In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Christians"

The Empty Gift

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 26, 2011

THE EMPTY GIFT God offers us more than this world does, but most of us never take the time to see it. There was a 15-year old boy named Joey, whose mother died at birth. She was a severe alcoholic, and that had affected his pre-natal development. The result was that he was slightly ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Tags: Christmas

I Didn't Save You. God Did.

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012

"I DIDN'T SAVE YOU. GOD DID." Fireman Edward Cushing tells the story of an old frame house burning on the southside of Chicago. He ordered the hoses to start fighting the fire and then dashed inside and pulled three people out. When the blaze was over, the Chief came over and told him he did a ...read more

Tags: Dreams

Denomination: Methodist

God Is Absolute

Contributed by Tim White on Apr 4, 2013

GOD IS ABSOLUTE If we bought a new piano or a new organ and moved it into the sanctuary, we would need to tune it, or everything else, typically. The impression is that there are differences in how the instruments are tuned. If the new piano is tuned a little higher than the old equipment, then ...read more

Tags: Truth

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean To Be Real?

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Aug 18, 2020

Excerpt from the Story of the Skin Horse “The Skin Horse had lived longer in the nursery than any of the others. He was so old that his brown coat was bald in patches and showed the seams underneath, and most of the hairs in his tail had been pulled out to string bead necklaces. He was wise, for ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, John 3:16

Tags: Love, Children, Marriage, Family, Relationships, Real, Unconditional Love  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Psalm 119 - The Testimonies Of The Lord

Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jan 4, 2021

Psalm 119 repeatedly refers to the testimonies of the Lord (Meditate on these uses [Ps 119:99] - Especially ask how does the psalmist respond to God's testimonies?) 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your ...read more

Tags: Testimony, Lovingkindness, Faithfulness Of God, Sovereignty Of God

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Mom's Apron

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Aug 22, 2023

As I looked through the old photo album, my eyes fixed upon a picture of Mom in her blue Sunday dress wearing a soiled, yellow apron. I smiled as, in my mind, I returned. It seemed like just yesterday, For I had left on it my small handprints— From playing in Carolina red clay. Mom had called ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:2, Ephesians 6:1-3, Ruth 3:5-6, Proverbs 1:8-9, 1 Samuel 1:26-28, Titus 2:3-5, Song of Songs 8:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Aprons, Mom, Mothers, Mother's Day, Memory, Poetry, Examples  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

"a Candle In The Window: Embracing Hope This Advent"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Dec 22, 2024

As the evening wore on and the fire crackled gently in the hearth, Old Thomas gathered his family close, the soft glow of the candle illuminating their faces. It was a time for connection, reflection, and the cherished rituals of Advent that had been passed down through generations. “Now, let’s ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:1-6

Tags: Love, Hope

Denomination: Methodist

Locked Out: I Climbed Through The Window

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Apr 17, 2026

A little while ago I was installing a keypad lock on the door to my upstairs studio. I set the keypad up, got the old handle out of the door, got the batteries in, set the code, all of that. I stepped out of the studio, closed the door behind me, pressed lock, and it locked. Great. That's what ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:3-4

Tags: Evangelism, Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Byron Deel, Grew Up With An Alcoholic And Abusive ...  PRO

Contributed by Ian Biss on Oct 1, 2001

Byron Deel, grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. Byron had two brothers and three sisters, a large family, but his dad spent the family income on alcohol, and he drank and ranted and raved and hit them. When Byron was twelve, his father walked away from the family, and did absolutely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:6

Tags: God The Father, Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Grace Brethren

The Gospel Perspective On Thanks  PRO

Contributed by Rex S. Wignall on Nov 28, 2002

The Gospel Perspective on Thanks Because of the great sacrifice Jesus made for each of us on the cross, Christians should have an additional, very personal perspective on thanks. Max Lucado shares this moving story of sacrifice to remind us what Jesus has done in giving His life for us: It’s ...read more

Tags: Joy

Denomination: United Methodist

Not A Mountain Top Experience!" 1 Peter 1:13-25 ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Mar 2, 2005

“Not A Mountain Top Experience!” 1 Peter 1:13-25 Key verse(s): 15-16:“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” Blending in! Some of us prefer blending in to sticking out in a crowd. Then again there are others who are quite ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-25, Luke 24:1-50

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Distract, Focus

Denomination: Lutheran

A Fair Piece To Go!" Zechariah 12:10-14 Key ...

Contributed by Mark Brunner on May 16, 2005

“A Fair Piece to Go!” Zechariah 12:10-14 Key verse(s) 10:“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.” Restlessness! When we were children it was not unusual for us to be restless. In fact, it was that restlessness that often got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 12:10-14

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit In Believers, Cleansing

Denomination: Lutheran

False Prophets And False Christ's Will Make The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

False prophets and false Christ’s will make the scene in the last days. There was Prophet Jim Jones of the terrible Guyana tragedy on November 18, 1978 when he lied to his followers and convinced them (or commanded them) to drink Kool-aid laced with poison. 913 people were found dead, including Jim ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Heaven, An Inheritance  PRO

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Heaven, an Inheritance Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-6, Romans 10:9

Tags: Heaven, New Creature

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Barna On Parenting

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Oct 22, 2009

BARNA ON PARENTING George Barna in his book "Revolutionary Parenting" gives us the bad news about the family today -- especially many Christian families: What does God measure? In other words how does God evaluate what is a healthy family and an unhealthy family? Barna states: What does God ...read more

Tags: Family

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Looking For Purpose In Life? Then Serve ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 22, 2009

Looking For Purpose in Life? Then Serve Others We need to ask ourselves on a daily basis the following questions: "What are we going to do to be a better Christian? What are we going to do to make our homes happier? What are we going to do to make our church better? What we are going to do to help ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Tags: Servanthood

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared To Spiritual ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 1, 2009

Cuban Missle Crisis Compared to Spiritual Brinkmanship It is October 14th, and the sun is reflecting mirages of water on an Air Force base runway in southern Florida. The silence of that scene is interrupted as a long-winged plane touches down on the runway and taxies to the hanger. A thousand ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tags: Holiness

We Lost The Farm

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

"WE LOST THE FARM" Richard Culp worked in the hot California sun as foreman of a large ranching operation. He and his wife, Geneva, also owned their own farm, consisting of 200 acres of almond trees. Then years of bad weather and skimpy harvests forced Richard to take on additional work, but even ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: God In The Hardships

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

Today I Am A Horse, Dear God, Did You Have To ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim Zingale on Dec 11, 2000

"Today I am a horse, Dear God, did you have to make my poor old horse lose his shoe just before the Sabbath? That wasn't nice. It's enough you pick on me, Tevye, bless me with 5 daughters, a life of poverty. What have You got against my horse? Sometimes I think when things are too quiet up there, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:19

Tags: Finding Fulfillment, Human Body, Peace

Denomination: Lutheran