In Sermon Illustrations: "Moving Up"

I Was Woke Up At 4am One Morning And Could Only ...

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Jul 17, 2008

I was Woke up at 4am one morning and could only think of one possible person to pray for. I felt no real burden or annointing. I did and went back to sleep. I asked them about it. They said they were thinking of crashing their car into a tree to kill ...read more

Tags: Prophecy

Denomination: Wesleyan

Have You Ever Asked God To Wake You Up In The Morning?

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 23, 2024

Be careful what you pray for. We all know the feeling of trying to wake up to a blaring alarm clock. I had been really tired from working late and had overslept several times in the past week. I was traveling at the time, not at home. It wasn’t an emergency since I work from wherever I am, but I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7, Mark 11:24, 1 John 5:14

Tags: Prayer, How To Pray, Answered Prayers, Faith

Denomination: Charismatic

Putting Up Faith Or Fight When It’s Most Important

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on May 14, 2025

Over the decades of my life, I have learned there are some things in life worth fighting for and some not. We have to choose our battles and then fight with all our might those battles that really matter. Years ago, I attended the wedding of my niece, a beautiful blonde cowgirl. She married her ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:4

Tags: Standing In Faith, Battles Worth Winning

Denomination: Charismatic

The V Formation

Contributed by Tim White on May 9, 2011

I heard Adrian Rogers give this example: "We all have seen Canada Geese fly in their V formation with one leg of the V formation longer than the other leg. Why do they fly in the V formation? The lead goose is making it easier for the other geese who are following his lead. He is moving the wind ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Purity

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 1, 2015

A mother was concerned when she heard that her son had a live in girlfriend. She went to his house. Her son was the only one home. The son said, “It’s not what you think, Mom. She needed a place to stay. She has her bedroom and I have mine.” The son then showed his mother the guest bedroom ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Tags: Cohabitation, Shacking Up, Sexual Purity, Living Together

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Sleep Walking With A Loaded Gun

Contributed by Davon Huss on Dec 29, 2019

Vs. 14 is an invitation to those who have been walking in their sleep, to wake up. Also an invitation for those who are asleep in darkness to wake up and come to the light. Sanford Rothman told police he woke up to a “bang” and realized he has suffered a gunshot wound to his knee. Rothman told ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:14

Tags: Light, Wake Up, Sleep Walking, Outer Darkness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I Don't Know About You But As I Was Growing Up I ...  PRO

Contributed by Harvie Neatherlin on Jun 17, 2003

I don’t know about you but as I was growing up I worked hard at trying to figure out ways to insure that Mom or Dad would say yes. I don’t know how it worked around your house but I always got what I call the classic response. Here’s how it went, I would ask my dad if I could go somewhere or if I ...read more

Scripture: Judges 13:9-12

Tags: Communication General, Children

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

My Father Smoked All Of My Life So I Grew Up ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2003

My father smoked all of my life so I grew up breathing second hand smoke. I never saw it as a good thing until the day I was thrust into the smoking section of a run down nursing in a big city. The room was just thick with the smoke and my fellow ministry team members couldn’t even stand it, so ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Promises Of God

Gettin' Up A Load Right Now!" Psalm 39: 5-13 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 26, 2004

“Gettin’ Up a Load Right Now!” Psalm 39: 5-13 Key verse(s): 5: “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” It was the end of the church year and Pastor Smith was really into his preaching. He loved “end times” because ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 39:5-13

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Lutheran

So I'm Going To Share With You A List I Came Up ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Jan 10, 2007

So I’m going to share with you a list I came up with of Seven steps guaranteed to embitter your Children: 1. Discipline your child only when you lose your temper. Let him get away with everything, then without warning, let ‘em have it! Blow your top! Scream and Yell! Let ‘er Rip! Go Crazy! ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21

Tags: Children, Call, Leadership

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Shut Up: He Who Guards His Lips Guards His Soul

Contributed by Tony Abram on Jan 25, 2007

Shut Up, He who guards his lips guards his soul. A Church in Kansas City has as its slogan: Wake up, sing up, preach up, pray up and pay up, but never give up or let up or back up or shut up ...read more

Long Ago I Made Up My Mind To Let My Friends ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

Long ago I made up my mind to let my friends have ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Base Camps  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 2, 2008

BASE CAMPS When people are climbing Mount Everest, there are at least four camps that people stop at on the way up. They have to stop because of the physical limitations of their bodies. They need time to rest. They need time to acclimatized to the atmosphere. They need time to be prepared to ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-31

Tags: Growth In Christ

Six Essential Qualities That Are The Key To ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"Six essential qualities that are the key to success: sincerity, personal integrity, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:7

Tags: Love Envies Not, Not Puffed Up, Workplace Success, Greatest Love

Getting Worse

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 12, 2022

There is an old story about a pastor leaving a church. At his farewell dinner, he tried to encourage one of the pillar members, “Don’t be so sad. The next pastor might be better than me.” She ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-20, Ezekiel 28:11-15, Luke 10:17-20

Tags: Humble, Humility, Pride, Arrogance, Ego, Puffed Up, Humbled  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

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

Glory  PRO

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Jun 2, 2011

GOD’S GLORY AT MARANATHA At the 2009 Kansas high school state track championship, an unusual thing happened. The team that won the girls 3,200-meter relay was disqualified. But what happened next was even more unusual. The team that was awarded the state championship by default turned right around ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1, Luke 1:47-55

Tags: Glory, Race

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Vanishing Waves

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 28, 2012

VANISHING WAVES A wise man once told me to pour a glass of water. He dipped his index finger into the cup, I watched as miniature waves hit the glass only to halt seconds later. The wise man told that regardless of how important the world will ever view me or my accomplishments, history will only ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-34

Tags: Parable Rich Fool

Let Me Tell You A Story From Alberta History: ...  PRO

Contributed by Steven Simala Grant on Dec 12, 2002

Let me tell you a story from Alberta history: Cree Chief Maskepetoon met Rev. Robert Rundle, and at their first meeting declared "I will never become a Christian as long as there are horses to steal and scalps to take." Nevertheless Maskepetoon became a staunch friend to Rundle and his attitude ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20

Tags: Christian Liberty, Anxiety, Forgiveness General, God's Image, Prayer, Moving Forward, Supplication  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

I Don't Stand Up Here Today In Judgment Nor Do I ...

Contributed by George Alves on Jan 27, 2003

I don’t stand up here today in judgment nor do I seek to make people uncomfortable. This whole subject of avoiding church is very close to my heart. I too was one who had 101 excuses why I didn’t need the church – in my early twenties I stopped coming to Olivet for a brief period, I said church ...read more

Tags: Church General, Faith

Denomination: Brethren