In Sermon Illustrations: "Memories About Dad"

Global Gift Dilemma

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 4, 2025

Global Gift Dilemma Simple Gifts, Joyful Hearts I enjoy Christmas not just because it commemorates Christ’s birth and allows us to share that meaningfully with others. I appreciate the spirit of giving, but as my wife and I grow older, we’ve become more careful about our spending. We now keep ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22, Matthew 1:21, John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ideas, Gifts, Frugal, Lists, Christmas, Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Friends Forever. Wow Those Are Some Very Powerful ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Gardner on Jan 4, 2005

Friends Forever. Wow those are some very powerful words when you put them together you know? I mean, think about what this phrase means: being a friend forever; always there no matter what. This popular phrase can be found in letters from one best friend to another, on the split necklaces when put ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Evangelism Urgency

Denomination: Salvation Army

Things Have A Way Of Catching Up With Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 31, 2020

I have learned in my life, and probably just one thing: things have a way of catching up with me. I can't get away with anything. It's not that I don't try. There were a few times when I've come pretty close to getting away with something, but it didn't turn out the way I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Money, Humor, Fraud

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ants, Ants, Ants, Where's The Uncles

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 27, 2021

I have learned in my life that the small things are the ones that get you down. You would think the big things are the ones to steal most of your time. But those big things call attention to themselves from the very beginning. You know they're there, you know you have to do something about it, ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 30:25

Tags: Humor, Ants, Small Problems, Uncles

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Is Being Sane Too Much To Ask?

Contributed by James Snyder on Aug 28, 2021

When young, I remember my grandfather often saying to me, "the world wasn't like this when I was your age." Then he would go on a long rant about how things were much different when he was my age. Finally, he would conclude by saying, "It's an insane world out there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9

Tags: Sanity, Culture, Generational

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Born Identity

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

BORN IDENTITY Jimmy Gupton tells of when he was 93 and ready to go on home to God. For the 1000th time, he had prayed for God to take him home. His wife had been gone for seven years, and it was getting harder and harder to go through the motions of the holiday. He had a big silver Christmas tree ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Whatever Happened To Reality

Contributed by James Snyder on May 18, 2024

During my health hiatus I did things I never had time to do before. One of them was to check out some Reality TV Shows. I never had much interest in these TV shows, but I thought now would be a good time to check some of them just to see what their idea of reality really was. Of course, my health ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Reality, Tv Shows

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It All Boils Down To One Thing

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 23, 2024

Of all the things I have learned, one has made a difference in my life. I hear stories about how married couples are unhappy. Today, something must be wrong with you if you haven't been divorced and remarried five times. I always figure that the person who has been married five times ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Marriage, Relationships

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whatever Happened To "My Space”

Contributed by James Snyder on May 10, 2025

When I was young, one of my life priorities was “My Space.” I defended it with everything I had. In school, I had to defend “My Space.” Several times, I even had to go to the principal’s office and explain what “My Space” was all about. He didn’t seem to understand, and I had to explain it several ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Space, Violations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

If She Cannot Fix It, It’s Not Broken

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 4, 2025

Life has its many ups and downs. There are some weeks when there are more downs than ups. But if I didn’t have a down, I probably wouldn’t appreciate an up. This past week was one of those down weeks. One day, we lost our electricity for maybe six hours, my printer died on me and some scammer ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 147:3

Tags: Frustration, Fixing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Where Oh Where Is My Hair

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 25, 2025

It is true that I don't pay attention to many things in life. I guess I'm just too busy to notice everything. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage always asks me why I'm not paying attention. To keep engaged in that argument, I say, "I'm too poor to pay attention. Could I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:10

Tags: Bald, Old, Hair

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

This Guy Is Waiting For A Flight That Is Delayed. ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Weber on Mar 23, 2001

This guy is waiting for a flight that is delayed. So he’s wandering around the airport and notices this ATM like machine. It’s a flight insurance machine. For a small price, it offers insurance against a canceled flight as well as a sizeable policy if the plane were to wreck and he were to die. ...read more

Tags: Endurance, Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hard Work, Strong Character  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 27, 2001

HARD WORK, STRONG CHARACTER Delayed gratification is also important in training children. A lot of parents are unwilling to make sacrifices that are necessary in order to meet their children’s deepest needs. A promotion at work, a TV show, or a nap on the sofa may all seem much more enticing ...read more

Have You Ever Been In A Service Where The Music ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 9, 2001

Have you ever been in a service where the music and the message were so powerful, so uplifting that you sensed the glory of His presence? A.H. Ackley wrote about it once: In my failure, sin, and sorrow, brokenhearted, crushed and torn, I have felt His presence near me, He has all my burdens ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, God The Father, Promises Of God

Denomination: Wesleyan

Two Warships With The Largest Full-Load ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Jul 13, 2001

Two warships with the largest full-load displacement in the world are the US Navy aircraft carriers. The USS Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower weigh about 91,400 tons. They are 1,092 feet in length overall and have a speed well in excess of 30 knots with their nuclear-powered 280,000 horse power ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Doing God's Will, Faith

Denomination: Baptist

What Things?  PRO

Contributed by Larry Daugherty on Aug 7, 2001

"WHAT THINGS?" Luke24:16 In these two words, "What Things?" are found one of the most profound lessons of forgiveness. They are a quote from Luke, by our Lord after His crucifixion. Jesus was walking with two men going to Emmaus. Their language and languishing betrayed their disappointment. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:16

Tags: Forgiveness For Others, Discipleship

Denomination: Holiness

A Vicar Was Retiring After 25 Years In The ...  PRO

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 8, 2001

A vicar was retiring after 25 years in the parish. As he came to clear out his bedroom he found a small bowl with 5 eggs and £1,000 pounds in. Baffled he called his wife and said: Darling, what is this little basket under the bed with five eggs and £1,000 in. "Oh " she said " I must confess that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-7, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Tags: Leadership General, Gifts Encouragement, Gifts Prophecy, Love

Denomination: Anglican

It Is An Old & Familiar Story, But Let Me Use It ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Aug 14, 2001

It is an old & familiar story, but let me use it again. Yakov Smirnoff, the Russian comedian, wrote a book, "Seeing the USA on Six Rubles a Day." In it he tells about being overwhelmed when he first entered an American supermarket & saw the great variety of products there. He just couldn’t ...read more

Tags: Government

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Am Reminded Of The Story Of The Discussion At ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Sep 23, 2001

I am reminded of the story of the discussion at church camp for children where one of the counselors was leading a discussion on the purpose of God has for all of his creation. They began to find good reasons for the clouds and trees and rocks and rivers and animals and just about everything else ...read more

Tags: Creation, Temptation Resisting

Denomination: Church Of God

A Soapmaker, Who Was Not Saved, Walked Along The ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Yount on Nov 30, 2001

A Soapmaker, who was not saved, walked along the road with a preacher one day. He said to the preacher, “The gospel you preach has not done much good. There is still a lot of wickedness in the world, and wicked people, too.” Quietly they walked on. The preacher did not reply to his ...read more

Tags: Becoming A Christian, Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist