In Sermon Illustrations: "Never Too Late"

There's A Familiar Story About The New Bride Who ...

Contributed by Paul Barreca on Jan 11, 2014

There's a familiar story about the new bride who is cooking a big family dinner. As the ladies are gathered in the kitchen, the bride puts the roast in the pan and asks her mother why we always cut the end of the roast and put it in another pan? They ask grandma who says, "well honey, I cut the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-2

Tags: Newlywed, Tradition, Ritual, Misunderstandings

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Day Mom Turned Blue

Contributed by Paul Barreca on May 20, 2014

Just after Thanksgiving last year, the family was gathered for a dinner at my house. Mom had just returned from visiting my sisters in New York. She was having trouble with her asthma and was tired and short of breath. While in NY, she felt poor enough to see the Doctor, so naturally, we were ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31

Tags: Mothers Day, Mothers, Motherhood, Celebrate Moms

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Word Was Being Made Real In The Back Of His Church

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Pastor Thomas Tewell tells the story of getting ready for their 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service. As the people were gathering, a man named Jim came in. Jim was a recovering alcoholic, sober just 6 months, but his disease had cost him his family, his job, just about everything. He went in to the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tags: Christmas, Grace, Ministry, The Word Made Flesh

Denomination: Methodist

Stubbornness In Marriage

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Oct 13, 2017

If you were asked to name three areas where you and your spouse disagree, you'd likely be able to do it without thinking very hard. Might even be able to produce a top 10 list if given a few more minutes. And sadly, unless someone at your house starts doing some giving in, the same issues are going ...read more

Tags: Wedding, Stubbornness, Marriage Commitment

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Is Venom In Our Veins

Contributed by Matt Neace on Oct 5, 2018

Describing the new movie, Venom, Greg Morse writes: He was a journalist once. Eddie Brock investigated corruption, fought on behalf of the oppressed, and tried to make a difference in the world. He was trying to take down evil - until he was "taken" by it. An alien, a symbiote, a hungry beast ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15-20, Romans 8:20-21, John 1:5

Tags: Human Condition, Human Nature, Sin Nature, Sin, Evil, Satan, Devil, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Watch Out For Icebergs

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 10, 2019

: On April 14, 1912 there was another boat out on the water in Trouble. this ship was considered unsinkable, it had the latest Technology built in. The Captain of the ship said “ I can’t Imagine any condition that would cause this ship to flounder I cannot conceive of any vital disaster ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Tags: Disaster, Touble

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Greatest Building Disaster In History

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Apr 2, 2022

In 1174, the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on what would become his most famous project: a separately standing eight-story bell tower in the city of Pisa. There was just one “little” problem: builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated, and the ...read more

Tags: Foundations, Eternity, Obedience, Rock, Sand, Word Of God, Parables  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Giving

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Apr 17, 2022

Henry Parsons Crowell contracted tuberculosis when a boy and could not go to school. His Father and brother died of tuberculosis, and he should have died of it too. He made a contract with God. If he were spared he would use his abilities to amass large sums of money for evangelism. For the next 50 ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Tags: Giving, Purpose Of Giving, Cheerful Giver

Denomination: Baptist

Speed Limit

Contributed by John Bright on Feb 13, 2025

Let’s talk about following the speed limit. Why not? Maybe you don’t like being told what to do? That’s the definition of rebellion. Maybe you know better than everyone else. If so, those closest to you suffer the most! The starting point is safety. I have some family members that refuse to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:15-16, Exodus 21:5-6

Tags: Submission, Rebellion, Speed Limit, Bond Servant

Denomination: Methodist

The Peter Principle - I Will Change Your Name

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 19, 2026

Back in the 60's ... a man named Laurence J. Peter ... visited several corporations ... and studied some of their management styles ... and characteristics. As a result, ... he came up with a maxim ... which was later named after him ... called ... "The Peter Principle." (Pause) I ...read more

Scripture: John 1:42, Acts 5:29, 1 Samuel 16:7, Philippians 4:13

Tags: Name, Heart, Peter, Change, New Creation, Principle  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Thanksgiving Without Martha  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKSGIVING WITHOUT MARTHA Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I’m telling you in advance, so don’t act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won’t be coming, I’ve made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

What Is More Alarming That An Outbreak Of ...

Contributed by Brian Harvison on Sep 30, 2008

What is more alarming that an outbreak of fire? The fire of sin broke out in Eden And has spread over the whole world The only way of escape is to be pulled out There is a ladder of escape like the ladder Jacob dreamed of, that reaches to heaven it is John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, ...read more

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Away With It Is Half The Fun

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 19, 2020

I must admit I don't get away with very much, and I never have. It's not that I never try. It's just that whenever I try to get away with something, it always backfires. I wish there were a class somewhere entitled, "How You Can Get Away with Anything." I certainly would sign ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 32:23

Tags: Sin, Humor

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

As If I Didn’t Already Know

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 12, 2024

I've been accused of many things throughout my life, but never having a great memory. It's not that I don't try to remember things; I can't remember things I'm supposed to remember. It has nothing to do with my age because it started as far back as I can remember. This ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:23-24

Tags: Memory, Relationship

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I’m Not Old Just Young Challenged

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 18, 2025

Most people are fascinated by their age as if it makes any difference in their lives. Some people are very intimidated by getting older and struggle against it. When I was young, I couldn't wait to get older. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to get a driver's license. Why does it ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 20:29

Tags: Youth, Age, Old

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Washington Bureau: Terry Mattingly's Religion ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 16, 2001

WASHINGTON BUREAU: Terry Mattingly’s religion column for 11/07/2001 It’s hard to miss the Big Idea when an artist puts it right on a painting in bold letters. "He That Believeth Not Shall Be Damned. Not A Crown But Hellfire And Brimstone," wrote Howard Finster, using his unorthodox spelling and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-14

Tags: Basics Of Christianity, Becoming A Christian

A Christmas Story  PRO

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Dec 12, 2003

[A Christmas Story, unknown] I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" (Rejection!) My Grandma was not ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Bet — Anton Chekhov

Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Sep 7, 2006

The Bet -- Anton Chekhov We live in a world that knows little about what’s truly valuable. People all around us are pursuing things that have no lasting value. That pursuit is ably treated by Anton Chekhov in his classic short story The Bet. This story gives us great insight into the value system ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:28-38, Matthew 8:5-13

Denomination: Pentecostal

Mistaken For Jesus

Contributed by Grant Macdonald on Nov 14, 2011

MISTAKEN FOR JESUS Jeff Walling tells the story of Darrel. Darrel was a forty year-old youth worker. One service a month, the youth in his church went to Hokem Manor, which was an old age home. The old people would be wheeled in for the service. Some of them were aware, and others of them weren't. ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Lost Art Of Saying Thank You

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more.” - David Steindl-Rast Everyone likes to feel appreciated. I remember a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:17

Tags: Thanks, Unthankfulness, Gifts

Denomination: Charismatic