In Sermon Illustrations: "New Patch On Old Garment"

[302]. A Message From A Poem - They All Forsook Him And Fled

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 3, 2026

[302]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM AND FLED Did the disciples really forsake the Lord, or was it a natural, human action of fear? The Gospels are clear on this. Their peace and happiness of three years was shattered when their Lord was taken by the vile religious leaders to be ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:26-29, Zechariah 13:7, Mark 14:49-50, Matthew 26:56

Tags: Betrayal, Scattered, Christian Poetry, Fled, Christian Poems, Fear, Disciples, Sheep  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Daddy Hands  PRO

Contributed by Lyn King on Jun 15, 2002

Daddy Hands Susan Fabncke I awoke in the night to find my husband, Marty, gently rocking our baby son, Noah. I stood for a moment in the doorway, watching this amazing man with whom I was so blessed to share my life, lovingly stroke Noah’s fat pink cheeks in an effort to comfort him. I felt in my ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:12-20

Tags: Parenting, Children

Denomination: Baptist

The Gold Watch- Lucille Wales' Husband Henry ...

Contributed by Lloyd Ludwick on Jan 15, 2007

The Gold Watch- Lucille Wales’ husband Henry retired from his job as a mechanic at the local Ford dealership he was given a gold watch inscribed with his name. Henry was so proud it became his greatest treasure. "Now I have something special I can leave to our son" he would tell his wife. But the ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Ring Of Salvation  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 1, 2011

THE RING OF SALVATION It began at West Point in 1835. It is a practice that has endured almost 200 years. You may have chosen to obtain one, and undoubtedly you waited anxiously for it to arrive. Others of you weren’t really that into it and decided to pass. Some of you in the room may still wear ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:22-24

Tags: Easter Good Friday

The Difference Between A Fool And Being Full

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 7, 2019

One thing truly amazing to me is how fast Thanksgiving goes. Here I am in the living room relaxing in my easy chair just one day after Thanksgiving. My ears are still ringing with all the chatter that went on around our Thanksgiving dinner table. It is so beautiful to get together with family to ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 13:20

Tags: Thanksgiving, Holiday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Things Have A Way Of Catching Up With Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 31, 2020

I have learned in my life, and probably just one thing: things have a way of catching up with me. I can't get away with anything. It's not that I don't try. There were a few times when I've come pretty close to getting away with something, but it didn't turn out the way I ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Money, Humor, Fraud

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Be Careful What You Smile About

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 20, 2021

Dr. James L. Snyder I am a student of smileology and have been just about all my life. If you can't smile at something, it's not worth thinking about. Of course, certain things in life are serious, but not that many. Too many people take everything seriously and ruin their life. These are ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-5

Tags: Humor, Facebook, Lockedout

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

To Ask Or Not Ask Is No Option

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 23, 2022

You would think I would have learned all I needed to learn at my age. However, each day I learn something I did not know the day before. So much of my new learning is still connected to being married to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I know, for example, that she is not soliciting ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:14

Tags: Harmony, Questions

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Screamed For Ice Cream And Got In Trouble.

Contributed by James Snyder on Jan 14, 2023

Trouble is not my middle name, although it sure could be; just ask The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I try to keep out of trouble, but my definition differs from my wife's. What she considers to be trouble is just about everything I do. I will not ask her how I can keep from doing what I ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 46:1

Tags: Taste, Trouble, Ice Cream

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Ricochet Evangelism

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 9, 2023

Lee Strobel tells the story of a time when he felt God prompting him to go and share an Easter invitation in the business office of the newspaper where he worked. He didn’t know why. But, he listens to God. When he arrived, he saw his friend who was working in the business office. It was an ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-31

Tags: Evangelism, Easter

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unintentionally Humorous Texts: Micah’s Misfortunes: "What Aileth Thee?”

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 15, 2024

Introduction: Micah of Ephraim is one of the more unusual characters in Scripture. We’ve seen a couple of his misfortunes, but now, in another unintentionally humorous text, we’ll see he faced a problem he couldn’t possibly solve. Text: Judges 18:18-26, KJV: 18 And these went into Micah's ...read more

Scripture: Judges 18:18-26

Tags: Danites, Micah Of Ephraim, Idols

Denomination: Baptist

What Happened To My Little Piggy Bank

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 7, 2024

This week, I had to do something I hadn't done before: go to the bank and deal with fraud in my checking account. Someone tried to write a check for $1800 from my account. Fortunately, I didn't have that much money in my account, and I was a little provoked by this incident. How dare ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Banks, Savings

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Boy, Oh Boy, What A Day It Was

Contributed by James Snyder on Sep 27, 2025

Dr. James L. Snyder Throughout my years, I have had many crazy days. I guess it's crazy days that develop character. If so, I have a lot of character. I never had a day quite like last week. Everything seemed to go wrong for me. When we got up, our electricity was off. It had been off for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Tags: Accident, Scam

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

It’s My Pain I’ll Use It If I Want To

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 1, 2025

When I think I've turned a page to a new chapter in my life, I realize there is nothing new in life. I'm referring to pain. I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn't have some pain. In the years of my naivety, I never imagined that when I got older, I would experience more ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18

Tags: Tylenol, Pain, Doctors

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Why Are Flies So Attracted To My Nose?

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 6, 2025

Throughout my life, I have dealt with many "pesky" things that provoke the dickens out of me. I sure do miss those "dickens.” When I think I've got one pesky thing under control, another comes along. I've had so many "pesky" things, but I'm still not a master ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Tags: Flies, Aggravation

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

My Addiction To Happiness

Contributed by James Snyder on Apr 3, 2026

One of the most important elements of life is happiness. When I look around the world, I notice how scarce happiness seems, which makes me reflect on its true value. I have come to the conclusion that happiness is a choice. I can be happy or sad. The choice is mine. Whenever things aren't ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:13

Tags: Addiction, Happiness

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

With His Life In Disarray, Steven Lavaggi Sat On ...  PRO

Contributed by James Wilson on Nov 23, 2000

With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile Diabetes. As if coping with the ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 45:3-15

Tags: Leadership General, Workplace Evangelism

Denomination: Baptist

Christian Author And Speaker Joni Eareckson Tada ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 30, 2001

Christian author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada writes: I’m a quadriplegic, yet I can drive a van (my hand is secured to a big joystick so I can steer, accelerate, and brake). I enjoy being independent, so if there’s something I can do, I will - even if it means tackling the drive-thru at a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:19-20, Ephesians 2:11-22

Tags: Patience, Peace, Lord, Giving General, Give Thanks, Forgiveness, Christian Disciplines  (view more)  (view less)

Chuck Swindoll In His Book, Improving Your Serve, ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 1, 2001

Chuck Swindoll in his book, Improving Your Serve, gives a memorable illustration: Let’s pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13

Tags: Call Of The Disciples, Discipleship, Faith

Clarence Jordan Was A Man Of Unusual Abilities ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2001

Clarence Jordan was a man of unusual abilities and commitment. He had two Ph.D.s, one in agriculture and one in Greek and Hebrew. So gifted was he, he could have chosen to do anything he wanted. He chose to serve the poor. In the 1940’s, he founded a farm in Americus Georgia, and called it ...read more