In Sermon Illustrations: "Mountain Moving"

Words Do Things

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Words Do Things One poet tells how a certain man who had performed a heroic act found it impossible to tell his friends about it for a lack of words to describe it. But there was a witness to the event whom the poet refers to as having been "afflicted with the necessary magic of words." He told ...read more

Tags: Heart

When A Dream Dies

Contributed by Stephen Funderburk on Jan 18, 2009

When a Dream Dies When a dreams dies, the world is not the same You realize in an instant everything has changed Tomorrow will be different The plans will all be new For the dream that you were chasing No longer lives inside of you. To know the race is over and you’ve been left behind Is like a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Goals

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Be A Line-Guide

Contributed by Timothy Darling on Jan 26, 2009

BE A LINE-GUIDE When they were teaching me to march in the Navy, for a while until they learned that I have eye problems (go figure) they made me a line-guide. A line-guide is in the front corner of the ranks and marches straight, so that everyone else can mark their place off him. The line-guide ...read more

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Mennonite

1 Corinthians ...

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Feb 12, 2009

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul said run to win as if winning is everything. It is, but not in the sense that you find in the sports arena. Running to win only makes sense if you’re chasing the right prize. My daughter, Jen, has a fur-ball with whiskers named Fred. Fred will chase anything that ...read more

Tags: Materialism

Denomination: United Methodist

Unknown Inheritances  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

UNKNOWN INHERITANCES A Michigan factory worker, earning less than ten thousand dollars a year, was an unknowing heir to a half-million dollars. When located by an investigator some years after his benefactor’s death, the worker explained that he had neither returned home nor kept in touch with his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:16-17

Tags: God The Father

Kentucky Thunderstorm Wipes Out Historic Family ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 12, 2009

Kentucky Thunderstorm Wipes Out Historic Family Pear Tree John Claypool tells the story of a thunderstorm years ago that swept through Southern Kentucky at the farm where his ancestors had lived for 6 generations. There was an old pear tree that had been there for about as long as anyone could ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags: Hardship Of Life, Enduring Hardship

A Tree Grows In England

Contributed by Ken Pell on Apr 6, 2010

A TREE GROWS IN ENGLAND In Tewin, England's St. Peter's churchyard stands a great four-trunked tree growing out of a grave. Its presence there is a constant reminder of resurrection for residents in the community. The grave from which it grows is that of the 18th century's Lady Anne ...read more

Tags: Easter Resurrection

Denomination: Nazarene

Brezhnev's Wife Defies Atheism

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 28, 2010

BREZHNEV'S WIFE DEFIES ATHEISM As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 53:1

Tags: Atheism

Ignorance Of One's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 27, 2010

Ignorance of One’s Inheritance A Michigan factory worker, earning less than ten thousand dollars a year, was an unknowing heir to a half-million dollars. When located by an investigator some years after his benefactor’s death, the worker explained that he had neither returned home nor kept in touch ...read more

Scripture: John 6:1-13

Tags: Inheritance, Ignorance

Looks Great, But What Does It Do?

Contributed by Isaac Butterworth on Dec 17, 2010

LOOKS GREAT, BUT WHAT DOES IT DO? I once read about a certain Mr. Wahlstrom who purchased an old bombsight and took it apart to see what made it work. As he began to put it back together, he decided to add to it some spare parts he had from other projects. Over time, friends and neighbors took an ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Bible's Influence On American History

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2011

THE BIBLE'S INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN HISTORY Pastor Jack Graham tells of a speaking engagement in Philadelphia he made recently and slipping downtown to Independence Hall to reflect on the founding of our nation. He said, "As you move around the historical sites of that city you see the Word of God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:23

Tags: Bible Influence

Sometimes The Analogy Of The Caterpillar Turned ...

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on May 9, 2011

Sometimes the analogy of the caterpillar turned butterfly is over-used. But we can’t help it because it’s a powerful image of the metamorphosis we undergo in our relational development toward God. Our caterpillar state is one of restriction. We are bound by realities of time and space that ...read more

Tags: Worship General

Denomination: Salvation Army

Raffling A Dead Donkey

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 13, 2011

RAFFLING A DEAD DONKEY Jean Paul, a Cajun, moved to Texas and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry, but I got some bad news. The donkey died." "Well then, just give me my money ...read more

Tags: Hypocrisy

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Stop "Supposing"

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 21, 2011

STOP "SUPPOSING" I remember reading the story of a faithful but fairly poor Christian woman. She was always cheerful and smiling and excited about life. But she was so cheerful that a friend of hers decided she was too cheerful. She needed a dose of "reality" and perspective. So the friend said ...read more

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A "Kept" Woman

Contributed by Aaron Mishoe on Mar 22, 2012

A "KEPT" WOMAN You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, But GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3) There were times when I thought I could go no longer, But the LORD kept me moving. (Gen 28:15) At times, I’ve wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong, But the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3

Tags: Women

Denomination: Holiness

No Faith In The Future, No Power For The Present

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2012

NO FAITH IN THE FUTURE, NO POWER FOR THE PRESENT Years ago, a small town in Maine was proposed for the site of a great hydroelectric plant. Since the dam would be built across the river, the entire town would be submerged. When the project was announced, the people were given many months to ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:10-14, 1 John 3:3

Tags: Future

No Green Bananas

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 29, 2013

NO GREEN BANANAS Approaching 85 years of age, Mrs. Wells finally decided it was time to give up her home in North Carolina and move to Miami. She was given the name of a Florida realtor, who enthusiastically drove her all over Miami, extolling the virtues of every apartment they looked at. ...read more

Tags: Aging

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sleeping When The Wind Blows

Contributed by Perry Greene on May 21, 2013

SLEEPING WHEN THE WIND BLOWS A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:21, Proverbs 12:27

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Just Entertain

Contributed by Davon Huss on Oct 14, 2014

Timothy Paul Jones- With high hopes we had moved to a new youth ministry position. On my first Wednesday evening at this church, I received my first hint that this task might be more difficult than I’d imagined. After a couple of games, I gathered the students for some worship songs. Worship ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Delight In God's Word, Neglect Of The Word

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Funny Church Feuds

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside. One week, the preacher preached on commitment, and how you should dedicate yourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Tags: Unity, Hymns, Division, Church Fights

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational