In Sermon Illustrations: "Never Give Up"

9998; Let's Imagine Today Is Payday Only ...

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 7, 2004

✎ Let’s imagine today is payday only instead of a check we are all given cash. What do you notice about the money we have all worked so hard for? It’s not enough right? No, M is not for “more” it’s for “MERCY,” so in your minds eye take a close look at your money, and what do you see? ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Money

Denomination: Assembly Of God

H. L. Gee Somewhere Tells Of A Tramp Who Came ...  PRO

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005

H. L. Gee somewhere tells of a tramp who came begging to a good woman’s door. She went to get something to give him and found that she had no change in the house. She went to him and said, “I have not a penny of small change. I need a loaf of bread. Here is a pound note. Go and buy the loaf and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-18

Tags: Faith, Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

People Buy Gifts To Enhance Their Emotional ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 3, 2006

People Buy Gifts to enhance their emotional connection with another, says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing. Since the focus of gift giving is emotional, gifts that connect embody a feeling, rather than being something practical, the very best gifts are life’s little luxuries and ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Unity

A Paraphrase Of Psalm 19:7-14  PRO

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Jun 26, 2006

A PARAPHRASE OF PSALM 19:7-14 BY Lynnea J.H. Tanner “The law of the Lord is without flaw, putting our soul back to wholeness. The things the Lord reveals are unwavering, consistent in their nature, giving great understanding to the unlearned. The basic principles God has laid out are right making ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-14

Tags: Bible Influence, Giving

Denomination: Orthodox

Nfl Quarterback's Pre-Game Generosity Impacts ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 18, 2010

NFL Quarterback’s Pre-Game Generosity Impacts Family There was a time when the bread-winner of the family worked a night shift in a low paying job and relied on food stamps to feed their large family. But that all changed after the Saint Louis Rams won the Super Bowl in 2000. And because of those ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1

Tags: Generosity, Giving General

Offering Story

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Nov 23, 2015

Words of Offering: A rich, but cynical businessman said to one of his staff, "Show me a truly unselfish act and I will give you a $100 bill." The staffer, said, "OK, walk with me at the lunch hour." They went to that part of town where there were lots of street people. The staffer said, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Offering, Giving, Generosity

Denomination: Nazarene

Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 21, 2015

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented. When the offering plates were passed, he put the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Tags: Giving, Tithing, Offering

Denomination: Nazarene

Cheeful Giver

Contributed by Rev. Duraimony Dickson on Nov 20, 2020

A missionary in Africa was preaching his first sermon in a mission church. When time came for the offering, the people danced their offerings forward. They danced and sang praise to God as they brought their offerings to the altar. For they were “coming before God's presence with ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7

Tags: Cheerful Giving, Dancing

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

New Church Treasurer

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 4, 2022

The day the old church treasurer resigned, the church asked the local grain elevator manager to take the position. He agreed under 2 conditions: 1. No treasurer’s report would be given for the first year 2. No questions be asked about finances during that year The people were surprised but finally ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10

Tags: Giving, Tithing, Money

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The 10-10-80 Rule

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2022

Sir John Templeton is a multi-billionaire, one of the wealthiest men in the world. He’s a dedicated Christian in his nineties. He invented the idea of trust funds in investments and started the Templeton Fund. Someone asked him, “How did you make such enormous wealth?” He said, “From the very start ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:10

Tags: Offering, Giving, Tithes

How To Put Out A Fire

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 20, 2022

It was Pentecost Sunday. As the congregation filed into the church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the day's festive spirit. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1

Tags: Giving, Tithes, Offerings

Helping Others

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 12, 2024

John Chrysostom once preached a message which said, “It is foolishness and a public madness, to fill cupboards with clothing and allow men who are created in God’s image and our likeness to stand naked and trembling with the cold so that they can hardly hold themselves upright… You are large and ...read more

Scripture: John 3:17-18

Tags: Giving, Need, Helping

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Praying Mother

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on May 12, 2025

Has your life been impacted by a sacrificial mother who would never give up? Never underestimate the power of a praying mother. Born in 1669, Susanna Wesley raised up two of Christianity’s most gifted leaders, John and Charles Wesley. Daily, as a mother, Susanna prayed, “Dear God, guide me. Make ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:20-28, 1 Samuel 1:10-16

Tags: Prayer, Mother, Susanna Wesley

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, Outfielder For The ...  PRO

Contributed by Dean Kennedy on Aug 26, 2002

Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, is the only athlete to have hit a Major League home run and scored an NFL touchdown in the same week. Sanders grew up on the mean streets of Fort Myers, Fla., where exposure to some would-be ...read more

Tags: Giving Yourself, God In The Hardships

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of The Most Beloved And Colorful Sports ...

Contributed by David Ward on Aug 16, 2005

One of the most beloved and colorful sports personalities of our time was a man named Jim Valvano, "Jimmy V" as he was known affectionately to sports fans around the country. Jim Valvano tragically died just a few years ago after a year-long battle with cancer. He was just 47 years old. He will be ...read more

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Heard A Story The Other Day About A Hobo Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Mar 30, 2001

I heard a story the other day about a hobo who walked up to the front door of a big farmhouse, and knocked on the door until the owner answered. The hobo said, “Sir, could I please have something to eat ? I haven’t had a meal in days.” The well-to-do owner of the house said, “I have made my ...read more

Tags: Poverty, Giving General, Workplace

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

It Was Pentecost Sunday. As The Congregation ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Mar 23, 2004

IT WAS PENTECOST SUNDAY. As the congregation filed into church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the festive spirit of the day. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Philippians 4:19, Luke 9:23, Romans 12:1

Tags: Gifts Giving, Giving General, Stewardship, Tithes, Tithing  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

The Story Is Told Of A Boy Whose Dad Took Him To ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 22, 2004

The story is told of a boy whose Dad took him to a play one Saturday night and spent a lot for the tickets. Afterwards the Dad talked about how good the play was an how it was worth every penny. The next morning coming home from Church the mother asked the Father what he thought of church. And the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:10-15

Tags: Mothers, Giving Yourself, Gifts Giving, Time, Wait  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Lynn And I Recently Watched A Late September ...

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Oct 14, 2004

Lynn and I recently watched a late September program of Larry King Live. The topic for discussion was “God, Anger, War & Religion”, and his five guests were a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, a Roman Catholic priest (and I thought it interesting that he saw Christian and Catholic as two separate ...read more

Tags: Truth, Truth Absolute

Denomination: Orthodox

The Ny Times Had A Story About A Little Boy Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 3, 2001

The NY Times had a story about a little boy who was riding the bus. He sat so close to a woman dressed in a gray suit that everybody assumed that he was her son & she was his mother. Until finally another lady sat down on the same seat with them. And when the little boy put his feet up ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Disappointment, Giving General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ