In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Nature"

If We'd Only Joined Hands Sooner  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 30, 2011

IF WE'D ONLY JOINED HANDS SOONER A number of years ago in Canada, a little two-year-old girl wandered away from her neighborhood. It was a cold, winter day. Her parents alerted the neighbors and they saw some tracks in the snow, but there were a lot of other tracks, so for several hours the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 15:1-7

Tags: Unity

Frenemies

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

FRENEMIES A frenemy is a friend/enemy. You like a frenemy and you hate a frenemy. You work with a frenemy when it is convenient and self-serving, but when it is not, the frenemy becomes a nemesis. The Urban Dictionary states a frenemy is "an enemy disguised as a friend." and twists the old adage ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 37:1-4

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Shepherds: The Lower Class

Contributed by Timothy Enns on Oct 17, 2011

SHEPHERDS: THE LOWER CLASS For many years I drove truck, hauling produce from California to Canada. I would often cut across the back roads of Idaho instead of staying on the busy interstate. The area I would travel trough on the back roads would take me through deserts and volcanoes, but it would ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Nazarene

Prayer Journal Entry Of George Washington  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 13, 2012

PRAYER JOURNAL ENTRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON When George Washington was about 20 years old he wrote this in his prayer journal: "O most Glorious God, in Jesus Christ my merciful and loving father, I acknowledge and confess my guilt, in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:8-10

Tags: Prayer Confession

The Right Use Of The Eyes  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 28, 2012

THE RIGHT USE OF THE EYES A bishop of the early church, who was a remarkable example of the virtue of contentment, was asked his secret. The venerable old man replied: "It consists in nothing more than making a right use of my eyes. In whatever state I am, I first of all look up to heaven and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-13

Tags: Gratitude

Out Of Ink?

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 19, 2012

OUT OF INK? According to MSNBC, The British Medical Journal recently reported the case of a 76-year-old woman who visited her doctor complaining of stomach problems. When the scans came back, doctors were amazed to see a long object in her stomach. It was a pen! The woman remembered having put a ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-4

Tags: Trials And Difficulties

It Takes Two To Reconcile

Contributed by Davon Huss on Mar 26, 2013

IT TAKES TWO TO RECONCILE "Be reconciled to God" 2 Corinthians 5:20 is necessary part of the process. Let's say that we have had a quarrel between us and a friend. We forsake our pride and do whatever needs to be done to break down the barrier, to make it right. But, when we eat this humble ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

A Knock On The ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 3, 2013

A KNOCK ON THE DOOR An old woman ran out of money, and couldn't pay any of her bills. The landlord was threatening to throw her out if she didn't pay her rent soon. She had only a few candles to keep her warm. And one cold day she was warming her hands over a candle. Just then a knock came at her ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:18-30

Tags: Debt

A Friend Of Mine

Contributed by Spencer Miller on Jun 3, 2013

A FRIEND OF MINE Branch Rickey, whose name was recently placed back into our memories in the wonderful movie '42' a story about the baseball great Jackie Robinson, was a devout Christian. Once while head of the old Brooklyn Dodgers, he attended negotiations involving a certain ballplayer's ...read more

Tags: Commitment To Christ

Denomination: Baptist

Where Are You Leading?

Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 18, 2014

David Wheeler tells of a funeral procession that illustrates a leader’s influence. David officiated at a funeral. In accordance with custom, after the funeral, the attenders filed out of the funeral home and into their waiting cars to form a processional to the cemetery. The hearse led the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-13

Tags: Funeral, Role Model, Spiritual Leadership, Outhouse

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Purity

Contributed by Davon Huss on May 1, 2015

A mother was concerned when she heard that her son had a live in girlfriend. She went to his house. Her son was the only one home. The son said, “It’s not what you think, Mom. She needed a place to stay. She has her bedroom and I have mine.” The son then showed his mother the guest bedroom ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Tags: Cohabitation, Shacking Up, Sexual Purity, Living Together

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Prayer-Spiritual Defiance

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Apr 19, 2018

Richard Foster in his book "Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home" describes an aspect of radical prayer as spiritual defiance. He states, "We are subversives in a world of injustice, oppression, and violence. Like Amos of old, we demand that "Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ...read more

Tags: Prayer, Radical Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Grandfather And The Dog

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 11, 2019

When my grandchildren were young, introduced them to my dog, Chuey. They were not well received by the old Chow. The dog would stalk around and shoot dirty looks when the kids were present. He finally got used to them and now pays them no attention. The other day, we were all in the back yard. ...read more

Scripture: James 3:6, Ephesians 4:14

Tags: Immaturity, Obedience, Selfishness

Denomination: Baptist

Cast Your Bread

Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Feb 1, 2021

True Story: There was a boy who lost his parents when he was about thirteen years old. He has left an Orphan without hope of continuing his education. He was brought to a care home run by a Pastor. He was given food and education. The Pastor who believed in investing in young boys and girls, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

Tags: Care For Poor, Give Gospel

Denomination: Methodist

Mary Mason Wrote A Poem Called: "It's Coronation ...

Contributed by William Beard on May 22, 2007

MARY MASON wrote a poem called: “It’s Coronation Day”. “The house (he/she) lived in seems so still; The eyes no longer see; The lips, half smiling, do not speak. Is this finality? Our hearts shout, “No! It’s not the end! Her life has just begun!” TODAY is Coronation Day: For her, the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Girl Said, "My Mother And I Returned To My ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A girl said, “My mother and I returned to my parents’ house late one evening to find my father, my college-age brother, Steven, and my ten-year-old sister fast asleep. “Mom had forgotten her house keys, so we knocked loudly, first at the back door and then the front and side doors. We yelled my ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Bertoldo De Giovanni Is A Name Even The Most ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize. He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time. Michelangelo was only 14 years old when he came to Bertoldo, ...read more

Tags: Giving General

Also Put On Gentleness. The Word Is "Meekness". ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Also put on gentleness. The word is “meekness”. That’s not weakness, it’s strength under control. When I was working in dairy farm construction, our crew put in a comfort-stall barn for an Amish family in Indiana. There were children all over the place ranging in age from older teens to toddlers. I ...read more

Tags: Salvation

In The Days Before Connecticut Became A State, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In the days before Connecticut became a state, the colonial legislature was in session when a thick black cloud blocked out the sunlight. Someone shouted, "It is the Day of Judgment Let’s go home and get ready" But one member of the legislature, who happened to be an old church deacon, stood up ...read more

Tags: Second Coming

Reverend Gregory Dawson Of The North ...

Contributed by Carl Benge on Jul 2, 2007

Reverend Gregory Dawson of the North Congregational Church in New Hartford, CT. In the mid-17th century, Oliver Cromwell sent his secretary to the continent on some important, state business. One night during his travels he found he was unable to sleep. According to an old custom a servant slept in ...read more

Denomination: Methodist