In Sermon Illustrations: "Old"

As An Eagle Grows Older, Its Beak Begins To Grow ...  PRO

Contributed by James May on Aug 7, 2001

As an eagle grows older, its beak begins to grow and a build up of scar tissue from cracks and scratches forms. This buildup begins to limit the ability of the eagle to open its beak wide enough to eat properly. The eagle finds a rock or hard surface and begins to beat the end of its beak until ...read more

Tags: God In The Hardships, Endurance, Church Small Groups

Denomination: Independent/Bible

There Is A Story About A Monastery In Europe ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Aug 9, 2001

There is a story about a monastery in Europe perched high on a cliff several hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach the monastery was to be suspended in a basket which was pulled to the top by several monks who pulled and tugged with all their strength. Obviously the ride up the steep ...read more

Tags: Faith, Examples Of Faith, Faith General

Denomination: Independent/Bible

In England, There Is A Paper Factory That Makes ...  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 10, 2001

In England, there is a paper factory that makes the finest stationery in the world. One day, a man touring the factory asked what it was made from. He was shown a huge pile of old rags and told that the rag content was what determined the quality of the paper. The visitor couldn’t believe ...read more

Tags: Descriptions Of God, Becoming A Christian, Forgiveness In Jesus

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Teacher Asked The Children In Her Sunday ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A teacher asked the children in her Sunday school class, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?" "NO" The children all answered. "If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would ...read more

Tags: Faith

Buying A New Chandelier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Buying A New Chandelier The pastor called a special meeting of the congregation to approve the purchase of a brand new chandelier. After some discussion pro and con, an old farmer stood up and said, "Buying a new chandelier may seem like a good idea to you, but I’m against it for three ...read more

Tags: Unity

Monastery

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Monastery The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket is pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully loaded basket. One American tourist who ...read more

Tags: God's Provision

As A Young Boy, I Can Remember Am Radio, And How ...

Contributed by Jason Duhon on Nov 5, 2007

As a young boy, I can remember AM radio, and how few stations we could receive back then. Tuning in usually required a good antenna, a good radio, and a steady hand. Our ears were anticipating the music, as we carefully turn the knob in hopes of a good reception. When we await the voice of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Not Too Many Years Ago Newspapers Carried The ...

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on May 9, 2008

Not too many years ago newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in Christ, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was ...read more

Tags: Change

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Did You Ask?

Contributed by Stephen Smarowsky on Jun 13, 2008

DID YOU ASK? There is an old story about how the University of Chicago received a million-dollar grant from the heiress of a major department store. She had been a student at Northwest. So, administrators of Northwest went to visit her and asked why she had not made such a gift to her alma mater. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11

Tags: Evangelism Fear Of

Denomination: Baptist

A Family Celebrated Christmas Every Year With A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008

A family celebrated Christmas every year with a birthday party for Jesus. An extra chair of honor at the table became the family’s reminder of Jesus’ presence. A cake with candles, along with the singing of "Happy Birthday" expressed the family’s joy in Jesus’ presence. One year on ...read more

Tags: Worship General

No Teeth  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 10, 2009

NO TEETH Walking towards the United Nations Building in New York City, a street evangelist was observed who was trying to get the attention of passers-by. He urged those near him to flee from the wrath to come. "I warn you," he roared, "that there will be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50

Tags: Hell

Depressed ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 16, 2009

DEPRESSED TEENS More than two million U.S. teens have suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, including nearly 13% of girls, finds a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report. On average, 8.5% of youth 12-17 admit to having a major depressive episode in the ...read more

Tags: Youth

If You Ever Happen To See In The Obituary ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"If you ever happen to see in the obituary column that Henrietta Mears has died, dont you believe it This old body may die, but Ill be glad of thatIll have a new body. And what will I do when I get to heaven? Well, I am going to ask the Lord to show me around. Ill want to get in a rocket ship to ...read more

Tags: Death

Hope And A Grateful Heart  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Mar 24, 2009

HOPE AND A GRATEFUL HEART There is an old legend of a man who found the barn where Satan kept his seeds ready to be sown in the human heart. On finding the seeds of discouragement more numerous than others, he learned that those seeds could be made to grow almost anywhere. When questioned, Satan ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:27-29

Tags: God Brings Hope

Again, I Want To Refer To Christopher Wright's ...

Contributed by Mark Schaeufele on Mar 26, 2009

Again, I want to refer to Christopher Wright’s book Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament. He asks the question, Why does Matthew start his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus? Why didn’t he go straight to the wonderful story of the Magi? It's "because, says Matthew, you won’t understand that ...read more

Tags: Bible Study

Denomination: Methodist

Ape Rights

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 14, 2009

APE RIGHTS The Spanish Parliament’s move to grant rights previously reserved for human beings to chimpanzees and other apes is a victory for those seeking to minimize the uniqueness of humanity, a bioethics specialist says. An environmental committee in Spain’s legislature approved a resolution on ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

Tags: Animals

Speak And Spell God

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 12, 2009

SPEAK AND SPELL GOD Mary Farwell of Green Castle, Missouri, told of the time she was listening to her 5-year-old son, Matthew, as he worked on his Speak and Spell™ computer. He was concentrating intensely, typing in words for the computer to say back to him. Matthew punched in the word "God." To ...read more

Scripture: John 8:19

Tags: Children

Not Too Many Years Ago Newspapers Carried The ...

Contributed by Bobby Scobey on Oct 22, 2009

Not too many years ago newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in Christ, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was ...read more

Tags: Restoration

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Shows Up In The Humblest Dwellings

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Dec 15, 2009

GOD SHOWS UP IN THE HUMBLEST DWELLINGS Tommy Welchel describes the miracles of Azusa Street: "The thought that God visited us in a barn to introduce His Son...confounds the minds of scholars a skeptics. These miracles were happening in and old, run-church that once used to house animals. By the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Pentecostal

Open Your Eyes

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Mar 27, 2010

OPEN YOUR EYES My granddaughter was here yesterday. She is two years old. I pointed out some pelicans sitting on a pole, but for a long time she could not see them. She didn't know where to look. I should talk. I ask my wife sometimes "Where are the car keys?" She says "Have a girl look and ...read more

Tags: Faith

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational