In Sermon Illustrations: "Missing God"

Christ Transforms A Prisoner

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 18, 2012

CHRIST TRANSFORMS A PRISONER Chuck Colson tells story after story of men in prison who had committed crimes, but who came to Christ and were thoroughly converted. No one would have guessed that some of these men would be devout followers of Christ one day. One such story was the account of a man ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Tags: Parable Prodigal Son

Soldier Explains How Song Sung By Enemy Changed ...  PRO

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Aug 9, 2004

SOLDIER EXPLAINS HOW SONG SUNG BY ENEMY CHANGED HIM One Christmas Eve, Ira D. Sankey was traveling by steamboat up the Delaware River. Asked to sing, Mr. Sankey sang the "Shepherd Song." After the song was ended, a man with a rough, weatherbeaten face came up to Mr. Sankey and said: "Did you ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In An Article In Campus Life A Young Nurse Writes ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Chapman on Feb 9, 2001

In an article in Campus Life a young nurse writes of her pilgrimage in learning to see in a patient the image of God beneath a very “distressing disguise.” Eileen was one of her first patients, a person who was totally helpless. “A cerebral aneurysm (broken blood vessels in the brain) had left her ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Christian Disciplines, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Nfl Quarterback Foolishly Refuses To Wear ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 9, 2009

NFL Quarterback Foolishly Refuses to Wear Motorcycle Helmet 6. We are not free to do something foolish just because it is legal. Just because something is permitted under the law doesn’t make it good or right. a. For instance in July of 2005, ESPN reporter, Andrea Kremer, interviewed the Pittsburgh ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14

Tags: Christian Liberty

You Have To Stop Trying To Save Yourself

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 13, 2014

You Have to Stop Trying to Save Yourself Watchman Nee relates a story from one of his experiences as a Christian leader in China. A group of young Christian brothers were gathered together to take a swim in one of the many creeks that run throughout the countryside there. Since most were not good ...read more

Tags: Rock Bottom, Self-Sufficient

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Jennifer M. Ginn Shares A Similar Experience, In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Jennifer M. Ginn shares a similar experience, in her article “Living by the Word,” published in Christian Century [February, 2004]. She begins by quoting the words of a song that was popular when she was at camp. “I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Old Wives' Tales: The Truth

Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 9, 2009

OLD WIVES' TALES: THE TRUTH Have you ever believed something, only to find out that it wasn’t true? Consider these old wives tales: "If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold." Cold weather, wet hair, and chills don’t cause colds; viruses do. "Reading in dim light will damage your ...read more

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Methodist

One Of My All-Time Favorite Movies Is "Mr. ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on May 11, 2001

One of my all-time favorite movies is “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” It’s the story of a musician who really just wants to be a composer. Rather grudgingly, he takes a job teaching music at the local high school, supposing it will give him time to write music while providing an income for he and his wife. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20

Tags: Holy Spirit In Believers, Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Baptist

My Dad Wasn’t A Very Good Father To Me Or ...

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 25, 2010

My Dad wasn’t a very good father to me or my sisters. He drank too much and got angry at our Mum far too often. At 5 years old while my Dad had a roaring argument with my Mum, I decided to swing my fists at him and tell him I hated him and tried to push him away from my Mum. As a kid, I remember ...read more

Tags: Father's Day

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[123]. A Message From A Poem – He Will Receive Us To Himself

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 8, 2025

[123]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – HE WILL RECEIVE US TO HIMSELF Time for confession. It is no secret that the theme that occurs in a few of my poems (sometimes only a brief mention) is that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in Person for all His disciples. That coming is soon and is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Tags: Caught Up, The Coming Of The Lord, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Jesus Receives Us, Received To Him  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

[098]. A Message From A Poem – Genesis Synopsis

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on May 7, 2025

[098]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – GENESIS SYNOPSIS How can you possibly put the book of Genesis into a poem? The answer is, be brief and try not to miss the main events. I had the desire to write a Genesis poem and this is the result. The poem begins of course with Chapter 1 and works to the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 15:13, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 15:18, Matthew 24:37-38, Genesis 1:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Genesis, Creation, Egypt, Isaac, Nimrod, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Adam, Joseph, Cain  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fly Was Buzzing Along One Morning When He Saw A ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Aug 1, 2002

A fly was buzzing along one morning when he saw a lawn mower someone had left out in their front yard. He flew over and sat on the handle, watching the children going down the sidewalk on their way to school. One little boy tripped on a crack and fell, spilling his lunch on the sidewalk. He ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34

Tags: Temptation Resisting, Temptation

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Here Are Some Actual Maintenance Complaints ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Hamilton on Oct 26, 2002

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance crews. Problem: "Left inside main tire almost needs replacement." Solution: "Almost replaced left inside main tire." Problem: "Test flight OK, except autoland very rough." Solution: ...read more

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Communication General

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Just In Case You Might Think That I'm Making This ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 24, 2004

Just in case you might think that I’m making this up, I want you to know that this really did happen to me and that it is a TRUE STORY..... I was recently browsing through the latest issue of Children’s Ministry magazine (back to front, an odd habit that I picked-up from my husband) and came ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection, Children

Are You Being Served? Was A British Sitcom That ...  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Sep 7, 2004

Are You Being Served? was a British sitcom that ran from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the very old-fashioned Grace Brothers department store, owned by Mr. Grace. The program deals with the working life of the staff of the Ladies’ and Gent’s outfitting departments. Captain Peacock is in overall ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Tags: Faith Vs. Works, Misconceptions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Hawking A Treasure  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 19, 2002

HAWKING A TREASURE Unless you subscribe to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, you probably missed the story that was in the May 17, 1987 edition. A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owns a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunts for rocks, then sells them ...read more

Tags: Parable General, Parable Treasure, Peace

I Am Sure That Many Of You Will Be Familiar With ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 21, 2005

I am sure that many of you will be familiar with C.S. Lewis, author of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’. Lewis was good friends with J.R.R. Tolkien, author of ‘Lord of the Rings’, and he was a Christian; a follower of Jesus Christ. What you may not know is that after the death of his wife he ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Anglican

If It Moves, Sin!

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 4, 2005

Chuck Swindoll writes: “One of my favorite stories comes from a man who used to be in our church. He and his wife were close friends of our family, but they have now moved to another part of the country. We really miss their joyful presence. When he was a youth worker many years ago in an ethnic ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:15

Tags: Church Practices

Denomination: Lutheran

In His Autobiography, Breaking Barriers, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

In his autobiography, Breaking Barriers, syndicated columnist Carl Rowan tells about a teacher who greatly influenced his life. Rowan relates: Miss Thompson reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a piece of paper containing a quote attributed to Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. I listened ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?

Generation Gap Many Of Today's Young People, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 17, 2006

Generation Gap Many of today’s young people, unlike their parents, have never known anything but a world dominated by technology. Even their social lives revolve around the Web, iPods, and cellphones. So they dress down, talk loose, and reveal their innermost thoughts online. The result is a ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?