In Sermon Illustrations: "Old"

New York (Ap) — A Man Who Paid $5 For A ...  PRO

Contributed by Michael Biolsi on Apr 7, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who paid $5 for a 19th-century painting he bought at a garage sale has sold it to a museum for $1 million, an art publication reported. The unidentified 29-year-old actor found Joseph Decker’s (search) "Ripening Pears" wrapped in a blanket at a Los Angeles garage sale three ...read more

Tags: Faith, Humility

Denomination: Baptist

When Steve Henning Of Huntley, Illinois, Was Two ...  PRO

Contributed by David Ward on Jan 23, 2006

When Steve Henning of Huntley, Illinois, was two years old, he contracted spinal meningitis. It was the winter of 1943, and because of World War II, doctors had a shortage of penicillin and could not provide Steve the treatment he needed. Sadly, he lost his hearing. For 57 years, Steve could not ...read more

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Baptist

Clara Hale Answered That Clarion Call In A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

CLARA HALE ANSWERED THAT CLARION CALL IN A SIMILAR “DO OR DIE” KIND OF SPIRIT, CLAIRE SAFRAN WROTE A DEEPLY MOVING STORY ABOUT SEVENTY-NINE YEAR OLD, AND THE DRUG-ADDICTED INFANTS SHE CARED FOR IN HER HOME IN HARLEM. D. IN AUTHOR BOB ITALIA’S 19993 BOOK: "CLARA HALE: MOTHER TO THOSE WHO NEEDED ...read more

Tags: Servanthood

A Woman Was In The Process Of Suing Her Husband ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A woman was in the process of suing her husband for divorce. She told the judge that she had done her best to get her husband to change his ways, but that he just wouldn’t do it. Referring to Paul’s words about being nice to your enemies, which is found in the 12th chapter of Romans the judge asked ...read more

Tags: Friendship General

The Point: Living For God Is More Than A ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 8, 2007

[The Point: Living for God is more than a one-time, verbal declaration, it is an on-going, intentional lifestyle.] Once upon a time, in a country far, far away where Christianity was not allowed, there lived a very wise old man. One day, a woman in terrible distress came to him to ask ...read more

How Many Christians Does It Take To Change A ...  PRO

Contributed by Kenneth Mitchell on Jan 31, 2008

How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb? Charismatics/Pentecostals: Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness. Presbyterians: None. Lights will go on and off at predestined times. Roman Catholic: None. Candles only. Baptists: At least 15. One ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Down Through The Years We've Discovered That ...  PRO

Contributed by A. David Hart on Mar 26, 2008

Down through the years we’ve discovered that many people try to keep you the way that you were. They would say that “A leopard cannot change it spots” and “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” And they believe that there is a slight chance for us changing. It reminds me a of my favorite comic ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Fleeing Unto Jesus, Not Away From Him

Contributed by C Jordan on Dec 5, 2009

FLEEING UNTO JESUS, NOT AWAY FROM HIM (JESUS IS ANOINTED BY MARY AT BETHANY) "I heard (this story) from a friend who works with the down-and-out in Chicago: "A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she ...read more

Tags: Grace

Denomination: *other

Compassion For The ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

Compassion for the Down-and-Out “I heard (this story) from a friend who works with the down-and-out in Chicago: A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she told me she had been renting out her daughter – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:10-13

Tags: Compassion

A Lot Of Christians Have A Tendency To Think That ...

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Dec 9, 2009

A lot of Christians have a tendency to think that --- even though it was God’s Grace and Mercy that saved us --- now that we are saved, it’s all up to us to get on with the business of struggling to “live the Christian life” on our own power. We rev up our own dedication, will power, grit, and ...read more

Tags: Growth In Christ

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Salvation: It Really Is ...

Contributed by Larry Wilson on Aug 11, 2010

SALVATION: IT REALLY IS FREE Reader's Digest wrote of the late Harvey Penick: "For 90-year-old golf pro Harvey Penick, success has come late. His first golf book, Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, has sold more than a million copies, which his publisher believes makes it one of the biggest ...read more

Tags: Salvation

Denomination: Baptist

A Man Was Lost In The Arizona ...

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Aug 13, 2010

A man was lost in the Arizona desert. The sun was high and he was very thirsty - when he stumbled upon an old hut where no one lived. The hut had only part of a roof left and the doors were almost off the hinges. So he staggered in and sat down to rest. In the corner of the hut, he saw an ...read more

Tags: Trust

Denomination: Anglican

Wear The Pants  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

WEAR THE PANTS Levi-Strauss recently ran an ad campaign that targeted men for a line of Dockers pants (June 2011). Maybe you've seen some of the ads. One of them was called a "MAN-ifesto," and the script went like this: "Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well. Women rarely had ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Men, Leadership, Biblical, Leadership General

Praying In Agreement

Contributed by K. Edward Skidmore on Nov 30, 2011

PRAYING IN AGREEMENT Our individual prayers have great power. But there is even more power when we come together as a church and pray in agreement. Now, we know that in human terms total agreement is impossible. No two people can be in complete agreement … much less a whole congregation of ...read more

Tags: Prayer General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Greed: Armored Truck Accident

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Jan 10, 2012

GREED: ARMORED TRUCK ACCIDENT Oakland, Calif. (AP) - People jumped out of cars in rush hour traffic, grabbing bags of money that fell out of a Brink's armored truck, and apparently got away with it. "I saw one guy strike an old lady who was reaching for one bag," said Willie Greenwood, who was ...read more

Tags: Greed

Denomination: *other

The Importance Of Family Meals

Contributed by Josh Hunt on Mar 2, 2012

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY MEALS "Kids who dine with the folks are healthier, happier, and better students, which is why a dying tradition is coming back." That's what an in-depth study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University concluded after nearly a decade of ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:7

Tags: Family

Denomination: Baptist

Athanasius Contends For The Deity Of Christ  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 1, 2012

ATHANASIUS CONTENDS FOR THE DEITY OF CHRIST If Jesus is something less than God, he has no right and no power to forgive our sins. If Jesus can’t forgive our sins, we have no hope. Yes, the doctrine of the deity of Christ is worth contending for. And there is nobody God used more to contend for ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:6-9

Tags: Doctrine

Commitment Vs. Surrender  PRO

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Jun 30, 2012

COMMITMENT VS. SURRENDER In The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority there is an account of a conversation between the late Adrian Rogers and Rev Josef Tson, the Romanian pastor, author, and president of the Romanian Missionary Society who survived years of persecution and exile under cruel ...read more

Tags: Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Kind Of Heart Do You Have?  PRO

Contributed by Ken Henson on Sep 23, 2012

WHAT KIND OF HEART DO YOU HAVE? I was reading this week an article by Bryan Doyle. It talks about hummingbirds. Hummingbirds have race car hearts that eat oxygen at an eye-popping rate. Their hearts are built of thinner, leaner fibers than ours. Their arteries are stiffer and more taut. Their ...read more

Tags: Heart

Denomination: *other

Genuine Repentance--The Case Of Genelle Guzman ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 4, 2013

GENUINE REPENTANCE--THE CASE OF GENELLE GUZMAN MCMILLAN Genelle Guzman McMillan was the last person to be rescued from the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center. She had been trapped in the rubble for 27 hours when at last firefighters heard her calling and pulled her out. This ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Tags: Repentance