In Sermon Illustrations: "No Reason"

Predicting The World Series Winner. . . And Failing Miserably

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Apr 11, 2018

It was a dramatic performance in Game 7 of the World Series about a month ago: Madison Bumgarner coming in as a relief pitcher and proceeding to sow up the win for the San Francisco Giants. An impressive performance. Let’s go back to the spring – before the first pitch was thrown on the 2014 ...read more

Tags: Predictions, Bible, Prophecy

Denomination: Baptist

Who Needs Twitter!

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 20, 2019

We all want our lives to matter, and we believe they only matter if they are noticed by someone. I wonder if this desire for a witness isn't what fuels a lot of blogs, Facebook, and especially Twitter. We want someone, anyone, to take notice … to care about us … to watch us and by their ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-12

Tags: Communication, Self Esteem, Relationship

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Understanding Justice And Mercy

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Dec 2, 2021

As we consider the call of John and look forward at Christmas to the birth of Christ, let us look at the content of God’s message to us God knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Jesus to this earth. The Cross wasn’t a “horrible misjudgement” Rather the reason Jesus came into this world ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-20

Tags: John The Baptist, The Birth Of Christ

Denomination: Anglican

The Road From Jerusalem To Jericho

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 20, 2022

Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan and said that "a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho", Matoon explains that "It was on this road where the victim was mugged. This road was about 17 miles long and it was a very dangerous path to travel. It was steep. Jerusalem ...read more

Tags: Jerusalem, Jericho, Parables, Kindness, Good Samaritan  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Truth Will Always Come Out.

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Apr 18, 2022

We live in a generation of government corruption and evil that is unparalleled. How long will God tolerate this? The Bible says in Luke 8:17 (NLT), "For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to ...read more

Tags: Reaping, Evil, Truth, Corruption, Last Days, Lies, Government  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Have Nose, Will Snore

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 8, 2022

Dr. James L. Snyder Having been married as long as The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself, there are very few things we disagree. I run by the idea, “Do you want to be happy, or do you want to be right?” That has guided me through many a storm these past years. Almost every day, I ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:3

Tags: Unity, Agree

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Great Divide Between Brain And Tongue

Contributed by James Snyder on Nov 12, 2022

As my Uncle Fred used to say, one of the great benefits of getting old is that you know everything. If you had ever met Uncle Fred, you would easily conclude that he certainly wasn’t getting old. Of course, there are things I have learned during my aging career that has been of great use to me. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:10

Tags: Temptation, Tongue, Brain

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Love My Imperfections

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 11, 2021

Dr. James L. Snyder Unlike most people, I love my imperfections; those imperfections of mine do not cause me much trouble. I know most people like to focus on their perfections so that they can impress other people. But what about people like me who have no perfections to boast about? If I had ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:48

Tags: Perfection, Maturity

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Giving It All Away—communion Mediation  PRO

Contributed by Donnie Martin on Aug 3, 2002

GIVING IT ALL AWAY-- Communion Mediation "In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, "Through the Valley of the Kwai," there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Thanksgiving Without Martha  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 17, 2002

THANKSGIVING WITHOUT MARTHA Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Thanksgiving. I’m telling you in advance, so don’t act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart won’t be coming, I’ve made a few small changes: Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade, paper bag luminaries. After a trial run, it ...read more

Tags: Thanksgiving Holiday, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

Living The Impossible Dream!" Job 40: 1-5: Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Aug 3, 2004

“Living the Impossible Dream!” Job 40: 1-5: Key verse(s): 2 “‘Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!’” Sooner or later everyone reads or hears about Cervantes’ story of Don Quixote. Cervantes is thrown in prison in Seville. Finding himself ...read more

Scripture: Job 39:1-5

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Lutheran

Pennies, Pluto, And The Things That Matter

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Dec 18, 2025

I just got back to my office after a quick stop for a soda and a snack. When the cashier gave me back my change, he rounded it to the nearest nickel. It looks like we're doing away with pennies. For some odd reason, I think that's sad. But it makes sense (pun intended). From what I hear, it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 12:41-44

Tags: Pluto, Pennies, Kingdom, Kindness

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Marriage And Guns: Protect Your ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 12, 2009

MARRIAGE AND GUNS: PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT Charlie Shedd wrote his son a series of letters to give some practical advice about marriage. They were published in a book called Letters to Phillip. Here is one of the most moving chapters: Dear Phil, I used to hunt ducks with a man who had a "thing" ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33

Tags: Marriage, Marriage General

The Thessalonian Error  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 22, 2012

THE THESSALONIAN ERROR The Thessalonian error was misunderstanding the purpose of end-time prophecy. The purpose is not to identify the anti-Christ or to inform us of events. Others have misunderstood the purpose of second-coming prophecy. Many people have been identified as the anti-Christ. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Tags: Second Coming

Four Things That Doug Murren Says In His Book ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jun 8, 2005

Four things that Doug Murren says in his book Churches That Heal that hinders the church from becoming a church that heals: i.A Lack of Compassion He notes, “Two million people die every year. Only about 200,000 of those die knowing Jesus as their Savior. Loneliness is one of the major ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of, Unity

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Movie "Shawshank Redemption," An Old ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Sep 10, 2005

In the movie “Shawshank Redemption,” an old prisoner, Brooks Handlin, acts unreasonable and threatens to take another prisoner’s life. They find out that the reason Brooks has reacted this way is that he’s scared. Scared because his parole has been approved. You see those outside of Shawshank see ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-3

Tags: Heaven

Denomination: Christian Church

As I Was Growing Up One Of My Favourite Books Was ...  PRO

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Oct 31, 2005

As I was growing up one of my favourite books was ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.’ I can’t wait for 9 December 2005 when the new film hits our screens! (UK) Early on in the book I remember that Lucy finds her way to a fantasy world called Narnia. She meets a fawn called Tumnus, and while ...read more

Scripture: John 12:46, John 8:12

Tags: Narnia

Denomination: Anglican

Teens Read: According To A Poll Conducted By ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 16, 2006

Teens Read: According to a poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the National Education Association, teens rate reading higher in importance in terms of its impact on their future success than they do math, writing, science, and even computers. The survey asked 12-18-year-olds ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

This Reminds Me Of Two Elderly Sisters Who Lived ...  PRO

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Apr 12, 2006

This reminds me of two elderly sisters who lived in Arcadia during my youth ministry days. One named Alpha, was always sick with some sort of ailment or another, the other, named Virginia, still worked in a county office even though she was in her late 70’s and never seemed to suffer from any kind ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-40

Tags: Death

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Boomer Marketing Rules: Treat Everyone ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 17, 2006

Boomer Marketing Rules: Treat Everyone Differently: Don’t incorrectly assume there’s one “Boomer” market. There are numerous segments within this cohort of 78 million. Put Some Feeling Into It: The older Boomers get, the more their decisions are driven by “gut feeling” than logic and reason. Be ...read more

Tags: What Is Evangelism?