In Sermon Illustrations: "Me Focused"

He Said What ?!?

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

He Said What ?!? Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, while walking on this earth, said some things that we must understand and accept if we will be His followers. Here are some challenging quotes recorded in The Bible, His perfect Word. Jesus said... "If anyone causes one of these little ones who ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12

Tags: Jesus Teachings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Forever Family

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 10, 2009

A FOREVER FAMILY Author Keith Miller tells of an outgoing 40-year-old woman who was part of a sharing group he led. Here is her story: "When I was a tiny little girl, my parents died and I was put in an orphanage. I was not pretty at all and no one seemed to want me. But I longed to be adopted ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14

Tags: Adoption

The Preacher Stood On The Street Corner Preaching ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2005

The preacher stood on the street corner preaching to anyone who would listen. A man approached him who looked like he had lived on the street forever. "Can I help you" asked the preacher. "I think you can" said the bum. "Would you like me to tell you about Jesus?" "No." "Would you like me to ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Bible Influence

I Love The 23rd Psalms Where It Says "Surely ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles Hines on Jun 12, 2007

I love the 23rd Psalms where it says "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. all the days of my life." I imagine two angels, one named goodness and one named mercy, and everywhere I go they follow me, and protect me. I had the chance to experience this first hand. I was travelling to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-8

Denomination: Church Of God

Just Listen Please!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

Could You Just Listen? When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving me advice, you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do ...read more

Scripture: Job 2:11-13, James 1:19

Tags: Quietness, Listening, Grieving

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Remember Years Ago That A Man Wrote A Nasty ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 4, 2010

I remember years ago that a man wrote a nasty letter to me and included in it a curse and all kinds of false accusations. To this day, I don’t know why he wrote it. It was so vicious and untrue, but he had built up a case against me and it all bubbled out in this letter. It included distorted views ...read more

Tags: Confrontation, Love Of The Disciples

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preacher Charles Swindoll Recalled His Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Oct 5, 2001

Preacher Charles Swindoll recalled his last spanking when he turned thirteen years old. Chuck said, “Having just broken into the sophisticated ranks of the teen world, I thought I was something on a stick. My father wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was with my great importance and new-found ...read more

Tags: Grace, God's Provision

Denomination: Wesleyan

Single Man Named Jerry Had A Pet Cat That He ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Aug 2, 2008

single man named Jerry had a pet cat that he loved very much. One year, he decided to take a vacation to England, so he left his cat with his brother Dan. As soon as Jerry got to England, he called his brother Dan. “How is my cat?” he asked. “Your cat is dead,” Dan said. “Oh my!” he shouted. “I’m ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

Footprints

Contributed by Matthew Koscielski on Jun 17, 2007

How I once truly felt: One night I had a dream-- I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Car Keys

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Sep 7, 2017

“You shall not steal,” the Seventh Commandment. Not only do we not take what is not ours, we actually help to improve and protect the possessions and income of other people. I had this done to me a few weeks. I was finishing up something at home on a Friday, and Dawn came to pick me up in the ...read more

Tags: Theft, Seventh Commandment

Denomination: Lutheran

Norman Cates Shared The Humorous Story Of A Guy ...  PRO

Contributed by Richard Crow on May 21, 2001

Norman Cates shared the humorous story of a guy who prayed this prayer every morning: "Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is." One day he found himself on a bus when a big, burly man sat next to him. The bus was nearly empty but this guy sat ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 86:11-17, Matthew 6:11-15, Romans 12:5, Luke 18:1-8

Tags: Endurance, Evangelism Fear Of, Spiritual Gifts, What Is Evangelism?

Denomination: Baptist

Submission Is A Two-Way Street

Contributed by Timothy Smith on May 3, 2008

SUBMISSION IS A TWO-WAY STREET Several years ago, while ministering in Florida, I was about to speak in chapel for our Church’s preschool, and my wife was supposed to lead singing. But it was time to start and Deb was on the phone, and I became impatient. So, when I went out to the auditorium, our ...read more

Tags: Marriage Obligations

Denomination: Christian Church

I Can Swim!

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Aug 12, 2008

I CAN SWIM! Some of the richest times of my childhood are memories of my parents' interaction with us. Dad could kick a soccer ball in the air straight as an arrow, and my youthful mind remembered it becoming so small that it disappeared from view. Or the time he rode a bicycle and seem much too ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples

Denomination: Salvation Army

François Fénelon Once ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

François Fénelon once wrote: "Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask for crosses or consolations; I simply present ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15

Tags: Prayer How To

Strength In Old Age

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 13, 2020

I use the Bible I had in Bible college when I have my devotions or study. Came across these notes from 1/24/80. I was 27. Joshua 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:11-12

Tags: Faith, Retirement, Strength, Retire, Courage, Old Age  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

We're Not Going To Heaven In A Rowboat!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jul 12, 2023

A friend gave me the illustration of a man in a rowboat to describe salvation. He told about a man rowing a boat across a lake. In one hand was the oar of faith and in the other was the oar of works. He explained that if he was only rowing with the oar of faith, he would go around in circles. ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 John 5:1-13

Tags: Faith, Grace, Heaven, Salvation, Assurance, Works, Doubts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Few Years Ago I Conducted A Funeral For A ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Nov 3, 2002

A few years ago I conducted a funeral for a dedicated Christian man. His wife approached me and said, “He’s the lucky one—I wish I was going to heaven today. Why couldn’t it have been me?” We don’t usually envy people who’ve died, unless we know where they’re going, and where we’re going. ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:1-2, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Congregational

We Can Learn A Lot About Being A Friend From ...  PRO

Contributed by Larry Jacobs on Jul 9, 2005

We can learn a lot about being a friend from "MAN’S BEST FRIEND" Someone has said, "Only God and my dog can love me unconditionally". When I pastored in Pensacola, Fl., my wife and I had two Boston Terriers. There names was Sissie and Alphie. My wife said to me one day, "I think you love those ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Baptist

And Near The End Of Book 3 Of The Chronicles The ...

Contributed by Roy Carter on Dec 5, 2005

And near the end of Book 3 of The Chronicles The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as Edmund and Lucy find that they have to go back to their world and will not be coming into Narnia anymore Lucy sobs, “It isn’t Narnia, you know, it’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting ...read more

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Why Those Women Loved And Wept, It Were Not Hard ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

Why those women loved and wept, it were not hard to guess; but they could not have had greater reasons for love and grief than my heart has. Nain’s widow saw her son restored; but I myself have been raised to newness of life. Peter’s wife’s mother was cured of the fever; but I of the greater plague ...read more

Tags: Repentance