In Sermon Illustrations: "Look Out"

Splish Splash, I Forgot To Take A Bath

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 8, 2022

If you had the opportunity to speak to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, she would probably tell you that one of my strengths is forgetting. I'm not sure how far into the subject she would get. When it comes to forgetting, I am outstanding on the back lawn, and my expertise in this area ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:2

Tags: Memory, Forgetting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Then Thought Of Chocolate

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 21, 2023

Everybody has their own comfort food. I have a long list of comfort food, and Apple Fritter is at the top. Nothing comforts me quite like a fresh Apple Fritter. The other day I needed some comfort food. After all, life can be rather stressful, and you either deal with the stress or let it deal ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Stress, Comfort Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whatever Happened To Reality

Contributed by James Snyder on May 18, 2024

During my health hiatus I did things I never had time to do before. One of them was to check out some Reality TV Shows. I never had much interest in these TV shows, but I thought now would be a good time to check some of them just to see what their idea of reality really was. Of course, my health ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Reality, Tv Shows

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

How Can I Get My Sneeze Back?

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 28, 2024

I've had a lot of health issues during this past year, and now that I seem to be over them, something else has taken their place. I have had a sneezing fit for the past two weeks that I've never experienced before. Every time I sneeze, it is in triplets. I don't know why I have to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Health, Sneezing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

An Apple Fritter On My Mind

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 2, 2022

The last few weeks have been rather hectic, and I’ve struggled to keep up with everything. If it weren’t for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I probably would not have gotten where I am today. I don’t know anybody who can plan out a day, week, or month better than her. She has everything ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:21

Tags: Stress, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[184]. Poem – Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who’s The Worst Of Us All?

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 4, 2025

[184]. POEM MESSAGE – MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHO’S THE WORST OF US ALL? This is an unusual poem I think, the name taken from the saying, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all?” Here we have a reflective poem and a challenging one in our personal lives. There is often so ...read more

Scripture: James 1:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 9:2, Revelation 12:10

Tags: Disgrace, Mirrors, The Accuser, Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Forgiveness, Sin, Reflection, Shame  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Becoming An Olympic Athlete

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Mar 4, 2026

We have to do something in order grow spiritually. What is it that we have to do? Over the past few weeks, our television screens were filled with images of the Winter Olympics in Italy. For example, you may have watched: • Luge, where they speed down an icy track at 80-90 miles an hour on what ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Tags: Discipline, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Growth

Denomination: Baptist

Add Air Or Put On The Spare! (08.24.05--Under ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 23, 2005

Add Air or Put on the Spare! (08.24.05--Under Pressure!--Exodus 16:2) When we are under pressure, we can either seek to manage the pressure or let the pressure manage us. Easier said than done? Yes, but like most things in life, there is a way if we really have our eyes and hearts open to finding ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2, Exodus 16:1-3

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Lutheran

But, Perhaps, The Greatest Piece Is Fyodor ...

Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Sep 5, 2005

But, perhaps, the greatest piece is Fyodor Dostoevski’s book The Brothers Karamazov. The book is possibly the finest literature ever written by human hand. In it is found a chapter entitled “The Grand Inquisitor.” Ivan Karamazov is telling his brother a story that he has just written. The ...read more

Tags: Sin Separates From God, Sin Exposed

Denomination: Methodist

I Recently Read A Peculiar Story About A Family ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Dietz on Jun 21, 2008

I recently read a peculiar story about a family in Lander, Wyoming that had gone to their local refuse dump to dispose of some unwanted family items that were either busted or greatly abused. As they were emptying there junk into a large dumpster, the man of the home saw something that caught his ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-17, Psalm 81:16

Tags: Blessing, Wrong Value

Denomination: *other

The Vessel God ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 17, 2009

THE VESSEL GOD USES The Master was searching for a vessel to use; on the shelf there were many--which one would He choose? "Take me", cried the gold one, "I’m shiny and bright, I’m of great value and I do things just right. My beauty and luster will outshine the rest And for someone like ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Tags: Servanthood

I Am Not But I Shall Be

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 22, 2021

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) The one thing about getting older is that you get to look back on more things each year and have more to ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:2

Tags: Forgiveness, Change, Transformation, Failure

Denomination: Baptist

Recently I Received An E-Mail Which Dealt ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Tkachuk on Dec 23, 2004

Recently I received an e-mail which dealt beautifully with the true meaning of Christmas. The theme of the message focused on children and was entitled, “Teach the Children.” Let me share it with you this morning. This is what it said: “I just finished the household chores for the night and was ...read more

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Catholic

In His Marvelous Book, The Kingdom Of God Is A ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Jul 23, 2001

: In his marvelous book, The Kingdom of God is a Party, Tony Campolo tells a story that illustrates how I believe the church must begin to live out our witness in the new millennium. Campolo was attending a Christian conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. Since there was a six-hour time differential ...read more

Tags: Sharing My Testimony, Compassion, Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Augustine The Fiery Defender Of The Faith ...  PRO

Contributed by Victor Yap on Jan 23, 2001

Augustine the fiery defender of the faith accepted Christ in the most unusual way. After resisting God for a long time Augustine heard a child playing nearby, saying, TOLLE LEGE, TOLLE LEGE, which means, Take, Read. He promptly read a random verse from the Bible, Romans 13:13- 14, and gave his life ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Bible Influence

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Just For You  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2002

JUST FOR YOU In Peggy Noonan’s book When Character Was King, she tells about a meeting between President George W. Bush and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. It was their first meeting as world leaders and Bush wanted to be sure they connected-- that they looked for depth of soul and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Crucifixion, Easter Resurrection, Jesus Christ

A Beggar Stopped A Lawyer On The Street In A ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 13, 2003

A beggar stopped a lawyer on the street in a large city and asked him for some coins. Taking a long, hard look into the man’s unshaven face, the attorney asked, "Don’t I know you from somewhere?" "You should," came the reply. "I’m your former classmate. Remember, 2nd floor, old Oxford High ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God's Provision

Denomination: Independent/Bible

My Kids Were Lost And I Didn't Even Know It." ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Mcnair on Sep 16, 2003

“My kids were lost and I didn’t even know it.” ... When I was in school in Dallas my 2 kids 6 & 9, spent the afternoon with a pastor friend of mine Garris Baggett and his wife. Janet and I were at work and didn’t even know the kids had wandered off until we got home late that night. Evidently the ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

One Day A Little Girl Went Shopping With Her ...

Contributed by Georgina Pando-Connolly on Apr 30, 2004

One day a little girl went shopping with her mother. Her Daddy had given her a couple of dollars to but whatever she wanted and she chose a shiny necklace with shiny beads that looked like pearls. The little girl put on her pearls and wouldn’t take them off. She slept, bathed etc. Her daddy was ...read more

Tags: Promises Of God

Denomination: Methodist

Marshall Hayden Wrote An Article A Few Years Ago ...

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Oct 13, 2004

Marshall Hayden wrote an article a few years ago entitled, "Would Every Non-Hurter Please Stand Up?" He pointed out that people come to church wearing their best clothes & their best smiles. Everybody looks happy, so we assume everything is okay. But he suggests that we need to look beyond the ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational