In Sermon Illustrations: "Missing Out"

Baksheesh

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 27, 2018

Donald Barhhouse says, “One of the first words learned by the traveler in India is “baksheesh.” Multitudes of begars hold out their hands and say this one word. Preaching through an interpreter, I had occasion to speak of salvation as the gift of God. I emphasized the word. It is a gift. I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:3, Titus 3:5

Tags: Salvation, Poor In Spirit, Gift Of God

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Use Of Wine

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Dec 22, 2018

An aged brother told me jokingly one time regarding the difference between the elders and deacon’s use of wine, in 1 Timothy 3:3. He said Brother Freeman: “It’s simple. The deacon can drink, ‘a little wine’; however, the elder can only sip it, swish it around in his mouth, and then spit it out.” He ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Deacon, Member, Wine, Elder, Preacher, Drink  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Called

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

The Called are those who have been summoned by God. Called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) Called both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:24) Called "with a holy calling" (2 Timothy 1:9) Called with a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1) Called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Pet. 2:9) Called to ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:30

Tags: Election, Calling, God's Sovreignty

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pigs Don't Say Thanks!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 21, 2019

An old farmer who was a loyal, church-going Christian was spending the day in a large city. He entered a restaurant and sat down at the table near a group of young men from the city. When his meal was brought to the table, the farmer quietly bowed his head and said grace. One of the smart-aleck ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving, Prayer, Gratitude, Jokes, Meal Grace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Get Up And Do It

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Nov 15, 2020

Mother Teresa – So many leaders have the idea that to lead greatly you have to focus on everyone. Mother Teresa took a different approach. She saw the poor. The hurt. The dying. And she knew something had to be done. When you know that there’s that many hurting people out there, you might think ...read more

Scripture: Judges 4:1-9

Tags: When God Speaks, Get Up And Do It

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Billy Graham's Great Regret

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Billy Graham was once asked, "If you had to live your life over again, what would you do differently?" He answered: “One of my great regrets is that I have not studied enough, I wish I had studied more and preached less. People have pressured me into speaking to groups when I should ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Bible, Scripture, Bible Study, Word Of God, Pastors, Sermon Preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Anxiety And Relationships

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 27, 2020

Anxiety can be the ruin or the salvation of our relationships. It is an alarm mechanism. It alerts us to potential danger. But sometimes it goes off too often or quickly. Sometimes we do not seem able to regulate it. Shocked, we lash out, hold our ground, or retreat. However, anxiety can be our ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Tags: Anxiety, Relationships

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Adam & Eve

Contributed by John Bright on Jan 17, 2021

The story of Adam and Eve was being carefully explained in the children's Sunday School class. Following the story, the children were asked to draw some picture that would illustrate the story. Little Bobby was most interested and drew a picture of a car with three people in it. In the front ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Eve, Sin, Adam

Denomination: Methodist

Rick Warren, Founder And Pastor Of Saddleback ...  PRO

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Apr 13, 2007

Rick Warren, founder and pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California saw his church grow to 10,000 people in worship attendance in fifteen years. In his book “The Purpose Driven Church” he says something that is offensive but at the same time is true for far too many churches. He wrote ...read more

Denomination: Salvation Army

I Was Clicking Through The Stations Last Week ...

Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Jun 2, 2007

I was clicking through the stations last week and came across a documentary on a women’s prison. A guard explained how the visitors for their own safety needed to stay on the gray painted lines. The inmates could not reach them if they stayed on the gray painted lines. Catch this, staying on ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

A Preacher Was In His Study, Preparing His ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A PREACHER WAS IN HIS STUDY, PREPARING HIS SUNDAY SERMON, WHEN HIS LITTLE BOY TODDLED INTO THE ROOM, AND HOLDING UP HIS PINCHED FINGER, THE LITTLE FELLOW SAID, WITH AN EXPRESSION OF SUFFERING, "LOOK, DADDY, IT HURTS REALLY BAD" G. THAT PREACHER/FATHER GLANCED AT HIM AND WITH A TONE OF IMPATIENCE, ...read more

Tags: Heaven

During One Of His Political Campaigns, A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During one of his political campaigns, a delegation called on Theodore Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. The President met them with his coat off and his sleeves rolled up. "Ah, gentlemen," he said, "come down to the barn and we will talk while I do some work." At the barn, ...read more

Tags: Faith

The Royal Palace In Tehran In Iran ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Illustration: The royal palace in Tehran in Iran has one of the most beautiful entrances in the entire world. When the palace was planned the architects sent an order to Paris for Mirrors to cover the entrance walls. The mirrors finally arrived in their crates. When they took the crates apart all ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships

Dr. Howard Hendricks Tells Of A Small Town In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Dr. Howard Hendricks tells of a small town in Texas where one year the school burned to the ground with the loss of more than 200 lives, because they didn’t have a sprinkler system. They began to rebuild after the initial shock had passed and called in the foremost company in fire prevention ...read more

Tags: Jesus Teachings

During One Church Member's Stay In The Hospital, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During one church member’s stay in the hospital, he fell into conversation with a hospital employee. I heard him ask, "Do you go to church?" This woman said she did and gave the name of her church. Our continued by asking, "Are you saved?" She readily responded by saying, "I sure am. And I’m ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

During The Conversation The Tramp Said, 'i Wish ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

During the conversation the tramp said, ’I wish there were more people like you in the world." Whereupon his mother replied, "Oh, there are. But you must look for them." The old man simply shook his head, saying, "But, lady, I didn’t need to look for you. You looked for me." When that mother ...read more

Tags: Grace

There Was A Farmer That Found An Eagle Egg Where ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

There was a farmer that found an Eagle egg where the mother had died or left the egg. So he placed it under one of his hens and it hatched in the hen house. At first, the eagle scratched like a chicken and ate like a chicken. But The bigger he got, he became aware that he was not a chicken. He ...read more

Tags: Guilt

On The Windy Brittany Coast Of France The Abbe ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

On the windy Brittany coast of France the Abbe Adolph Juelienne Foure spent nearly ten hours a day every single day for 25 years carving more than 300 figures out of a huge section of rock above the sea. The statues tell the fantastic history of the Rotheneuf family, a 16th century tribe of ...read more

Tags: Faith

Total Sacrifice  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Total Sacrifice Bryan Chapell tells this story that happened in his hometown: Two brothers were playing on the sandbanks by the river. One ran after another up a large mound of sand. Unfortunately, the mound was not solid, and their weight caused them to sink in quickly. When the boys did not ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13, John 3:16, Galatians 1:4

Tags: Love, Sacrifice, Cross Agony

Brother James Bryan, A Presbyterian Minister In ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Brother James Bryan, a Presbyterian minister in Birmingham, Alabama knew this. There were a lot of preachers who could preach better sermons from the pulpit, but none could match the sermons that Brother Bryan preached with his life. Like Jesus, Brother Bryan was known for his compassion and his ...read more

Tags: Faith General