blackberry pager, an iPod MP3 player, a free two-night ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:8-14

Tags: God's Provision, Second Coming

Hearing God  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

HEARING GOD The New York Times reports that during the attacks of September 11, the communication between rescue workers and their commanding officers was not good. Instead of reaching the workers by radio to warn of the imminent collapse of the Trade Center Towers, a messenger had to be sent ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 94:9

Tags: Prayer Hardship, God's Omniscience, Debt, Disciplines General

Sleeping In The Cemetery  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2005

SLEEPING IN THE CEMETERY According to a March, 2005 news report, a tramp in Holland has been found using the cemetery as his sleeping quarters. The man was charged by police after they caught him a second time sleeping in the graveyard at Nijmegen. The 43-year old had dug out the earth from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Tags: Easter Resurrection

So God's Really In The Details?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 28, 2005

SO GOD’S REALLY IN THE DETAILS? Economists use probability theory to predict how people will spend money. Actuaries use it to figure how high someone’s insurance premium will be. In 2002, Richard Swinburne, who is a professor of philosophy at Oxford University, used a formula known as Baye’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Tags: Apologetics Jesus, Easter Resurrection

In The Hard School Of Life God's Answer To Our ...

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Sep 29, 2005

In the hard school of life God’s answer to our problems don’t come in the form of neatly pre-packaged solutions, like strips of shrink-wrapped capsules labelled for each anxiety we have, carrying a certificate of immunity from the hazards of life. If I may give a personal illustration of this. ...read more

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Human Body

Denomination: Baptist

Mega Church Growth Slows: A New Study By Scott ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006

Mega Church Growth Slows: A new study by Scott Thumma, Hartford Seminary, indicates that after 20 years of rapid growth, churches of more than 2000 members, growth has markedly slowed. There are approximately 500 such mega churches in the U.S. and nearly all have a conservative theological ...read more

Tags: Church General

A Great Place To Live  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE America is a great place to live. Thousands of people reach its borders everyday hoping to live the American Dream. The Chrisian Science Monitor recently reported a poll that asked the question "If it couldn’t be US, whose citizenship would you want?" Americans, ...read more

Tags: Independence Day, Kingdom Of God

Power In The Cross-Communion Meditation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 7, 2002

POWER IN THE CROSS-COMMUNION MEDITATION There is power in the cross. It's undeniable. Even unbelievers seem to squirm when considering its potential. David Brooks, of the Weekly Standard, reports "of the conniption being thrown by the American Atheist, the group founded by the late ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18

Tags: Cross Agony, Crucifixion, Lord's Supper

Paid In Full  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 29, 2002

PAID IN FULL Have you ever wished that someone would pay off all your credit card debt? Zero balances—no payments! The Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA is making that wish come true. One Sunday of every month, Bishop C. Vernie Russell Jr., chooses a family from the church ...read more

Tags: Lord's Supper, Easter Good Friday, Cross Agony

I'm A Pastor, And Theologically, I Am Not Paid ...  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Oct 4, 2002

· I’m a pastor, and theologically, I am not paid for the work I do, I am paid so that I may be free to devote myself to the ministry. It makes a difference. · My church does not pay me to preach the Gospel. I do that freely. · My church does not pay me to visit someone in the hospital. I do that ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Church Practices

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Historically Profound Moral Understanding  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 28, 2002

HISTORICALLY PROFOUND MORAL UNDERSTANDING COMMUNION MEDITATION Dallas Willard writes: "What Jesus had to say about human good and evil was of sufficient depth, power, and justification to dominate European culture and its offshoots for two millennia. Nobody even has an idea of what 'Europe' and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19, James 1:18

Tags: Lord's Supper, Humanity Of Christ

Gratitude—a Necessary Attitude  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

GRATITUDE- A NECESSARY ATTITUDE A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project" Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 4:8

Tags: Joy, Thanksgiving Holiday

The Light Of The Christmas Star  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002

THE LIGHT OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR In New York’s Hayden Planetarium a special Christmas holiday show was enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree was projected onto the planetarium dome, surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly colored toys which came to life and cavorted to the ...read more

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Christmas, Christmas Eve