In Sermon Illustrations: "Moving"

How To Give Thanks In The Midst Of Loss  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 7, 2012

HOW TO GIVE THANKS IN THE MIDST OF LOSS When you've lost something or someone precious, it is easy to forget that "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away." He doesn't owe us a reason. John Claypool was a pastor in Louisville, Kentucky many years ago. He and his wife lost their daughter, Laura ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:13-22, Job 1:6, Job 1:1-9, Matthew 1:17-22, Isaiah 9:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Fatherhood, Funerals Christian

Dad Was Dying Of Something Similar To ...

Contributed by C. Scott Ghan on Aug 27, 2012

ILL. Dad was dying of something similar to Alzheimer’s. He was very violent, dangerous and in a great deal of trouble in his home town where he had been Fire Chief. The County didn't want to, but left with no other option committed him to a lock-down unit where he would remain for the rest of his ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

You Promised Me  PRO

Contributed by Ken Pell on May 6, 2013

"YOU PROMISED ME" Love always perseveres. Love never Fails. In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. Surprisingly, such tragedies often bring out the best in people. Let me show you the loving heart of a father. In the midst of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Leviticus 6:12-13

Tags: God's Love, Bearing God's Image

Denomination: Nazarene

Be Careful What You Imitate

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Nov 17, 2024

In the late 1990s, aspiring actor and writer Johnny Knoxville had moved from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California, and landed work in commercials in order to support his wife and infant daughter. Among his ideas was one to produce an article that involved testing various self-defense ...read more

Scripture: 3 John 1:11, Ephesians 5:1-2

Tags: Imitate, Bad Examples, Good Examples, Johnny Knoxville

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Light Of The World

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Jan 20, 2025

Did you know that on the 2nd of January first thing in the morning, just the other day, like in the wee small hours this occurred, and the next night this occurred? [Photos of Aurora Australis] The second one is not the sunset, that is 3am at Blockhouse Bay in Auckland, the first is Queenstown. Did ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12, John 1:7, Galatians 5:17

Tags: Conflict, Victory, Light Of The World, Feast Of Tabernacles, Divine Light, Victorious Living, The Blood Of Jesus, Aurora Australis, God's Redemption Plan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Salvation Army

The Id That Almost Wasn't Good Enough

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

The year we moved to Tennessee was an election year. Cassy and I went to go vote. We waited in line, got to the front, and I reached in my wallet without even thinking about the fact that we hadn't switched our driver's licenses over to Tennessee yet. They told us we needed a Tennessee ...read more

Scripture: Jude 1:4, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tags: Identity, Authority

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

When The Door Opened

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 18, 2026

Before Cassy and I moved to Middle Tennessee, we were in West Texas. I was running a pretty small graphic design business and driving for Uber and Lyft in the evenings, and I was frustrated overall. Not because anything was particularly wrong, but because I kept feeling like I wasn't doing what ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:8, 1 Corinthians 16:9

Tags: God's Timing, Calling

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Disability

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Oct 8, 2022

I was asked, “What is Tharon’s greatest accomplishment”? That question really made me think hard. Tharon lost his memory at 14 years old. Every day when he woke up, he was like a 2 year old kid. I went with him to School every day and by the time we made it to Swim practice, he was 14. By the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Tags: Action, Disabilities

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Aug 6, 2023

“Seeking God” Isaiah 55: 1-9 08/06/23 When my grandson Isaiah was three years old, he had a problem of wandering off and hiding. One day my daughter Maeghan and my wife Becky were shopping at a local mall and of course, he slipped off. All of a sudden, they realized he was missing. They ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-9, Luke 11:9, Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Tags: Seeking God, Obeying God

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Motives For Meditation

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 25, 2024

Dietrich Bonhoeffer required his seminarians to give half an hour each morning to scripture meditation. Many of the students struggled with this task, so he wrote these instructions to help them understand the importance of meditation and to help them learn how to meditate on God’s Word. Why do I ...read more

Tags: Meditation, Quiet Time, Spiritual Discipline, Devotionals, Bible, Prayer, Word Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Simeon The Pillar Hermit

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Aug 28, 2024

Simeon was probably like most boys his age in A.D. 403. The 13-year-old spent much of his time caring for his father's flocks on the hillside of Cilicia. But one day, while listening to a sermon on the beatitudes, stirred and changed he left his home and family and began a lifelong pursuit of ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:20

Tags: Separation, Holiness, Finding God, Monks, Intimacy With God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Do You Have A "chip On The Shoulder"?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 15, 2020

Hebrew scholar Gensenius, says that the meaning of the Old Testament word for "meekness" involves "a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them." Meekness is not only the opposite of pride, but of stubbornness, fierceness, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Tags: Meekness, Beatitudes, Anger, Sensitivity, Sermon On The Mount, Chip On The Shoulder, Spirit Controlled Life  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mad Mike Hughes

Contributed by Roberta Karchner on Feb 26, 2020

Mad Mike Hughes had a mission, to launch himself into outer space. He believed the earth was flat, and the only way to prove it was to go up into space and take a photo of the flat earth. He did not trust others to document the truth, he would only believe it if he saw it with his own eyes. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Tags: Sin, Foolish, Self Importance, Self Righteousness, Flat Earth  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Acorn Theology

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 10, 2021

I love fall. I love the cooler weather. I love the changing colors. I love football. I love fall with this exception—raking leaves. I have a big oak tree out in my front hard and it is amazing how many leaves that tree can produce. I was out raking the other day and not only was I amazed at all ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tags: Patience, Steadfastness, Parable, Endurance, Autumn, Sower, Seed, Parables, Evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

If I Had A Hammer!" Genesis 32:1-21 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 17, 2005

“If I Had A Hammer!” Genesis 32:1-21 Key verse(s): 9-12:“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-21, Genesis 32:1-12

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

No Finger, No Teeth, But Fully Human!" 2 Kings ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Apr 6, 2005

“No Finger, No Teeth, But Fully Human!” 2 Kings 4:32-36 Key verse(s) 32-33:“When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord.” He was very short, and at a distance he presented an almost comical ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:32-36

Tags: Poverty, Love, God In The Hardships, Workplace Unemployment

Denomination: Lutheran

The Best Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

THE BEST GIFT Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them, and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them, and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about ...read more

Tags: Compassion

Guidance Behind Enemy ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 30, 2012

GUIDANCE BEHIND ENEMY LINES Every Monday night, when I was not sacking groceries at the Piggly Wiggly, we would go to the library in Dothan. One Monday evening, I “accidentally” found a paperback copy of William C. Anderson’s book, BAT-21. It was a story about Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, a U.S. Air ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 119:105

Tags: Golf, Christian Disciplines

Whatever Happened To "My Space”

Contributed by James Snyder on May 10, 2025

When I was young, one of my life priorities was “My Space.” I defended it with everything I had. In school, I had to defend “My Space.” Several times, I even had to go to the principal’s office and explain what “My Space” was all about. He didn’t seem to understand, and I had to explain it several ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Space, Violations

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

With His Life In Disarray, Steven Lavaggi Sat On ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile Diabetes. As if coping with the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-15

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Baptist