In Sermon Illustrations: "Old Testament Prophets"

The Woman And Acts 2:38

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 1, 2014

THE WOMAN AND ACTS 2:38 An elderly woman had just returned to her home from a church service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop--Acts 2:38!" (..repent, turn from your sin..".). The burglar stopped dead ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:38

Tags: Prayer, Repent, Humor

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Talking About Heaven

Contributed by John Crowe on Jul 17, 2014

My 5-year-old great – grandson, Travis, and his mother had a conversation about heaven. “Mom, I don’t think I want to go to heaven.” “Sure you do.” “No. I don’t think so.” “But why not?” “I think I’ll be hungry.” “No, baby. Jesus will make sure to feed you.” “I know, but Jesus feeds everybody fish, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5

Tags: Children, Heavenly Things

Denomination: Baptist

Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 21, 2015

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented. When the offering plates were passed, he put the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Tags: Offering, Giving, Tithing

Denomination: Nazarene

Jesus, Hand Me That Can Of Tomato Soup!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 43:1-2

Tags: Faith, Fear, Children, Humor, Presence Of God  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Language Deficit

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Mar 9, 2022

. As families become more dysfunctional, social skills decline. A number of school counselors are noting a rise in “language deficit.” Some parents rarely converse with their children but use the television as a nanny. The result: children recognize but do not grasp the meaning of COMMON words. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-32

Tags: Communication, Speech, Talking, Social Skills, Language Skills  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Funny Marriage Sermon-Starter

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Oct 23, 2022

An 80 year-old woman was recently married to her 4th husband. A reporter questioned the occupation of her newly acquired husband. She replied that he owned a funeral home. Curious about the other husbands, the reporter also asked about their occupations. The woman paused for a while and stated ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-31

Tags: Death, Marriage, Humor, Husbands, Wives, Widows  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Works Of The Flesh Outlined

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 23, 2023

List of sins that are the works of the flesh: 1. Sexual sins (19-21) (1) Adultery (2) Fornication (3) Uncleanness (4) Lasciviousness (5) Drunken revellings (orgies) 2. Superstitious sins (20) (1) Idolatry (2) Witchcraft 3. Social sins (20-21) (1) Hatred (2) Emulations or jealousy (3) ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-23

Tags: Idolatry, Holy Spirit, Sin, Sex, Flesh, Witchcraft, Adultery  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Love Of Money

Contributed by David Swanger on Jan 19, 2024

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and lead him to a window. “Look out there,” he said. The rich man looked into the street. “What do you see?” asked the rabbi. “I see men, women and children,” answered the rich man. Again, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Tags: Money, Riches

Benjamin Franklin Hoped For A Resurrection

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Mar 25, 2024

In one of his lighter moments, Benjamin Franklin penned his own epitaph. He didn't publicly profess to be a born-again Christian, but it seems he must have been influenced by Paul's teaching of the resurrection of the body. At least he had hopes of eternity. Here's what he wrote: ...read more

Tags: Faith, Death, Resurrection, Heaven, Hope, New Life, Glorified Body  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Will Change Your Name (Lyrics Of Song)

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 20, 2026

There is a song that is often used at baptisms ...that seems so appropriate ... to help portray this new birth ... in Christ. I will change your name You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid I will change your name Your new name shall be Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7, John 1:42, Acts 5:29, Matthew 26:33, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Baptism, Creation, New, Name, Face, Change, New Creation  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

There Once Was A Carpenter Who Visited One Of Two ...  PRO

Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004

There once was a carpenter who visited one of two brothers who had recently grown embittered with each other over a misunderstanding over the farm they had managed together for the past 40 years. The carpenter was in need of work; or so he said, and he asked the one brother if there was anything ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-13

Tags: Jesus Teachings, Parable General

Denomination: Lutheran

Who Was United States Senator Edmund G. Ross Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 10, 2006

Who was United States Senator Edmund G. Ross of Kansas? I suppose you could call him a "Mr. Nobody." No law bears his name. Not a single list of Senate "greats" mentions his service. Yet when Ross entered the Senate in 1866, he was considered the man to watch. He seemed destined to surpass his ...read more

Tags: Wisdom

This Last Week I Started Reading The Book, ...

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Apr 2, 2008

This last week I started reading the book, “Pivotal Praying,” - Connecting with God in times of great need. The book is written by John Hull and Tim Elmore. The book has been enlightening to say the least but in chapter 5 Tim shares about how important it is to run to God in prayer when we find ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Separation Of Church And ...

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Separation of Church and State “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…” (excerpt from Amendment I, U. S. Constitution) If our United States Constitution actually commands Congress to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-7

Tags: Politics

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Auto Body Repair Ministry--I Have A Friend Back ...

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Feb 9, 2010

- AUTO BODY REPAIR MINISTRY--I have a friend back home, Michael. Michael is without a doubt a man with a call from Jesus Christ into ministry. Michael ministry is owning and running an auto body repair shop. Running an auto body repair shop may sound like the farthest thing there is from a church, ...read more

Tags: Workplace

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Walking With God

Contributed by Richard L. Brown on Oct 1, 2016

“Walking with God” Sermon Opener (Humorous) Micah 6: 1-8 Years ago, in the small town of Catlettsburg Kentucky, there lived several town-drunks. These men where classic characters, each unique in his own way, and from time to time they found themselves arrested ...read more

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8

Tags: Indictment, God's Requirements

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Prophecies Of The Messiah

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 21, 2020

The Bible Passes The Prophecy Test! There are literally thousands of prophetic predictions made in the Bible. Some of these prophecies are quite dramatic in nature. For instance, Isaiah mentions Cyrus the Persian King, by name, 125 years before he was born. Not a single one prophecy made in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Inspiration, Inerrancy, Bible, Messiah, Christmas, Jesus, Prophecy  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Eyes Wide Open

Contributed by Todd Catteau on Jul 6, 2021

It’s happened to me more times than I care to admit. My wife will ask me to get something out of the pantry or refrigerator and, after a quick check, I’ll report that the item she wants is not there. Then she looks and there it is, right where she said it would be. Right there staring me in the ...read more

Tags: Beauty, Hope, Blessings

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

[222]. A Message From A Poem - Praise Ye The Lord

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 10, 2025

[222]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PRAISE YE THE LORD This is a praise hymn though no current tune fits the rhythm flow of the lines, and it requires tweaking of the lines for the exact rhythm. I am not doing that right now. There are six stanzas, each one with a new theme set in the first ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 15:2, 1 Kings 19:3-4

Tags: Praise The Lord, Struggle, Works, Despondent, Christian Poems, Praise, Power, Strength, Redemption, Goodness, Majesty, Elijah  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

We Get A New Family  PRO

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

#3 – We Get a New Family Ephesians 2:19-22 November 4, 2007 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Introduction We’ve been looking at different benefits or blessings of following Christ – living for Him, and not ...read more

Tags: Faith, Thanksgiving, Blessing, Revival

Denomination: Wesleyan