In Sermon Illustrations: "New Home"

Give Thanks

Contributed by Jonathan Meade on Nov 18, 2023

At 16, a mission to Honduras with my father was an eye-opening experience that left an incredible mark on my soul. I found myself in a foreign land, surrounded by poverty and heart wrenching realities that I had never encountered before. One particular night, our bus pulled into a dimly lit gas ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Missions, Gratitude

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Are You Packed And Ready To Go?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye" but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Rapture, Ready, Readiness, Maranatha, Feast Of Trumpets, Prepared, Church, Preparation, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Preparing To Fall Into Temptation!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 8, 2024

Some people fall into temptation, but a great many make plans for disaster ahead of time. "Son," ordered a father, "Don't swim in that canal." "OK, Dad," he answered. But he came home carrying a wet bathing suit that evening. "Where have you been?" ...read more

Scripture: James 1:10-15

Tags: Deceit, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, Preparation, Lies, Disobedience, Defeat, Sin, Satan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sailing Away  PRO

Contributed by Joel Vicente on Aug 17, 2002

SAILING AWAY A personal testimony. Inspired by His calling, Joel Vicente. ------- I was secure at home when I heard the voice from the Captain exclaim, "Come follow me. Go where I send you. No need to fear. I will be with you." I asked, "But Captain, may I remain here on the shore where it is ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Baptist

A Woman Named Ruth Went To Her Mail Box And There ...

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jul 10, 2007

A woman named Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter: Dear Ruth: I’m going to be in your neighborhood ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

If My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 23, 2008

IF MY PEOPLE... Our nation is in trouble: Abortion i. Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion. ii. In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Go Back And Tell Them Again  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

GO BACK AND TELL THEM AGAIN Jesus said "Follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men." In a book entitled "Jungle Harvest," written by a missionary named Ruby Scott, she describes some of her experiences in reaching a people group known as the Tila Indians who lived in a remote village in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:19

Tags: Evangelism The Lost

John Mccain's Personal Account At The Republican ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 6, 2010

John McCain’s Personal Account at the Republican National Convention of Being a POW in Viet Nam I suggest we can learn something from John McCain’s personal testimony segment of his speech. The Republican nominee said: Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 15:33

Tags: Patriotism

The "Broken" Sheepdog And The Shepherd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 22, 2011

THE "BROKEN" SHEEPDOG AND THE SHEPHERD Philip Keller tells a story in his book, Lessons from a Sheep Dog, about how a bedraggled collie named Lassie came into his possession. One day he happened to notice an ad in the paper that simply said: "Border collie to good owner. Currently uncontrollable ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-18

Tags: Parable Lost Sheep

Where Is Your Faith?

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 25, 2014

“A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes, whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them.” – Victor Frankl Rain poured down and thunder boomed one dark night in September in Western Oklahoma. It had been a quiet, pleasant evening at the nursing center, and nurses and residents ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Active Faith, Encourage Others, Courageous Women, Faith Lifestyle

Denomination: Charismatic

[133]. A Message From A Poem – I Am The Son Who Is Blessed

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 17, 2025

[133]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – I AM THE SON WHO IS BLESSED This poem has as its basis the parable of the Lost Son sometimes called The Prodigal Son. The first two stanzas are set when the lost son returns home. He was lost because he was lost to sin and the degradation of that lifestyle. Luke ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20-24, 1 Corinthians 2:9

Tags: Heaven, Blessing, Christian Poems, Ring On The Finger, Fattened, Robe, Entering Heaven, The Prodigal Son, The Lost Son, Sandals, Christian Poetry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Old Judge Converted

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 27, 2009

THE OLD JUDGE CONVERTED I remember, as I was coming out of the daily prayer meeting in one of our American cities a few years ago, a lady said she wished to speak to me; her voice trembled with emotion, and I saw at once that she was heavily burdened by something or other. She said she had long ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16

Tags: Christian Witness

Prayer Declarations For Divine Protection By Pastor Joseph Ondu

Contributed by Joseph Ondu on Nov 17, 2025

PRAYER DECLARATIONS FOR DIVINE PROTECTION Introduction Divine protection is the inheritance of every child of God. In a world filled with visible and invisible dangers, unpredictable circumstances, and spiritual attacks designed to steal, kill, and destroy, God has given His children a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 91:1

Tags: Divine Protection, Prayer Declaration

Denomination: Pentecostal

Memorial Day, A Time For Healing  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 19, 2002

MEMORIAL DAY, A TIME FOR HEALING Memorial Day, perhaps more than any other holiday, was born of human necessity. Deep inside all of us lies a fundamental desire to make sense of life and our place in it and the world. What we have been given, what we will do with it and what we will pass to the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Tags: Holidays Civic, Finding Fulfillment, Amos, Prophet

If You Can't Beat ‘em?" Philippians 1: 12-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Jan 5, 2005

“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em?” Philippians 1: 12-14 Key verse(s): 14:“Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! We’ve all said it at times when it just seemed hopeless and there ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:12-14

Tags: Faith, Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

Secure In My Pocket

Contributed by Larry Turner on Jul 28, 2014

My phone was secure. I had it shoved far down into my pants pocket. There was no way it could fall out; no way could I lose it. I denied it at the time but I saw the signs. They read “Please put any items that you do not want to lose in the bins or lockers before getting on the ride.” I chose to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:35

Tags: Dying To Self, False Confidence

Denomination: Foursquare

[045] A Message From A Poem – Christianity In True Action

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 6, 2025

[045] A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – CHRISTIANITY IN TRUE ACTION The title of this is “CHRISTIANITY IN TRUE ACTION” for it demonstrates the Christian ethic or precept, something lacking today in practical Christianity. This poem tells a story. God bless all those who minister to the poor and are ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:9, Galatians 2:10, Matthew 28:18-19

Tags: Poetry, Poem, True Christianity, Caring, Help The Poor, Outcasts  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Story Behind The Hymn "when Peace Like A River"

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 21, 2025

Story: The last but one time that I went to Israel , when we went to the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem our Guide pointed across Jersualem to some buildings and told us that is where Horatio Spafford used to live. Many on our trip didn’t know who Spafford was. Horatio Spafford, a well-known Chicago ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34

Tags: River, Perspective, Horatio Spafford, Peace, Worry  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Hell Freezes Over  PRO

Contributed by Robert Rust on Mar 2, 2001

HELL FREEZES OVER A rough and gruff man from Massachusetts who didn’t live a very good life died and went to hell. The devil really wanted to punish him, so he put him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse he cranked up the temperature and the humidity. After a couple ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:25-26

Tags: Hell, Lively, Sports, Second Coming

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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: Giving General, Compassion, Disappointment

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ