In Sermon Illustrations: "New Thing"

Cookies Vs Brownies - Truth Is Subjective

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2024

Cookies versus brownies Alisa’s Childers gave the following example in her book, “Live Your Truth and Other Lies”. What is the best dessert? Pie? Ice cream? Brownies? Cookies? Cake? If you choose cake with ice cream, you would be correct. Well, actually, it just means that you’re probably a really ...read more

Scripture: John 18:38, John 14:6

Tags: Tolerance, Truth, Objective Truth, Subjective Truth

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Great Quotes On The Sovereignty Of God

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 10, 2024

Great Quotes on the Sovereignty of God R.C. SPROUL: “If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.” MATT CHANDLER: “Trying to figure out God is like trying ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:1

Tags: Chosen, Election, Knowledge Of God, Calling, Sovereignty Of God, Attributes Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Contentious Spirit - Speaking Strife

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Feb 11, 2025

Here’s a fun fact: You don’t actually have to correct someone when they’re wrong. Shocking, I know! There’s no official appointment letter naming you Earth’s Guardian of Truth and Accuracy. (If there is, it probably got lost in the mail.) Sometimes, it’s okay to just let it go—yes, even if they ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9, Proverbs 26:21

Tags: Contentious, Strife, Contentious Spirit

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Complaints -- Duh!

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Feb 11, 2025

These are actual complaints received from dissatisfied customers by Thomas Cook Vacations (based on a Thomas Cook/ABTA survey): a. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 11:1, Colossians 3:13, Philippians 2:14

Tags: Wisdom, Contentment, Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction, Sense, Complaints  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Midnight Cry

Contributed by Samuel M on Oct 1, 2025

There is a cry rising across the land. Every ear can hear this cry. This cry is heard in every nation, city and village. The cry is - "Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him". The cry is resonating so much in the atmosphere- The bridegroom is coming; the bridegroom is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:6

Tags: Faith, Hope

During The War In Vietnam, A Young West Point ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Feb 12, 2001

During the war in Vietnam, a young West Point graduate was sent over to lead a group of new recruits into battle. He did his job well, trying his best to keep his from ambush and death. But one night when they had been under attack, he was unable to get just one of his men to safety. The soldier ...read more

Tags: God's Forgiveness, Forgiveness In Jesus, Lord's Supper

Denomination: Baptist

Open The Rose  PRO

Contributed by Danny Thomas on May 21, 2001

Open the Rose A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and ...read more

Tags: God's Omniscience, Holy Spirit In Believers

Denomination: Pentecostal

Those Of Us Who Have E-Mail Usually Get Little ...  PRO

Contributed by Rita Sims on Aug 5, 2001

Those of us who have e-mail usually get little stories or sayings from our friends. Sometimes I really read them, other times I don’t. The other day one of my high school friends sent me one I want to share with you. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Envy

Denomination: United Methodist

Dr. Evan O'neil Kane Was The Chief Surgeon At ...  PRO

Contributed by Bruce Howell on Oct 16, 2001

Dr. Evan O’Neil Kane was the chief surgeon at Kane Summit Hospital in New York City. He was 60 years old and had been practicing surgery for 37 years. He was especially interested in anesthetic. You see, he practiced back in the early part of the 20th century, when the only kind of anesthetic ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Honor, Chosen, Faith, Truth, Vessel  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Wesleyan

There Is An Old Story About A Man In China Who ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Nov 9, 2001

There is an old story about a man in China who was walking on a rain slick road. He lost his footing & fell into a ditch filled with mud. He kept sinking deeper & deeper in the mud. The more he struggled to get out of the ditch, the deeper he sank. As he was sinking in the mud Buddha came ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7-11, Psalm 103:4, Psalm 40:1-3

Tags: Humanity Of Christ, World Religions

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Silent Night Carol

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 6, 2001

Silent Night Carol On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Joseph Franz Mohr (1792-1848) walked the three kilometres from his home - in the Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg - to visit his friend Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Mohr brought ...read more

Tags: Second Coming, Heaven

Denomination: Anglican

Many Years Ago I Went To See A Theatrical ...  PRO

Contributed by Howard Tyas on Jan 7, 2002

Many years ago I went to see a theatrical production called Cotton Patch Gospel, a musical about the life of Jesus with an Appalachian, country-western twist. It was based on Clarence Jordan’s paraphrase of the New Testament, by the same name. It tries to tell the story of Jesus as if he has been ...read more

Tags: Herod, Messianic Prophecies, Birth Of Jesus

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Cheering Crowd  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 25, 2002

THE CHEERING CROWD Picabo Street first joined the U.S. Ski Team when she was only 17. She went on to become the only American skier to ever win the World Cup downhill championship. In 1996 she tore a crucial ligament in her left knee. The 30 year-old Street went through extensive ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:29, Hebrews 12:1

Tags: God The Father, Church Body Of Christ, Church Small Groups

Fox Sports Play Of The Day  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 1, 2002

FOX SPORTS PLAY OF THE DAY "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’" (Acts 2:38). Pat Summerall spent 50 years with the national Football League. He was ...read more

Tags: Repentance, Baptism

Paul Esheman, The Man Responsible For ...  PRO

Contributed by David Yarbrough on Apr 8, 2002

: Paul Esheman, the man responsible for distributing millions of copies of the Jesus film around the world, tells bout the time that the film was shown at a refugee camp I Mozambique on the southeast coast of Africa. Although most of the people had never heard the gospel, they fell in love with ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Some People When They Go On Vacation, They Get ...  PRO

Contributed by Stephan Brown on Aug 26, 2002

Some people when they go on vacation, they get to the hotel room and they unpack everything. They take it all out of the suitcase and put it into those bureaus. I think I did that once when I was staying in the same place for three weeks. But if I’m only going to be around for a week or a few days, ...read more

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Death, Kingdom Of God

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Bob Russell Who Preaches In Louisville Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 27, 2002

Bob Russell who preaches in Louisville was raised on a farm in Pennsylvania and he tells the story of his first youth minister who was a city-boy. Now his youth group was made up mostly of kids from the farm so they didn’t think they would have much in common with this city slicker and so weren’t ...read more

Tags: Christian Disciplines, Giving Yourself, Gifts General, Superhero, Hero  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian Church

Bill And Gloria Gaither Have Written Many ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 12, 2002

Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. One that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. On new years ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Spiritual Pride, Prayer Hardship, Human Body

Denomination: Christian Church

A Story… It Was Autumn, And The Indians On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on Oct 13, 2002

A story… It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12

Tags: Faith General, God's Omniscience, Knowing God's Will

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sometimes A Costume Is Just A Costume  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 21, 2002

SOMETIMES A COSTUME IS JUST A COSTUME Who am I this time? That’s the question millions of kids and adults ask themselves in anticipation of Halloween each year. Their answer can say a lot about what’s going on within them, many experts say. In other words, think of Halloween as the ultimate ...read more

Tags: Supernatural, Gifts General