In Sermon Illustrations: "Need"

Loved, To Be Love

Contributed by Jason Bonnicksen on Apr 22, 2011

LOVED, TO BE LOVE One of the neatest gifts I've ever received was this little, hand towel. I was given this during my seminary commencement, and have cherished it ever since. The towel has a little saying on it: "Blessed to be a blessing" Isaiah 61:1. Isaiah 61:1-2 says: "The Spirit of the ...read more

Tags: Easter Maundy Thursday

Denomination: Lutheran

Diapering Is Like Baseball

Contributed by Alan Tison on Apr 25, 2011

DIAPERING IS LIKE BASEBALL Communication is necessary for all mothers. A young couple had just had a newborn baby, and the time came when the baby needed a change, and the mother was not able to change the baby so she asked her husband, who was a minor league ball player if she would change the ...read more

Tags: Communication General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Sheep Dog  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 9, 2011

THE SHEEP DOG A man by the name of Keith Miller told of the time when his daughters were very young. They’d drop them off at the church’s children’s chapel on Sundays before the 11 am service. But one day Keith chanced to be in the class when the preacher was telling the story for the day to the ...read more

Scripture: John 10:11-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

A Risk-Taker For God

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Aug 31, 2011

A RISK-TAKER FOR GOD What does it mean to be a risk taker for God, for His Kingdom? 1. It means opening yourself up to change. 2. It is the acceptance of the fact that there is a need for change. 3. It is literally taking the behavioral steps necessary that will result in that change. 4. It is ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Filled  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 16, 2013

FILLED In his best selling book called, "Into Thin Air," Jon Krakauer relates the hazards that plagued some climbers as they attempted to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Andy Harris, one of the expedition leaders stayed at the peak too long and on his descent, he became in dire need of oxygen. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18, Matthew 4:4, Zechariah 12:10

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

When I Was A Kid  PRO

Contributed by Paul Steen on Jul 12, 2014

When I was a kid, we rode our bikes down the sidewalks and in the streets. We played baseball and football in the street. Summers were especially great because we could play ball until you couldn’t see. We rode in cars with no seat belts or car seats. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Tags: Protect, Helmet Of Salvation

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

What's Wrong With Slandering Someone?

Contributed by Rev. Matthew Parker on Aug 29, 2014

I was speaking with someone this past week who has spent a great deal of his life travelling around the world, much of it for a mission agency. He spoke of a time when he visited an extremely remote, forested part of India where people live very primitively. He stayed there for a while. This fellow ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Peter 1:5

Tags: Godly Character, Transparency

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Pentecostal Dog

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 24, 2019

. A Baptist preacher and his wife decided they needed a dog. Ever mindful of their congregation, they knew the dog must also be Baptist. They visited an expensive kennel and explained their needs to the manager, who assured them he had just the dog for them. When the dog was produced, the manager ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Tags: Healing, Charismatic, Pentecostal

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Must Choose

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Apr 10, 2021

I went to my Acupuncturist this week, like I do every other week. She was busier than usual and so she put my ears seeds in before the acupuncture. (The ear seeds help with different types of problems.) As I was sitting there, she put the ear seed on a place that she has never placed it ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-9

Tags: Easter, Choose

Denomination: Baptist

Like A Glove

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 23, 2022

Here’s a story of how I explain the Holy Spirit in us to children. I take an empty glove and tell the kids that it's a magic glove. I tell them it is amazing because it can pick things up. Then, I drop it on a hymn book or Bible and tell it to pick up the book. When it doesn't move, I ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Holy Spirit, Abiding

Is He Welcome

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Feb 21, 2025

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Sadly, there are many buildings with church on the sign that Jesus is knocking on the door to get in. Some He has never been in and others He had been in but they turned Him by denying the Scriptures. Many people in those buildings ...read more

Scripture: John 1:11

Tags: Service, Wash, Salvation, Confession, Presence, Apostasy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

It's Like The Two Old Ladies Who Were Playing ...  PRO

Contributed by Mike Dubose on Feb 6, 2002

It’s like the two old ladies who were playing cards… One lady said, “I hate to ask you this – I know we’ve been playing cards together for years – but you know, I’m getting old & my mind is growing feeble – but, What is your name?” The other lady looked at ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Tags: God The Father, Friendship General

Denomination: Methodist

Last Tuesday, I Went To Listen To Dana Scott, ...  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Apr 29, 2002

Last Tuesday, I went to listen to Dana Scott, sister of Rachel Scott, who was one of the students killed at Columbine High School. And one of the points of Miss Scott’s message was that we need to be more compassionate toward those who are not like us, such as the social rejects, or physically ...read more

Tags: Evangelism Urgency, Sharing My Testimony

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Student Of A Great Philosopher Entered The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dana Chau on Mar 22, 2002

The student of a great philosopher entered the house of ill-repute. The teacher came to the door and asked him to come out. The student refused because he was ashamed. The teacher replied, "There is no shame in leaving the house of ill-repute, but there is great shame in staying." We ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10-11

Tags: Faith General, Repentance

Denomination: *other

When Abraham Lincoln Was President, One Of His ...

Contributed by Bruce Howell on May 15, 2002

When Abraham Lincoln was president, one of his sons wanted to go in and see him. Lincoln was in a very important meeting and his secretary said to his son, “You can’t go in now. He’s very busy.” The boy answered, “He’s my father and he said he’s always got time to ...read more

Tags: God's Provision, Prayer Persistence

Denomination: Wesleyan

Hair Mission  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 26, 2002

HAIR MISSION In dire need of a beauty makeover, I went to my salon with a fashion magazine photo of a gorgeous, young, lustrous-haired model. I showed the stylist the trendy new cut I wanted and settled into the chair as he began humming a catchy tune and got to work on my thin, graying hair. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15

Tags: God's Omnipotence, Missions

Did You Know You Can Now Send An Email To God? An ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 6, 2002

Did you know you can now send an email to God? An Israeli internet company (www.virtual.co.il) has announced that they will take email prayers to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Customarily people write prayers and place them in cracks of the wall. I did so when I visited Israel some years ago. But ...read more

Tags: Prayer Adoration

Denomination: Congregational

There Was A Little Boy Who Was Kneeling By His ...  PRO

Contributed by Bradford Robinson on Sep 23, 2002

There was a little boy who was kneeling by his bed with his mom to say his nighttime prayers. He began to shout to the top of his lungs, “Dear God, I’ve been real good this year so please let me get a new bicycle for my birthday.” His mom said, “Son, God’s not deaf; you ...read more

Tags: Prayer Supplication

Denomination: Methodist

A Grandmother Recalled, "My 4-Year-Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Tonkinson on May 9, 2003

A grandmother recalled, “My 4-year-old granddaughter, Brenna, has been taught that calling someone fat isn’t polite. Instead, she’s supposed to say "overweight." One day while she was at my house, I commented that I was fat and needed to lose weight. Brenna replied, "Mam-maw, you’re not fat! You’re ...read more

Tags: Children

Denomination: Baptist

Born A Christian Nation

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 30, 2003

BORN A CHRISTIAN NATION "The Bible...is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence, Political Freedom