In Sermon Illustrations: "My Substitute"

Irresponsibility

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Dec 5, 2012

Bill Hybel’s in His book “Making Life Work” states this about this kind of mindset – he words it this way: 1. “Some way, some day my life will improve. Some way, someday I’ll drift into more satisfying circumstances. Some way, some day what I want will come to be. Built on the fantasy that rewards ...read more

Tags: Misconceptions

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Because The Younger Children At Our Parochial ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2005

Because the younger children at our parochial school often forgot their sins when they entered my confessional, I suggested that teachers have the students make lists. The next week when one child came to confession, I could hear him unfolding paper. The youngster began, “I lied to my parents. I ...read more

Tags: Children

Irritated By The 1971 Canadian Census Form ...

Contributed by Sean Harder on Nov 19, 2008

Irritated by the 1971 Canadian census form defining the husband as the Head of the household, I wrote in the space marked Householder comments: “In this family my husband and I definitely share the household equally, and I wish to register my complaint at your archaic wording.” Several days later, ...read more

Tags: Marriage General

Christmas Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 8, 2020

One Christmas my husband put an assortment of beauty products in my stocking. I tried one of the facial masks, and was about to wash it off when my eight-year-old son, Callum, walked in. I explained to him that it was a present from his dad and it would make me beautiful. He patiently waited by my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-18

Tags: Christmas, Children, Cute, Honesty, Gifts, Christmas Present  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Disappointment

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

One blogger wrote: “Today, I was at work, nonchalantly spinning my keys around my finger when they flew off and hit a glass cabinet. Broken glass showered passing customers. I don't think I'll have a job to go to tomorrow.” Or how about this one: “Today, I went to my parents' place to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Tags: Happenings, Life, Mistakes, Disappointment, Surprises  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

I Try To Start Each Morning By Saying That Jesus ...

Contributed by Tony Abram on Nov 5, 2006

I try to start each morning by saying that Jesus Christ is Lord of my spirit, Lord of my mind and Lord of my ...read more

In The Whisperer Test Mary Ann Bird Writes, ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Rowe on Dec 11, 2007

Ill. In the Whisperer Test Mary Ann Bird writes, “I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it; I had a cleft pallet and a speech impediment. My second grade teacher was a short, round, happy, sparkling lady named Miss Leonard. Each year we had a hearing test and during that test she uttered ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Putting God First

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Mar 18, 2022

I woke up this one morning recently around 7am which is fairly late for me, still very tired, and about 10 minutes into reading the Word trying to drink my coffee to wake up, I knew I would not be able to stay awake through all my prayers at that level of fatigue. But I was trying to make sure in ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:16, Psalm 63:1

Tags: God First, Seek God Early, Word Of God, Priorities

Denomination: Charismatic

Misunderstanding!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jan 22, 2025

Today, I spent an hour in my car terrified to go inside because I thought my house was being burgled. I saw rapid shadows in the light of my lounge. Eventually I plucked up the courage to creep inside with a rock to find it wasn't a ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:9-16, Joshua 22:11-34

Tags: Assuming, Jumping To Conclusions, Error, Assumptions, Mistake  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

It Was A Week That Was Shot To Pieces

Contributed by James Snyder on Jun 27, 2020

I only made one mistake last week, which is something of a record for me. I try limiting mistakes to one at a time, but not always in sequential order. I once tried to make my mistakes in a logical order, but it turned out to be a mistake. The one faux pas I made was taking Monday off. I proposed ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:9

Tags: Humor, Plans

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Ain’t 16 Anymore

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 24, 2021

I’ve had so many birthdays in my life that I really don’t know how old I am. All I know is that I’m one year older than I was last year. I would not be able to remember when my life began if it wasn’t for paperwork.. To many people, numbers are very important, but in my opinion, a number is just a ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Tags: Birthday, Growing, Responsibity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It Was A Snarly Kind Of Day

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 26, 2025

Last week The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had another one of her girl days with our daughter and granddaughter. Don’t let this get around, but it is one of my favorite days of the year, including my birthday. It’s a day on which I can do what I want to do. That doesn’t come often; when it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:29

Tags: Wrath, Patience, Reward

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

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

Blood Gift  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 11, 2008

BLOOD GIFT In 1949, my father had just returned from the war. On every highway you could see soldiers in uniform hitchhiking home to their families. The thrill of the reunion with his family was soon overshadowed by my grandmother’s illness. There was a problem with her kidneys. The doctors told ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Giving General, God In The Hardships

I Was Invited To Compete In The Howard Wood ...

Contributed by Kerry O'neill on Feb 2, 2010

I was invited to compete in the Howard Wood Relays while running track in high school. It was time for the 110 meter high hurdles. I had set my blocks and the starter called "Runners, come to your marks." I was so nervous and decided to look to my left and right to see that I was lined up like ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Tags: Sports

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Wife Died

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jul 3, 2015

Booth-Tucker preached in Chicago one day, and out from the throng a burdened laborer came and said to him, before all the audience, "You can talk like that about how Christ is dear to you, and helps you; but if your wife was dead, as my wife is, and you had some babies crying for their mother who ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:10

Tags: Grief, God's Comfort, Christ's Sufficiency, The Comforter

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Have You Heard People Use The Phrase: "This Is ...  PRO

Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 30, 2004

Have you heard people use the phrase: "This is my cross to bear"? They’ll say, "I’ve got an unsaved husband, it’s my cross to bear." Or, "My kids are rebellious, it’s my cross to bear." Or, "My arthritis acts up on me; it’s my cross to bear." A tombstone in a cemetery in Ribbesford, Scotland ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:34

Tags: Discipleship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Your Beliefs Determine Your Attitudes

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on May 4, 2008

YOUR BELIEFS DETERMINE YOUR ATTITUDES Gary Smalley tells us "I can hardly overstate how life-changing it was to find that my beliefs, not my circumstances, determined my attitudes and actions. When I took my beliefs seriously and began to examine and change them, it did wonders for me by giving me ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Propitiation And Jewish Roots

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

Modern Jews, like Jews centuries before Christ, believed their suffering atoned for sing.Faithful Jews even today are encouraged to offer a prayer when seriously ill or near death called the Viduy (or Vidui) prayer: "I acknowledge before You, Lord my G-d and the G-d of my fathers, that my ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Tags: Atonement, Propitiation, Calvary, Death Of Christ, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Max Lucado Says That "The Grave Unearths ...  PRO

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 23, 2000

Max Lucado says that “The grave unearths our view of God” And he’s right how often have we heard “God if you existed my child wouldn’t have died, if you’d have answered my prayers my life ...read more

Tags: Apologetics General, Emotions, Death

Denomination: Wesleyan