In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Leaven"

Mother's Face

Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jul 28, 2008

MOTHER'S FACE Calvin Miller reminds us of the fable of the little girl whose mother's face was hideously scarred from an early injury. As the little girl grew, made friends, and gained her own identity, she became more and more ashamed of her mother's horrid appearance. As she walked down the ...read more

Tags: Gratitude

Denomination: Baptist

Purifying Agent

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Purifying Agent The Apostle Paul writes about the empowering agent that enables the child of God to live that victorious life: Romans 8:9-11 says, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if the Spirit of Him who raised ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:9-11

Tags: Holiness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Heart Of Mary: Circumcised Heart

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

The Heart of Mary: Circumcised Heart "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code..." (Romans ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:28-29

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hospitality To Strangers  PRO

Contributed by Susan Babb, Osl on Oct 9, 2008

A. Friend – some years ago B. Sunday worship service, church like ours C. Service begun – member of congregation began worship, no pastor yet D. Man dressed shabbily in a heavy overcoat and wild hair and who could of used a bath came into service 1. Trouble finding a seat, pretty ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:35-45, Hebrews 13:2

Tags: Love, Acceptance, Compassion, Hospitality, Christlikeness  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

We Get A Whole Bunch

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 9, 2008

We Get a Whole Bunch Pastor John R Ramsey once wrote, "For some time I have had a person provide me with a rose boutonniere to pin on the lapel of my suit every Sunday. Because I always got a flower on Sunday morning, I really did not think much of it. It was a nice gesture that I appreciated, but ...read more

Tags: God's Love

Andy Stanley Tells The Story Of When He Was 13 ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

Andy Stanley tells the story of when he was 13 and learning the meaning of the phrase, “Actions speak louder than words.” His dad was the Associate pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach on Sundays until a suitable ...read more

Tags: Christian Values

Here!

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Feb 9, 2009

"HERE!" The Rogers are devout Christians who have built a strong family. The father has a special interest in the spiritual condition of each of his children and often would quiz them in order to know if they were sure of their salvation. Occasionally he would ask them to share in their own words ...read more

Tags: Death

Denomination: Baptist

Steven Curtis Chapman Talks About His Tragedy

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN TALKS ABOUT HIS TRAGEDY Two months after the tragic accident that claimed the life of his five-year-old daughter Maria Sue, Steven Curtis Chapman appeared with his wife and three oldest children on CNN’s "Larry King Live" Aug. 7 to testify to the solid hope believers have in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Tags: Comfort

Jesus Stands ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 12, 2009

JESUS STANDS READY During the years of 1980s, I traveled quite a bit from Washington D.C. to New Jersey to go between my father and mother’s house. As a 10-year-old I traveled alone on planes, so news stories about planes and travels were on my radar, so to speak. So, in 1982 when January 13th ...read more

Tags: Sin General

Deams And Visions

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on May 30, 2023

God is speaking to millions of Muslims through Deams and Visions. Throughout the Muslim world, there is a tremendous underground move to Christianity. Hassan was a part of that underground church in Cairo, one of Islam's spiritual capitals. And so, Hassan, a former Muslim wakes up in the middle ...read more

Tags: Evangelism, Muslim, Dreams, Visions

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Dying For Treasure

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Aug 11, 2023

Have you ever heard about a man named Forrest Fenn? Forrest Fenn was a pilot in the US Air Force, earning the rank of Major and awarded the Silver Star for his sermon in Vietnam, which flew 328 combat missions within a year. After his service to his country, he ran an art gallery where he made his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

Tags: Money, Treasure

Denomination: Brethren

You Can't Believe A Single Word He Says!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 4, 2023

A guy sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees an old black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. "So, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15

Tags: False Teachers, Lies, Liars, Discernment, Truth, Preaching, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Celebrate The Victory

Contributed by Roger Hasselquist on Jun 29, 2024

Opal Stout, of Cottageville, West Virginia wrote, "When the fireworks display began on the Fourth of July, my six-year-old nephew became so frightened I had to take him home. As we drove away, he said, "I bet God is mad at those people shooting at him!" (Christian Reader, "Kids ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:57, Psalm 98:1, 1 John 5:4

Tags: Fourth Of July, Celebrate, Victory In Jesus, Voltaire

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Extraordinary Impact Through Simple Acts Of Kindness

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 13, 2025

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, Joanne Turner, a 56-year-old customer service representative at the Real Canadian Superstore in Kelowna, British Columbia, encountered a situation that called for compassion beyond her job description. During one of her shifts, Joanne received ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-7

Tags: Humility, Kindness, Impact, Serving

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The King Who Humbled Himself

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 1, 2025

In John's Gospel, Jesus shared these words: BIBLE "If I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet." Jesus did this as an example. Then Jesus took the bread and the cup and set another example. "Do this, in remembrance of me." ...read more

Scripture: John 13:14, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:27

Tags: Body, King, Visit, Humbled, Blood  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Listen To This True Story. Rabbi Michael ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Jan 28, 2001

ILL. Listen to this true story. Rabbi Michael Weisser lived in Lincoln, Nebraska. And for more than 3 years, Larry Trapp, a self-proclaimed Nazi & Ku Klux Klansman, directed a torrent of hate-filled mailings & phone calls toward him. Trapp promoted white supremacy, anti-Semitism, & other ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:20, Galatians 3:1-14

Tags: Racism, Pearl Harbor, Forgiveness For Others, Compassion

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

About 10 Years Ago, A Young & Very Successful ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Feb 21, 2001

About 10 years ago, a young & very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only 2 months old. He was watching carefully for kids darting out from between parked cars & ...read more

Tags: Compassion, Christian Love, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

One Saturday Afternoon A Father And His Six-Year ...  PRO

Contributed by Brent Zastrow on Apr 18, 2001

One Saturday afternoon a father and his six-year old son Mickey were fishing near a bridge by the Kokomo Reservoir when a woman lost control of her car, slid off the bridge and hit Mikey at a rate of about 50 mph. Sheriff Marr, the boys grandfather, had seen the results of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 9:10

Tags: Saint, Miracles Of Jesus, Jesus Christ, God's Provision

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Reported In Usatoday.com On Saturday April 27, ...  PRO

Contributed by Andrew Chan on May 17, 2001

Reported in USATODAY.COM on Saturday April 27, 2001 at FRUITPORT, Mich. (AP) — At the funeral for his wife and infant daughter, an American missionary said he has forgiven the Peruvian pilot who shot down their small plane and said his wife would have done the same. "I’m not bragging about my ...read more

Tags: Giving General, Great Commission, Christian Disciplines

Denomination: Evangelical Free

My Eternal Real Estate  PRO

Contributed by Brian Mavis on May 21, 2001

MY ETERNAL REAL ESTATE Years ago, radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller announced that he would speak the following Sunday on “Heaven” and that it would also be aired over the radio. During that week he received a letter from an elderly man who was very ill. Here’s a part of his letter: “Next ...read more

Tags: Heaven, Funerals Christian, Death Nearness

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational