In Sermon Illustrations: "Loving Jesus"

Church On Fire

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Jun 15, 2011

CHURCH ON FIRE Here's an interesting article that goes well with Pentecost. The article’s title read, "Fireworks Blamed for Church Fire." The story begins, "Fireworks were blamed for a fire that tore through a church in Brush Prairie, on Monday... . The church's roof collapsed as the fire ...read more

Tags: Pentecost

Denomination: Lutheran

Standing In Worship

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 9, 2011

STANDING IN WORSHIP Jesus stands in God’s presence--he stands, because he has trodden death and the power of the Evil One underfoot. At the end of this struggle, he is the one who stands upright, the one who remains standing. This standing is also an expression of readiness: Christ is standing ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Catholic

Tying Off The Tap Root  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

TYING OFF THE TAP ROOT The Japanese introduced a tree to the world that is called a Bonsai tree. It is measured in inches instead of feet as other trees are measured. It is not allowed to reach anywhere near its full growth potential but instead grows in a stunted miniature form. The reason for ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:1-7

Tags: Prayer General

Trusting The Scent

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

TRUSTING THE SCENT Years ago I read the story of a man by the name of Wally who owned a farm in Connecticut. He had a remarkable talent he had with birds, chickadees specifically. It seems that every morning these little birds would flutter down and land on his hands. And it wasn’t just for food; ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:2-5

Tags: Trust

Frenemies

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

FRENEMIES A frenemy is a friend/enemy. You like a frenemy and you hate a frenemy. You work with a frenemy when it is convenient and self-serving, but when it is not, the frenemy becomes a nemesis. The Urban Dictionary states a frenemy is "an enemy disguised as a friend." and twists the old adage ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

The Next Billy Graham

Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 7, 2012

THE NEXT BILLY GRAHAM Baptist author and leader Russell Moore said recently: "The next Jonathan Edwards might be the man driving in front of you with the Darwin Fish bumper decal. The next Charles Wesley might be a ... profanity-spewing hip-hop artist right now. The next Billy Graham might be ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Lutheran

Keep The Springs Pure  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

KEEP THE SPRINGS PURE The family’s water supply came from a spring just a few feet from the house. The pure, cold, sweet water bubbled up through a large pipe about the size of a barrel that had been sunk in the ground. One morning two huge frogs were found in the spring. No one wanted to drink ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-27

Tags: Heart

Sorry You're Too Late

Contributed by Tim Spear on Dec 3, 2012

A young man, after a revival service, came up to the visiting evangelist and they were getting ready to put up everything for the night. The young man had left after the invitation, under conviction, he had returned at the conclusion of the service and went up to the evangelist and he said, "Sir, ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

A Friend Of Mine

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 3, 2013

A FRIEND OF MINE Branch Rickey, whose name was recently placed back into our memories in the wonderful movie '42' a story about the baseball great Jackie Robinson, was a devout Christian. Once while head of the old Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended negotiations involving a certain ballplayer's ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Albert Schweitzer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

Dr. Albert Schweitzer was a famous musician, writer and teacher. He gave up all of this to become a medical doctor. When on October 13,1906, he sent letters to his parents and closest acquaintances announcing that he would enter Strasbourg University as a medical student to prepare for his ...read more

Scripture: John 12:24, John 12:27-28

Tags: Glory, Die, Live

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Mardi Gras Miracle

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Apr 17, 2021

“The Mardi Gras Miracle.” On Fat Tuesday of 1994 I was on my way to a meeting at Normal Presbyterian Church. I was listening to a basketball game. Kentucky was playing LSU at LSU and Kentucky was down 16 points at half time. I was concerned but to make things worse LSU started the second half ...read more

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Tags: Doubt, Doubting Thomas

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

It's Later Than It's Ever Been!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jun 6, 2023

A young boy was playing in his grandmother’s house near a large grandfather clock. Noontime was approaching, and when both hands of the old timepiece reached 12, the chimes began to ring. As he always liked to do, the boy counted each gong as it sounded. This time, however, something went wrong ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18

Tags: Second Coming, Rapture, Time, Return Of Christ, End Times, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Volunteers

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Sep 2, 2023

THE VOLUNTEERS This poem is dedicated to all faithful volunteers. We could not make it without your willingness to serve. Thank you, Loyd C Taylor, Sr. The Volunteers There are some special people that we know Found in needy places across this land; They’re people that selflessly serve others, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:41, Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 14:23, John 6:27

Tags: Volunteers, Helpers, Service, Sacrifice, Support, Servant, Labor Day  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

God With Us

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Dec 2, 2024

I started out by describing a song that I had been singing all week long. (I used Leaning on the Everlasting Arms but you can use any song). I spent about 5 - 7 minutes giving all the details of the song. The author, the beat, where it is used at, who sung the song, etc. I keep the title ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:23, Philippians 2:5-11

Tags: Emmanuel, Immanuel, God With Us

Denomination: Church Of God

Jewish Roots Of Discipleship

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

From just before the time of Christ (when Jesus was a child, Hillel was still alive). "He [Hillel] would stand at the gate of Jerusalem and meet people going to work. He questioned them, "How much will you make at work today?" One person would answer, "A denarius." Another ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31, Luke 9:62, Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 1:16

Tags: Discipleship, Jewish, Disciples, Leaving All

Denomination: Independent/Bible

He Still Brings The Dead Back To Life

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Apr 20, 2025

A friend shared this story with me on Resurrection Sunday, it happened on the same day 20 years earlier. Proof God is still bringing the dead back to life - I wanted to share a resurrection Sunday testimony from around 20 years ago, I bought a very used small pickup and the seller claimed the AC ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Resurrection, Miracles

Denomination: Charismatic

Looking For A Loophole. W C Fields Story

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Mar 3, 2026

It is a difficult thing... to look in the mirror of our soul... and see where we really stand ... in our relationship with God. Some hold back ... from a total commitment to Jesus... and in a way, ... are looking for a loophole ... to make them acceptable ... before God. (Pause) W. C. Fields ...read more

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

Tags: Spirit, Battle, Commitment, Flesh, Loophole  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

God Glorified In Weakness, Bits And Pieces, June ...  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on Mar 2, 2001

God Glorified in Weakness, Bits and Pieces, June 1990, p. 23-4 It was 1818 in France, and Louis, a boy of 9, was sitting in his father’s workshop. The father was a harness-maker and the boy loved to watch his father work the leather. "Someday Father," said Louis, "I want to be a harness-maker, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 145:1-21

Tags: God In The Hardships, God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Last Year About This Time Our Tennessee Titans ...  PRO

Contributed by Tom Dooley on May 11, 2001

Last year about this time our Tennessee Titans were involved in a heart wrenching defeat in the Super Bowl. All season they had fought back from deficits to win and it appeared as though they were going to pull off another comeback victory over the Rams. Unfortunately they came up about a yard ...read more

Tags: Worship General, Church Practices, God The Father

Denomination: Baptist

What Were To Happen If You Were Leaving For ...  PRO

Contributed by Lance Ladd on Aug 14, 2001

What were to happen if you were leaving for vacation and you went to flip of the breakers that ran the hot water heater so that you could save money not heating water that you didn’t need and instead you mistakenly flip the breaker for the refrigerator. You leave for two weeks and when you return ...read more

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ