In Sermon Illustrations: "Me Focused"

From Roast Turkey To Reindeer

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 9, 2023

Nothing is more confusing than being in the middle of two holidays. I have just finished Thanksgiving, and now Christmas is before me. Each year, it gets more difficult to adjust to the next holiday. It’s hard for me to keep up. For months, the focus was on that roast turkey for Thanksgiving. And ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Turkey, Reindeer, Christmas, Thanksgiving

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

One More Candle On Another Cake

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 19, 2025

The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I were finishing our supper. If anyone can put together a marvelous supper, it is she. If anybody can eat a marvelous supper, it is me. As we were finishing, she looked over at me and said, "My dear, do you know what we will be celebrating next ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 118:24

Tags: Celebration, Aging, Birthday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Read The Story This Week, Of A Woman Who Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Terry Rolen on Dec 11, 2001

I read the story this week, of a woman who was shamed and brought closer to God by someone the world would over look. “We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly eating and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and ...read more

Tags: Parable General, Kingdom Of God, Children

Denomination: Church Of God

Remember Our Survivors  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 3, 2002

REMEMBER OUR SURVIVORS Can you hear me? Can you hear my friends and I? We’re crying out to you from underneath the rubble and debris, from down under the dust and stones... please tell us that we have not been left alone- please comfort our souls to know that though we cannot return, that you will ...read more

Tags: Death, Christian Love, Promises Of God

Two Ships In The Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jul 14, 2005

Two Ships in the Night! (07.18.05--Pride--Numbers 22:29) There’s a time to be right and a time to be righteous. That’s what the old farmer told me as I hefted the last hay bale into the loft. I had just had an encounter with a bully at school and I was feeling both peeked and embattled at the ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 22:29

Tags: Wait, Worship, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines, Patience  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Leveling The Ground! (10.21.05--That ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Oct 19, 2005

Leveling the Ground! (10.21.05--That Person!--Genesis 5:3-5) As I paid for my fuel purchase in he came. Everyone in town knew him as just plain Frank. He was dirty, loud and smelly. Most people avoided him because he was just different from most other folks. He didn’t bath or shower but once in a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 5:3-5

Tags: Racism

Denomination: Lutheran

Opening Illustration: Song And Clip From

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 12, 2010

Opening Illustration: Song and clip from "Jesus take the wheel." This little clip we just heard reveals how prayer is only a breath away. It’s really more natural to pray than not to pray. Thesis: We need to understand the importance of prayer and the impact of prayer in our lives. The song you ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Empty Assignment

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 31, 2010

THE EMPTY ASSIGNMENT I was assigned to retrieve box number 673 A. I took my little pink piece of paper with my assignment for the afternoon - find box #673 A, Humana Hospital, February 1970. I had just started to working at this medical file warehouse and so I naively thought that the boss was ...read more

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Ears To Hear

Contributed by Todd Catteau on May 27, 2015

I’ve done a lot of funerals in my twenty plus years of ministry, far more than I thought I would ever do. Every service touches me in a unique way and with each funeral I seem to come away with a life-lesson I needed to hear. Recently I was taught a valuable lesson as I eulogized a certain man. ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Tags: Communication, Listen, Ears, Hearing

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Curse Turned Blessing

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 7, 2022

Sometimes missing a flight turns into a blessing. My older son was flying from Little Rock to Kansas City through Dallas but missed his connection because the flight was late leaving Little Rock. He called from the airport bemoaning his fate but said that there was another flight he could book ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28

Tags: Blessing, Joseph, Providence, Opportunity, Blessings  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Secrets Of Life

Contributed by Bruce Lee on Jun 6, 2024

“Those who find beauty in all of nature will find themselves at one with the secrets of life itself.” ~L. Wolfe Gilbert I have a dog named Bella. She is a Blue Heeler. I must confess that at the time Bella came into my life a dog was not on my wish list. My stepson is the “original owner.” ...read more

Scripture: John 1:3

Tags: Beauty, Nature, Mystery, Canvas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Not My Job  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

NOT MY JOB The names in this story have been changed out of respect for their privacy. Julie W told her family's story in a magazine article. [My daughter], Allison, came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn't speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 15:20, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Tags: Addiction

There's Nothing Like A Good Crisis To Increase My ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002

There’s nothing like a good crisis to increase my energy and remind me how much I need God.” ...read more

Tags: Prayer Hardship

There Is An Old Definition Of Faith That Has ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 5, 2004

There is an old definition of faith that has helped me in my times of troubles. F = Forsaking A = ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: *other

Never Lend Books, For No One Ever Returns Them; ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

If I Have Not Read A Book Before, It Is, For ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"If I have not read a book before, it is, for all intents and purposes, new to me whether it was printed ...read more

Tags: Books And Literature

In The Footsteps Of My Savior I Would Walk Each ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

"In the footsteps of my Savior I would walk each day, Following ever where they'd ...read more

Tags: Jesus Christ

I Do Not Have A Psychiatrist And I Do Not Want ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I do not have a psychiatrist and I do not want one, for the simple reason that if he listened to me ...read more

Tags: Emotions

I Have Never Seen A Bad Television Program, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"I have never seen a bad television program, because I refuse to. God gave me a mind, and ...read more

Tags: Television And Movies

There Will Be Somethinganguish Or Elation That ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"There will be somethinganguish or elation That is peculiar to this day alone. I rise from sleep and say: Hail to the ...read more

Tags: Morning