In Sermon Illustrations: "My Substitute"

Oh, Those Alluring Lizardly Eyes

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 4, 2020

After months of planning and rearranging our schedule, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage finally organized a little vacation time for Christmas. It takes an awful lot of work for her and, I let her work as hard as she wants to work. That’s the kinda husband I am. She scheduled us to stay for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:3

Tags: Fear, Vacation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Red Isn’t Always The Red I See

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 2, 2021

It is not that I am colorblind; I just am color indifferent. Red and blue and yellow are all the same to me. This, on many occasions, has challenged the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, who is very meticulous when it comes to describing anything or anyone. In remodeling my office at the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:12

Tags: Christmas, Humor, Gifts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Coffee Without Coffee Just Ain’t Coffee

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 23, 2021

I must soberly confess that I have throughout my life given in to habits and rituals. I don't like saying that, but it is the truth. At this point, I don't know the difference between a habit and a ritual. One ritual I have is when I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is have a ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:8

Tags: Ritual, Habit, Coffee

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

A Shortcut Is Not Always That Short

Contributed by James Snyder on May 1, 2021

I have always appreciated shortcuts in life. If I can find a shortcut, I will take it because time is valuable to me. I take pride in coming up with a shortcut that actually saves me time. However, not all of my shortcuts have really been that short and I have paid the price. Last week, for ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 32:8

Tags: Humor, Shortcut, Wrong Way

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Who Doesn’t Like A Girl Scout Cookie?

Contributed by James Snyder on May 8, 2021

This week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage made a little slip. To her, it was a little slip, but to me, it was a big mistake. It is not always that she makes mistakes that I can profit on. I don't make this public, especially within her earshot, but there are times that she makes a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Diet, Girl Scouts

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ugly Isn’t For Sissies

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 4, 2023

Over the years of marital bliss, we’ve not had many disagreements. She likes broccoli. I like Apple Fritters. We’ve never been able to come to any agreement with that. But, outside of that, everything has been rather smooth. There’s one controversy that has plagued our house for the last few ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Tags: Appearance, Mirror

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Why Do Some Cute Babies Grow Up Ugly

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 9, 2023

Our second great grand baby was born at the end of last year. Since then, it has been a delight to watch her grow. I will not say she is the cutest baby in the world, but I haven't met any cuter. She was born cute, and I'm not sure what part of the family she got that. Sometimes, when ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:4

Tags: Age, Cute, Ugly

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ain’t Nothing Better Than A P&j Sandwich

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 5, 2023

I'm not sure what happened to my closely guarded diet during these recent holidays, but I won't ask. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has been so busy cooking and preparing food that she didn't have time to oversee my diet. I love it when a plan comes together. As usual, I used ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:4

Tags: Thanksgiving, Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Cultivating The Fine Art Of Listening

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 16, 2023

If confession is good for the soul, I must confess here, I have not been successful at everything in my life. Oh yes, there are a few things I have been successful at, which I won’t mention right now. But many things I have failed to succeed at. One thing I have failed to succeed at, even though I ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19

Tags: Relationships, Hearing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Whatever Happened To Reality

Contributed by James Snyder on May 18, 2024

During my health hiatus I did things I never had time to do before. One of them was to check out some Reality TV Shows. I never had much interest in these TV shows, but I thought now would be a good time to check some of them just to see what their idea of reality really was. Of course, my health ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

Tags: Reality, Tv Shows

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Read Of A Teenager Who Bought His Girlfriend An ...

Contributed by John Perry on Apr 2, 2010

I read of a teenager who bought his girlfriend an orchid. It was the first orchid he had ever bought anyone & the first one she had ever received. There was a card attached ...read more

Tags: Sacrifices

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Road Of Life  PRO

Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jan 20, 2003

The Road of Life At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know Him. But later on, when I ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Road Of Life

Contributed by David Selleck on Oct 26, 2006

"The Road of Life" Author Unknown At first, I saw Jesus Christ as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn’t know ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

I Prayed Her Home  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Dec 10, 2011

I PRAYED HER HOME Praying in Tongues From August 2002 to December 2010 my family suffered the affliction of brain cancer which was placed by Satan (2 Corinthians 12:7; Luke 13:10-17) upon my “helpmate,” (Genesis 2:18-25) Bonnie K. Laughlin. Just like many conservative preachers of the Word of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:18

Tags: Gifts Tongues

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sharing Sermon Notes, Stories And Outlines To Further The Gospel Of Jesus

Contributed by John T Brantley on Dec 22, 2015

When all through the town, Folks were snuggled comfy and sound. All my night guests had checked in, And I was exhausted and tucked in my kin, When out at the door the I heard a swift rap, of the door knocker knocking interrupting my nap. I sprang up from my cot to see what was the issue, Couldn’t ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Inn Keeper, No Room In The Inn, Christmas, Christmas Eve

Denomination: United Methodist

Speaking Of Contaminants Let Me Tell You About A ...

Contributed by Brien Sims on Dec 13, 2007

Speaking of contaminants let me tell you about a house I once helped my landlord clean. It was back when we lived in Moberly, just a few blocks away from our house. I had helped my landlord, Dr. Stan McCreary, do many things and so he asked me if I wouldn’t mind helping him fix up a house he had ...read more

Tags: Desire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Here Is A Modern Example Of The Tragedy Of Not ...

Contributed by Bobby Bodenhamer on Dec 27, 2008

Here is a modern example of the tragedy of not listening, a modern example of the measure you measured with being measured back to you. In this particular case it’s a college girl pleading with parents to listen. But I think I have already said enough to indicate that it has to work both ways. This ...read more

Tags: Parenting

Denomination: *other

A Teen's Plea On ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 5, 2009

A TEEN’S PLEA ON LISTENING I want to close now by reading a letter. Here is a modern example of the tragedy of not listening, a modern example of the measure you measured with being measured back to you. In this particular case, it’s a college girl pleading with parents to listen. But I think I ...read more

Tags: Parenting

A Mother's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 28, 2009

A Mother’s Resolutions 1. When I forget to go to the grocery store, I will not boil the macaroni necklaces my children made for me in preschool. 2. I will pack the kids’ lunch boxes the night before so I don’t throw in a slab of frozen lasagna as they’re running for the bus. "It’ll defrost by ...read more

Tags: Parenting

A Mother's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

A Mother’s Resolutions 1. When I forget to go to the grocery store, I will not boil the macaroni necklaces my children made for me in preschool. 2. I will pack the kids’ lunch boxes the night before so I don’t throw in a slab of frozen lasagna as they’re running for the bus. "It’ll defrost by ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day