In Sermon Illustrations: "New Years"

Muslims Who Turn To Christ

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 29, 2011

MUSLIMS WHO TURN TO CHRIST In an article in Breakpoint entitled "Drawn to the Light--Why Muslims Convert to Christianity" , Dr. Dudley Woodberry, professor of Islamic Studies...aware that throughout the world Muslims have been turning to Christ, was curious about the reasons why--especially in ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-10

Tags: Christian Witness

The Free-Food Tree

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 7, 2011

THE FREE-FOOD TREE One year, a tree on the campus of Green Acres Elementary School, near Santa Cruz, California, bore strange fruit—mostly sandwiches, but sometimes a cookie, a cupcake, an apple or an orange. It came into full bearing from a seed planted by teachers Sophie Farrar and Sandra Enz, ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Denomination: Baptist

Following The Masses

Contributed by Dusan Tillinger on Mar 30, 2012

FOLLOWING THE MASSES A few years ago I was walking down Prague's Wenceslaus Square when I coincidently, without realizing it, found myself in the middle of a protest. It was so easy to blend with them, to get into their middle and march with them, but once I tried to leave that mob, step out and ...read more

Tags: Easter Palm Sunday

Denomination: Lutheran

The Secret Of Seabiscuit

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 25, 2012

THE SECRET OF SEABISCUIT In 1938, a year of monumental turmoil, the number one newsmaker was not Franklin Roosevelt or Adolf Hitler, in fact it wasn't even a person. It was an undersized, crook-legged racehorse owned by a bicycle repairman turned automobile magnate and trained by a virtually mute ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Tags: Preparation

Y2k

Contributed by Gene Gregory on Aug 27, 2012

13 years ago, there were people running all over the place, buying up food and bottled water and gas and everything else they could think of, just in case something happened with all of that Y2K stuff. They did all of that just in case they were without power, or open food stores for a few days. ...read more

Tags: Judgment

Denomination: Baptist

When Things Go Wrong  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 19, 2012

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG Several years ago, Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described one of his pitches, which the Cincinnati Reds’ Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: "It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up." (Wall Street Journal, 7/9/96; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 37:23-24

Tags: Mistakes

Water! Water!  PRO

Contributed by Clarence Clough on Oct 5, 2012

"WATER! WATER!" After one of the great battles in the Civil War we were coming down the Tennessee River with a company of wounded men. It was in the spring of the year, and the water was not clear. You know that the cry of a wounded man is, "Water! Water!" especially in a hot country. I remember ...read more

Tags: Blessing

Denomination: Church Of God

Hudson Taylor's Example

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2013

HUDSON TAYLOR'S EXAMPLE Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Tags: Christian Witness

Miss America And Elephants

Contributed by Pastor Jeff Hughes on Feb 1, 2014

Matt 24:24-25 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Back years ago, I heard a well known salesman that regularly competed with the number one company in his industry. Those ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:24-25

Tags: Size, Church Size

Denomination: Bible Church

Religion And Sexual Satisfaction  PRO

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 18, 2014

RELIGION AND SEXUAL SATISFACTION Several years ago, Redbook magazine did a computer survey on sexual attitudes and practices (not surprising). What was surprising in the survey was they sprinkled questions about religion in with the study. The survey of about 19,000 women showed that "strongly ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:3

Tags: Sexuality, Pleasurable, Biblical Sexuality, Religious People

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Talking About Heaven

Contributed by John Crowe on Jul 17, 2014

My 5-year-old great – grandson, Travis, and his mother had a conversation about heaven. “Mom, I don’t think I want to go to heaven.” “Sure you do.” “No. I don’t think so.” “But why not?” “I think I’ll be hungry.” “No, baby. Jesus will make sure to feed you.” “I know, but Jesus feeds everybody fish, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5

Tags: Children, Heavenly Things

Denomination: Baptist

Become What You Are

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 18, 2014

Norman Jean Douglas- Germans have a saying, “Ware was du bist” (Become what you are). The meaning was difficult for me until a minister gave me the following analogy. When a reigning monarch has a child there appears to be no difference between that child and any other child. Both are fussy, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:12-13

Tags: Child Of God, Mentor, Training Disciples, Kingdom Character

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 21, 2015

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented. When the offering plates were passed, he put the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Tags: Giving, Tithing, Offering

Denomination: Nazarene

The Worst Boss Ever

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

What if you had a boss that demanded that you check in with him every ten minutes no matter what? What if he required that even if you were in the middle of other important work in your office? What if he demanded that whether you were at the office or at home? What if he required that even if ...read more

Tags: Technology, Busyness, Cell Phone

Denomination: Baptist

Compassion

Contributed by Shine Thomas on Nov 9, 2018

My Pastor in Calcutta, Pr. Mark Buntin came to India in 1954. He started a series of project for the poor in Calcutta. In 1964, the Buntains opened their first school for 200 children. A year later, they began a feeding program, starting with free school lunches of milk and parathas. One day as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8

Tags: Sympathize, Compassion For Poor, Compassion

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Burning The Turkey

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

But what if you burn the bird? There is a positive way of looking at it: • Salmonella won't be a concern • No one will overeat. • Everyone will think it's Cajun Blackened. • Uninvited guests will think twice next year. • Your cheese broccoli lima bean casserole will gain newly found ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-5

Tags: Thanksgiving, Turkey, Thanksgiving Humor

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus, Hand Me That Can Of Tomato Soup!

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Dec 2, 2020

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1-2

Tags: Faith, Fear, Children, Humor, Presence Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gary Bettenhausen

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 13, 2021

We must decide what we mean by success. Gary Bettenhausen will help us to decide it. Some years ago, in an Indianapolis 500 race, veteran driver Al Unser lost control of his race car, which then skidded into the track wall and exploded into flames. Seconds later, another driver slammed his ...read more

Scripture: John 12:23-33, Mark 8:35

Tags: Success, Loser

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Real Growth

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Jul 9, 2021

Take note of what JUAN CARLOS ORTEZ penned in “LIVING WITH JESUS TODAY” WE HAVE A PHENOMENON IN THE CHURCH TODAY WHICH I CALL “ETERNAL BABYHOOD OF THE BELIEVER.” WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WHO AFTER YEARS OF HEARING MESSAGES ARE JUST THE SAME. THEY CONTINUALLY NEED A MINISTER TO KEEP AFTER ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5, 2 Peter 3:18

Tags: Babyhood, Growth, Immaturity

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Language Deficit

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2022

. As families become more dysfunctional, social skills decline. A number of school counselors are noting a rise in “language deficit.” Some parents rarely converse with their children but use the television as a nanny. The result: children recognize but do not grasp the meaning of COMMON words. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Communication, Speech, Talking, Social Skills, Language Skills  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible