In Sermon Illustrations: "Memories About Dad"

Even Billy Graham Doesn’t Win Them All. ...

Contributed by Scott Bayles on Dec 18, 2012

Even Billy Graham doesn’t win them all. There’s a story about Billy Graham when he was visiting a city for one of his crusades. He had written a letter to his wife and was looking for a place to mail it. Outside the lobby of his hotel, he came across a young boy. He asked the boy if he knew how to ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Christian Church

A Simple Experiment Both Validated The Old Truism ...

Contributed by Jordan Satterfield on Jan 11, 2013

A simple experiment both validated the old truism that a dog is a man’s best friend and disabused me of my opinions regarding the superiority of spousal friendship. I locked my beloved Golden Retriever, Buddy, in the trunk with my dear wife for one hour. After the hour, my dog was giddy with ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9

Tags: Marriage, Relationships, Marriage General

Denomination: Holiness

Everything We Need

Contributed by Sylvester Fergusson on Jan 22, 2013

EVERYTHING WE NEED The story is told about an American company which opened a new plant in Central America because the labour was plentiful and inexpensive. Everything went well until the villagers received their first pay cheque; afterward they did not return to work. Several days later the ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Adventist

God Has Something Better For You

Contributed by Ken Pell on Mar 10, 2013

GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU A daddy took his little girl to the park one Saturday afternoon. She was about 4 and was having such a good time in the sun and the presence of her daddy. The ice cream vendor came by and daddy bought her an ice cream cone. Then he noticed that his little girl had ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Denomination: Nazarene

Betting On Goliath  PRO

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Apr 2, 2013

BETTING ON GOLIATH Death was handled differently in the ancient world. An archaeologist was digging in the Negev Desert in Israel and came upon a casket containing a mummy. After examining it, he called the curator of a prestigious natural history museum. "I've just discovered a 3,000 year old ...read more

Tags: David

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Conquering Ourselves  PRO

Contributed by Lalachan Abraham on Jul 15, 2013

Edmund Hilary the first man who conquered Mount Everest was asked by an interviewer about his passions for climbing mountains. He gave this reply: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." Peter the Great of Russia is quoted as saying, "I have been able to conquer an empire, but I have ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 25:28

Tags: Self-Control, Self-Discipline

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Real Story Of Unequally Yoked.  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2015

David Slagle, a minister at a small church in Atlanta, tells the story of a woman in her late 20’s. The woman had befriended a man living in her apartment complex. Slagle and his wife asked whether the two were dating. The man in question was a known atheist. The young woman answered, “No, I’m ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Tags: Marriage, Premarital, Unequally Yoked, Pre-Marital Counsel

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Death Without Blinking An Eye

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 11, 2015

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would sweep into town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived, except the Zen Master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master ...read more

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43

Tags: Death, Hope In Death

Denomination: Methodist

Commitment

Contributed by Tim Smith on Sep 25, 2016

Kenneth Bailey tells the story of teaching some short courses at the Lutheran Church of Latvia. While there, he observed the interviewing of prospective students and inquired of the interviews what questions they asked. They said, “The most important question is ‘When were you baptized?’ And he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Tags: Boldness, Risk

Denomination: Methodist

Pure Love Brings Joy

Contributed by Christopher Sweeney on May 19, 2017

Many of you may have experienced this but I have from my two nephews and my time in youth ministry that there are times when you are having the worst days and then a child will run up to you and give you a hug or say I love you and everything goes away. Why, why is it that a hug can help erase the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Love, Joy

Starving For God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 23, 2020

BEATITUDE #4 - "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." “What Jesus is talking about is no mere reference to hunger which could be satisfied by a mid-morning snack. The thought is that of STARVATION. Are you longing for God like that? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Beatitudes, Hungry For God, Thirsting For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Need Revival When.....

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 30, 2020

1. You are entertained by things that once grieved you. 2. You are silent where you once spoke. 3. Your prayer closet has cobwebs and your Bible is dusty. 4. You have ceased to grieve over your own sin. 5. You have stopped sharing your faith. 6. You are more excited about your personal agenda ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Revival, Beatitudes, Thirsting For God, Hungering For God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Flu

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 21, 2020

After one of our members came down with the flu, was in intensive care for 10 days, we became very aware of how easily it is passed, especially to our elderly members. Which brought about these thoughts. 1) You are 70% Less likely to get the flu (or pass it) if you wash your hands properly. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 40:30-32, Leviticus 14:8-9, Matthew 15:17-20

Tags: Wash, Avoiding Sin, Coronavirus, Covid19, Influenza A, Spreading The Gospel, Wash Hands  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Loving One Another.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

There is a song where a woman with a flat tire on a cold wet and very dark night, has a man stop to help her change her flat tire. He won't take money for helping her but tells her to pass it on to someone else that she can help. She stops at a dinner and tips the pregnant waitress that looks ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Tags: Passing Love Along, Love

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Creation Shows The Glory Of God!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

"The stars are God's fingerprints. The sun is a mere smidgen of His radiance. The moon is to remind us that He doesn't sleep at night. The vastness of space proclaims the infinity of His wisdom, while the sand pebble indicates His thoroughness with the puniest details. The lion hints ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-3

Tags: Creation, Glory, God, Nature, Agnosticism, Sovereignty Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

He Is Our Strength

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Oct 12, 2021

My beautiful mama was always so strong, a tower of strength, courage and faith that stood like a beacon for our family. Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As I meditated on this, I remembered a time when I was about 3 years old or so. I saw myself ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1, Psalm 28:8, Psalm 37:39, Exodus 15:2

Tags: Fear, Protection, Strength, God Is Our Strength

Denomination: Charismatic

And We Can't Even Preach Without A Sound System Today???

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 19, 2022

Peter's sermon to such a large crowd of Jews reminds us of stories of how God's Spirit used George Whitefield in the 1700's as an instrument to bring about the First Great Awakening in America. John MacArthur says that "Whitfield preached in Bristol to 20,000 people regularly, ...read more

Tags: Whitfield, Simon Peter, Power Of God's Word, Pentecost, Gospel, Missions, Preaching, Revival, Word Of God, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Seeking Wisdom

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on May 21, 2022

I READ A LESSON ABOUT A WISE MAN THAT PEOPLE TRAVELED HUNDREDS OF MILES TO SEEK HIS WISDOM… The wise man stood up, he looked to his left side. Then to his right. He paused and looked at the crowd behind him. He quickly turned around and faced the crowd in front of him. He looked down. He looked ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:28

Tags: Wisdom, Silence

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Rationalizing (Justifying)

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 1, 2022

Morris Siegel, the owner of a small Kosher New York deli, was being questioned by an IRS agent about his tax return. He had reported a net profit of $60,000 for the year. Why dont you people leave me alone? the deli owner said. I work like a dog, everyone in my family helps out, the place is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Tags: Honesty, Shrewd, Deceit, Cover Up, Rationalizing, Quick On Feet  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Parable Of The Sower

Contributed by Polimetla Joy on Jan 30, 2023

In this parable, Jesus teaches about the importance of having a receptive heart to receive the word of God. He explains how the seed (word of God) can fall on different types of soil, representing different hearts. Some seed falls on the wayside, representing those who hear the word and do not ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8

Tags: Scripture, Word Of God, Hearing, Responding