In Sermon Illustrations: "Looking Ahead"

Payer Is The Strongest Form Of Abiding That There ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 12, 2008

Payer is the strongest form of abiding that there is. -- A retired teacher was giving her little nephew some help with his schools work. He was normally a good, attentive child, but on this occasion he could not fix his mind on his work. Suddenly he said, "Aunt Sally, may I kneel down and ask God ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Prayer Is The Strongest Form Of Abiding That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 27, 2008

Prayer is the strongest form of abiding that there is. -- A retired teacher was giving her little nephew some help with his schools work. He was normally a good, attentive child, but on this occasion he could not fix his mind on his work. Suddenly he said, "Aunt Sally, may I kneel down and ask God ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Missionaries' Lives Spared From Marytrdom As They ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 22, 2009

Missionaries’ Lives Spared from Marytrdom As They Sang the Hymn, "Face to Face" Many years ago, a band of Chinese terrorists had captured Rev. and Mrs. Porteous, who were serving as missionaries in China with the old China Inland Mission. The terrorists led them to a lonely spot on a hill and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:17-39

Tags: Missions

George Santayana On Faith

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 15, 2009

GEORGE SANTAYANA ON FAITH The late great Spanish philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, Jorge Augustin Nicolas Ruiz Santayana y Borras (1863 - 1952), better known as "George Santayana" once said: "O world, thou choosest not the better part! It is not wisdom to be only wise, And on the inward ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1

Tags: Faith

How Much Time Do We Have ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

How Much Time Do We Have Left? A few years ago People Magazine published an article entitled, “Dead Ahead,” telling about a new clock that keeps track of how much time you have left to live. It calculates an average life span of 75 years for men and 80 years for women. So you program your sex and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17

Tags: Death, Death Nearness

Spiritual Gambling

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 30, 2013

SPIRITUAL GAMBLING The problem of compulsive gambling may seem foreign to most of us. Yet experts believe that millions of Americans are psychologically addicted to gambling. It gives them the excitement of hope and risk, but it usually ends in defeat. It is indeed a temporary pleasure. For those ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Midnight Cry

Contributed by Samuel M on Oct 1, 2025

There is a cry rising across the land. Every ear can hear this cry. This cry is heard in every nation, city and village. The cry is - "Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him". The cry is resonating so much in the atmosphere- The bridegroom is coming; the bridegroom is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:6

Tags: Faith, Hope

My First Assignment 35 Years Ago Was To An Inner ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 16, 2004

My first assignment 35 years ago was to an inner city parish in Wshington,D.C. Money was stolen from my room; the garage mechanic said my gas tank may have been sabotaged, destroying my engine; one weekend we had 34 windows broken in the school. When a new pastor was sent,the parish held a party ...read more

Tags: Christian Love, Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Love

The Best Thanksgiving Ever

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus They lived a comfortable life in the upscale part of town, the children were teen and pre-teen then and had most anything their hearts desired. They had begun to recite their ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Gratitude, Serving Others, Giving Spirit

Denomination: Charismatic

[210]. A Message From A Poem – Our Pilgrim Journey

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 23, 2025

[210]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR PILGRIM JOURNEY When I was to do the Introduction for this poem I noticed that it had only 3 stanzas. I don’t write poems that short, so back there in 2021, I may have intended coming back to it to add more. I can not remember now. Anyway I did add all the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:13

Tags: Home, Pilgrim, Pilgrim Journey, Christian Poems, Heaven  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

And Then It All Came To An End

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 28, 2024

Time has a way of getting ahead of me. Just when I think I’ve caught up, I find out I was wrong. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were sitting down, relaxing after a wonderful Christmas activity with all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. It was a wonderful time, but with my ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Christmas, Time, New Years

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Day In The Life Of A Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Ervin Kimrey on Jun 29, 2005

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SHEPHERD With a spring in his step and an eye to the sky, at sunrise, he makes straight for the sheep fold. As soon as he rattles the gate, he gives his morning call, greets the sheep, often by name, every sheep is on its feet. They spring toward the gate, with expectancy ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:11

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, Promises Of God

Denomination: Baptist

A Hungry Enemy  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Oct 27, 2002

A HUNGRY ENEMY A woman wrote to "Pulpit Helps" to explain a miraculous lesson her family experienced. During one of their family Bible readings as new Christians, they ran across the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20 RSV). She writes: Ours sons, 7 and 10 at the time, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Matthew 5:43-48

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Enemy, Forgiveness General, Christian Love, Christlikeness, Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Two Old Saw Bucks On A Hill! ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jun 25, 2005

Two Old Saw Bucks on a Hill! (06.27.05--Direction--John 21:4-6 ) How often we see things dimly in the morning light only to confront something altogether different than what we thought we saw in the first place. Not long ago I was awakened early, much earlier than I normally venture out in the ...read more

Scripture: John 21:4-6

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

Come Sweet Death

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 5, 2011

COME SWEET DEATH The picture is indelibly etched on my memory, I'm sure because at the time the incident seemed so bizarre, so peculiar. The scene was an elementary school talent show; all of us had been groomed and polished and persuaded that we had some talent or another to display before our ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-14

Tags: Death

A Collector’s Item?

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 23, 2020

Hard to believe, but I may have a collector’s item! In my own house! Now, before you start sending me “Can I see it?” types of emails, maybe I should explain just what this “collector’s item” really is. Really, it wasn’t that much of a collectible, even from a couple of years ago. It’s only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Colossians 3:2

Tags: Stewardship, Collector's Items

Denomination: Baptist

It Was Sunday Morning And Harry Was Off. He ...  PRO

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 29, 2001

It was Sunday morning and Harry was off. He pulled out of his driveway in his 2-seater convertible, with the roof closed because of typical Melbourne driving rain, and headed for church. But as he turned into the main road he saw ahead of him three bedraggled figures huddled under a single umbrella ...read more

Scripture: Esther 4:14-17, Esther 4:8-14

Tags: Memorial Day, Christian Love, Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Anglican

Kay Arthur Has Become A Well-Known ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

ILL. Kay Arthur has become a well-known Christian author & speaker who has influenced tens of thousands for Jesus. Her testimony is written in her book, "Lord, I Need Your Grace Because I Can’t Make It On My Own." In it she talks about her life & her struggles in coming to Christ. As a young ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Tags: Government

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Paul Harvey's "For What It's Worth"  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 15, 2002

[Paul Harvey’s "For What It’s Worth"] Our "For What It’s Worth Department" hears from Hershey, Pennsylvania—where the woman in the Mercedes had been waiting patiently for a parking place to open up. The shopping mall was crowded. The woman in the Mercedes zigzagged between rows—then up ahead she ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ, Humility, Temptation Pride

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Can Keep My Mouth Shut!  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2002

I CAN KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT! There was once an elderly couple that was traveling through upstate NY. As they were driving along they saw a sign that said, "Helicopter rides ahead". Pa said to Ma that he always wanted to ride in one of them helicopters. So they pull into the place and find the pilot. ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Faith