In Sermon Illustrations: "Memories"

Imhotep And Joseph

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 9, 2019

A memory of Joseph may have been merged into the legend of Imhotep: “According to Egyptologists, the Pharaoh Djoser employed an adviser named Imhotep, who designed his pyramid. Prior to that time, Pharaohs were buried in low, rectangular structures called mastaba. Imhotep’s design used a creative ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 41:1-57

Tags: Leadership, Joseph, History, Egyptology, Imhotep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Assurance

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Feb 13, 2023

Have you ever been in a store and see a child that has gotten separated from his parents? The fear is very evident on the child's face as well as the parents’ face. It's a horrible feeling when the child turns around and can't find his parents. They frantically look through every ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-22

Tags: Assurance, God's Plan

Denomination: Baptist

Why We Should All Be Nice...you Never Know When ...  PRO

Contributed by Dr. Robert Mckenzie on Mar 20, 2002

WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE NICE...YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT MAY BE GOODBYE "When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:1-17, Romans 1:1-15

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Death Nearness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some Congregations, I Understand, Have Even ...  PRO

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 22, 2002

Some congregations, I understand, have even dropped the communion service from the regular morning worship hour, just inviting those who wish to partake to go to another room for the Lord’s Supper after the service or serving it during the week. The reasoning, I’m told, is that the strange practice ...read more

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday, Lord's Supper

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Origins Of Veterans Day  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 4, 2002

THE ORIGINS OF VETERANS DAY In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred ...read more

Tags: Holidays Civic

If You Were To Visit Paris, You Could See The ...  PRO

Contributed by Scott Chambers on Jan 24, 2003

If you were to visit Paris, you could see the statues of two men, both named Louis. The first is of Louis XIV, France’s absolute monarch, who is remembered today chiefly for his exclamation, "I am the State." He represents one of the supreme achievements of greatness through power. His philosophy ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When Patience Is Required!  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Feb 11, 2003

WHEN PATIENCE IS REQUIRED! A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning by a loud pounding on their door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger in the pouring rain is asking for a push. “Not a chance” says the husband- “It’s three o’clock in the morning!” He ...read more

Tags: Peace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Play 2:40 & Fade Of "Tears Of Heaven" By Eric ...

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 18, 2004

Play 2:40 & fade of “Tears of Heaven” by Eric Clapton - lyrics on powerpoint) I am a fan of Eric Clapton’s music but until this week I didn’t know what motivated Eric to write the song we just heard. “Tears of Heaven” won Eric Clapton a 1993 Grammy and Song of the year award. I know Eric ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Christian Church

Instruments Of Grace In His Service  PRO

Contributed by John White on Aug 15, 2005

InstrumentsOf Grace In His Service The grace of God can  turn problems to patience, vexation to victory and tragedy to triumph.   The same pressure that can cause a destructive explosion can be harnessed to drive the wheels of progress.   Pressure usually produces and the production can be good or ...read more

Tags: Peace, Character

Denomination: Baptist

Behind The Scenes Of An Arizona Circus, Bobb ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Mar 20, 2007

Behind the scenes of an Arizona circus, Bobb Biehl started chatting with a man who trains animals for Hollywood movies: " ’How is it that you can stake down a ten-ton elephant with the same size stake that you use for this little fellow?’ I asked, pointing to a baby elephant who weighed three ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Saying Goodbye

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Jun 14, 2007

Charles Swindoll once said of his father: My dad died last night. He left like he had lived. Quietly. Graciously. With dignity. Without demands or harsh words or even a frown. He surrendered himself into the waiting arms of his Savior. As I stroked his hair from his forehead and kissed him ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Behind The Scenes Of An Arizona Circus, Bobb ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Behind the scenes of an Arizona circus, Bobb Biehl started chatting with a man who trains animals for Hollywood movies: " ’How is it that you can stake down a ten-ton elephant with the same size stake that you use for this little fellow?’ I asked, pointing to a baby elephant who weighed three ...read more

Tags: Church Body Of Christ

Of George Matheson, As Recorded In ...

Contributed by Steve Miller on Feb 27, 2008

Illustration of George Matheson, as recorded in Max Lucado’s book 3:16, Numbers of Hope. Main Idea: People lose love, God loves always “Matheson was only a teenager when doctors told him he was going blind. Not to be denied, he pursued his studies, graduating from the University of Glasgow in ...read more

Denomination: *other

Speaking Of Gender Issues, I Heard That A While ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Nov 24, 2008

Speaking of gender issues, I heard that a while back Bill Gates decided it was time to figure out what gender a computer is. I mean, we assign gender to a lot of inanimate objects. In fact, in Spanish every noun is either male or female. Bill Gates called together his top male experts and his ...read more

Tags: Romantic Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

THE PUSH A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o’clock in the morning by a loud pounding on their door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger in the pouring rain is asking for a push. "Not a chance!" says the husband. "It’s three o’clock in the morning!" He slams the door ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Servanthood

Myths And Truths Of Happiness

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 5, 2010

MYTHS AND TRUTHS OF HAPPINESS In David G. Myers book The Pursuit Of Happiness (1993), he addresses the truth about what genuinely brings happiness and contentment to people’s lives. In his epilogue after going through many studies, he sums up his findings: By scrutinizing the fruits of hundreds ...read more

Tags: Happiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Roots: Freedom From Your Slavery

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Jan 25, 2010

Roots: Freedom From Your Slavery Kunta Kinte lived free among the Mandinka people of West Africa, becoming a Mandinka warrior at fifteen. But then as he gathered wood for a drum outside his village, slavers captured him. Stacked away on a slave ship piled up with a hundred seventy other slaves, he ...read more

Tags: Guilt

Denomination: Lutheran

Parents Teach Their Children God's Word At A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2010

Parents Teach Their Children God’s Word at a Restaurant I once read an illustration of a family who took this seriously. One night at a pizza parlor, we decided to use the minutes waiting for our food as a teaching time. We passed out an index card and pencil to each child and had them write down a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Tags: Parenting

Arthur's Envy

Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 8, 2011

ARTHUR'S ENVY When I served on staff at Rayne Memorial UMC on St. Charles Avenue, a young man named Arthur began attending. Arthur was a nice guy but was different, both in appearance and in personality. Arthur got involved in the young adult ministry I had started at the church and was accepted ...read more

Tags: Envy

Denomination: Methodist

Last Lap Of The Race

Contributed by Shawn Miller on Jul 4, 2014

May 29, 2011 it looked like it was destiny, the day Dale Earnhardt Jr. was rounding the last lap of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. You could just imagine the script that was being set; it was memorial day, he was being sponsored by the national guard, and He was going to finally win for the first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7

Tags: Perseverance, Endurance, Finish The Race, Gas Tank

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational