In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 15 10 20 21 28"

The Importance Of Church In The Face Of ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 4, 2010

The Importance of Church in the Face of Disillusionment The church has fallen on tough times. Sadly, some of the negative perceptions are the church’s fault. Stories of sexual abuse by a few ministers and avarice and greed by others have tarnished the testimony of the church. I am convinced that ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Tags: Church General

Saved By Hope

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2011

SAVED BY HOPE An interesting item appeared in a Nashville newspaper, datelined Memphis (UPI): A woman named Hope pulled a man from chilly harbor waters after watching him drive his car off the bank in an apparent suicide attempt. Hope Phillips, thirty-eight, said Monday she was sitting in her car ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 42:1-11

Tags: God Brings Hope

Leaders Are Born And Made

Contributed by Tim White on May 7, 2011

LEADERS ARE BORN AND MADE J. Oswald Sanders in his classic “Spiritual Leadership” believes that leaders are both born and made. “While conversion does not normally make leaders of people who would never become such otherwise, Church history teaches that in the hour of full surrender the Holy ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

The Bill Always Comes Due

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2011

THE BILL ALWAYS COMES DUE Bob Harris, weatherman for NY TV station WPIX-TV and the nationally syndicated independent Network news, had to weather a public storm of his own making in 1979. Though he had studied math, physics and geology at three colleges, he left school without a degree but with a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:5

Tags: Lies

The Tenacity Of Edison And Lincoln

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2011

THE TENACITY OF EDISON AND LINCOLN Look at the life of Thomas Edison. At 21, he patented his first major invention: the Electrical Vote Recorder (a device 100 years ahead of its time!). At 26, he invented the automatic telegraph and paraffin paper. At 30, the phonograph (earliest record player). ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:4

Tags: Endurance

The Bells Toll For Someone Else

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jun 22, 2011

THE BELLS TOLL FOR SOMEONE ELSE We began the week with the story of the Chicago nightclub fire in which 21 people were killed as they rushed to the exit. The club had already been cited for overcrowding and other safety violations--like not enough doors and windows. What happened was that a ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Boston Marathon

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 19, 2015

Around here in Boston, Patriots Day is famously known for “The Boston Marathon” in which runners from all over the world participate. I watched with keen interest as the gun shot went off for the 116th Boston Marathon. Upmost in every ones mind was the question “Who will get the grand prize worth ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Self-Control, Run To Win, Running The Race, Self-Discipline

Mac Hammond In His Book "Doorways To Deception" ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jul 3, 2008

Mac Hammond in his book “Doorways to Deception” says, “Satan cannot afflict you with the destructive effects of the curse unless you allow it by choosing, with your own free will, something that opens you up to those effects. Think about it for a moment. Satan is not called the father of ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Spiritual Health Checks  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Spiritual Health Checks (True Devotions) Rick Warren wrote, "The key for churches in the 21st Century will be church health, not growth." When a congregation is healthy, it will grow spiritually and enjoy the benefits of a live, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. A healthy Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42

Tags: Children, Moses, Deception, Godly Women, Listen, Liar, Selectively, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

8 Reasons You Should Not Expect An ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

8 REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT AN INHERITANCE I read an article in the New York Times recently that should sober anyone who is planning on receiving an inheritance. It was titled, “8 Reasons You Should Not Expect an Inheritance.” 1. People live longer and people who live longer spend more of ...read more

Tags: Money

Story About Graduation Car

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: The son of a wealthy man expected to receive a sports car for his graduation. Instead his Dad called him into his study, told him that he loved him and handed him a wrapped-up present. When he opened it, he found it to be a box containing a leather bound Bible, with his name inscribed on ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:9-14

Tags: Treasure, Graduation Present

Denomination: Anglican

Breakfast Was Always Ready

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

Every morning before school, without fail, my mom had breakfast ready for me. It didn't matter how busy she was or what else was going on. There was always a warm meal waiting. It wasn't just about the food. It was her way of saying, "I'm thinking about you. I care about you. I ...read more

Scripture: John 21:9-13

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[027] A Message From A Poem – Based On Psalm 91

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Feb 10, 2025

[027] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – BASED ON PSALM 91 When people are asked for their favourite Psalm, usually Psalm 23 is given, the Shepherd Psalm. There are a few who chose Psalm 91 as a Psalm they love and the reasons are not hard to find in this Psalm. This is a beautiful Psalm. I am pasting ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:9-11, Psalm 91:1-4, Psalm 91:5-10, Psalm 91:11-13, Psalm 91:14-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Compassion, Angels, Protect, Rescue, Care, Refuge, Shelter, Deliver  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[261]. A Message From A Poem – The Devil Snake

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 10, 2026

[261]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE DEVIL SNAKE Most people hate snakes. They run from them and scream out. Snakes are evil creatures but their cunning is well know. I have a love hate relationship with snakes. I think they are beautifully created which does not surprise me because Lucifer ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Revelation 12:9, Genesis 3:14-15, Genesis 3:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bruise On The Heel, Bruise The Head, Western Brown Snake, Cunning, The Devil, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Cunning Snakes, Satan Is The Serpent, Serpent, Snake  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Richie Cunningham Had Been Watching Her Walk By ...  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on May 10, 2001

Richie Cunningham had been watching her walk by his house for days. Every day a certain neighbor gal walked by, the more he noticed her long dark hair - her gentle smile - her soft features - they were all things that beckoned his heart to go beyond the living room window and meet this girl of his ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love, Christian Love

Denomination: Lutheran

Marguerite Higgins Won A Pulitzer Prize For ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 14, 2001

ILL. Marguerite Higgins won a Pulitzer prize for reporting what she heard from an old army sergeant in Korea during the Korean conflict. 15,000 of our soldiers had been dug in for several weeks, facing more than 100,000 communist soldiers on the other side of the valley. They had been ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

U.s. Divorce Statistics  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on Dec 7, 2001

U.S. Divorce Statistics (1997 except where noted) Total divorces granted: 1,163,000 Rate per 1,000 population (1999): (excluding CA, CO, IN and LA) 4.1 State with the lowest divorce rate: Massachusetts. Rate per 1,000 population: 2.4 State with the higest divorce rate: Nevada. Rate per ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:1-10

Tags: Marriage Singleness, Divorce

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Origins Of Grandparents' Day  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 25, 2002

THE ORIGINS OF GRANDPARENTS' DAY In 1970, a West Virginia housewife, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, initiated a campaign to set aside a special day just for Grandparents. Through concerted efforts on the part of civic, business, church, and political leaders, this campaign expanded statewide. ...read more

Tags: Commandments Parents, Family

Several Years Ago There Was A Well-Known ...  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Sep 26, 2001

"Several years ago there was a well-known television circus show that developed a Bengal tiger act. Like the rest of the show, it was done "live" before a live audience, One evening, the tiger trainer went into the cage with several tigers to do a routine performance. The door was locked behind ...read more

Tags: Examples Of Faith, Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

The Problem Of Goodness  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 26, 2003

THE PROBLEM OF GOODNESS "The simple fact is that for all our moral hesitation and stuttering, many people know goodness and excellence when they see it and they are overwhelmed by the magnetism of goodness. Goodness attracts. Goodness is proclaimed so that the circle of adulation can widen. So we ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Christian Love, Christian Values