In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Life"

Trust God And You Will Be Firm

Contributed by Arulselvam Rayappan on Jan 13, 2026

Trusting the Lord is a recurring theme in the Prophet Isaiah. “Unless your faith is firm, you shall not be firm” Is 7: 14. Advent is a time of trusting the Lord. God alone can save those who place their trust in Him. At times we are confused concerning the choices we have to make. On the one hand ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14

Tags: Fear, Trusting God, Afriad

Denomination: Catholic

God's Word Is A Sword

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Feb 28, 2026

BIBLE ".... My word will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." END (Isaiah 55:11) So, unlike any other book, ... the Scriptures are (1 Finger) Living ...... (2 Fingers) and active and: (3 Fingers) Thirdly, ... It is a ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:11, Mark 14:47, Hebrews 4:12-16

Tags: Word, Piercing, Joints, Spirit, Soul, Alive, Living, Sword  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Duckswaddle?

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 3, 2026

Hear a lesson: THERE WAS A GROUP OF DUCKS THAT LOVED THE LORD, THEY LOVED THEIR DUCK CHURCH AND THEY LOVED THEIR DUCK PASTOR. The ducks waddled to church three times a week. Their duck preacher had heard from the Lord and the duck preacher had a revelation. So the duck preacher preached ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:9, Galatians 6:9

Tags: Heavy, More, Fly High

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Lifeboat

Contributed by Alex De Guzman on May 8, 2026

Imagine a massive ship caught in the middle of a violent storm. The waves crash against the sides, the winds howl through the night, and suddenly the ship begins to sink. Panic spreads everywhere. People run in fear, desperately trying to save themselves. Some try to hold onto their money. Others ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Tags: Salvation, Rescue, Invitation

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

If I Had A Hammer!" Genesis 32:1-21 Key ...  PRO

Contributed by Mark Brunner on Feb 17, 2005

“If I Had A Hammer!” Genesis 32:1-21 Key verse(s): 9-12:“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 32:1-21, Genesis 32:1-12

Tags: Fear And Worry

Denomination: Lutheran

If It Was Up To Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 13, 2021

Fifty years ago, I was a teenager. Boy, do I miss those Days of Yore. It's not that I would like to relive them, but I was a much different person back then. As a teenager, I knew everything, and all you had to do was ask me. Even if you didn't ask me, I still would tell you what was on my ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 10:19

Tags: Wisdom, News, Politics

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

New Normal: If It's Free, It Ain't For Me

Contributed by James Snyder on Mar 13, 2021

Once when I wore a younger man's suit I would take anything free. I assumed it was my right to get something free. Then I had a conversation with my grandfather. If anybody knew how to squeeze a buffalo out of a nickel, it was my grandfather. But you couldn’t trick him by offering him ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 7:1

Tags: Free, Scam

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

I Don’t Believe In Karma

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 2, 2021

Some people believe in karma, but I don’t. Some people believe what you do will come back on you some way or the other. I do believe that everything you do does have consequences. Sometimes those consequences are small and insignificant and sometimes rather large and unbearing. Recently, my truck ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7

Tags: Reaping, Karma, Sowing

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

The Regifting Queen Of The Family

Contributed by James Snyder on Dec 30, 2023

Sitting around the Christmas tree with my family and opening up Christmas presents, it stirred fond memories of my Aunt Edith. She was known as The Regifting Queen of our family. And believe me, she earned that name quite well. Most of the family didn't catch on to what she was doing. I know ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8

Tags: Christmas, Gifting

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

[230]. A Message From A Poem - Redemption Through Death – No Other Way

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 18, 2025

[230]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REDEMPTION THROUGH DEATH – NO OTHER WAY The concentration in this poem is “No other way.” Why did heaven’s best, God the Son, have to die? You know I can not answer that. The omniscient God knew from eternity past what was going to happen. I can’t give an answer ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2, Isaiah 53:10, Ephesians 4:8-10, Hosea 11:7-8

Tags: Sin, Christian Poetry, Christian Poems, Full Atonement, Heart, Salvation, Compassion Of God, The Heart Of God, Overturn, Emotions Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

One Of My Favorite Columns By Erma Bombeck Tells ...  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Apr 22, 2001

One of my favorite columns by Erma Bombeck tells of God in the act of creating mothers. She says that on the day God created mothers He had already worked long overtime. And an angel said to Him, "Lord, you sure are spending a lot of time on this one." The Lord turned & said, "Have you read ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 21:8-14

Tags: Communication General, Commitment, Hypocrite, Pride, Sacrifice  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Train And The Boy  PRO

Contributed by Brent Williams on Jun 7, 2001

The Train and the Boy I would like to tell you a story about a man named John Griffith. John was the father of an 8-year-old boy during the 20’s and 30’s. John was very fortunate during those times, because he had job. John loved his son very much. He was the apple of his eye. John’s son was a ...read more

Tags: Sacrifice, Atonement, Christian Disciplines, Forgiveness In Jesus, Workplace  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Today, Is Father's Day "Happy Father's Day!" I ...  PRO

Contributed by Steve Malone on Jun 26, 2002

Today, is Father’s Day “Happy Father’s Day!” I thought I’d start out today by sharing a few precious dad moments.. Moments that would only happen to a dad and only a dad would appreciate… PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT #1 One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby’s crib. ...read more

Tags: Parenting, Children, Father's Day

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Erma Bombeck Wrote This Essay Entitled, When God ...  PRO

Contributed by Aaron Burgess on Sep 26, 2002

Erma Bombeck wrote this essay entitled, When God Created Women. “By the time the Lord made mothers, he was into his sixth day of working overtime. An Angel appeared and said "Why are you spending so much time on this one?" And the Lord answered and said, "Have you seen the spec sheet on her? She ...read more

Tags: Mother's Day, Parenting, Love, Share

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Was Once A Bridge Which Spanned A Large ...  PRO

Contributed by John Cuddeford on Oct 18, 2002

There was once a bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge sat with its length running up and down the river paralleled with the banks, allowing ships to pass thru freely on both sides of the bridge. But at certain times each day, a train would come along and the bridge ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness In Jesus, God's Sovereign Will

Denomination: *other

Wrong Righteousness  PRO

Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004

Wrong Righteousness Quote: "If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra Text: Romans 10:1-4 Prop: a new US $20 bill (or adapt for local currency) Summary: Some people try to get to heaven on their own by being a good person. The only righteousness that ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-4

Tags: Apologetics General, God's Forgiveness

Denomination: Baptist

Economist Robert Heilbroner Describes The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 2, 2004

"Economist Robert Heilbroner describes the luxuries a typical American family would have to surrender if they lived among the one billion hungry people in the Third World: We begin by invading the house of our imaginary American family to strip it of its furniture. Everything goes: beds, chairs, ...read more

Tags: Evangelism How To, Forgiveness General

I Say, "My Car," But It's Not Really My Car, It's ...  PRO

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Aug 22, 2004

I say, "my car," but it’s not really my car, it’s the Lord’s. He has just loaned it to me to use for Him. Every bit of metal, plastic, every bit of glass and for my car, every bit of rust belongs to God. And someday my car will be dropped into some giant compressing machine, be folded up into about ...read more

Tags: Money

Denomination: Christian Church

Shortly After The Turn Of The Century, Japan ...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 22, 2004

Shortly after the turn of the century, Japan invaded, conquered, and occupied Korea. One group singled out for concentrated oppression was the Christians. When the Japanese army overpowered Korea one of the first things they did was board up evangelical churches and eject most foreign missionaries. ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Wesleyan

John Todd Was A Minister In 19th Century New ...  PRO

Contributed by Lynn Malone on Jun 13, 2005

John Todd was a minister in 19th Century New England. Born in Vermont, but soon moved to Connecticut, when Todd was six years old, both parents died, and Todd was given a home by an aunt who lived nearby. He lived with his aunt until he left to study for the ministry. While he was away, his aunt ...read more

Tags: Death, Death Nearness

Denomination: Methodist