In Sermon Illustrations: "Look Back"

Men And Women's Roles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

MEN AND WOMEN'S ROLES Wayne Grudem and John Piper identified and addressed a problem in leadership back in 1991 which is still relevant: "A controversy of major proportions has spread through the church. It began over 20 years ago in society at large. Since then an avalanche of feminist ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:9-15

Tags: Men And Women

Praying For Your Prosperity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

PRAYING FOR YOUR PROSPERITY One day a man was walking with this pastor. He knew this pastor was living in horrible poverty in Ethiopia, and he made the mistake of showing a little bit of what he thought would be gracious sympathy. He told the Ethiopian pastor, brother, we pray for you in your ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:7-9

Tags: Poverty

Trespasses And Debts  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

TRESPASSES AND DEBTS The story is told of two congregations that were located only a few blocks from each other in a small community. They thought it might be better if they would merge and become one united, larger, and more effective body rather than two struggling churches. Good idea ... but ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Tags: Divisions

Grace Puts The Pieces Together

Contributed by Colin Bain on Dec 1, 2011

GRACE PUTS THE PIECES TOGETHER I remember years ago watching Tommy Cooper do a trick where you tear up a cigarette paper, blow on the pieces and magically them whole again. He then went on to teach the trick to the audience. The trick he told them was to have another cigarette paper hidden in ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Trip To Beijing

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 12, 2011

THE TRIP TO BEIJING Ralph and Janice who were celebrating their 50th weddng anniversary. The church was honoring the couple. The pastor asked Ralph to come forward and give a testimony. Ralph said, "Well, the secret to our marriage is that I always treated her with respect; and I spent a ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

The "Wrapping" Of Pentecost

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 5, 2012

THE "WRAPPING" OF PENTECOST We must put this in proper perspective. Those who see Pentecost's main significance as miraculous powers are missing the new thing that was being done, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is like someone who receives a beautifully wrapped birthday gift. After ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Josh Mcdowell On Why People Refuse To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 4, 2012

JOSH MCDOWELL ON WHY PEOPLE REFUSE TO BELIEVE Josh McDowell writes, “People refuse to believe that which they don’t want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went to Australia they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:14

Tags: Unbelief

A Little Boy Told His Father, "I Want A New ...  PRO

Contributed by Phillip Parkin on Nov 24, 2012

A little boy told his father, "I want a new bike". The father said, "In this house we pray and ask God for the things we want and need". That night the little boy prayed, " Dear God, I need a new bike". The next morning the little boy woke up and ran to the garage but there was no bike. The little ...read more

Scripture: John 16:23, Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Provision, Men's Day, Prayer

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Visiting Preacher  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 13, 2014

A pastor went out visiting his church members on a Saturday afternoon. At one house, it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the preacher knocked several times. Finally, the minister took out his church business card and wrote out "Revelation 3:20" on the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-10

Tags: Sin, Temptation, Adam And Eve

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Helping People Go Home

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

The conductor of a railroad was on his last day before retiring. As he was going through the cars punching tickets, he came to the third car and there was a man who had ridden that car through the years with the conductor. He stopped him by grabbing his shirt sleeve and said, “Hey Jim, how do you ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-18

Tags: Evangelism, Death, Salvation, Going Home

Denomination: Methodist

Hope

Contributed by Don Berry-Graham on Mar 1, 2016

In September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert hit the Louisiana coast. At that time it was considered the “Storm of the century.” It battered the shoreline, severely disrupting the shrimping business. Many shrimp boats were lost, causing great concern for several families dependent on shrimping for their ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-16

Tags: Hope, Hope Deferred

Denomination: Baptist

Giving Tithes And Offering To Your Local Church

Contributed by Rev. Vinod Rasaily on Oct 19, 2016

Believers must understand that Church is the backbone of mission and therefore must be faithful in bringing their tithes and offering to their local Church. Some Church goers who live outside of their home town would not commit themselves to support the Church which they are attending, instead they ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10-11

Tags: Tithes And Offering, Christian Giving, Giving To God

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 28, 2019

A young driver was in a hurry to get to an appointment and illegally parked his car. He left this note under the windshield wiper of his auto: So sorry, but I have circled the block for twenty minutes. I am late for an appointment and if I don't park here, I'll lose my job! ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness, Temptation, Humor, Lord's Prayer, Policemen  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Adam & Eve

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby was most interested and drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Eve, Sin, Adam

Denomination: Methodist

Seven Stanzas At Easter

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Mar 19, 2023

John Updike put it in his wonderful poem : Make no mistake: if he rose at all it was as his body; If the cells dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the church will fall. Let us not mock God with metaphor, Analogy, sidestepping transcendence; Making ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14, Matthew 28:1-10

Tags: Resurrection, Tomb, John Updike

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Should Pastors Preach Against Corrupt Politicians? Bonhoeffer Did.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 6, 2024

At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself ...read more

Tags: Evil, Prophecy, Politics, Darkness, Second Coming, Last Days, Rapture, Pastors, Hitler, Signs, Return Of Christ, Bonhoeffer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Full Of Hypocrites

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 24, 2025

Story: When was the last time you overheard a conversation like this? “Mary, how come you never shop at Asda.” And Mary answers, “Well, I used to. But the last time I was there the place was just full of hypocrites. So I’ll never go back there again.” You’ve never heard such a conversation ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy, Hypocrites

Denomination: Anglican

Made In China

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 4, 2025

Made in China My wife and I exchanged some ideas for Christmas gifts for each other. She said,” You never told me what you wanted for Christmas.” I responded,” Yes, I did. I need two pairs of shoes and two pairs of gloves. That’s it!” She asked, “I know where to get the shoes, but where do I get ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Matthew 1:21, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gifts, Lists, Christmas, Ideas

Denomination: Baptist

What Will You Give Up To Win?

Contributed by Steve Ely on Oct 1, 2008

What Will You Give Up To Win? Two paddleboats were leaving Memphis at about the same time. They were traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one boat made a comment about the slow pace of the other boat. Words were exchanged, challenges ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: Pentecostal

Charlie Wrote About His Experience As A Kid ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Oct 15, 2008

Charlie wrote about his experience as a kid growing up in the American south and planting peanuts. Because peanuts are tubers that grow on the roots beneath the ground, you cannot see how well they’re developing. So being an impatient kid, he decided to dig them up to see how they were doing. Well, ...read more

Tags: Sexuality

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational