In Sermon Illustrations: "New Jersey"

Lee Dye On New Year's Resolutions

Contributed by Tim Smith on Jan 6, 2013

LEE DYE ON NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS Lee Dye writes, “It’s that time of year again when we resolve to get off our duffs and run around the block more often, maybe even cut back on tall of those things which we know we aren’t supposed to eat, or drink or smoke. Ah yes, New Year’s Resolutions which for ...read more

Tags: God Brings Purpose

Denomination: Methodist

A New Year's Devotional

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other! In fact, here are some startling stats about typical resolutions for the new year in America: • 27% break their resolutions by the first week of January. • 31% lose their resolutions by the second week of January. • 41% ...read more

Tags: New Year, Blessings, Resolutions, Material Possessions, Prayer For New Year  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Insecure Boyfriend Wanted A New Sign!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 4, 2021

Driving through Southern California, a man stopped at a roadside stand that sold fruit, vegetables and crafts. As he went to pay, he noticed the pretty young woman behind the counter was painting a sign. "Why the new sign?" he asked. "My boyfriend didn't approve of the old ...read more

Tags: Marriage, Humor, Jealousy

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Little Known Characters Of The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 26, 2023

It’s interesting to look at the people Paul publicly affirmed in his letters. When referring to them, the thing he commended was NOT their oratorical skills, or their personality, or their effectiveness, or their wealth, or any of the other things we often value so much in people and leadership. So ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Tags: Commitment, Faithfulness, Dependability, Fruit Of The Spirit, Servant Leadership, Works Of The Flesh, Reliablity  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Types Of Preaching Found In The New Testament

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 15, 2023

Thomas Constable points out that there are 6 different kinds of preaching described in the New Testament: (1) kerugma, which means proclamation of the clear facts of the Christian message. (2) didache or teaching. This was explanation and interpretation of the facts-the "so what?" (3) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11

Tags: Church, Teaching, Preaching, Pastors, Homiletics, Teachers, Preachers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Preacher's New Suit

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Jun 24, 2025

The Preacher’s New Suit I was recently invited to preach for the Sunday morning service. Ice Breaker: For an introduction, I stated the following: I introduced myself and then shared the following. Hello, I'm LC Taylor and my wife is Kathy. My wife and I were discussing how honored we were ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 17:22

Tags: New Suit, Humor, Laughter, Suit, Icebreaker, Sermon Introductions, Ice Breaker, Appearance  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

An Ever-Rolling Stream!" Genesis 6: 1-3 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Dec 30, 2004

“An Ever-Rolling Stream!” Genesis 6: 1-3 Key verse(s): 3: “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for hie is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” “It can wait until tomorrow!” Despite that old adage, “Never put off to tomorrow the things that you can do ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-3

Tags: New Year's Day, New Year

Denomination: Lutheran

A Funny Thanksgiving Joke To Share!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 18, 2021

A FUNNY THANKSGIVING JOKE TO SHARE! A retiree in Florida phones his daughter in New Jersey and says, “Honey, I have bad news for you. Your mother and I have decided that 52 years of marriage is enough. We’re calling it quits and getting a divorce.” His daughter yells, “Are you crazy? What the ...read more

Tags: Sermon Introduction, Funny Stories, Thanksgiving, Humor, Jokes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Maybe It's Good News......maybe It's Bad News.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 15, 2019

Many times we really don’t know what we should specifically pray for. We are not omniscient. We don’t know everything, nor can we see into the future. So we don’t know whether the things we’re asking for will turn out good or bad for us. An old story illustrates: A Chinese gentleman lived on the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:28

Tags: Prayer, Will Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Most United Methodists Are Aware That One Of Our ...  PRO

Contributed by Don Hawks on Jun 2, 2002

Most United Methodists are aware that one of our practices is the use of unfermented juice of the grape for Holy Communion. While some other Protestant bodies share this practice, the possibility of the practice goes back to the late 19th century and a Methodist dentist named Thomas Bramwell ...read more

Tags: Church Practices, Lord's Supper

Denomination: Methodist

Families Are Wonderful. Families Are Challenging. ...  PRO

Contributed by Jim Kane on Jun 6, 2002

Families are wonderful. Families are challenging. I am reminded of this every time I see my favorite Cosby Show episode in which Cliff, the father played by Bill Cosby, and Theo, the son played by Malcolm Jamal-Warner, have a chat about Theo’s desire to live like a “regular” person rather than ...read more

Tags: Children, Gifts Giving

Denomination: Church Of God

As I Have Been Reading About The Influence Of The ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 25, 2007

As I have been reading about the influence of the Gospel in the history of the United States I am amazed at the price many Christians paid for your and my freedom. Many people paid with their lives and with great sacrifice so that I could believe in Jesus today and enjoy the freedoms that you and I ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Katie And I Have This Friend Denny From The San ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jun 21, 2007

Katie and I have this friend Denny from the San Francisco Bay Area who started attending seminary a couple of years after we started. Now Denny is quite the handsome man, but I never realized how handsome he was until he started school with us, he was a total chick magnet. On his arrival we had ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Life Eternal

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 18, 2009

LIFE ETERNAL Someone named, James Langdon Hill, once said, "Life Eternal! How shall I express my thought of it? It is not mere existence, however prolonged and free from annoyance. It is not the pleasures of the senses, however vivid. It is not peace. It is not happiness. It is not joy. But it is ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11

Tags: Immortality

Cymbala's Easter Story  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 31, 2005

CYMBALA'S EASTER STORY Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:15-18, Luke 23:32-34, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, John 13:34-35, Matthew 25:34-45, Psalm 40:1-3, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:1-11, Matthew 18:22-35, Matthew 22:1-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Second Coming, New Year, Dignity, Body Of Christ, Supper, Work  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Someone Once Said…"I Made 6 Resolutions Last ...  PRO

Contributed by Jonathan Busch on Jan 6, 2003

Someone once said…”I made 6 resolutions last year and I kept them all Year long. They are in an ...read more

Tags: Decision, New Year, New Life, New Year's Day, Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

J.c. Penney Born Again

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 19, 2009

J.C. PENNEY BORN AGAIN The late great business man and entrepreneur, James Cash Penney (1875 - 1971), founder of the J.C. Penney stores, in his autobiography entitled "Fifty Years with the Golden Rule," tells of his being in the Battle Creek Sanitarium one night when he thought he was dying. He ...read more

Scripture: Hosea 10:12, Hosea 10:12-13

Tags: Born Again

A New York Family Decided To Leave The Crowded ...  PRO

Contributed by Russell Brownworth on Jan 11, 2001

A New York family decided to leave the crowded city and head for the wide-open spaces. They bought a ranch out West, where they intended to raise cattle. A month later some friends visited the ranch and asked if they had picked out a name for the place. Well, said the man, I wanted to name it ...read more

Tags: Cooperation, Comprise, Compromise, Grace, Teamwork  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

One New Year’s Day, In The Tournament Of ...  PRO

Contributed by William Jewett on Nov 2, 2000

One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18

Tags: Misconceptions, Holy Spirit General, God's Omnipotence

Denomination: *other

Here Are The Results From A New Gallup Survey ...  PRO

Contributed by Tj Tipton on Mar 31, 2001

Here are the results from a new Gallup survey called, The Unchurched American. Findings from the Gallup survey of 2,556 adults who were not church-goers: 1. The survey reports that 44% of U.S. adults are "unchurched", defined as neither belonging to a church nor visiting one within the last six ...read more

Tags: Church General, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith

Denomination: Pentecostal