In Sermon Illustrations: "Look Back"

After The Christening Of His Baby Brother In ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2002

After the christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Baptism

Joseph Choate, One-Time U.s. Ambassador To Great ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

Joseph Choate, one-time U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, when asked who he would like to be if he could come back to earth again after he died, replied without an instant’s hesitation: “Mrs. Choate’s second ...read more

Tags: Marriage Commitment

Parents Will Spend Less: Consumers Are Expected ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Parents Will Spend Less: Consumers are expected to spend 16% less this year on back-to-school items, according to a National Retail Federation survey. The survey estimates that the average tally for shoppers this year will be $457, ...read more

Tags: Children

A Drill Officer Was Putting His Men Through Some ...  PRO

Contributed by Jimmy Chapman on Sep 27, 2006

A drill officer was putting his men through some exercises. "Lie on your backs," he barked. "Raise your legs. Now move them as riding a bicycle." However, there was one man who held his legs motionless, "What the big ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

I Watched One Woman In Her Sixties Lean Over And ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 1, 2004

I watched one woman in her sixties lean over and kiss the body of her mother who was nearly 90 when she passed. Both were committed Christians and loved one another deeply. Fighting back the tears, the daughter kissed her mother ...read more

Tags: Death

If A Soul Thou Wouldst Redeem, And Lead A Lost ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If a soul thou wouldst redeem, And lead a lost one back to God; Wouldst thou a guardian-angel seem To one who long in guilt hath trod Go kindly to him take his hand With gentlest words within thine ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

David Augsburger Said, "When James Calvert Went ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

David Augsburger said, “When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship sought to turn him back. “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Methodist Minister And Author Charles L. Allen ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Methodist minister and author Charles L. Allen wrote of a fisherman friend who told him that one never needs a top for his crab basket. If one of the crabs starts to climb up the sides of the basket, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back ...read more

Tags: Faith

The Preschoolers Were Reciting Their Memory ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The preschoolers were reciting their memory verse for the week. “Call unto me and I will answer.” Jill was trying very hard to remember the verse she had been taught. She twisted and turned as she cautiously recited, “Call unto ...read more

Tags: Marriage Struggle

In Speaking Of Mothers, One Noted Writer ...

Contributed by Kenneth Trent on May 12, 2008

In speaking of mothers, one noted writer declared: “There is Monica, mother of Augustine, who when her son wandered far astray from her early teaching, never lost faith that God would bring him back, ...read more

Tags: Mothers

Denomination: Baptist

Missions

Contributed by Tony Abram on Aug 22, 2009

Missions While churches concern themselves with missions abroad, many miss the opportunity afforded by the 400,000 international students who study in the U.S.A. each year. Many of them are open to new ideas and would be responsive to the gospel. We ...read more

Tags: Missions

They Keep You Quiet In Church

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 27, 2021

A 6-year-old girl was sitting in church with her very fidgety 4-year-old brother. She spoke to him with a stern voice, “You’re supposed to be quiet in church.” So her brother asked, “Whose gonna make me?” She ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:46-47

Tags: Church, Children, Worship, Quiet

Denomination: Methodist

Faith

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2022

“In the last resort faith is an act of will, inspired by love. Our love may be chilled and our will eroded by the spectacle of the shortcomings, folly, and even sins of the Church and its ministers, but I do not think that one who ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1, John 20:27

Tags: Faith, Doubt, Belief, Salvation

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Do I Know?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 22, 2025

[Australian joke] Ricky decides to go back home to Melbourne so he calls Qantas Airlines to book his flight. The operator asks him, 'How many people are flying with you?' Ricky ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-13

Tags: Communication, Honesty, Confusion, Misunderstanding, Dual Meaning  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Rich Family In Church By Eddie ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 11, 2009

THE RICH FAMILY IN CHURCH by Eddie Ogan I’ll never forget Easter 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12, and my older sister Darlene 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, leaving Mom with seven ...read more

Tags: Money

Things Have A Way Of Catching Up With Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 31, 2020

I have learned in my life, and probably just one thing: things have a way of catching up with me. I can't get away with anything. It's not that I don't try. There were a few times when I've come pretty close to getting away with something, but it didn't turn out the way I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Money, Humor, Fraud

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If It Was Up To Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 13, 2021

Fifty years ago, I was a teenager. Boy, do I miss those Days of Yore. It's not that I would like to relive them, but I was a much different person back then. As a teenager, I knew everything, and all you had to do was ask me. Even if you didn't ask me, I still would tell you what was on my ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19

Tags: Wisdom, News, Politics

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Did The Summer Go?

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 14, 2023

This past week started out as the best week of the whole year. At least, I thought so at the time. I finished my book manuscript and sent it to the publisher. I caught up with some other projects that were lagging. And I had time to balance my checkbook. What could be better than that? The ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Summer, Time

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s My Pain I’ll Use It If I Want To

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 1, 2025

When I think I've turned a page to a new chapter in my life, I realize there is nothing new in life. I'm referring to pain. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't have some pain. In the years of my naivety, I never imagined that when I got older, I would experience more ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Tylenol, Pain, Doctors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Do Some Screaming! (09.15.05--Heavenly ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Sep 13, 2005

Do Some Screaming! (09.15.05--Heavenly Citizens!--1 Cor 15:31) The hog-nose snake flipped over on its back and coiled itself up into a neat coil. It lay seemingly lifeless in front of us somehow waiting for us to either move on or dare to pick it up. Banking on the former, I am sure it was pleased ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:31

Tags: Discipleship, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Lutheran