In Sermon Illustrations: "Making Disciples"

I Have Never Really Had A Problem With Anger, But ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 15, 2009

I have never really had a problem with anger, but the closest I have come was in a classroom. Teaching in a high school can be very stressful, and I had put some guys on detention and was supervising them. They had behaved badly in class but were equally disruptive in the detention room, swearing, ...read more

Tags: Anger

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

The Heart of a Mouse There was a story; it happened in a fantasy world. A mouse was playing under the bushes when a cat spotted it, and chased it all the way to the fields. The mouse was scared to death that it called out for its fairy godmother and asked that it be transformed to a cat. So, the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:4-7

Tags: Fear And Worry

Egyptian Astronomer Ptolemy In The 2nd Century ...

Contributed by Bret Toman on May 20, 2010

Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century postulated that the earth was the center of the universe, that the earth was still, that other planets orbited and other planets rotated, but the earth not. The universe revolved around the earth. It made sense, and people believed it. For 1400 years. ...read more

Tags: Sin General, Acknowledging God

Denomination: Baptist

Never, Never Be Late  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

NEVER, NEVER BE LATE A local priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner. However, he was delayed so the priest decided to say ...read more

Scripture: James 5:13-16

Tags: Confession Of Sin

I Don't Want To Be A Fireman

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 20, 2011

I DON'T WANT TO BE A FIREMAN I recall a conversation I once had with a precocious little boy we once had in the church I pastored for 10 years in Wiesbaden. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. "Well," he replied, "I don't want to be a fireman." I'd never had a kid tell me what ...read more

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Baptist

The Law And The Gospel

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 10, 2011

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL John Wesley: "There is no [conflict] at all between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away, in order to the establishing of the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same ...read more

Tags: Law

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Blame Game

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011

THE BLAME GAME Wayne Dyer writes: "All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you...You may succeed in making another feel guilty of something by blaming him; you won't succeed in changing whatever it ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13

Tags: Guilt

No Shortcuts

Contributed by Brad Henry on Aug 26, 2011

NO SHORTCUTS Now that the New Year is right around the corner there are those infomercials that tout great fitness. It seems that each year the machines get weirder. Hang upside down, spin 360 degrees then throw up. That loses about 5 lbs. Then there are those that bend you like a pretzel while ...read more

Tags: Change

Wynton Marsalis: Someone To Play With

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2011

WYNTON MARSALIS: SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH People are preoccupied with their own thoughts and interests. When we show interest and concern for another person’s interest or concern, it meets a deep need. People feel cared for and valued. Wynton Marsalis is a recognized musician. He is invited to teach ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Tags: Humility

Craving Milk

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Oct 26, 2011

CRAVING MILK I remember our grandkids had ravenous appetites towards mother's milk and they all grew fat as over-stuffed ticks. All 4 of them were roly-poly by 3 months of age. There was an obvious direct corollary between milk ingested and weight gain. Likewise, spiritual infants who crave ...read more

Tags: Basics Of Christianity

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Acceptance: Such A Simple Thing

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Jun 26, 2012

ACCEPTANCE: SUCH A SIMPLE THING Charles Shultz, creator and author of the Peanuts cartoon characters often conveys a Christian message in his comic strips. In one strip he conveys through Charlie Brown the need we have to be loved and accepted. Lucy demonstrates our human inability to love one ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Managing Time

Contributed by David Simpson on Jan 30, 2018

No matter what changes, no matter how much changes, TIME remains the same. And even though we know that, we never seem to have enough time. Consider the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin says to Hobbes, "God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:4-6

Tags: Investing Your Life, Spending Time Wisely, Time Management

Denomination: Christian Church

Forgive Us Our Debts

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 20, 2019

The debt has been paid… (forgive us our debts…) The graduating class of Morehouse College got a surprise gift on Sunday (May 19, 2019) when billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during his commencement speech that he would pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class. Student loans in ...read more

Scripture: John 8:36

Tags: Forgiveness, Freedom, Generosity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preserved And Protected By The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2022

When my mother used to make jam, I would watch her pour wax over the top of the preserves until it was at the brim of the jar. She would then carefully wipe some wax around the rim itself and place the rubber-lined lid on tight. The wax and the vacuum caused by the cooling preserves would seal that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:13

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preserve, Protection

Republican, Democrat, And Libertarian Arrive At Heaven

Contributed by Gregory Artz on Aug 31, 2022

A Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and an unassuming man all arrived at the gates of Heaven. First the Republican spoke to St Peter, “I am sure am glad I made it here, I was sure to give plenty of money to the poor.” St Peter replied, sorry sir, your name is not in the book. Then the Democrat ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 146:1-4, Revelation 20:11-15

Tags: Heaven, Politics, Book Of Life

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

God Moved The Mountain

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Aug 7, 2025

A small church was growing very fast. Every Sunday, more and more people were coming to worship. But there was one big problem—there was no proper parking lot. Many people had to park far away and walk a long distance to the church. The pastor and the church members started praying. They asked God ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:20

Tags: Faith, Prayer

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Husband Was Told By The Marriage Counselor To ...  PRO

Contributed by Ross Mitchell on Jan 30, 2001

A husband was told by the marriage counselor to try and be nice to his wife. One day he comes home from work. He’s dressed up in a suit, he has cologne on, he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of candy in his hands. He’s trying to make a good impression. The wife says, "Oh, I can’t ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Christian Love, Marriage Struggle

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Indeed, If We Consider The Unblushing Promises ...  PRO

Contributed by Alan Perkins on Apr 25, 2001

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around about drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is ...read more

Tags: Kingdom Of God, Knowing God's Will, Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

Rabbi David A. Nelson Likes To Tell The Story Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Hensley on May 17, 2001

Rabbi David A. Nelson likes to tell the story of two brothers who went to their rabbi to settle a longstanding feud. The rabbi got the two to reconcile their differences and shake hands. As they were about to leave, he asked each one to make a wish for the other in honor of the Jewish New Year. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:12

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Cross, Christian Love, Mote, Judge, Judgement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Love Bumper Sticker Theology. It May Not ...  PRO

Contributed by Keith Broyles on Jun 9, 2001

I love bumper sticker theology. It may not always be the most sound theological statements, but they generally at least have the ability to make you think. The one in particular that I am thinking about said, "God is my Co-pilot." Do you remember the sticker? It took a great deal of heat. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15

Tags: Commitment To Christ, Descriptions Of God, Discipleship

Denomination: Methodist